Bigger and more exciting than before, the Mosaic Music Festival is back with an eclectic lineup at the Esplanade—Theatres on the Bay (1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8377). Almost every music genre can be found in this 10-day event, from indie to jazz, hip hop to soul. To help the bewildered make up their minds on which shows to attend, we’re rounding up the festival, shedding light on the acts and their musical styles.

If you like jazz, don’t miss...

MAR 9. Live at Duke’s Place—The Music of Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. If you dig jazz biggies like Edward Kennedy Ellington (aka The Duke), Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, this gig is for you. Duke’s grandson Paul Mercer Ellington hits the stage with vocalist Freda Payne and trumpeter Byron Stripling to pay homage to these celebrated musicians. 7:30pm. Concert Hall. $40-148 from Sistic.

FREE - MAR 9. Urban Reunion. Malaysian act Dina merges R&B with ethnic sounds, while Indonesian vocal group Tofu performs hip hop, r&b and rap. 7pm. Nokia Music Station.

MAR 11. Feels Good by Take 6. Jazz cats who like contemporary jazz and a cappella gospel should pay a listen to Take 6. This vocal group has performed with Stevie Wonder. 7:30pm. Concert Hall. $40-118 from Sistic.

MAR 12. Stellar Regions—Tribute to John Coltrane. With the aid of local musicians Zai Kuning, Yuen Chee Wai and Aya Sekine, band Tim O’Dwyer Trio relives the songs of late saxophonist, composer and philosopher John Coltrane. 7:30pm. Recital Studio. $25-38 from Sistic.

FREE - MAR 14. Bring In Da Noise, Bring In Da Funk. Singaporean bands Now Playing and Raindogs take the stage. Five-piece Now Playing plays addictive Japanese funk, jazz and pop while Raindogs are good at playing groovy funk, jazz and blues. 6:30pm. The Concourse.

MAR 14. Double Bill—Bridges by Tetsu Saitoh, Omar Puente and Robert Mitchell. Tetsu Saitoh will first showcase his skills with the double bass before violinist Omar Puente and pianist Robert Michell dish out jazz, Cuban and classical. 7:30pm. Recital Studio. $25-38 from Sistic.

MAR 15. Crystal Silence—Chick Corea & Gary Burton Duets. Together with vibraphonist Gary Burton, pianist and composer Chick Corea plays songs from the acclaimed album Crystal Silence. Expect intimate jazz music. 7:30pm. Concert Hall. $40-148 from Sistic.

MAR 16. Youn Sun Nah 5: Korean jazz vocalist Youn Sun Nah shows off her sugary but powerful voice. Supporting her on stage are drummer Robin Laurent, double bassist Yoni Zelnik, vibraphonist David Neerman and pianist Benjamin Moussay. 7:30pm. Recital Studio. $25-38 from Sistic.

If you like blues and funk, don’t miss...

MAR 10. Montreux Jazz Special Concert—Tower of Power. Tower of Power started off as a duo in 1967, before growing to become a 10-piece outfit. Incorporating funk, soul and R&B in their sound, this act has played for Santana, John Lee Hooker, Phish and Aerosmith. 7:30pm. Concert Hall. $40-148 from Sistic.

MAR 10. Terry Callier. Singer songwriter Terry Callier’s influences stem from blues, soul and folk. His lyrics are sublime, talking about humanity. You’ll be surprised to know this sensitive soul was once, of all things, a computer programmer. 10pm. Theatre Studio. $38 from Sistic.

MAR 13 & 14. Carleen Anderson. The goddaughter of James Brown and Bobby Byrd, Houston-born vocalist Carleen Anderson impresses with sincere lyrics and an absorbing sound that has elements of soul, funk, gospel and R&B. She will be supported by homegrown singer Michaela Therese on Mar 13. Mar 13, 9:30pm; Mar 14, 10pm. Theatre Studio. $38 from Sistic.

MAR 14. One Self with DJ Vadim. DJ Vadim, together with MCs Yarah Bravo and Blu Rum 13, makes cool hip hop, with hints of soul and world music. 9:30pm. DXO, #01-13F Esplanade Mall, 8 Raffles Ave., 6582-4896. $38 from Sistic.

