Theodora Lau: Singapore’s new singing sensation

SINGAPORE — An 18-year old singer-songwriter getting a diploma in Mass Communication at Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s School of Film and Media Studies. That’s how Theodora Lau describes herself.

But the musician might be selling herself short in leaving out the idea that she could have a potential career in music. In the past year, she has been making waves in the local music scene, from her Noise showcase appearance in September 2014 and a very well-received performance at Baybeats 2015 nine months later. She also recently dropped her single, Lines, which is off her debut EP (that is scheduled for a December release).

“I think (music) is something that I gradually slipped into. I can’t identify a particular point at which I realised I wanted to be a musician, but music is something that I’ve always loved and it has always been a part of my life. So when the opportunities came, I took them on and things just continued moving from there,” said the musician, adding that her family background probably had something to do with her penchant for music.

“My mum was pretty musical. She wrote songs and sang and my dad was a huge appreciator of music. So I grew up with this appreciation and sense of music which sparked my interest in it.”

While some parents might want their children to choose other avenues in their pursuit of excellence, Lau said her parents were very supportive of her decision to give music a shot. “They are extremely happy to see me find something I can run with and putting myself into it,” she said. “They’ve never made noise about the ridiculous hours I put into it or anything like that. They’ve been realistic with me but they’ve also met every effort they’ve seen me put in with a lot of encouragement and support.”

Lau already has a small flock of fans thanks to her previous released material, such as Rabbit Hole. If the current response to her single, Lines, is anything to go by, then she could be seeing a lot more of that support in the near future.

Q: What is Lines about?

A: Lines is about the things that leave a mark on us throughout our lifetime. So lines are like emotional scars on our faces. Like the wrinkles that we have from smiling or frowning too much. This song talks about what it was like to remember my late grandfather so vividly after his passing. His lines, his stories, his voice, his gaze — all the things about him I helplessly recalled that kept me from moving past grief.

Q: What can we expect from your debut EP?

A: For this EP, we brought on board a couple of really great producers and arrangers as well as the band I worked with for Noise 2014 and Baybeats 2015. I’m fortunate to have a team of people who prioritise serving the music. The EP-making process can be very trying especially when it’s your first because almost everything is a steep learning curve, but having people that are dedicated to making each piece of work its best has really inspired and taught me a lot.

Q: What are the attributes needed to make a name for yourself in the Singapore music scene?

A: I’m not sure how qualified I am to answer this question, but looking back at my journey this past year — what I’ve learned and how I’ve sharpened in the process of moving to the place I’m in now — I think I’ve developed a discipline and sense of responsibility towards the opportunities I’ve been given. I’m fortunate to have people who remind me what matters. Working hard and keeping your heart in a good place.

Q: What are you willing to do to achieve your musical dreams?

A: My musical dream is to reach a point where I can create an honest, personal piece of work that hasn’t been skewed by my self-consciousness or insecurity and be able to fully celebrate the way it turned out. I’ll keep pushing the limits of what I’m already doing now and find ways to better things. There are inevitable trade-offs that come with any endeavour and I think I’ve already begun to become aware of it, but this is something that I can see myself loving and pursuing for a long time, so it all seems worth it to me.

Purchase Lines at https://itunes.apple.com/sg/album/id1011266155. Check out the music video at https://youtu.be/mCnJQMbF8nw