STAR-Post #1/2018 Stories We Sing STAR_Post_Music_2018-01 StoriesWeSing | Page 14

Contemporising Traditions And Unifying Communities
Singer-songwriter Ms Sarah Ismail spoke about how she assembled the inspirational lyrics of Bendera Kita ( Our Flag ) from a compilation of pantun ( a traditional Malay literary form ) composed by teacher-writers from the Malay Language Centre of Singapore . She expressed the richness of traditional Malay poetry in a contemporary musical style that the young can access . Similarly , Sarah believes in the power of music to bridge different communities . As the founding leader of the Singapore indie band SEYRA , she has created a repertoire that represents a multi-cultural fusion of styles . Citing the vibrant red and white colours of our flag , Bendera Kita is Sarah ’ s rallying call for all Singaporeans to be united and stands as a powerful expression of Sarah ’ s artistic beliefs .
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to view singer-songwriter Sarah Ismail speak of the unifying power of music in Bendera Kita ( Our Flag )
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