SINGAPORE – Music, like art, is about expression. It’s about holding a belief so strongly that we can create something out of nothing that allows us to connect and relate to each other.
 
MANILA STREET CLASHThere really is no easy way to describe Manila street style. Like the city itself, the sartorial affections of Manila’s indie kids reveal a hodgepodge of global and regional influences, injected with a personality that is distinctly our own. The only real trend in town is to do your own thing. 
GIG NIGHT EATS in Quezon City:
|
IT CAME FROM THE ‘60SSINGAPORE – Despite the power of modern day fashion statements, there are still bands that are obsessed with the heydays of rock ‘n’ roll, the 1960s. Singapore indie bands like The Pinholes and Love Jets fashion themselves after the vintage style of the ‘60s, both in their look and their sound. Just what is it the about the ‘60s that influenced and inspired them so much? 
RECLAIMING THE DANCEFLOORIt wasn’t until relatively recently that one could find the rather high-minded punk-bred indie rockers of Manila busting out their dance moves. It seemed that dance music was either the kind heard only in the headphones of chin-stroking techno-heads or in the flashy bottle-service clubs reviled by the indie kids. But with the rise in stock of electronic music in the new millennium and its subsequent assimilation into the everyday vocabulary of indie rock, dance became something that could no longer be ignored. 
D2210 years ago Wudaokou was the core of Beijing indie music and the “new voice of Beijing” generation. Since the demolition and transformation of the new millennium it has been completely different; dominated by foreign idlers, IT white collar types, wage earners and punks. The only venue for a long time was 13 Club, a metal club, surrounded by restaurants and internet cafes. But in May 2006, next to 13 Club, a little place called D22 quietly opened.  
Late Night ThaiAround the world might sound a little too cliché, but I have to say that it’s true. The variety of dishes and different flavors of our food are so vast that it’s hard to categorize. But let me guarantee, we have much more to offer than Pad Thai, green curry and fish cakes. 
No. 6When you think of a fan’s bedroom you may think of a colorful CD shelf, illegible autograph books, and photo albums full of rock stars… But have you ever seen a fan who has transformed their bedroom into a rehearsal room for rent so they can be closer to the bands they love? |
Streetsnap Hong Kong<a href=”http://converse.com.cn/blog/cn/files/2009/12/baldwin-pui.jpg”><img class=”alignnone size-full wp-image-2553″ title=”baldwin-pui” src=”http://converse.com.cn/blog/cn/files/2009/12/baldwin-pui.jpg” alt=”baldwin-pui” width=”430″ height=”648″ /></a> 
Cubao XSet against the backdrop of an increasingly modern commercial district, Cubao Expo may look a bit out of sorts. Its vintage mom n’ pop feel is a stark contrast to the sleek malls and condominiums rising around it. But while Cubao Expo may look like a throwback to a simpler time, the performances and shows held there are unquestionably bleeding edge. 
Don’t Underestimate The Diet PillsThere are so many images associated with Thailand and Bangkok, but most of the time the mainstream media only portrays our country from a traditional, high culture point of view. Surely, we’re proud of our heritage, but that is not all there is to our multi faceted culture. Thai indie music has survived a lot of turmoil over the past ten years but it is still kicking. New music and bands keep it alive and continue to contribute to this exciting and ever fresh part of Thai culture. 
ThailandName: Erik Strong |
