Music Lab

Music Lab

By The Straits TimesMusicMusic Interviews
Download on the App Store

Music Lab episodes

  • S1E13: Hongjoin - Komorebi (Live)

    Hear home-grown singer-songwriter Hongjoin's intimate live studio take of the title track from his sophomore album released recently, Komorebi.

    Synopsis (headphones recommended): This Music Lab playlist features the full live performance of music acts invited by The Straits Times to its podcast studio.

    Listen to Hongjoin talk about his musical journey in the full podcast here: https://str.sg/cTrZ

    Discover home-grown artiste Hongjoin at:

    YouTube: https://str.sg/o9mTN

    Spotify: https://str.sg/pQwe

    Instagram: https://str.sg/apXW

    Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Eden Soh, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim

    Recorded by: ST Podcast Team & Studio+65

    Mixed by: Amirul Karim

    Follow Music Lab Podcast here every month:

    Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX

    Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB

    Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6

    SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

    Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    Feedback to: [email protected]

    Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa

    ---

    Discover more ST podcast channels:

    All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 

    The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u

    COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE

    Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

    Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

    Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

    Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

    Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE

    #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

    Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

    ---

    ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

    ---

    Special edition series:

    True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

    The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

    Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

    Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

    Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

    ---

    Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

    The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

    Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

    #musiclab

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    5 min
  • S1E12: Meet Shazza, the Singaporean singer whose music has the attention of Coldplay’s Chris Martin and PM Wong

    Home-grown singer and songwriter Shazza is the 12th guest in this music channel.

    Synopsis (headphones recommended): Each month, The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio.

    In the 12th episode of Music Lab, ST's music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts Singaporean singer and songwriter Shazza.

    The past year has been quite eventful for the 22-year-old - her music caught the attention of several high profile personalities, including Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Chris Martin, the frontman of popular British band Coldplay.

    A video that she did with Canadian pop duo Crash Adams went viral worldwide, earning her new fans from as far as Brazil.

    As one of the artists fronting Spotify’s Equal campaign, her face was featured on a billboard at Times Square in New York City.

    In July 2023, she put out her debut album Chapter One, a release that includes Right Person, Wrong Time, a song that has clocked over two million streams in Spotify alone.

    The hijab-wearing singer, whose real name is Shareefa Aminah, speaks about how people assume she makes Malay music because of how she looks, as well as her drive towards inclusivity in the pop music world.

    She also sings for our Music Lab Podcast, a live rendition of her latest single Rain In Manhattan, a duet with fellow home-grown singer-songwriter Umar Sirhan.

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    0:58 On having to turn down an invitation to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s swearing-in ceremony

    3:25 How singing in the viral Crash Adams video made her famous worldwide

    5:28 Chris Martin calling out her name at one of Coldplay’s Singapore concerts

    9:45 On being featured on New York’s Times Square billboard

    11:24 Being a hijab-wearing singer making English pop music

    13:26 Realising her calling for music at a young age

    16:00 On choosing the unconventional path of music as a career

    20:39 How juggling school and a music career can get overwhelming

    27:58 On plans to nurture new artistes in the future

    Watch the special live performance and video podcast version of this episode on the Straits Times’ Podcast YouTube channel: https://str.sg/b5za

    Listen to Shazza’s live performance of Rain In Manhattan with Umar Sirhan here: https://str.sg/B3cx

    Discover home-grown artiste Shazza at: 

    YouTube: https://str.sg/JS8i9

    Spotify: https://str.sg/wKh4d

    Instagram: https://str.sg/uoqd

    Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Eden Soh, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim

    Recorded by: ST Podcast Team

    Edited by: Amirul Karim

    Follow Music Lab Podcast here every month:

    Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX

    Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB

    Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6

    SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

    Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    Feedback to: [email protected]

    Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa

    ---

    Discover more ST podcast channels:

    All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 

    The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u

    COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE

    Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

    Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

    Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

    Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

    Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE

    #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

    Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

    ---

    ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

    ---

    Special edition series:

    True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

    The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

    Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

    Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

    Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

    ---

    Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

    The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

    Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

    #musiclab

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    31 min
  • S1E12: Shazza & Umar Sirhan - Rain In Manhattan (Live)

    Hear home-grown singer-songwriters Shazza's and Umar Sirhan's intimate live studio take of their latest single, Rain In Manhattan.

    Synopsis (headphones recommended): This Music Lab playlist features the full live performance of music acts invited by The Straits Times to its podcast studio.

