Meet the political scientist who’s secretly a singer

SINGAPORE — Lam Peng Er may already be known to academics and journalists as the man to turn to for his insights on politics and the economy. But the political scientist took some time off that to focus on his other talent — music.

Lam, who is senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore’s East Asia Institute, recently released his debut album Ocean Without Fishes.

Recorded by veteran music man Tony Goh (one-third local trio Tony, Terry and Spencer, who had several hits in the 1970s), it is a whimsical 11-track record that captures his observations about the ecological crisis, drones and, in a song inspired by his teenage daughter, how frightful school can be.

It’s a raw labour of love that has taken three years and significant resources — he declined to disclose how much — to accomplish. While he may not have the smoothest voice in the world, Lam’s passion for music is palpable.

“You reach that point in time where (you realise) you can’t take everything to the coffin with you,” said Lam, adding that his family members had reservations about the amount of time and money he was spending on his music.

“As long as you don’t neglect the family, just bite the bullet and do it. You have to sometimes follow your heart and prioritise what’s meaningful to you at different stages in your life.”

Lam, who picked up the guitar in his pre-university days, said he only started playing music more seriously in recent years.

The 57-year-old obviously knows a thing or two about music: He can go on about The Beatles or the Rolling Stones, or discuss the careers of local musicians Gentle Bones, Charlie Lim and Inch Chua, as freely as he would the economy of 1980s Japan.

Now that he’s “stumbled into music” however, he hopes to find others who appreciate what he has to offer, and that his family will eventually come to see why he loves music so much.

“I don’t have a chip on my shoulder to say, ‘oh, I want to chase the holy grail of quintessential Singapore music’. I mean, in a globalised world, what does that mean? I just want to make music from the heart about things that interest me, which may not interest anyone at all,” said Lam, who says he also dabbles in pottery.

In the meantime, Lam has already started preparing for his second album, called Perfume And Branded Bags, which he says will have a different flavor, and feature tracks that are more electronic or dance-oriented.

“I don’t have any illusions. I am not your rosy-eyed, up-and-coming busker hoping to make a living and conquer the world,” Lam said. “I have some music and lyrics in my head and in my heart, and I just want to cut (the album), mix it, send it for mastering and (treat it) like a message in a bottle.

“But in a world of seven billion people, even if I can reach out to 7,000 or 700 people who appreciate my lyrics or see certain things in a different light or touch my soul, I will be happy with that,” he added.

“It’s an adventure. I don’t know where it will lead to, but (I believe) if you do something doggedly enough, if you have enough creativity, passion, originality, musicality, then I think some people will appreciate it.”

Visit oceanwithoutfishes.com for more information on Lam Peng Er’s debut album.