My childhood was filled with love, and with love came a lot of pain. I didn’t come from a broken home but I did have an abusive father. I learnt how to be protective by being a brother to my sister. When we were getting punished, I would stand in front of the hanger or belt and take the blow.

My grandfather went to study law with Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Tunku Abdul Rahman. They were the first three in Asia to study law. My grandfather and uncle both became very famous lawyers in Singapore. When I got into trouble, the authorities would contact them. Naturally, I too wanted to be a lawyer.

I’ve loved rap since I was nine. My mom bought me a Run DMC tape by accident. A week before that, Gladys Knight and The Pips broke up. My mom thought The Pips had gone solo. She was at Parkway Parade, saw this tape with three black men on it and bought it for me. When she came home, she popped it into the cassette player. She heard the music and said, “This is not The Pips.” “I know, mummy but what is this? I like it,” I replied.

I met Lincoln (Cheng), the owner of Zouk, when I was 14. Because of my history with Zouk, the club was given to me as a venue for my album launches in very easy fashion. I’ve seen all the changes the club has gone through. I remember during those days, everyone was in polka-dotted shirts and dancing to Madonna’s “Vogue.”

I first visited the Asia Bagus set as a member of the audience. Najip Ali, the host and my good friend, had suggested we become a part of the audience since we had to wait for him to finish anyway. They used to pay you $10 for being a member of the audience for one episode. And in one day, they would record three episodes. That’s $30. When you’re fifteen years old, that’s a lot.

I was spotted by this guy from Pony Canyon (one of Japan’s leading record companies) at the lobby of the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (now MediaCorp). A friend and I were waiting for Najip to change out of his wardrobe and this guy saw me and asked his translator who I was. He asked me if I could rap and sing and asked me to freestyle for him right there and then. I did, and he invited us to join the Asia Bagus contest. That’s how we ended up winning the Grand Championship.

Everything that I know now about the respect for the stage and your fellow artistes is from Najip, Kumar and Chris Ho. These are my three “mothers and fathers.”

Can I do anything else? I don’t think so. I only know how to do this. I don’t know what it’s like to work for anyone else and I don’t know what it’s like to get constant pay.

I think love is a forgotten value in Singapore. It’s so stressful in this country; everyone keeps to themselves. I don’t mean to sound cliché, but I believe in love. It is through love that my new album was launched.

If you’re a man and you’ve got one person to love you, you’re a made man. I have 10 solid people who love me to death. I’m made.

How did the idea for the RSC’s concept of abridged plays come about?
The company originated a long time ago in 1981. The original gang members were pass-the-hat street performers at renaissance fairs in California. They had 20-minute slots to perform in and started off doing short versions of Hamlet. They thought that if they could do two of Shakespeare’s plays under an hour, then surely there was the potential to expand a lot more.

What are some of the challenges of putting on such a large-scale show with only three people? We hear costume changes can be quite tricky.
That’s so true! We play more than a dozen roles in each of the shows we do. The biggest challenge of all is having a group you like working with. In this case we’ve got a nice bunch of people. RSC is very careful about who they hire. They only hire people who are easy to travel with. Sometimes that takes priority over acting ability.

Can everyone relate to your shows?
We try to make sure our shows acceptable to all audiences and we try to write them in such a way that if you don’t know anything about the subject matter, you will still find it funny. You will still be able to enjoy it. The thing we’re most fond of hearing about our shows is that if you know something about it, you’ll love it. If you don’t, you’ll love it too. You don’t have to be a history or movie buff. There is plenty of good stuff for everybody.

Have you gotten into trouble for any of your works?
Well, we use water guns in our show occasionally. Every once in awhile, someone might say, “Hey why are you squirting my wife with a water gun?" It’s all in good fun. Anyone who’s going to get upset about this stuff is taking life too seriously. We’re all just out there to have a good time and make people laugh.

What are some highlights we can look forward to from the Hollywood bit of your show?
There is a climatic, powerful ending to the show. Look out for our staging of upcoming movies that can be quite funny. We also do a combination of movies. Some of them are Snow White and the Seven Samurai and Singing in the Rain.

