With Esplanade's inaugural Mosaic Music Festival creeping up around the corner, we sat down with some of the performing artistes and (sorta) grilled them on their upcoming shows. Looks like they're looking forward to Mosaic as much as we are! In the midst of the ticket-buying frenzy, make sure you get yours for these acts. 

TENNIS

What have you been up to for the last few months?

After touring for the better part of a year, we’ve taken the last couple of months off to begin writing. In the past, we wrote under severe time constraints. This is the first time we have allowed ourselves to indulge in a sort of writing sabbatical.

How would you describe your music to those who've never seen you before?

I can’t describe our music, and I never attempt to. I don’t pretend to be objective about what we’re doing, I’m far too close to it. I can’t even tell you if a song we wrote is good or bad. It just sounds like us. Or pop music. Or nostalgia.

What was your most memorable show from the past year?

New York City is a special place for me. Even though we are from Denver, our earliest shows were in NYC, and I have the fondest memories of learning how to play live in that setting, amongst friends, and supportive crowds. Our album release show at Bowery Ballroom was a triumphant moment. The last time we had played Bowery I was paralyzed with stage fright. I think I blacked out for the whole set. But for this show, we had come so far as a band, and I finally felt confident about what I was doing. It was kind of magical.

How are you preparing to play for the Mosaic Music Festival?

Mosaic will be one of the first times we will have played in three months. Our other band members are busy touring and writing with other projects in the meantime, so we will have a very happy reunion in Singapore, rehearse for a day, and explore the city.

What are you looking forward to the most in Singapore?

I like to be surprised my first time in a foreign country, so I don’t make plans or expect anything. I am really looking forward to spending time with the boys I love (my bandmates) and hopefully catching some of the other acts at Mosaic.

The best audience is: drunk one, or an all ages crowd.

What are you listening to currently?  

Vashti Bunyan, Laura Nyro, King Crimson, The Carpenters.

MUTEMATH

What have you been up to for the last few months?

Mainly working on the next album.  A lot of writing. A Mutemath record is usually a final result of countless rabbit trails; so we're just in the middle of wandering the woods.

How would you describe your music to those who've never seen you before? 

Doctor John meets Doctor Feelgood as performed by Doctor Oz.

What was your most memorable show from the past year? 

We played in Australia for the first time last year.  We were there for about 3 weeks and had a great time. First times somewhere is always a thrill. 

How are you preparing to play for the Mosaic Music Festival?  

I remember being in a band before Mutemath that auditioned a drummer who said it was important for him to showcase his "limb independence". I thought it was hilarious and I'll never forget it, and to this day we use that as inspiration when we're practicing something over and over.  It's all for limb independence.

What are you looking forward to the most in Singapore? 

It's our first time out there, we've heard a lot of great things, so we're really stoked to get a chance to play in Singapore.

The best audience is: a well dressed audience.

What are you listening to currently?  

My little girl entertaining her baby dolls. Definitely my favorite record these days.

KAKI KING

What have you been up to for the last few months?

I got married, released my 6th album, toured the US, and went on my honeymoon to Australia.

How would you describe your music to those who've never seen you before?

Guitar +

What was your most memorable show from the past year?

Festival delle Colline in Tuscany, Italy.  I was playing on a hill and a huge valley stretched out behind me.  It was gorgeous.

How are you preparing to play for the Mosaic Music Festival?

I’m putting together something similar to the long show I did on this past US tour, but making it faster and louder for a festival.

What are you looking forward to the most in Singapore?

I love any place that is multi-cultural. 

The best audience is: Australians. They are crazy about music. And Mexicans.

What are you listening to currently?

Father John Misty.

WOUTER HAMEL 

What have you been up to for the last few months?

I've been writing music for the next album, test recording in our new studio, did several projects with orchestras (jazz and classical), I taught a singer-songwriter class with 10 students at the conservatory where I studied years ago, participated in several TV productions and we had our first tour in China a couple of months ago! Also, I just came back from a fantastic holiday in Costa Rica! :)  

How would you describe your music to those who've never seen you before?

I'm a singer songwriter, my songs and style incorporate jazz, pop, soul, sometimes even folk and classical, but I guess most of my music sounds melancholic but cheerful if that makes any sense. 

What was your most memorable show from the past year?

June 20th in V-Hall Seoul was amaaaazing! Korean gigs are always great, but this one was extra special.

How are you preparing to play for the Mosaic Music Festival? 

We're preparing an extra cool set list for Singapore, extra rehearsals, you name it! We'll play songs from all our three albums, as an introduction to the audience.

What are you looking forward to the most in Singapore?

I've only been in Singapore once before, on a layover at your fabulous airport, I felt so bad about not seeing the city so now I finally have time to explore Singapore. I look forward to our concert at Mosaic the most, of course!

The best audience is: attentive, focused but loose at the same time!

What are you listening to currently? 

Frank Ocean, Curtis Mayfield, Azealia Banks & Rufus Wainwright mostly but I sometimes listen to some tropical Brazilian acts when the Dutch cold, wet winter gets too chilly.

ACID HOUSE KINGS

What have you been up to for the last few months?

Oh, should we be honest? Not that much.

Good pop music takes a long time to make and a great Acid House Kings album takes even longer. We have released five albums in 20 years, so on average it’s five years between albums. We have written a few new songs since our last album (Music Sounds Better with You in 2011) so hopefully we’ll have a new album in a year or two.

One song off our latest album, I Just Called to Say Jag Älskar Dig, will be released on 7” vinyl in March. It’s a split single with the great new Swedish band Alpaca Sports.

Johan is productive as always with his other bands. He has a brand new Club 8 album “Above the City” that is released in April.

How would you describe your music to those who've never seen you before?

The Smiths for very sunny days. Or a very melancholic ABBA.

What was your most memorable show from the past year?

We very rarely play live. This is actually our first ever show in Asia and, except for a one-off show in Stockholm in 2011, it's our first concert in SEVEN YEARS. Singapore is lucky…

From the past, there are many great live memories. We loved the US tour of 2006, the highlight probably being us coming in for a second encore in Boston playing “Summer Night” from Grease without knowing the song too well. We loved to play the large festivals in Sweden like Hultsfred and Arvika. We also loved the early concerts in Germany for Marsh-Marigold Records.

How are you preparing to play for the Mosaic Music Festival?

It’s been a long time since we last played live, so we almost start from a blank paper. Who will be in our live band? What songs should we play? Should we sneak in a surprise cover or two? Which chords do we play? Do we know the lyrics? Any encores? Should we wear white? Brown? Black?

Our first rehearsal is actually tomorrow. We’re really looking forward to that!

What are you looking forward to the most in Singapore?

Meeting some of our Asian fans. Returning to the stage. Sunbathing.

The best audience is: …having a really great time with us.

What are you listening to currently?

Frank Ocean, Saint Etienne, Grimes, Drake, Alpaca Sports, CHVRCHES, Perfume Genius, Solange, Chromatics. 

Stick around for our Mosaic Music Festival Specials this week!