    Watch the special live performance and video podcast version of this episode on the Straits Times’ Podcast YouTube channel: https://str.sg/b5za

    Listen to Shazza talk about her musical journey in the full audio-only podcast here: https://str.sg/LstG

    Discover home-grown artiste Shazza at:

    YouTube: https://str.sg/JS8i9

    Spotify: https://str.sg/wKh4d

    Instagram: https://str.sg/uoqd

    Discover home-grown artiste Umar Sirhan at:

    Spotify: https://str.sg/mWfw

    Instagram: https://str.sg/kJwC

    Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Eden Soh, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim

    Recorded by: ST Podcast Team

    Mixed by: Hadyu Rahim

    Follow Music Lab Podcast here every month:

    Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX

    Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB

    Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6

    SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

    Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    Feedback to: [email protected]

    Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa

    ---

    Discover more ST podcast channels:

    All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 

    The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u

    COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE

    Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

    Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

    Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

    Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

    Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE

    #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

    Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

    ---

    ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

    ---

    Special edition series:

    True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

    The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

    Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

    Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

    Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

    ---

    Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

    The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

    Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

    #musiclab

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    7 min
  • S1E11: Newcomer rhyu - Singapore’s answer to Laufey?

    Home-grown singer and songwriter rhyu is the 11th guest in this music channel.

    Synopsis (headphones recommended): Each month, The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio.

    In the 11th episode of Music Lab, ST's music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts home-grown singer and songwriter rhyu.

    The newcomer’s arresting vocals and original songs, a mixture of pop, jazz, and R&B, have garnered comparisons to popular Icelandic-Chinese singer Laufey, who reposted one of her videos on TikTok.

    The 19-year-old, whose real name is Raine Hahn Yu, started releasing music in 2022 and started dabbling in writing and composing songs as a child.

    She has since staged performances at venues such as the Esplanade, music festivals and was an opening act for Taiwanese band Cicada’s concert in Singapore.

    In this episode of Music Lab, she sang a live rendition of It’s fine, a song that has garnered over 1.3 million streams on Spotify alone.

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    1:15 Having her song blow up on TikTok

    3:28 She came up with the melody while queuing at Old Chang Kee 

    4:46 Laufey reposted one of her videos on TikTok

    6:04 She started writing songs at the age of 4

    10:36 Her early influences were Mandopop artistes like JJ Lin and A-mei

    13:59 On her studies and a music career

    16:25 Her new song came to her in a dream

    21:47 Her family used to organise concerts

    Watch the special live performance and video podcast version of this episode on the Straits Times’ Podcast YouTube channel: https://str.sg/tWma

    Listen to rhyu’s live performance of It’s fine here: https://str.sg/3FX8Y

    Discover home-grown artiste rhyu at: 

    Spotify: https://str.sg/bxbh

    Instagram: https://str.sg/g9Pt

    Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Eden Soh, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim

    Recorded by: ST Podcast Team

    Edited by: Hadyu Rahim

    Follow Music Lab Podcast here every month:

    Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX

    Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB

    Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6

    SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

    Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    Feedback to: [email protected]

    Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa

    ---

    Discover more ST podcast channels:

    All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 

    The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u

    COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE

    Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

    Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

    Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

    Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

    Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE

    #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

    Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

    ---

    ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

    ---

    Special edition series:

    True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

    The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

    Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

    Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

    Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

    ---

    Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

    The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

    Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

    #musiclab

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    29 min
  • S1E11: rhyu - It's fine (Live)

    Home-grown singer-songwriter rhyu's intimate live studio take of It's fine, a song first released in 2023, which has a million streams on just Spotify alone.

    Synopsis (headphones recommended): This Music Lab playlist features the full live performance of music acts invited by The Straits Times to its podcast studio.

    Watch the special live performance and video podcast version of this episode on the Straits Times’ Podcast YouTube channel: https://str.sg/tWma

    Listen to rhyu talk about her musical journey in the full audio-only podcast here: https://str.sg/Aqou

    Discover home-grown artiste rhyu at:

    Spotify: https://str.sg/bxbh

    Instagram: https://str.sg/g9Pt

    Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Eden Soh, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim

    Recorded by: ST Podcast Team

    Mixed by: Amirul Karim

    Follow Music Lab Podcast here every month:

    Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX

    Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB

    Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6

    SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

    Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    Feedback to: [email protected]

    Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa

    ---

    Discover more ST podcast channels:

    All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 

    The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u

    COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE

    Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

    Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

    Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

    Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

    Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE

    #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

    Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

    ---

    ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

    ---

    Special edition series:

    True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

    The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

    Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

    Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

    Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

    ---

    Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

    The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

    Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

    #musiclab

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    5 min
  • S1E10: Home-grown singer Rangga Jones’ regional fan base includes a K-pop star

    Home-grown singer, songwriter, and producer Rangga Jones is the tenth guest in this music channel.