MAR 16. Buddy Guy. Amazing blues guitarist Buddy Guy has influenced rock giants such as Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix. A must catch, this musician has bagged five Grammy awards. 7:30pm. Concert Hall. $58-148 from Sistic.

MAR 16. Putumayo Party! With Brooklyn Funk Essentials. This 12-piece group plays funk, Latin, reggae, jazz, house, dub, electro and hip hop. Brooklyn Funk Essentials has toured with people to the likes of Jamiroquai and Ben Harper. 10pm. Theatre Studio. $38 from Sistic.

MAR 18. The Shrine of Afrobeat—Femi Kuti & The Postive Force. Nigerian composer Femi Kuti merges traditional African music with American funk and jazz. 7:30pm. Concert Hall. $40-118 from Sistic.

If you like folk ’n pop, don’t miss...

MAR 11. José González. Combine Scandinavian indie folk with Latin and you get the heartrending sound of singer songwriter José González. His innovative covers of songs by Massive Attack, The Knife and Kylie Minogue have raised his profile. 11pm. Concert Hall. $40-58 from Sistic.

MAR 12. Rickie Lee Jones. Her sound is a refreshing concoction of talking, whispering, sobs and singing. This Grammy-winning musician mashes up jazz, soul, rock, pop, folk, spoken-word and more. 11pm. Concert Hall. $40-118 from Sistic.

MAR 15. Nerina Pallot. You’ll see traces of Sheryl Crow, Carole King, Tori Amos and Joni Mitchell in Nerina Pallot’s music. Armed with her brew of folk rock, this singer-songwriter has opened for James Blunt, Suzanne Vega and Joseph Arthur. 7:30pm, 9:30pm. Recital Hall. $25-38 from Sistic.

MAR 17. Rachael Yamagata. Endowed with a low, sultry voice, Racheal Yamagata integrates folk, indie rock, pop and jazz in her music. This cutie has been compared to Norah Jones and Fiona Apple. 7:30pm. Concert Hall. $60-118 from Sistic.

FREE - MAR 17. Sasha Bach Band. Hailing from Denmark, four piece band fronted by singer songwriter Sasha Bach plays infectious rock. 7:30pm; 8:45pm. Nokia Powerhouse.

MAR 17. Tristan Prettyman. Tristan Prettyman plays upbeat and breezy folk pop and has toured with Jason Mraz. 7:30pm, 9:30pm. Recital Studio. $25-38 from Sistic.

If you like everything indie...

FREE - MAR 10. Rock Tigers. A Korean band who takes you back to ’60s rock ‘n’ roll. You’ll like them if you’re into Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly and Gene Vincent! 10pm. Nokia Powerhouse.

MAR 12. Yo La Tengo. One of the longest surviving indie rock bands, Yo La Tengo often marries noise, pop, garage and folk. This cheeky three-piece, made up of Ira Kaplan, Georgia Hubley and James McNew, has 15 albums under its belt, with the most recent offering being I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass. 7:30pm. Concert Hall. $40-118 from Sistic.

MAR 13. Jaga Jazzist. Bringing to mind Aphex Twin, Tortoise, Talk Talk and Soft Machine, Jaga Jazzist serves up music that spans across shoegaze, electronica, progressive rock, jazz and experimental. Local outfit The Observatory will open for this band. Miss this at your own peril. 8:30pm. Concert Hall. $40-118 from Sistic.

MAR 13. Ursula Rucker—Soul Poetry. Delving into topics such as child abuse, isolation and violence, Ursula Rucker talks her way through her songs in a poetic-like manner. Her music is laced with nu-jazz, hip hop and drum ’n’ bass. 7:30pm. Recital Studio. $25-38 from Sistic.

MAR 15. The Album Leaf. Doling out liberal amounts of moody soundscapes, The Album Leaf comprising of Jimmy LaValle, Drew Andrews, Tomothy Reece, Matthew Resovich and Andrew Pates. Cool visual artworks will accompany their music in the show. 7:30pm, 10pm. Theatre Studio. $38 from Sistic.

