A Blast from the Past to Present

By Sara Koh

Find out what was the inspiration behind the production that brought on the feet-tapping and heart- pumping atmosphere at Replug’s set in South Agora on Tuesday.

Known for their unique acoustic take on a wide spectrum of music, Replug never fails to draw a crowd at their sets around campus. The group first started in 2006 and have been playing many shows around Republic Polytechnic ever since. On 5th August 2014, the group had their Pre-IGNITE! performance titled “Music: EVOLUTION | REVOLUTION”. A steady flow of crowd was streaming in to the venue 15 minutes before call time. By the time the first note was played, a roaring crowd had already formed in front of the stage.

Four-piece band “stillsunrise” opened the show and were a major hit among the crowd, serenading them with their unique sound. The touch of violin in their original songs such as For Now gave an interesting twist and identity to their music. They also performed their own rendition of popular songs such as All I Want by Kodaline, which had loud applauses.

Keeping Up With The Beat: One of Replug’s senior band rocking out on stage to “September” by Earth Wind and Fire. PHOTO BY: Sara Koh

The performance by Replug came soon after and was made up of various hits ranging from Blue Suede Shoes by Elvis Presley to Natalie by Bruno Mars, all ranging from the 50’s to the current day. The crowd was moving to the beat and were evidently enjoying themselves; many of whom had friends on stage and were screaming their friends’ names in show of support. “We wanted to add in hits that the various years in the music industry were known for. That’s why we didn’t just pick any song; we picked the iconic song that represented that particular musical era.”

According to Muhammad Shafiq, 21, a member of the production team from Replug, the performance was inspired by a Pentatonix video on YouTube. Pentatonix is an American a-capella group made up of five members. Shafiq was on his way to school and had been watching the video when he got inspired. “The video was titled ‘Pentatonix Music Evolution’ and I sort of got inspiration from the title; to have a production showcasing hits across the years.”

When asked what music evolution meant to them, Sakinah Tahir, 21, another member of Replug, said that it meant the “progress of how music had evolved over the years” and it also shows the “improvement in music”. She continued on to say that the production also coincides with the passion part of IGNITE!’s running theme, Passion and Compassion, where it portrays the group’s passion for the music from way back until now.

Replug has played a total of 40 shows in 2013 alone and they show no signs of slowing down. They will be opening the second day of IGNITE! Music Festival on 16th August 2014.

Let The Flames Begin with Jammerz Arena!

By Arwa Izzudin

Jammerz Arena (JA) pumped up the crowd with their own rendition of popular songs.

The stage had been set for the IGNITE! fringe events. The lights were blinking, the audience were roaring and the sound of music filled the atmosphere as Jammerz Arena took on the South Agora stage to kick off their pre-IGNITE! show, “Let The Flames Begin” on the 4th August 2014. The crowd cheered and applauded the bands as they performed song covers of international music.

Jammerz Arena is an interest group of the CREATE Republic, that aims to provide students of Republic Poly (RP) an avenue to expand their interests in the music and the performing arts. JA has gone on to achieve higher and better standards in becoming holistic performing artistes. It has also enabled the members to be exposed to both the performing arts and music. Due to the support from The Republic Cultural Centre (TRCC), JA members have been given countless opportunities to showcase their skills in various forms and events.

One such event is a performance that is held every year to promote the IGNITE! Music Festival and to create awareness of local music among the youths in Singapore.

Guest band “Tim De Cotta x The Warriors” started off the showcase followed by Jammerz Arena’s pride, Knightfall and False Freedom.

The Curtain Call: Jammerz Arena giving their thanks to the IGNITE! Crew as well as the crowd for supporting them for their showcase. PHOTO BY: IGNITE! Music Festival

The pop-rock band, Knightfall, rocked the South Agora stage with hit songs from Paramore namely ‘Still into You’ and ‘Let the Flames Begin’. The band also rearranged Katy Perry’s ‘Dark Horse’ to give it a rock twist. Of course, a lot of preparation was needed to ensure that the performance went along without any hitches.

“We rehearsed roughly around 2 hours each day. Maybe three if needed. It took us roughly three months to prepare for the show, including the production side”, said Muhammad Nur Hadi Bin Suwadhi, 18, bassist of Knightfall.

Their effort paid off as people turned up in spades to watch their performance. The crowd was enjoying the show; head banging to the music and moving to the beat.

“Personally, I think that with the performance today, people would really look forward to IGNITE!,” commended Nur Atika Bte Zainudin, 21, a spectator of Let The Flames Begin by Jammerz Arena.

“I also look forward to watching more local music events where talented local artists can showcase their talent,” she added.

What to Wear to IGNITE! Music Festival 2014?

by Sara Koh 

Planning your outfits for an outdoor concert in Singapore is probably one of the toughest choices anyone has to make. “Should I wear this? Will it get too hot? Does it look too drab? But I want to be comfortable!” These are questions almost everyone has asked themselves when deciding how to dress for an outdoor gig. But did you know that outdoor concerts are always the best times to look super hip while dressing comfortably enough to enjoy the show without any worries? Here are some tips on how to dress for IGNITE!

For The Girls 

For the Hipster Girl
Throw on a pair of ripped jeans, put on a loose white tee, some cool black platform sneakers, and you’re good to go! Don’t forget to bring a small bag to put your valuables in and most importantly, your water bottle!

For the Indie Girl 
Gear up for a great OOTD photo with your cutest dungarees, paired with your favorite striped crop top, sneakers and voila, you’re officially the cutest thing at the IGNITE! Music Festival 2014! Stack some rings with a simple black leather watch for a more edgy look.

For The Boho Girl 
For the girls who would like channel your inner bohemian chic, throw on your lightest thin-strapped top, your most comfortable denim shorts and a pair of MACBETH sneakers*. Layer some necklaces and tie up your look with a cool bandana and you’d be the talk of the festival.

* MACBETH is one of our sponsors and will be selling some of their shoes at the festival at discounted prices. Don’t say that we didn’t give you a heads up!

FOR THE BOYS

For The Boy Next Door 
If you have a laidback personality and seriously have no clue what to wear, look to this outfit set as your inspiration for this year’s IGNITE! Music Festival. Get comfy in your cotton band tee, a pair of khaki trousers and finish up the look with sneakers, a watch and a cool nautical inspired bracelet!

For The Tumblr Boy 
Channel your inner hipster and look charming for your date with a simple sleeveless top, cargo berms and comfortable sneakers. Jazz up your outfit with a slouchy beanie and a simple leather watch.

For The Rocker Dude
Ooze edge and attitude and rock your festival outfit by dressing in a loose black V-neck shirt and skinny black jeans. Complete your look with a pair of black Vans and some black accessories.

IGNITE! 2014 Survival Guide

by Nur Sabrina Bte Muhleseddin

IGNITE! Music Festival is back again this year and we’re already counting down to the big day! Every year, IGNITE! only gets bigger and louder, attracting an even larger crowd than previous years. With the announcement of exciting line-ups, we are sure many have already booked the dates to come down and celebrate the showcase of the best of local bands.

Don’t know what to expect? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with everything you need to get yourself ready for the festival!