Lion City Rock

The Fast Colors, Chris Toh, Kevin Mathews

How did Singapore's pop scene come about? Is there a difference between LionCityBoy and Lion City Kia?  If you don't know, then you need the Lion City Rock podcast - the best podcast that looks at Singapore's pop music scene: past, present and future. Find out all about music made in Singapore as hosts Chris Toh and Kevin Mathews – and their special guests – plug into important Singapore music moments in this kopi tiam conversation. New episodes go up (or drop) every week. Don’t say bojio, ah!

  1. Ep137: Sound Advice with Mark Jason

    09/18/2025

    Ep137: Sound Advice with Mark Jason

    Who's the most important person when it comes to a live performance? No, not the singer. Not the band manager. Not even the guy who removes all the blue M&Ms. If you're in a band about to do a show, the sound engineer or sound tech is the person you want on your side. They can make you sound great on the night. (And vice versa if you're being a turd to them.) Like our guest, Mark Jason. Mark has helmed the soundboard at pubs of past and present, including Balaclava, Wala Wala, and Blackbird. You've also probably heard his handiwork at many events, including this year's BigO 40 festival and the SG50 show at the National Stadium.  But why did he become a sound engineer? What were his most memorable gigs he's worked on? And what does a sound tech do, anyway? In this episode, he answers all those questions, and as a bonus, reveals how you can get on the good graces of your sound tech (note: adult beverages may be involved). *this episode was recorded in August 2025 -- "Screen Scars" performed by K. Mat. All other live audio was recorded at Blackbird. ****** LINKS Follow Mark Jason here: Instagram Follow Writers' Hall and Blackbird Follow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram  What would you like us to talk about? Email us: lioncityrocksg@gmail.com Update: The Lion City Rock Playlist (new tracks from Shye, Dru Chen, Namie and more!) Read Kevin's Power of Pop Substack / Bizarro World Read Chris' Full Sput Ahead! (Substack review) ****** Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others discover some good ol' Lion City Rock! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/lion-city-rock/donations

    50 min
  2. Ep136: Jazz Odyssey with Namie

    09/09/2025

    Ep136: Jazz Odyssey with Namie

    What is it like being an experimental jazz singer-songwriter in the Lion City? How does one navigate a musical niche in a space like Singapore? How easy is it to explore out-of-the-box musical inspirations in a place where traditional forms seem to be favoured more? Namie Rasman, lead singer of Namie & The Waves and a jazz singer in her own right, takes the hot seat to answer these questions and share her jazz odyssey. (PS: Namie & The Waves' new EP, Tides, is expected to drop later this year.) *this episode was recorded in May 2025 -- "Screen Scars" performed by K. Mat. "Postcards" performed by AWOL. "The Lion City Rock Theme" performed by Kevin Mathews and Chris Toh. "Gone", "Wander", "Queenfisher", "What's The Beauty" performed by Namie & The Waves. ****** LINKS Follow Namie here: Instagram Follow Namie & The Waves here: Instagram Listen to Namie & The Waves here: Spotify / Apple Music Follow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram  What would you like us to talk about? Email us: lioncityrocksg@gmail.com Update: The Lion City Rock Playlist (new tracks from Shye, Dru Chen, Namie and more!) Read Kevin's Power of Pop Substack / Bizarro World Read Chris' Full Sput Ahead! (Substack review) ****** Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others discover some good ol' Lion City Rock! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/lion-city-rock/donations

    48 min
  3. Ep135: Ketchup II – Bigger, Longer, Stronger

    09/04/2025

    Ep135: Ketchup II – Bigger, Longer, Stronger

    With nightlife and entertainment spots closing over the past few weeks – Projector, Vertigo26, and for one hot minute, even Wala Wala – Kevin and Chris ask the hard question: How can dis be allow? In this special extended episode, the TCSS returns – iykyk – as they also unpick the "now you can drink alcohol in pubs until 4am" scheme (but only in selected areas, T&Cs apply) and pick their choice gigs that you can spend your Culture Pass on. -- "Screen Scars" performed by K. Mat. "Postcards" performed by AWOL. "The Lion City Rock Theme" performed by Kevin Mathews and Chris Toh. "You're The Boy" performed by Shirley Nair & The Silver Strings. "Let 'Em Come" performed by Mike and Herb & The Silver Strings. "Angel In The Night" performed by Lovehunters. ****** LINKS Get tickets for Silver Strings: WhatsApp Audie Ng at 9818 4198 Get tickets for Concert Lovehunters Renaissance Get tickets for Sing60 Get tickets for Welcome To The Machine's The Wall Follow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram  What would you like us to talk about? Email us: lioncityrocksg@gmail.com Update: The Lion City Rock Playlist Read Kevin's Power of Pop Substack / Bizarro World Read Chris' Full Sput Ahead! (Substack review) ****** Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others discover some good ol' Lion City Rock! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/lion-city-rock/donations