    Synopsis (headphones recommended): Each month, The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio.

    In the 10th episode of Music Lab, ST's music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts home-grown singer, songwriter, and producer Rangga Jones.

    He might not be a household name in Singapore, but in recent years, the 27-year-old has been steadily building up a fanbase in the region with his R&B/pop songs.

    On streaming services, the Singapore-based singer has racked up millions of plays, mostly from fans in the Philippines and Indonesia, where he was born. Call Me, a song first released in 2022, has 23 million streams on just Spotify alone. 

    The song also caught the attention of Ruka, a member of South Korean girl group Babymonster, who added it to her public Apple Music playlist.

    Jones, who started releasing music in 2019, dropped his first full-length album, Emotions, in late 2023. He has already started on new projects, and recently released his latest single, Pushing Me Away.

    In this episode of Music Lab, he sang live renditions of Call Me as well as Not Good Enough, one of the songs off Emotions.

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    0:45 - On having K-pop star Ruka from Babymonster as a fan

    4:19 - Turning his self-consciousness into a song 

    7:41 - His transition from metalhead to pop singer

    9:26 - Ed Sheeran inspired him to be a songwriter

    13:01 - On becoming a full-time singer just before the pandemic hit

    15:36 - He only learnt to speak English at eight years old

    16:04 - On his international fanbase

    18:51 - Fans recognise him at his part-time job at a cafe

    19:43 - A recent break-up inspired his latest song

    Watch the special live performance and video podcast version of this episode on the new Straits Times’ Podcast YouTube channel: https://str.sg/KRFD

    Listen to Rangga's live performance of Call Me here: https://str.sg/GpM7

    Listen to Rangga's live performance of not good enough here: https://str.sg/77tv

    Discover home-grown artiste Rangga Jones at:

    YouTube: https://str.sg/uqA8

    Spotify: https://str.sg/LNPc

    Instagram: https://str.sg/koXE

    Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Eden Soh, Teo Tong Kai & Amirul Karim

    Recorded by: ST Podcast Team

    Edited by: Amirul Karim

    Follow Music Lab Podcast here every month:

    Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX

    Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB

    Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6

    SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

    Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    Feedback to: [email protected]

    Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa

    ---

    Discover more ST podcast channels:

    The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u

    COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE

    In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

    Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

    Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

    Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

    Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

    ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

    #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

    Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

    Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    ---

    Special edition series:

    True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

    The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

    Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

    Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

    Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

    ---

    Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

    #musiclab

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    24 min
  • S1E10: Rangga Jones - not good enough (Live)

    Home-grown singer, songwriter, and producer Rangga Jones' intimate live studio take of not good enough, a song from his first full-length album, Emotions.

    Synopsis (headphones recommended): This Music Lab playlist features the full live performance of music acts invited by The Straits Times to its podcast studio.

    Watch the special live performance and video podcast version of this episode on the new Straits Times’ Podcast YouTube channel: https://str.sg/KRFD

    Listen to Rangga Jones talk about his musical journey in the full audio-only podcast here: https://str.sg/eN65

    Discover home-grown artiste Rangga Jones at:

    YouTube: https://str.sg/uqA8

    Spotify: https://str.sg/LNPc

    Instagram: https://str.sg/koXE

    Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Eden Soh, Teo Tong Kai & Amirul Karim

    Recorded by: ST Podcast Team

    Mixed by: Teo Tong Kai

    Follow Music Lab Podcast here every month:

    Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX

    Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB

    Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6

    SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

    Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    Feedback to: [email protected]

    Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa

    ---

    Discover more ST podcast channels:

    The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u

    COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE

    In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

    Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

    Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

    Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

    Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

    ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

    #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

    Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

    Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    ---

    Special edition series:

    True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

    The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

    Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

    Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

    Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

    ---

    Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

    #musiclab

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    3 min
  • S1E10: Rangga Jones - Call Me (Live)

    Home-grown singer, songwriter, and producer Rangga Jones' intimate live studio take of Call Me, a song first released in 2022, has 23 million streams on just Spotify alone. 

