Every artist’s journey is different – not least the paths trod by each of these Singaporean musicians. NADA, the duo of Rizman Putra and Safuan Johari, began nearly a decade ago as a project interrogating nostalgia by turning old Malay music into new forms. Intriguant is the producer and DJ Louis Quek, who has gone from hip-hop and turntablist roots into ambient, downtempo and breakbeat directions. Darell Laser is the vocalist and bassist of Forests, who play a blend of emo and math rock that has been described as ‘party emo’.

As NME speaks to these musicians, each loved and respected in Singapore’s music scene for different reasons, we find a shared emphasis on process – and a deep gratitude for the journey, and for those who help them embark on it.

Baybeats is Singapore's biggest alternative music festival, organised by and held at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay annually since 2001. Baybeats 2023 takes place from October 6 to 8. Admission is free. Find out more at www.esplanade.com/baybeats

Produced by NME in partnership with Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

Production Manager & Interviewer: Karen Gwee
Artist Liaison: Surej Singh
Producer: Liting Ng
Agency: Island Boys
Director: Christopher Thein
DOP & Editor: Mohammad Izzadely
Grip: Brian Loh
Production Assistant: Haikal Affendy
Audio: Mohammad Izzraimy

Videos of performances at Baybeats and Mosaic Music Series courtesy of Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
Performance and music video footage courtesy of NADA, Intriguant, Forests, Little Ong and Thaïs C.M Breton
Photos of Forests courtesy of Eng Ngee and Arielle Gonzalez

Special thanks to The Analog Vault

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00:00 - Intro
00:19 - NADA, "Process is King"
03:17 - Intriguant, "Go Through The Ups and Downs"
06:04 - Forests, "Just Keep Creating"