The “Ironclad” Underground
Music Scene of Singapore

When we talk about Singaporean music, we only think about JJ Lin. But deep inside the concrete jungles of Singapore lies a strong and close-knit underground metal scene. Despite not being a fan of the metal genre, I was treated to a hardcore experience at Glassfest, an underground metal festival in Singapore.

Glassfest is the brainchild of Glassmouth, a Singaporean mathcore band, that was founded in (insert year). It is the epitome of the Singaporean music scene, where bands of different walks of life/genres gather to do only one thing – giving the audience a f***ing good time.

It is a shame that the Singaporean music spotlight on the global stage is limited despite producing world-class musicians like The Sam Willows, Stefanie Sun and Nathan Hartano. Many of them gained popularity overseas before they were even known locally. The many famous names show the abundance of talented Singaporean musicians who did not have the chance to shine. Glassfest gives these talents a chance to perform and showcase. It is truly from the people in the community, for the community. 

“I don’t want to rely on grants and handouts; we have to do it by ourselves and build a platform to showcase our music”
– C (Bassist of Glassmouth)

The performances by local bands were electrifying and captivating. The whole performance is filled with energy and passion, and I can’t deny the technique and the skill level of these artists. I cannot forget the signature metal roar and how impressed I am every time I hear it. The bands felt free and I could hear their personality and individuality in the music. The crowd’s reaction says the same. A secret – some bands freestyled some parts of their performance. It felt like the band and the audience were having a conversation.

“When I am on stage, I am a totally different person”
– R (Lead Vocalist, Glassmouth)

I highly recommend you to get an insurance plan (#notsponsored) before heading to a Singapore underground concert. Cause the moshpit is freaking insane. The crowd participates in a conversation with the bands and vice-versa (Unlike you and your ex-girlfriend). It increasingly gets rowdier and rowdier as the concert progresses. Despite that, Singaporeans, we are a nice bunch. We will help you up if you fall in the pit. We will apologise if we accidentally pushed you too hard. We try our best not to destroy any property or injure others while having fun.

“Total number of times my camera almost got destroyed: 3”
– Jin (Co-Founder, Depths Magazine)

(Yeah this audience came on stage and did a solo with the band)

Our local scene has gained the applause from overseas musicians. After an exhilarating performance, Japanese Mathcore band, Wellness in Mouth of Ditch (Yes that’s a very long name) developed a newfound love and respect for the Singapore Underground Music Scene. Singapore’s (Who would’ve thought?)

Singaporean bands are little more technical, whereas Japanese artists are more expressive. Not to say, we are not expressive. We f***ing are. It is a whole different ball game when it comes to the audience. According to the lead vocalist of
Wellness in Mouth of Ditch, the crowd was the most memorable, and they really went all out in their performance and got so hyped over it.

“In Japan, the crowd is more reserved. Whereas in Singapore, the crowd is way more engaged. The high-voltage crowd touches us, and how they reacted to our music. They reminded us of why we started music. We would love to perform together with our Singaporean counterparts.”

– Sakiyama (Lead Vocalist, Wellness in Mouth of Ditch)

The Singapore underground music scene is one filled with life and hardcore-ness. Starting my career shooting concerts, seeing the grit and passion of Singaporean artists brought me back and showcased the resilience of artists in Singapore.

For more information about Singapore’s music scene, please contact @glassmouth and @hotsaucenpotatoes.