    Synopsis (headphones recommended): This Music Lab playlist features the full live performance of music acts invited by The Straits Times to its podcast studio.

    Watch the special live performance and video podcast version of this episode on the new Straits Times’ Podcast YouTube channel: https://str.sg/KRFD

    Listen to Rangga Jones talk about his musical journey in the full audio-only podcast here: https://str.sg/eN65

    Discover home-grown artiste Rangga Jones at:

    YouTube: https://str.sg/uqA8

    Spotify: https://str.sg/LNPc

    Instagram: https://str.sg/koXE

    Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Eden Soh, Teo Tong Kai & Amirul Karim

    Recorded by: ST Podcast Team

    Mixed by: Teo Tong Kai

    Follow Music Lab Podcast here every month:

    Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX

    Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB

    Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6

    SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

    Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    Feedback to: [email protected]

    Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa

    ---

    Discover more ST podcast channels:

    The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u

    COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE

    In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

    Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

    Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

    Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

    Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

    ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

    #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

    Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

    Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    ---

    Special edition series:

    True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

    The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

    Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

    Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

    Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

    ---

    Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

    #musiclab

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    4 min
  • S1E9: Newcomer Josh Makazo's rise as one of Singapore's top artistes on TikTok

    Home-grown singer and songwriter Josh Makazo tells us about his breakout year in 2023.

    Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio.

    In this ninth episode of Music Lab, ST's music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts home-grown singer, songwriter, and producer Josh Makazo.

    A rising name in the home-grown music scene, he is one of the most popular artists on TikTok in Singapore in 2023.

    While he was still serving national service, he released his song - half of my heart - which went viral on TikTok and has since racked up over 5.3 million views.

    Makazo discusses how his strategy of targeting the fanbase of artistes that he was inspired by, such as Korean-Australian singer DPR Ian, helped his music blow up on TikTok. The two versions of the song that he released on Spotify have also clocked over 6 million streams in all. 

    In November, Makazo, 20, released his debut album, Gradient, and it has already gained over 10 million streams across various platforms.

    In this episode of Music Lab, he sings a live rendition of half of my heart, which is also in his new album.

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    3:59 K-pop fans are using his song to soundtrack their TikTok videos

    5:42 How he made his song half of my heart go viral

    8:20 His hit song inspired by his first love

    14:01 On his musical theatre background and acting in hit musical The Sound Of Music

    16:47 His beginnings as a songwriter

    21:17 How he used to make music to become famous

    Listen to Josh's live performance here: https://str.sg/iYCk

    Discover Singaporean artiste Josh Makazo at:

    YouTube: https://str.sg/iY96

    Spotify: https://str.sg/iY9u

    Instagram: https://str.sg/iY9L

    Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim,  Eden Soh & Amirul Karim

    Edited by: Hadyu Rahim

    Follow Music Lab Podcast episodes here every month:

    Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX

    Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB

    Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6

    SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

    Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    Feedback to: [email protected]

    Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa

    ---

    Discover more ST podcast channels:

    COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE

    In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

    Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

    Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

    Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

    Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

    ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

    #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

    Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

    Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    ---

    Special edition series:

    True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

    The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

    Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

    Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

    Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

    ---

    Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

    #musiclab

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    31 min
  • S1E9: Josh Makazo - half of my heart (Live) @ ST Podcast Studio

    Singaporean singer-songwriter Josh Makazo's intimate live studio take of half of my heart, a song from his latest EP, GRADIENT.

    Synopsis: This Music Lab playlist features the full live performance of music acts invited by The Straits Times to its podcast studio.

    Listen to Josh Makazo talk about his musical journey in the full podcast here: https://str.sg/iYCZ

    Discover Singaporean artiste Josh Makazo at:

    YouTube: https://str.sg/iY96

    Spotify: https://str.sg/iY9u

    Instagram: https://str.sg/iY9L

    Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Eden Soh, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim

    Recorded by: ST Podcast Team

    Mixed by: Amirul Karim

    Follow Music Lab Podcast here every month:

    Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX

    Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB

    Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6

    SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

    Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    Feedback to: [email protected]

    Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa

    ---

    Discover more ST podcast channels:

    COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE

    In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

    Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

    Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

    Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

    Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

    ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

    #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

    Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

    Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    ---

    Special edition series:

    True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

    The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

    Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

    Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

    Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

    ---

    Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

    #musiclab

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    4 min

About Music Lab

From the publisher's feed

Synopsis (headphones recommended): Each month, The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio.