Last week, we celebrated the latest songs from the canon of Made In Singapore music to reach the ether. Now, we dig deeper into our national anthems with a critical eye. Read our review of the latest songs by Last week, we celebrated the latest songs from the canon of Made In Singapore music to reach the ether. Now, we dig deeper into our national anthems with a critical eye. Read our review of the latest songs by Benjamin Kheng, MYRNE, Manila Killa, Perk Pietrek, Bonne, Wils and IN THE NOW.
Benjamin Kheng - ‘Find Me’
Benjamin Kheng’s latest single is undoubtedly the emotive centrepiece in his discography so far. Accompanied by soft keys, ‘Find Me’ is a raw, conscientious study of the human wreckage that we tend to make of ourselves and through which we do our utmost to stumble. Kheng navigates the contours of love and loss, unravelling the desperation and fear intertwined with the need to be found, to have someone reach out and hold onto you even amidst an irreparable mess. It’s a straightforward, distraught ballad mired in affecting sentiment, but ends on an oddly simple gesture, making it all the more compelling: “I don’t need your perfect / I just need you”.
MYRNE, Manila Killa - ‘Fear’
MYRNE and Killa first crossed paths last year, and now their collaborative artistry has birthed songs that, as they described in an official statement, ”encompass change and the experience of going through a transition of growth". ‘Fear’, one of the two tracks that they joined forces on, makes an immediate impression with its infectious soundscape, which is accompanied by an airy vocal shading that blends well with the electronic expression. It straddles the line between chill music and dance anthem, and makes for a perfectly serviceable listen.
Perk Pietrek, Bonne - ‘Downed’
Perk Pietrek just keeps getting better and better.
The producer boasts an impressive repertoire under his belt—having earned international acclaim and caught the attention of artists such as Skrillex, The Chainsmokers, Marshmello, to name a few—and his rapid climb to fame is not without reason. ‘Downed’ is the latest in a string of works, yet still manages to deliver a distinct sound divorced from that all of his previous tracks. He is aided by Bonne, who lends her dynamic vocals to Pietrek’s unique blend of electronica and trap, manoeuvring the considerably slower tempo with a fluidity that elevates the track to its highest possible potential.
Wils - ‘Be With You’
There is no beating around the bush with Wils in ‘Be With You’, one of the tracks from his latest album, Don’t Leave Too Soon. The catchy, laid-back pop tune is unmistakably a love song, its intentions brazenly undisguised with every single line that escapes, from the first (“We could be so much more than a mystery”) to the last (“I want to be with you until the day I die / I wanna lie next to you”). He isn’t playing any games or tricks here; he just wants to be with you, and he doesn’t care what anyone else thinks: this is his love, loud and out in the open, fearless and proud. It’d be nice if love stories could play out as purely and directly like this.
IN THE NOW - ‘Fool’
IN THE NOW is quite the revelation in their new single, ‘Fool’, a track that sees a heady blend of melancholy and electronic kick without descending into saccharine sentiment, deftly avoiding the pitfall of excess with their deceptively chill instrumentals and dream pop elements. The occasional dip into layering the vocals with electronic effects creates a blown-out sound that amplifies the atmospheric force of the song.
