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I was tempted to take part in Noise Singapore when I learnt of it a few years ago!

Noise Singapore is a youth arts festival initiated by the National Arts Council to create noise around the creative talents of youths.

Basically, anyone under the age of 35, regardless of skill level, background or occupation, can submit their art, design, photography and music and have it chosen for display or performance at Noise Singapore events and platforms around Singapore.

Well, I don’t want to bombard you with a long list of excuses why I never took part. So, let’s just leave it at that and talk about the people who did take part, because they are the ones we should celebrate!

I attended the Noise Singapore media preview last week to check out all the selected entries and to meet their creators. A nice, artistic space has been created on the third level of Raffles City Shopping Centre to house all this creativity.

Pretending to be a part of it…

Drawing and colouring materials are provided in the space for anyone to sit down and create an artistic masterpiece!

Spot the Nanny Wen…

With Esther.

While they were busy being budding artists, I was busy going around taking photos!!!

The media crowd:

The space has been divided into different segments for music, art and design, and photography, to simulate the actual working spaces of artists.

For example, a photography studio!

And a music studio!

This year, merchandise is being sold for the first time at Noise Singapore due to popular demand. You can find t-shirts, tote bags and shoes bearing the designs of this year’s participants.

This monster eating an SBS Transit bus is so cute right?!!!

The other side:

Okay, let’s meet some people now!!

Nicky Soh, an artist under the Apprentice Programme, showing us his portfolio:

The Apprentice Programme matches promising young artists in Singapore with accomplished field practitioners for seven weeks of hands-on guidance, culminating in works displayed at Noise Singapore!

Nicky is working on a comic book:

Rachel Wong, a property agent, talking about her photographs:

Lim Seng Tiong, a former ST photojournalist and Rachel’s mentor:

Me:

LOL. I sneaked a photo of myself in!

Gillian Toh, an up-and-coming artist also under the Apprentice Programme:

This is what it’s like to face the media:

Yu Jie, winner of the Noise Singapore – Photography prize, posing with his winning entries:

Amos Lu and Sarah Yap, winners of the Noise Singapore Celebration Theme:

I was very impressed by this duo when I heard them perform their winning song. Sarah, particularly, has a beautiful, melodious voice that belies the cute, impish styling on her small frame. You just can’t get enough of listening to her!

Calling themselves In Finite Flight, both are NUS undergraduates, Sarah in third-year Communications and New Media, and Amos in first-year Chemical Engineering.

It’s quite a story how they paired and up eventually won this prestigious award at Noise Singapore.

Amos and Sarah first met as band members in Anderson Junior College. They were asked to write a song for the school’s annual orientation programme. Then a trio, they wrote the song “We Will Make It” together with ex-member Harry.

The response to the song was great, so when Noise Singapore offered an opportunity last year, Sarah and Amos decided to re-record the song and submit it for the competition. A few months later, they received a call to tell them they had won!

You can hear the winning song here. Just scroll down or do a search for In Finite Flight.

Sarah recalls the time when they had to climb up neverending stairs to Amos’ flat in Bishan to practise their music (because Amos’ flat didn’t have lifts). Thus came the name for their group, “In Finite Flight”, a play on the words “in finite” and “infinite”.

Sarah plays guitar and sings lead vocals while Amos plays bass and provides backup vocals. It looks like the two of them are comfortable with the size of their band, with no plans to expand.

I think they sound good enough as they are. You can hear more of their songs on their MySpace page here.

It’s so nice to hear success stories, always! =)

Of course, In Finite Flight isn’t the only talented team to emerge from Noise Singapore. Why not check out more of such promising musicians at the Noise Singapore concerts? They’re happening at the Esplanade between March 5 and 7. Check this page for the schedule!

If you’re more interested in visual art, then Raffles Place Shopping Centre is the place for you! The art exhibition on Level 3 (which I have been blogging about) will be open to the public till March 10.

Ahh… who is this mysterious hunk walking out from the exhibition?!!

I have no idea, sorry. Was just randomly taking photos all day!

Some random pieces of art I was attracted to:

crows by jakejake

Joy by Phyo Myat Thu

Bipolar by origamidreamer

holly by alvelyn alko

RED by Chou-Tac

The Stare by Hanin

Deskchild by c00ki3

There are a lot more I like which I shan’t include here or there will be too much scrolling!! You should just head down to Raffles City Shopping Centre to see for yourself. =P

Or, better yet, why not take part in next year’s Noise Singapore?!

There’s an artist in most of us. Never mind if you’re stuck in a non-creative job because you need to pay the bills and haven’t visited your art in ages.

Don’t give up your talent! Get into the swing of things! To get inspired, you can attend a series of Noise Talks by industry leaders.

Zee Avi, Rob Campbell and Kelley Cheng will share their personal stories and inspire you into creativity. Happening on March 18! More details here.

Let’s all make some noise together, shall we? =)

And congratulations to all the winners of this year’s Noise Singapore!