Get ready to laugh out loud with The Reduced Shakespeare Company through Nov 7, 9-14, 3pm, 8pm. Jubilee Hall, Raffles Hotel, 1 Beach Rd., 6412-1335. $58-118 from Sistic.

If you’re going to pay to stay in a local hotel (or recommend one to a visitor), it needs something that makes it stand out. All of these hotels feature unique design concepts that distinguish them from more run of the mill places. But design alone isn’t enough—you actually have to spend the night, after all. We rated four of our favorites for creativity, suitability for spending the night and affordability.

Wanderlust

One of the most recent arrivals on the niche boutique hotel scene, Wanderlust was designed for madcap, curious voyagers in search of adventure. Awardwinning design agencies Asylum, :phunk Studio and fFurious, as well as renowned architect firm DP Architects were assigned a level each to conceptualize any way they desired, and the result was a hodge podge of daring themes like “Creature Comforts,” “Industrial Glam,” “Eccentricity” and “Is It Just Black or White?”
Cool factor: 4/5
The pantone “capsule” rooms designed by the :phunk boys are really quite, well, funky, with each space cheerfully lit by a neon sign sporting an apt song title. The Pink Triangle (a Weezer number) room looks like it’d be great for a sleepover with the gals (or playing Paris Hilton for a night).
Overnight appeal: 2/5
You definitely need a sense of adventure to stay in this one. While it is one thing to sit down on a giant typewriter (“Creature Comforts” on level four designed by fFurious), it is another to sleep under a giant carpet of leaves stuck to the ceiling. We like the fact that there’s a pretty little Jacuzzi on the second level alfresco deck. But its close proximity to the neighboring flats is a bit of an issue.
Rates: $300-650
Verdict: This is certainly one of the coolest boutique hotels in town (its location in Little India also ups its street cred), but you’d need a lot of cash to spare to justify a staycation here.
Check in at: 2 Dickson Rd., 6396-3322, www.wanderlusthotel.com.
 

Klapsons

Leading design company Sawaya & Moroni scores points in design with architecture that is avant garde, yet not over the top. From the leaning lamps to the futuristic-looking chrome sphere reception, everything about Klapsons is minimalist with a touch of luxe.
Cool factor: 3/5
Unfortunately, most of the avant garde design elements don’t go beyond the hotel’s main lobby. The Executive and Cosmo rooms have mostly dark parquet walls and the bathrooms are surrounded by glass—sexy, if not exactly cool. If you want to be impressed, you may have to check into one of their suites, which give you access to an alfresco deck equipped with a daybed and an outdoor Jacuzzi.
Overnight appeal: 4/5
There’s no denying that the comfort factor here is very high. What the hotel lacks in creativity it makes up for in luxurious offerings such as the butler and secretary services (upon request).
Rates: $270-600
Verdict: In a class of its own. And that’s not just the Chivas whisky talking.
Check in at: Tower 15, 15 Hoe Chiang Rd., 6521-9030, www.klapsons.com.
 

New Majestic

There’s no other word for the design of this place but “eclectic.” There are 30 rooms altogether, with names like “The Mirror Room,” “The Hanging Bed Room,” “The Aquarium Room” and “The Loft Room,” and they all bear the influences of the nine local artists commissioned to dress up the place with their original, site-specific artworks. There are also five concept rooms designed by bigwigs of the local creative scene like stylist Daniel Boey and fashion designer Wykidd Song.
Cool factor: 4/5
This is quite possibly one of the edgiest hotels we’ve been in. Just walking across the gleaming terrazzo floors of the open-concept lift lobby is sure to get you excited but if you’re looking for a greater adrenaline rush (or if you’re a voyeurism nut), get a table underneath the ceiling portholes of the hotel restaurant. You might be able to see people splashing about in the swimming pool right above you if you’re lucky. For a dramatic living experience, check out director Glen Goei’s Wayang room.
Overnight appeal: 3/5
If you’re a sucker for space, you’ll appreciate The Loft Room, if only for their giant vintage twin tubs. You’re also ensured top quality sleep here, what with the 280 thread count sheets and plush down and feather pillows by luxury brand Ploh.
Rates: $250 upwards
Verdict: Definitely worth checking out. Hell, go ask to see the rooms even if you can’t afford to stay.
Check in at: 31 Bukit Pasoh Rd., 6511-4700, www.newmajestichotel.com.
 

