INTRODUCTION
I have been a serious hobby musician all my life. The guitar has always been my source of inspiration. At the height of my collection, I counted 26 acquired since my teenage days. My musical journey started all the way back to when in 1979 when I fronted an obscure band, "The Thorns" heavily influenced by the Beatles and all the other Mersey bands. We played the school circuit but we weren't particularly noticed or remembered for anything except for our 60s inspired rock and roll and imagining we were Singapore's answer to the Beatles but we were far from being competent musicians at the time.
I had my foray in jazz fusion when a motley crew of bandmates got together for the Yamaha Combo Band competition in 1982 with a band called "A Touch of Silk" led by the recently deceased Mitch Kwok, a great pianist who loved jazz fusion bands such as Shakatak, Mezzoforte, Casiopea, etc. We won 1st prize in the competition.
I left for the US to pursue my undergraduate and post-graduate studies. My time in Boston was particularly amazing as I hung out with friends from Berkeley who introduced me to the world of Jaco Pastorius, Thelonious Monk, Joni Mitchell and Steely Dan. These were perhaps the most mind-expanding years when I began to embrace the beauty and magic of individuals who really broke the mold when it came to creativity and masterful playing. It was also then that my own writing matured.
Upon returning to Singapore and starting work, I continued my passion for music and fronted the local indie band "Fish on Friday" as lead vocalist and bass player. We went on to be crowned one of the top 3 local bands at the New School Rock Competition in 1992 alongside AWOL and Shades. My compositions "In Too Deep" and "If Ever" were recorded in the New School Rock II CD. We were playing gigs everywhere for about 1.5 years, had a significant line-up change and even experimented with acid jazz which was my biggest influence at the time. The original guitar-heavy sound was replaced quickly by a more funky piano-based groove together with our female lead singer who unfortunately passed away more than a decade ago. Fish on Friday's single "You, Me and History" was recorded in the double-LP Bonus CD comprising the best of Singapore's emerging artistes. Fish on Friday recorded a concept album "Giants, Jordans and Jerichos" but it remained a demo and the outfit disbanded in the mid 1990s.
Between 1995 and the 2000, I did a number of collaboration gigs with different musicians and jammed at every conceivable club venue and small pubs around the island such as Paisley Park in Marina South, Emerald Hill #5 and Wala Wala. It was during this time that my networks grew bigger and lifetime friendships forged with the veterans like Boni DeSouza, Toni Go (of Tony, Terry and Spencer fame), Farid Long, Patrick Chng, Kelvin Tan, Danny Loong and many more cats along the way.
Between 2002 to 2007 came my biggest opportunity of gigging regularly on Friday and Sunday nights at Wala Wala and Balaclava with EIC led by Jack and Rai who continue to be one of the most successful local duos in Singapore's pop scene. I was lead guitarist for EIC during these years. I grew in confidence of my abilities including a huge boost to doing live performances on demand.
I left the band as there was too much pressure from my day job, but continued to play and write, and occasionally perform in private engagements. During the COVID period, I decided to compile my best compositions in a demo album "Demystify" under the name "The Doubting Thomas" (where I played, recorded and produced all of the tracks). I am hoping to release "Demystify" in 2022 before I grow way too old.
PLAYING STYLE
I still have a lot to learn. I am primarily a blues-oriented guitarist and I love how the blues can inspire all kinds of emotion. It goes damn well with a good single-malt as well.
I believe that everyone has been impacted by the Beatles. To me, "Revolver" was the album which really brought the band to a different level. Later, Beatlesque bands such as Klaatu, The Beat, Todd Rundgren's Utopia and The Knack added to my daily diet of music. Since Boston days, my biggest influence has been none other than Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, and their incredible sessionists featured in Steely Dan albums. "Kid Charlemagne" from "The Royal Scam" was my anthem and I could hear Larry Carlton's mind-blowing solo over and over again.
As far as guitarists who completely inspired me, I must say Robben Ford has to be at the top for me. I met him twice in Singapore and saw him at three separate concerts. I have a beat-up '71 Fender Stratocaster reissue and electric-blue Korean made Fender Telecaster signed by Robben. Other than Robben, I am also a huge fan of Stevie Ray Vaughn, Brian May, Peter Frampton, and the newer cats like John Mayer (esp on his work with The John Mayer Trio) and Mark Tremonti (Creed and Alterbridge).
I don't really have a warm-up routine. Must be why my fingers cramp up when I don't stretch them beforehand, lol.
MAIN INSTRUMENTS
I will have to say that the one axe that has brought me endless joy is my '56 GoldTop Epiphone Les Paul. I don't know why but it was the perfect axe for me from when I first held it. I remembered I bought this at Swee Lee.
My second choice would be my Gibson Studio Les Paul which I bought in Japan more than 12 years ago. I don't know why but my love for Les Paul models, that fat humbucker sound and flawless soloing feel is just out of this world.
Of course, for many of the recordings, I love to do rhythm guitar and vamping on my US made Fender Stratocaster which just gives a kind of texture no other guitar can replicate.
For some of the rockier, metal numbers requiring speed, I use my PRS SE Paul Allender model, I love the bat inlays on the fretboard...and it is a fast guitar.
I use my main acoustic guitar, a Taylor, 114ce model, when I write my ideas down or when I need to do unplugged gigs, casual jams or at BBQs.
Finally, I swear on my two amazing basses - the Musicman Sabre (something I bought from LA 35 years ago); this is the essential funk bass choice and especially if you're into the kind of hard-thumbing technique like Louis Johnson or Marcus Miller; and my 5-string Spector which was endorsed by Mark King when I met him at a concert we (EIC) opened for in 2003.
OTHER EQUIPMENT
Honestly, if I wanted to really blow money away, I still believe the Fender 65 Twin Reverb Amp is about the best you can have. Most of the modern small amps fit for home recording purposes with in-built amp simulators and multiple effects like the Vox Pathfinder 15 and Yamaha THR5 (which I use for recording) are perfectly portable and highly adaptable pieces to include in one's arsenal.
I love my Ditto Looper by TC Electronic and vintage pedals from Boss and Artec. For strings, I would only recommend the Elixir nanoweb series and SIT strings!
OTHER LOCAL GUITARISTS YOU FIND INTERESTING
The late great Zul from Tania, Daniel Chai, and bassists Colin Yong and Andy Yang.
The late great Zul from Tania, Daniel Chai, and bassists Colin Yong and Andy Yang.