FREE - MAR 16. Indie-Mand. Award-winning Thai band Goose whips out post rock and indie numbers while local acts Auburn’s Epiphany and Lilac Saints wreck the amps with alternative and indie. 7pm. Nokia Music Station.

MAR 17. Futon. No stranger to gigging in Singapore, Thai band Futon concocts a stirring mix of rock, punk and pop. Listen out for catchy favorites such as “I Wanna Be Your Dog” and “Gay Boy.” Supporting this act is X’Ho’s band The Fabulous IQ of David Gunn. 9:30pm. Theatre Studio. $38 from Sistic.

MAR 17. Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra. Hailing from Japan, members of Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra like to dress up in tuxes and yell, jump madly or fight with their instruments when performing. Listen out for ska, jazz, rock and big band influences. 11pm. Concert Hall. $40-58 from Sistic.

b. there

Fans of revered French label Agnes b. will be thrilled to know that the retrospective Spring/Summer collection is now in store. One of its most diverse collections yet, look out for a myriad of styles—from rock ’n’ roll inspired t-shirts to antique linen dresses to one-piece minis to cherry print strapped dresses to swimwear featuring metallic fabrics—it’s one helluva of a collection. So what are you waiting for? Available from 2-3/F, Isetan Scotts, Shaw House, 350 Orchard Rd., 6733-5848.

Prime Time

Black, white and metallic shades of silver and gold are the main colors used in Anteprima’s Spring/Summer 2007 Collection. Showcasing a collection associated with golf, tennis, beach and horse riding, Anteprima seeks to transform the wearer into an iridescent goddess with its compliment of accessories and retro headscarves. The ready-to-wear pieces are easy to mix and match. Pair the gold belt through the classic white dress and gold woven Boston bag for instant Mischa Barton glamor; or slip into one of their fabric heels for hi-tea with friends. Available from #01-06 Paragon, 290 Orchard Rd., 6235-3996.

#01-41/42 VivoCity, 1 Harbourfront Walk, 6376-8122.

Fans of high-street label River Island need not travel all the way to the UK for their fashion fix anymore. Finally, the first Southeast Asian flagship store has just opened at mammoth shopping mall VivoCity. The mood of the store is free and easy, featuring modern materials such as exposed brick, natural stone, glass and steel, juxtaposed with rows and rows of clothes that are replenished every week. For the ladies this season, look no further than the mini dresses, metallic colours and all round ’80s vibe, while for the men, dandy and smart jackets, shirts and pants are the order of the day. This should give Zara and Gap a run for their money.

Beastie Boys: Known also for wearing matching outfits when performing, Beastie Boys have bagged Grammys, shared stages with Madonna and influenced many artistes with their trademark hip hop. And who can forget their catchy songs like “Ch-Check It Out?” This show sees them collaborating with Mix Master Mike and Money Mark. Just seeing these guys perform will make your ticket worth.

Cut Copy: If you like disco, post punk and pop, this Aussie band is worth a catch. Dan Whiford, Tim Hoey and Mitchell Scott make up this three-piece act.

Cicada: UK electronic band Cicada has remixed for Depeche Mode and New Order. On the list of their renowned singles include “Electric Blue” and “Cut Right Through.”

Ursula 1000: Hailing from Big Apple, Alex Gimeno’s (aka Ursula 1000) sound has elements of (almost) everything, from jazz to electro, latin to bossa nova, psychedelia to glam rock.

DJ Dan: This leading DJ has wrecked dance floors with Carl Cox, Moby, David Bowie, Tiesto, John Digweed and Busta Rhymes. If you need a jab of good dance music, catch his set.

Mad Mats: Ready yourself for some insane fun with Swedish DJ Mad Mats. His sound cuts across house, hip hop, broken beats, funk, latin, retro and jazz.

Spiritual South: Mark Robertson, or Spiritual South, laces his music with liberal amounts of Latin and samba. If big sounding music is your love, look out for him.

Electrico: Homegrown pop rock band has familiar songs like “I Want You” and “All the World.”

Wicked Aura Batucada: Watch out for addictive beats from local percussion ensemble Wicked Aura Batucada.