    1h 4m
  4. Ep133: First Beliefs with Dominic Chin

    08/09/2025

    Ep133: First Beliefs with Dominic Chin

    Dominic Chin has been singing ever since he was in his teens. His first original song, "You First Believed" – a tribute to Singapore's founding father and first Prime Minister, went viral. Now, 11 years later, he's back with a new single, "Needy" and plans for a new album drop at the end of the year. In between, he's performed thousands of shows – on his own and with the MDC – as well as collabed with some of the coolest name in the scene, including Jean Seizure, lamin and Marian Carmel. Oh, and he's co-written a song for National Day, called For Singapore, along with RINES and Gail Belmonte. So what was that music journey like? How is songwriting helping cope with mental health? And what did LKY have to say about that song dedicated to him? -- Recorded in May 2025. "Screen Scars" by K.Mat. "You First Believed", "Needy" & "Cry" by Dominic Chin. "You Do You" by Dominic Chin & lamin. "CLSE2U (Re-License To Cry version)" by Dominic Chin and Jean Seizure. "Here (Re-License To Cry version)" by Dominic Chin and Gail Belmonte. ****** LINKS Dominic Chin: YouTube / Instagram / Spotify Follow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram  What would you like us to talk about? Email us: lioncityrocksg@gmail.com Oh, and Kevin wrote a song for National Day too! Listen here Listen: The Lion City Rock Playlist Read Kevin's Power of Pop Substack / Bizarro World Read Chris' Full Sput Ahead! (Substack review) ****** Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others discover some good ol' Lion City Rock! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/lion-city-rock/donations

    44 min
  5. Ep132: The One with Leslie Low

    08/03/2025

    Ep132: The One with Leslie Low

    It's been a long time coming, but we finally did it! We have Leslie Low on the show! Sure, it took us the better part of three years – specifically three years, seven months and 3 days – but hey, who's counting? Leslie one of Singapore's finest songwriters, and if there ever is a Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Fame for Singapore musicians, he should be in it! So we got him to answer all our crucial questions: How did he get started all those years ago? What did author Don Bosco and Lion City icon Chris Ho do to shape his music journey? And who's going for his gig on 10 Aug, 5pm at the Esplanade Recital Studio? (tickets going fast, don't say we never say - link below) -- "Screen Scars" by K,Mat, remixed by Chris. "Jump Back", "Daddy In The Lift" by Leslie Low. "Circling Square" by Humpback Oak. "How's Life" by The Observatory. Special thanks to The Substation for arranging this and to Bad Habits for hosting us. ****** LINKS Get tickets for Passing: Leslie Low in Concert Read Kevin's Power of Pop Substack / Bizarro World Follow Lion City Rock: Facebook / Instagram  What would you like us to talk about? Email us: lioncityrocksg@gmail.com Listen: The Lion City Rock Playlist Read Chris' Full Sput Ahead! (Substack review) ****** Like, share and subscribe to Lion City Rock on RedCircle, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a 5-star rating and review – it really helps others discover some good ol' Lion City Rock! Let us know what you like (or don't like!) so we can improve it. Also, we can do much more if you drop a donation in the link provided. Every little bit helps. Thank you very much for all your support! We appreciate you! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/lion-city-rock/donations

    53 min

About

How did Singapore's pop scene come about? Is there a difference between LionCityBoy and Lion City Kia?  If you don't know, then you need the Lion City Rock podcast - the best podcast that looks at Singapore's pop music scene: past, present and future. Find out all about music made in Singapore as hosts Chris Toh and Kevin Mathews – and their special guests – plug into important Singapore music moments in this kopi tiam conversation. New episodes go up (or drop) every week. Don’t say bojio, ah!