The Club

Ministry of Design has successfully combined the exotic feel of Chinatown with Singapore’s illustrious colonial history. From the statue of Sir Stamford Raffles with his head up in the “clouds” to signify his ambitions for early Temasek to the gaudy pink Chinese-inspired upholstery, the Club Hotel is a stylish pairing of modern minimalism and oriental elements.
Cool factor: 1/5
It’s nice but not something you’d write home about. The rooms are standard—all white space with a tinge of floral artwork. The use of checkered walls and floors reminds us a teeny bit of the film Beetlejuice (and most cafés these days, actually).
Overnight appeal: 4/5
There’s a lot of white space and the walls are soundproofed so it’s probably a good place to hide out in if you’re thinking of getting some “work” done without interruption. They’ve also included a thoughtful lounge and seating area in most of the rooms, which we like.
Rates: $210-450
Verdict: Great for some indulgent me time.
Check in at: 28 Ann Siang Rd., 6808-2188, www.theclub.com.sg.

More off-the wall options

Hotel 1929
This four-star boutique hotel boasts a funky mix of retro-chic interiors and old world architecture. We like their blue-tiled, rooftop Jacuzzi, 80s-inspired rooms (though the floral gaudy motifs can be a bit of a turn-off) and the quaint dining space of Ember Restaurant.
50 Keong Saik Rd., 6347-1929
 

Hotel Moon
The newest kid on the boutique hotel block looks set to heat up the competition with 60 Standard rooms, eight Deluxe rooms, 14 (massive) Executive rooms and one pretty, idyllic Moonlight suite. It’s not a very tall building but the suite’s alfresco deck makes you feel like the sky’s just opened up to you.
23 Dickson Rd., 6827-6666
 

Studio M Hotel
Italian design maestro Piero Lissoni has ensured elegance and sophistication throughout the hotel using a subtle palette of colors and hints of plant life. The amazingly spacious lofts also feature floorto- ceiling glass windows that allow you to enjoy expansive views of the city’s skyline, as well as open concept wardrobes.

3 Nanson Rd., 6808-8888

If you’ve watched one of those high profile races on TV like the Ironman Triathlon, you’d know that a triathlon is one of the most challenging perseverance sports around. However, it can also be one of the most rewarding. “It is so satisfying when you cross the finishing line [even if you don’t win it] because it means you’ve just done three sports and more,” says Ashley Liew, captain of the Singapore Management University (SMU) Aquathlon Club. But rewarding as it is, the nature of the race means you’ve got to train to be a Jack of at least three trades. We spoke to some local experts for tips on how to gear up for each discipline and where to find the right kit.

Taking the Plunge
Often, triathletes describe the swimming start of the race as like being in a human washing machine, with a few thousand people diving into the water at the same time. “In Singapore, they stagger the start so that participants take turns; but it’s still frightening if you’re a beginner,” says swimming instructor Augustine Teo. “If you’re a good swimmer, you should be able to get used to it after a while though.” Marco Ferdinandi, a regional director for Pure Fitness (3/F Knightsbridge, 270 Orchard Rd., 6100-3813) and an established triathlon coaching consultant, recommends that beginners learn the proper technique, which can make a real difference to their performance. “A trainer who understands the right swim technique can help you deflect unnecessary injury during your swim,” he says. Being comfortable also helps improve your overall performance. Corporate sales manager of Pure Fitness and a participant in the Asia-Pacific Ironman Championship Dane Cantwell says that there is an endless amount of equipment you can use to help you to swim faster, lighter, stronger and longer. “For the swimming bit of the race, you will need to set yourself up with a pair of swimming goggles, fins and paddles,” he recommends.
Gear up at Royal Sporting House, #B1-23 Great World City, 1 Kim Seng Promenade, 6734-2983.

