Musicians Guild hopes new conference will 'connect diverse community'

SINGAPORE – What is it like to be a musician in Singapore? What does it take to get there? What are the latest developments in Singapore’s music scene? These are just some of the questions that will be answered at the two-day CLAPPS Songwriting Conference that began on Friday (Feb 3).

Initiated by the Musicians Guild of Singapore, and held at LASALLE College of the Arts, the CLAPPS (which stands for “Composers, Lyricists, Arrangers, Performers and Producers in Singapore”) conference is an evolution of a songwriting event the Guild held last year, where the likes of local pop icon Dick Lee and indie musicians such as Inch Chua shared their experiences as musicians.

The year’s event is aimed at “creating a common platform for practitioners from across all sectors of the industry to share best practices and experiences”, said organisers.

It will feature masterclasses and talks by some of the notable names in Singapore music, including Lee, Emmy nominee and composer Dr Joseph Curiale, singer Corrinne May and producer Kenn C, who has produced for the likes of Stefanie Sun, JJ Lin, Tanya Chua, Jack Cheung and Jolin Tsai, among others.

The topics covered not only include songwriting, but cover other aspects of the making music, such as arrangement, production and marketing.

“These are all important aspects in the creation and promotion of musical works,” said singer Rani Singam, who is also on the board of directors at the Musicians’ Guild.

“The featured speakers who have come on board for CLAPPS are undoubtedly some of the very top in their respective fields. The participation in the masterclasses by Dick Lee and Corrinne May are fully subscribed, which is testimony to the standing and repute of these artistes,” she added, saying that the masterclasses are still open to those who wish to attend as members of the audience.

The conference will also feature performances by veteran musician Ruth Ling, as well as rising stars Dru Chen and Becka, and music talents from LASALLE College of the Arts.

While CLAPPS fits squarely into the mission and objectives of the Guild, the “overriding aim” of the event, said Singam, is “to connect our diverse community”.

Thanks to the direct interaction between students and the younger musicians, and the access to industry information at the event, Guild chairman Professor Bernard Tan said the Guild hoped to “further its objectives by providing young and budding songwriters with guidance and advice from experienced practitioners”. 

“The Guild was set up with the intent of supporting the needs of Singapore musicians and looking at how we can help to solve the many problems facing the members of the music community,” he added. “We hope to organise similar events in the future if this Conference is a success.”

More events is something that Phan Ming Yen of Global Cultural Alliance, who is the project manager of this conference, would like to happen. The trick is to ensure the sustainability of such events.

“It’s sometimes not about how much you do, but about how much of what you do can last in the long run. A few of the festivals today, like the Singapore Writers Festival, took a few years to become what they are,” he said, adding that he hoped the experiences gleaned from this festival can help propel the musicians of tomorrow.

For Singam, the signs are encouraging. “Based on the responses and sign-ups we have received … we believe there will be continued interest and participation.”