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Daphne Khoo: Making sweet from sour

SINGAPORE — Some might remember singer Daphne Khoo from the first season of Singapore Idol a decade ago. Or as the erstwhile lead vocalist of indie band West Grand Boulevard. Or as the artiste who produced a debut album — Desperate — in 2007 and earned the Best Breakout Solo Artist at the Singapore Music Awards a year later.

Daphne Khoo’s new EP, Wonderland, is inspired by the events of her life.

Daphne Khoo’s new EP, Wonderland, is inspired by the events of her life.

SINGAPORE — Some might remember singer Daphne Khoo from the first season of Singapore Idol a decade ago. Or as the erstwhile lead vocalist of indie band West Grand Boulevard. Or as the artiste who produced a debut album — Desperate — in 2007 and earned the Best Breakout Solo Artist at the Singapore Music Awards a year later.

Now, almost seven years on, Khoo is back with a new EP, Wonderland. Filled with songs that reflect the ups and downs in her life, it establishes her as a songwriter of substance and, more importantly, a brave young adult tackling heavy issues with grace and verve.

In May 2012, Khoo, who was studying at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, was diagnosed with Dysgerminoma, a rare form of ovarian cancer, and took a semester off for chemotherapy and recovery. Fortunately for Khoo, she wasn’t left to fend for herself.

“Family is such a huge source of strength for me,” she said. “I’ve never been in a situation too tough where I can’t pick up the phone, text my mum with tears in my eyes — and it can be 4am in the morning in Singapore and she’ll call me with loving and comforting words.”

She added: “I don’t think I could’ve lived so far from my family without the amazing friends who never failed to keep me motivated!”

Her battle with the disease is reflected in two songs — I’m Not Giving Up and Weak — which indicate Khoo’s determination not to let it get the better of her.

Since graduating from Berklee, Khoo has been living in New York and working on her music. And it’s clear that the years honing her craft beyond our shores has benefitted her immensely. “Being in a music school has really expanded my mind and made me think in musical terms a lot more than living in Australia,” said Khoo, who had been studying in Melbourne before moving to Boston. “That introduced me to an independent lifestyle that forced me to express myself so much more through music.”

According to her, the Wonderland EP was released in a rush, only because she wanted it out in Singapore first. “I wanted to do the Starbucks tour while I was back in Singapore and I was only going to be around for the months of January and February,” she explained. “They were kind enough to oblige and a month later — insert many many dramatic events and sleepless nights here — Wonderland was birthed at all the Starbucks stores across Singapore.”

Her tour sees her performing 19 shows across the island. For Khoo, it’s all about making the most of her life, “writing as much as physically possible and singing as much as I can wherever I am”.

She added: “I am (also) booking dates and venues for a North America tour — that is in the pipeline and I’m excited about it!”

Wonderland is available at all Starbucks Singapore outlets, as well as iTunes, Bandcamp and other leading digital music stores. Visit http://www.starbucks.com.sg/localtalent.html for more details of her tour.

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