Taking the Wheel
One important aspect to consider when training for a triathlon is the transition from one event to the other. Cycling on its own may be relatively easy but cycling after a long, cold swim? Tricky. “Preparing to go from a swim to a bike, commonly known as “brick training,” is essential (for participants) to feel comfortable and confident during the race. You would want at least six to eight weeks of transition training before heading into a triathlon,” says Pure Fitness’ Ferdinandi. “My structured daily training plan not only involves swimming, biking and running but also brick trainings or bike-runs, which are crucial in triathlons,” adds Ashley Liew. But before you can get started on your “brick training,” you’re going to need the most essential item—a bicycle. “The bike is probably the biggest money purchase a triathlete will need to make. It’s really crucial that you get fitted properly on your bike at a bike shop that knows how to size you correctly,” advises Ferdinandi. A helmet and cycling shoes are also essential.
Gear up at AttitudeBikes, 118 Telok Kurau Rd., 6344-4579.

The Home Run
Besides running (obviously), a good way to improve aerobic and cardiovascular fitness while getting used to the concept of mass racing is by signing up for jogging or walking clinics. “In a Jog-a-long class at Pure Fitness, the route and pace will be set by the instructor depending on the group’s running level. Another class is Walk-a-long, which is one of those social sessions that involve taking you outdoors for a brisk walk, varying the routes each time,” says Ferdinando. But while group sessions help improve your overall performance in the running bit of the race, there is another transition you should take note of—the cycle-run. “East Coast Park is an excellent place to train for both cycling and running with some nice flat paths. You can even try to combine a cycle-run session there,” Cantwell suggests.
Gear up at Sportslink, #01-07-12 Queensway Shopping Ctr., 6471-2363.

Get in on the action at these triathlon events:

Aviva Ironman 70.3 Singapore Triathlon
Since its inception in 2006, the Ironman 70.3 series has become one of the most popular and fastest growing triathlon races in the world. There are now 42 events globally, including the one in Singapore held in March, which qualifies athletes for the Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 80.3 in Last Vegas. For more information, log on to www.ironman703singapore.com.

OSIM Singapore International Triathlon
One of the more established triathlons in Singapore, the event presented by the Triathlon Association of Singapore and held in April consists of smaller categories depending on the aim of your workout. There is an under-14 category, a less taxing Mini Triathlon and even a Corporate Triathlon for those who want to attempt a bit of team building. For more information, log on to www.triathlon.sg.

Tribob Singapore Sprint Series
Great for triathlon newbies, the Tribob Singapore Sprint Series has various distances and categories to suit all age groups and fitness levels. Their triathlon event is held in May. Tribob also offers you tailor-made training clinics to prepare you for your big race. For more information, log on to www.singaporesprintseries.com.
 

A new contender for the retro-soul trophy has emerged in the form of 21-year-old, half-Iranian half-Jamaican beauty Roxanne Tataei (aka Rox). Not only did her debut album Memoirs make critics sit up and take notice; she also earned a nomination for Best New Act in the UK and Ireland at the MTV European Music Awards this year.

You've gone pretty far since your church choir days and have even gone on tour with Mark Ronson and Daniel Merriweather. How's life in the fast lane?
I love that I get to travel while doing what I love the most. I've been fortunate to be given the opportunity to see places and meet people. But it can be emotionally and physically draining. The first time is always great but by the third time, the novelty's worn off.

Any particular cities you like?
I love Paris; it's hard not to fall in love with it! Everything there is so beautiful. I also love performing in Germany. The people there are always up for it and they are really into my stuff. One of my favorite gigs was for the Newport City Radio show there. It was an amazing and wicked show in a small but beautiful theater.

How about Singapore?
I love it there! My boyfriend is Singaporean so I know all about Singapore. The weather's great because I'm not a fan of the cold. I'm a vegetarian so there's not much I can eat usually but in Singapore, there are just so many things to try! I love laksa, and the vegetarian options here have mock meat in them.

