How did you get into music?
My Ma sang to me from a very young age. I loved nursery rhymes. I would try to remember every song I knew and sing it to myself before falling asleep. I was always drawn to music in films. The soundtracks to Oliver Twist, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Mary Poppins were all a big part of my childhood. As a teenager, I played the guitar and started writing songs. In my early 20s, I attempted to go down a different path, but music pulled me back again. As soon as I graduated, instead of finding a “serious” job, I threw myself into Tiny Ruins.

How has growing up with music influenced your perspective as a person and an artist?
By necessity, it opens you up to the world a bit more, and broadens your horizons. You go into the world wanting to listen, to seek out and draw things from everyday life. It forces you to notice the world, and to feel things more intensely. It can also go the other way—focusing solely on music is a mistake I think. You can become self-centered and annoying if that's all you care to talk about. Musicians seem to be a section of society that's a bit looser, a bit crazier. So you meet interesting people and often feel very alive, even if you're not so financially well-off...

Which is more difficult: writing lyrics or melodies?
Melodies seem to be a natural thing for me. They're always playing around in my head. Lyrics can emerge quickly, at the same time as a melody, or they can be scrawled in notebooks over many months and worked on. It is only when you have lyrics that excite you that you have a song—melodies on their own just come and go. But working on lyrics makes me feel like I'm moving forward and creating something.

Do you prefer performing live or playing in a studio, recording albums?
Performing live is what I'm more used to. Studios are pretty alien environments to me, and I can feel a bit daunted when in one. I prefer the idea of recording at home or in a homely environment.

How’s touring going?
Touring is a blast for the most part, but certainly has its stressful moments and tough times, especially when on a low budget and hitting new territories. I try and eat well while on tour—lots of greens! And try to experience something small and special in each new town, like visit their museum. I like taking long walks in new towns.

Tiny Ruins is on May 4, 7:30pm at the Esplanade Recital Studio. Tickets are on sale now for $38.00 via Sistic.
 

How familiar were you with Twelfth Night?
To be honest, not very at all. This is like going back to school and once again cheating using Shakespeare for Dummies study guides.

The tale is about a love triangle. Have you ever been involved in one?
Oh yes, and I won!

What’s your favorite part of working on a Shakespeare play?
The language is beautiful to speak and I generally do relish the challenge of making it relatable to the audience. Having said that, my character, Feste, gets to say lots of seemingly random words—his mind is working faster than anyone else’s. It’s rather bizarre! Feste can be described as a professional schizophrenic so the role allows me to act in the wildest, wackiest manner with no fear of reprisal. If audiences don’t understand all of what I’m saying, I think I’ve done my job.

Twelfth Night is known for its comedy. Do you prefer humorous or serious shows?
Actually, I do prefer more serious stuff because I have quite a dark, twisted side to me. Comedy, particularly Shakespeare’s comedy, is hard. But therein lies the challenge; I would not have said yes to this role if I thought it was going to be a walk in the park.

Twelfth Night is on April 25- May 20, 7:30pm at Fort Canning Park.

If your fitness resolutions have fallen by the wayside, and you’re looking to pep up your exercise routine, why not give dance classes a go? Once you get over your embarrassment you’ll quickly forget you’re doing anything but having fun.

Circus Arts Introduction at Jitterbugs Swingapore
If you’ve ever watched acts like Cirque du Soleil and left wanting to try their death defying stunts, this one and a half hour class is for you. There’s basic acrobatics—tumbles, rolls, handstands and cartwheels—but also more unusual dance performance pieces using equipment such as the aerial hoop (a large metal ring suspended in mid air), long straps of silk fabric and the trapeze. Working with the apparatus trains your strength and flexibility, and you’ll be surprised by how graceful you look once you’ve got the hang of it. Hour-long trial classes are available for $35 and an eight week course goes for $280.

Pole Grooves at Bobbi’s Pole Studio
Known for their exotic dance expertise, Bobbi’s recently launched two new pole-cum-dance classes. The first, Cabaret Pole is theatrical, with moves set to popular Broadway tunes like “Dance Ten, Looks Three” from the show, A Chorus Line. You’ll learn about getting into character and vamping it up with expressive stage moves. Then there’s Chole (an abbreviation of chair and pole). Launched a month ago, the sessions teach you to work both structures at the same time. Classes are capped at 17 students, so you’ll get ample attention. Both classes cost $260 for eight weekly one-hour sessions.

Sh’Bam at True Fitness
Launched in February, this booty-shaking dance fitness program (designed by Les Mills International) is the gym chain’s newest exercise craze. The steps, set to popular club tunes, are meant to improve your coordination and cardiovascular health, and encourage you to twist and turn to 12 alternating tracks—some high intensity to get your heart rate up (you’ll be burning upward of 500 calories per hour-long session), and other slower beats to allow for recovery. A new release is produced every three months with fresh music and choreography, so you’re unlikely to get bored. Gym membership is required but complimentary trial classes are available.

Street Cha Cha at Mosaic Dance Studio
A social dance class revived by the studio last month, this is a looser version of ballroom cha cha. Between bending your knees and stamping your heels, you get a great workout for your calves and quads. Ladies also pick up natural but controlled gestures which tone the arms. Gym membership is required but a trial two-week membership is available for $30.