Hello, da Abang’s in da house again, and it’s been a long time since we rocked and rolled, hasn’t it?
Well, I’m back to continue our new column featuring some of Singapore’s brightest new sparks we think will take our music scene into the future and boldly go where no band has gone. (Thanks to our good friends at Walk On Music for their support and help.)
THIS WEEK: PIXEL APARTMENT
- On track: Jordan Chia of Pixel Apartment
Pixel Apartment actually is Jordan Chia, currently serving NS, but still making time to go on his musical journey.
He picked the name for a couple of reasons. Reason #1: He composes and records in an apartment, and those musical ideas are channelled into the digital realm. Reason #2: He’s fascinated by how significant we humans are despite our apparent insignificance – like how every pixel in a computer screen matters to form an image.
According to Jordan: “It does suggest a kind of kaleidoscopic soundscape which is exactly what the Pixel Apartment sound is, and what I am gunning for.”
When and how did you decide to become Pixel Apartment? Pixel Apartment was actually a result of three years of experimentation and finding my own sound in my bedroom studio. Back in 2006, I started recording my own tunes… and I would put the mp3s in my ipod and listen on the go, and let friends listen and tell me what they thought.
As the months went by, I got better at DIY recording (but) I started having a problem of identity crisis, because I wasn’t really sure if I was more interested in jamming in bands or pushing on as a solo artist. Over time, after so many failed attempts at forming bands, I decided that I should push forward the musical envelope myself. Thus late 2008, I came up with the name “Pixel Apartment”, and the rest is history.
Who are your musical influences and why? Radiohead, The Postal Service, Stars, The Whitest Boy Alive, My Bloody Valentine, Toe, Mouse On The Keys, Aphex Twin and Squarepusher. The first four have great lyrics, narratives and implied meaning, which gives another level of depth to songwriting that I particularly enjoy, especially when the music appropriately expands on that emotion.
- “Dreamy, deep sonic poetry, love”: Jordan describes Jordan
The remaining six are really creative in the musical department; and irregular time signatures, changing meters a la math rock are starting to become a mainstay Pixel Apartment songs, especially the instrumental ones. These acts can write songs where the music speaks for itself, without any lyrics.
What is your plan for world domination? World Domination? Haha unlikely. But Internet domination is another thing altogether… I just released a free five-track EP on the Internet called Paper Aeroplane. So far response has been quite good. If all goes well, I’ll follow up with a full length album that is professionally recorded and mastered.
When is your next gig? I’m having a gig on the Dec 19 at *scape with two other bands, Waiting For Nothing and Quick Quick Danger. I am still in NS! I foresee more gigs in 2010 when I become a civilian. I also intend to bring Pixel Apartment to the stage of Baybeats 2010!
To watch a video of Pixel Apartment visit: www.walkonmusic.net
Tags: Aphex Twin, Jordan Chia, Mouse On The Keys, My Bloody Valentine, Pixel Apartment, Quick Quick Danger, Squarepusher, Stars, The Postal Service, The Whitest Boy Alive, Toe, Waiting For Nothing