Where do you go to get inspired?
For me, it's really anywhere quiet. It's best when I'm in my house, alone with the piano. I also like to listen to music by the people I like and respect most in the industry, like Alanis Morrisette. I became a big fan of Grace Jones this year. I've seen her perform and she totally owns the stage. Everyone feels incredibly attracted to her.

What do you miss doing?
I miss spending time with my favorite people—my mom, grandparents and friends. I'm most comfortable at home when I'm with them, which doesn't happen a lot now.
 

What are some of your favorite things?
Well, I'm a red wine lover. I love to go for wine tasting sessions; they're my favorite thing to do ever. I also love writing music.

Get a dose of Rox's perky voice and charm when she performs Nov 5, 8pm. TAB, #02-29, 442 Orchard Rd., 6493-6952. $38 from TAB.

Working in a weekly magazine means you don’t always have the time to attend chi chi events. There are some I don’t really care for but there are others, like the Rebellious: Hoyu Professional Hair Show 2010 held at the marvelous Hotel Re!, that I regret missing. I heard the entire show was a fantastical phantasmagoria of colors, textures and costumes; almost like theater except the stars of the show were hairstyles. Want to emulate the “I am Female” look below? Track down hair designer Wina Zhang from Hair Fusion Salon (#01-108, Blk 824 Tampines St. 81, 6787-1675).

Staying in the office when I’d rather be out and about means I’m now 10kg heavier than I was in January. So when an invitation to try the Cool Sculpting by Zeltiq procedure—a new non-invasive way to reduce fat—came in the mail, I jumped at it. According to Dr. Yvonne Goh, the machine draws your targeted bulge up between two panels and intensely cools the area so that your fat cells are crystallized, eventually resulting in a 20 percent reduction of fat. But if you have a low threshold for pain, you may find it uncomfortable. The nozzle tugs and sucks on your targeted area and cools it to the point of freezing. It’s like being pinched by someone wearing gloves of dry ice. The discomfort does go away though. $1,500 is a lot for a single session but considering that most of their clients feel satisfied by the results after three to six weeks, I reckon it’s a small price to pay. Watch this space for progress on my muffin top. In the meantime, call Medical Aesthetics @ Cluny (#02-12 Cluny Court, 501 Bukit Timah Rd., 6462-2259) to book an appointment.

Like any good doctor, Dr. Goh advised me to maintain a healthy lifestyle to fully enjoy the effects of my sculpting session. A fun way to remain fit is by participating in the upcoming Salomon X-Trail Race Clinic on Oct 30, 7:30am at MacRitchie Reservoir, in preparation for the real run on Nov 14. Familiarize yourself with the scenic trails of the park and enjoy all the under-rated benefits of trail running like quick muscle recovery and unpolluted air. To register, email your name, IC number and contact details to salomonrun@vgocorp.com with “Salomon Race Clinic Race” as the subject. A $15 registration fee will be collected on site. For more information, log on to www.salomonx-trailrun.com.

The buzz: Direct from Hong Kong’s Mid-Levels, it’s the latest contender for best gym in town. And it’s certainly one heck of a billboard they have hanging outside the new Knightsbridge building.

The vibe: It looks luxurious, all 15,000 square feet of it. Stepping onto its parquet floors bathed in mood lighting is like sliding into a warm bath, especially if you’ve had to wrestle the merciless Orchard crowd to get here.

The facilities: It wouldn’t be a world class gym if it didn’t have state-of-the-art goods: In this case, the Life Fitness Signature Series line of equipment. There’s spacious areas for strength training, boxing and free weights, plus advanced cardio machines equipped with—wait for it—DVD entertainment systems and personal screens. You can even plug into your favorite cable channel. The first thing you see when you step in though, is the stylish kitchenette, complete with a fridge (help yourself to the soft drinks and water) and a coffee machine. The crème de la crème (for us at least) is the complimentary workout gear, toiletries and all the other stuff you usually have to carry around with you all day if you want to go to the gym after work.

Why you’ll be back: Because Coco Lee says you should. And because, on top of everything else, there are also 30 group exercise classes every week, including studio cycling, hip hop and Bodypump. There are also boot camp workouts.

