Presented by *SCAPE

2020 was a trying year for the music industry in Singapore but it also brought out the best in local youth musicians. 

Despite the challenges brought about by the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, these artists remained resilient and worked tirelessly to make new music which brought light to the music industry here and offered joy, hope, and comfort to many Singaporeans.

This year, these artists will be celebrated and honoured at the third edition of the *SCAPE Youth Music Awards. Organised by *SCAPE and supported by Bandwagon, the annual awards show has been recognising the excellence of Singaporean musicians under the age of 35 since it was first introduced in 2019. Through it,  *SCAPE has been able to support the creative arts in the youth community and create a platform for youth indie musicians to showcase their masterpieces. 

"Check-in to the future of music", the theme of *SCAPE Youth Music Awards 2021, is a reference to the safe entry check-ins that have become a part of Singaporeans' lives as well as an invitation to witness the future of music that the nominees represent. 

Ahead of the *SCAPE Youth Music Awards' return on 31 March, here are some of the things to look forward to at this year's show.

1. A CELEBRATION OF THE TOP 16 SINGAPOREAN YOUTH MUSICIANS ACROSS DIFFERENT GENRES

*SCAPE Youth Music Awards 2021 nominees Gentle Bones , Boon Hui Lu, and Fariz Jabba

To ensure better representation, *SCAPE Youth Music Awards 2021  will adopt a revamped genre-based format that celebrates the best artist and single in each genre category. Additionally, the People's Choice Award will be awarded to the artist with the highest number of votes across all categories. The 16 award categories at this year's show are as follows: 

Pop: Artist of the Year, Single of the Year

Indie/Alternative: Artist of the Year, Single of the Year

Rock: Artist of the Year, Single of the Year

Electronic: Artist of the Year, Single of the Year

Rap: Artist of the Year, Single of the Year

Non-English: Artist of the Year, Single of the Year

Best New Artist

Producer of the Year

Album of the Year

People's Choice Award

Subsonic Eye's 'Fruitcake' is in the running for the Single of the Year (Indie/Alternative) award (Photo credit: Christopher Sim)

Voting took place via the *SCAPE Youth Music Awards 2021 website and Twitter between 9 March and 22 March. Winners will be decided based on public votes (40%), which include both website votes and Twitter votes, as well as votes from judges (60%)

2. A STAR-STUDDED PERFORMANCE LINEUP

RRILEY, Daniel Sid, and Forests will take the stage at this year's awards show

No awards show is complete without performances. At *SCAPE Youth Music Awards 2021, expect to be entertained by some of the most impressive names from the Singapore music scene throughout the night.

Singer-songwriters bernice.wav and Daniel Sid, part of *SCAPE’s .WAV and ALT. Residency programmes, will kick off the event during the pre-show segment. Rising R&B singer KEYANA, 'Someone New' singer Hashy, indie-rock outfit Subsonic Eye, and pop sensation RRILEY will then take the stage during the main awards show with a series of exciting performances. Rounding off the night are Woodlands rapper Akeem Jahat and emo/math rock trio Forests, who will close the event on a high.

3. RED CARPET INTERVIEWS

The red carpet will be unfurled at this year's awards show so that nominees will be able to arrive in style. Taking place from 6:30 PM onwards before the start of the main awards ceremony, the invite-only event is set to be a memorable one filled with gorgeous outfits and exclusive interviews that will bring you closer to your favourite artists. 

Keep your eyes peeled for some of the best-dressed artists on the red carpet, you might even pick up some style tips along the way! 

4. CELEBRITY HOSTS

Host and actress Munah Bagharib and radio DJ, actor, and host Tan Yan Wei

If you are a fan of Munah Bagharib and Tan Yan Wei 陈彦维, then *SCAPE Youth Music Awards 2021 is a show that you don't want to miss. Best known for her comedic portrayals and latest role in the Singaporean movie, Tiong Bahru Social Club, Munah will be pairing up Yan Wei, an ex-radio DJ and actor who is known for his comic timing and zesty personality. Let these hosts take you through a memorable night filled with entertainment, performances, and surprises as they showcase their acting chops in a series of short skits for this year's show. 

5. A HYBRID FORMAT 

Recorded live on-the-ground at *SCAPE Ground Theatre, the awards ceremony will be brought direct to your screens via livestreams on Twitter (@bandwagonasia), Facebook, and YouTube. Viewers at home will get to enjoy special 3D visuals employed to create a one-of-a-kind unique digital experience that cannot be replicated in a physical setting. 

*SCAPE Youth Music Awards 2021 will be held on 31 March. Tune in to the livestream from 6:30 PM onwards for the pre-show and from 7 PM onwards for the awards show and announcements of winners. 

Join the conversation by using the hashtag #YMA2021 on Twitter and tag us @SCAPEsg and @bandwagonasia