When you think about Singapore’s music scene and the music
that Singapore is known for, most
of us would have heard of the
more popular and mainstream
acts that currently headline most
of our local music festivals.
Good music, however, is not
subservient to tags or
stereotypes. Good music arises
from the ability to communicate
and connect with its audience
through lyrical and musical
means. Gems can be found
within the confines of this island
state and musicality that
transcends geographical
boundaries can be discovered
in the midst of us.
The Zine had the opportunity
to interview a gem as such and
would like to bring to your
attention, if you’ve not already
known of them, the members
of I Hate This Place (IHTP).
Consisting of mainly of Sean
Nerney (Keyboards, Vocals),
Gayle Nerva (Vocals) and
Roman Tarrasov (Guitars).
Though their names may not
sound local, all of them have
been residing in Singapore for
at least ten years if not more.
They are atypical of any local
music band, having day jobs
members made them real easy
to converse with. And as The
Zine chatted with the members
but pursing their passion for
of IHTP, many anecdotes were
making music and performing
traded easily during the course
when given the opportunity
of the interview. This amicable
to do so. Not so typical would
personality IHTP displayed can
be the number of albums that
also be found in the music that
this band have under their belt. they collaborated on as each
Currently with their latest
member brought his/her
album, Closer, they have a
creativity to the album. With
total of 8 albums and all of
creative riffs and catchy lyrics,
them are currently available
the latest album that IHTP
on iTunes and Spotify. Another
produced would be one that
unique feature about this band brings comparisons to acts
would be the music that they
such as Lights, Owl City and
produce. Their brand of electro- The Postal Service. However
pop, synthesized melodies with with its own distinctive flavour
dashes of electric guitar riffs
and voice, IHTP brings to the
and haunting vocals have won
music scene in Singapore a
them an international audience different but interesting texture
and they have had a tour of
that is far from mainstream.
Japan under their belt.
Upon checking out their latest
album, tracks like Danger and
With the achievements that
Closer are some of The Zine’s
this band have had chalked up, personal favourites.
you would might have thought
that they would be aloof and
With plans to produce another
unapproachable. On the
album in 2014, keep your eyes
contrary, the amiable
and ears out for IHTP as they
personalities of the band
bring electro-synth music to
the masses!
20
Excuse me? That’s the name of the
band? Yup. You read it loud and clear.
Los Angeles based experimentalheavy-rock band
IWRESTLEDABEARONCE may be
masters of musical unpredictability, but
even that couldn’t necessarily prepare
them for life’s capricious ways. In a way,
the band reminded me of an ol’ school
band, Mr Bungle.
Becoming pregnant, founding
vocalist Krysta Cameron amicably
parted ways with the group while on
Warped Tour 2012 because, well,
mommy duties are no joke! There
were no hard feelings, but the four
other gents definitely weren’t ready
for that. We’ll just be honest. So, the
remaining members—Steven Bradley
[Guitar, Keyboards, Programming,
Samples], John Ganey [Guitar,
Keyboards, Programming, Samples],
Mike “Rickshaw” Martin [Bass], and
Mikey Montgomery [Drums]—did the
only sensible thing. They went online
and improvised as quickly as humanly
possible. Enter Canadian singer
Courtney LaPlante.
By far their boldest and most
accessible release to date “Late For
Nothing” rips and roars with blunt
force intensity, incorporating their
brain joggling breakdowns with a
unique blend of electronics, jazzed-out
time signatures and break neck riffage.
“The entire album came together as a
result of us wanting to do something
different,” affirms Bradley.
The new album is a more evolved
version of the band. We explored new
styles and genres as well-especially
in terms of the more spacey, epic,
and beautiful parts. It’s got the most
melodic moments of our career as
well as the heaviest.” Featuring the
forthcoming, schizophrenic first single
“Thunder Chunky”, Late For Nothing
scales the summit of heavy rock/metal
with twelve teeth gnashing tracks
that find a happy medium between
crushing metal and beautifully
orchestrated melody.
The album’s opener, “Thunder
Chunky,” sets the tone for the album
as they slash their way through songs
like “Letters To Stallone,” that
showcases LaPlante’s incredible
balance of full throttle screams and
melodic choruses, and “Carnage
Asada,” which features a guest
solo from the legendary Steve Vai!!!
That new “energy” courses through
the band’s third full-length album for
Century Media Records, Late For
Nothing. The hallmarks of their
whacked-out style remain present.
Of course, there are moments of
throat-cutting metal aplenty, but
they’re juxtaposed with eerie
electronics, jazzed-out time signatures,
zany rhythms, and interludes of
Carnivale-esque bliss.
At the same time, the songwriting has
been honed and heightened, making
for some of the quintet’s most
memorable anthems. Album opener
“Thunder Chunky” stomps along like
it’s exiting Jurassic Park before
crashing into a hypnotic melody.
Meanwhile, “Inside Job” creeps up to
a careening chorus from a nearwhisper, while “Letters to Stallone”
volleys