3/F Knightsbridge, 270 Orchard Rd., 6100-3813. Open Mon-Sat 6am-midnight, Sun 8am-10pm.

Growing up in HK, I spent a lot of time in this private garden and playground we had. Everyday was about going down there to be with my friends so we could roller skate, swing on the monkey bars and play volleyball. It wasn’t like how it is now where kids get lost in the Internet.

I grew up in a single parent family. My father passed away before I was even born. That’s why I never had the heart to hurt my mother. People go through a rebellious stage at some point of their lives but I never had that because I knew how hard it was for my mom to support me and my two sisters.

I never had a chance to work as anything else; my first job was singing. I entered a singing contest in Hong Kong which was similar to American Idol. I won second place and got signed right away.

The journey I went through after high school and the singing contest, as well as being thrown into the world of entertainment was really, really hard. There was a lot of waiting. People only see the glamorous side of it all. What they don’t know is that it takes months, sometime even a year to prepare for a concert. But the audience sees only three hours of it.

Mentally, you have to accept whatever life throws at you. You have to keep an open mind. Both positive and negative news need to be taken with a grain of salt.
I have a very strong work ethic. I always believe you must treat people the way you want to be treated.

My family’s always with me. That keeps me grounded. But like any other artiste, I do have two sides of me. At home, I’m Ferren. On stage, I’m Coco. I command that stage. I’m more powerful. But when you meet me in person, I’m like a girlfriend from high school. A lot of people who meet me say that I’m very approachable.

I think there’s a lot of sacrificing to do when you’re in love. In the beginning, Bruce [Rockowitz]and I didn’t want to go public because it was our private lives but it became scary when we had the paparazzi chasing us as if we were criminals. It was very dangerous. And we thought, “Forget it, it’s probably safer to come out and tell people that we’re in love.” Now they don’t bother us as much.

We’ve all had our hearts broken and we’ll always remember the guy who did it. When it happened to me, I was very young, probably in my early 20s. I was really crazy about the guy; he was my first true love. Then, I found out he was cheating on me.

I say it’s better that you find out he’s an ass now rather than later because you can get rid of his ass sooner. If he’s cheating on you, you don’t need him. You have to love and respect yourself.

To keep a relationship going, you always have to keep it hot. You’ve got to act like the mistress, the girlfriend and the wife. You can’t just be contented with what’s there. Bruce and I have been going out for nearly eight years and it still feels like the beginning.

I only started working out when I came to HK for my singing contest. I used to eat a lot. I realized I needed to lose weight when I noticed all these guys staring at my boobs on the MTR. Everyone should work out; it makes you feel so good!

Rarely do the offspring of artistic superstars go on to enjoy global acclaim themselves, but Natalie Cole is an exception. Born and raised in a family that was passionate about performing, her love affair with R&B and jazz began when she was five years old.

You're going to do a special "duet" with your father at the Singapore Sun Festival. What was he like? My father was a great fan of sports. He was born in Alabama, which means he was always used to great cooking. He loved his work; it was most important to him. He also liked going to parties.

What have been some of your most memorable performances? There was this show I did to promote Unforgettable: With Love at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City that was huge. It was an amazing night, the stage was beautiful and I loved my outfit. I was dressed like an angel. The audience clapped so much! I'll never forget that.

You suffered a major shock last year, when you almost died of kidney failure. How did you deal with that? Oh that was awful; that was an experience. I'm so thankful that I was given another chance to live. I just wrote a book, which will be released internationally on Nov 9. I love the story in there; it's a story about health, about treasuring your life. I talk about receiving a kidney transplant and about my journey since that turning point in my life in this book. Writing it was a beautiful process.

You've sung, written and even acted in some television shows and feature films. What else is in store for the versatile Natalie Cole? I want to do more songwriting. I also want to continue working with different styles of music. At the Sun Festival, I will be going back to my R&B roots. I like to mix it up because it's more exciting that way.

Catch Natalie Cole in Concert on Oct 31, 8pm. Esplanade Theatre, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8377. $38-218 from Sistic. Check out www.singaporesunfestival.com for details.