Visual Feast: Besides music, party goers can enjoy works by local visual creatives Phunk Studio, CAPT and Telephasic Images. Of noteworthy mention is international prolific graphic artist Rostarr, who has worked with Nike, Gravis and Agnès b. Together with local artists, he will design a Subaru car which will be exhibited on the day itself.

With his bag of house and electronica records, Tom Stephan is lethal. He formed his own record label ChumboMundo in 2005 and has won thumbs-up from big names like Danny Tenaglia and Deep Dish. Stephan discusses music and sudoku with I-S.

What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve done?
Remixing Tom Jones.

One thing you regretted doing?
Not wearing my DJ ear protection years ago when my doctor told me to.

The worst sound you’ve heard?
Happy hardcore.

Your favorite city to spin in?
New York, because it's the city where my love for house was born.

What’s a fool-proof pickup line you use?
There’s no need to say anything. It’s all in the eyes.

If you could change the world, what about it would you change?
I wish we would stop destroying the planet.

What bores you?
Sudoku.

What’s your most terrifying nightmare?
Playing sudoku at a happy hardcore rave!

Bands are all the rage these days, with an increasing number of events devoted to them. And Asean Rocks! is just one. A five day aural extravaganza, acts from 10 Asean countries come to Singapore to wreck amps and deliver heart-pumping music. We give you a quick lowdown on the lineup.

Jan 28

Electrico: This local band needs no introduction. A five-piece pop rock act who has garnered a number of fans partly because of its catchy tunes.

Wicked Aura Batucada: Consisting of 13 members percussion act Wicked Aura Batucada will also gig at the upcoming Good Vibrations Festival.

Hady Mirza: A Singapore Idol who has set many young female hearts aflutter before. His latest album and single “You Give Me Wings” is a hit.

D’medley: A young up-and-coming progressive rock act from Brunei who is making waves in their country.

Jan 29

Bamboo: Manila band Bamboo has graced Bar None prior, and is known for alternative rock songs such as “As The Music Plays” and “Noypi.” Vocalist Bamboo Manalac was a member of Rivermaya.

The Cell: A six-piece formed in 2000, this band’s first big break was in 2003, when they released an album Khon Suay. The Cell is from Laos.

Jan 30

Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein: Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein is an eminent female pop and rap singer who is loved for her charisma on the stage.

U Moe Naing: A hot rock band hailing from Myanmar.

Samson: Some of Indonesian band Samson’s biggest alternative pop-rock hits include “Kenangan Terindah” and “Naluri Lelaki.”

Jan 31

Clash: A leading Thai band which cut the album Crashing last year. These guys’ MTVs have been featured on telly countless times.

Yellow Skin (Davang): Good songs from top Vietnam metal band Yellow Skin include“SOS” and “Back Dang Giang.”

Feb 1

Amok: From the other side of the causeway, this is not the first time Amok is performing in Singapore. They play power metal.

Coconut: Coconut is a well-liked rock band from Cambodia. Be prepared to rock with them.

“Check the tags for ‘made in [country]’ and make sure collars are stain free. Fake stuff usually comes from different countries of origin.”
J.son Tang from Filthy

“When washing jeans, turn them inside out and scrub only the inside of the jeans. Never scrub the exterior. Use a mild detergent to wash—shampoo works great. Finally, dry under the hot sun inside out to kill any germs or bacteria that might reside.”
Chang from The Attic

“Look for something that has been looked after and holds its shape. If it looks fake, don’t buy it. Don’t forget the tags—if it looks old then it should be real.”
Phil Gallagher from www.istealmemories.com

#01-18/20, Spain2Dream, VivoCity, 1 HabourFront Walk, 6376-9116.

Not just another fashion label from Spain, Desigual embodies the essence of youth in all its glory. Find play and humour in this season’s colourful pieces at the brightly lit store in VivoCity. The Desigual team has cooked up four magic stories behind their clothing with inspirations from the urban jungle: The caravan, beaches, rocks and the usual day to day life of the young and hip. Find gear with graffiti prints, splashes of colour and typography that revolves around love and passion—great for the young and young at heart.

Grade A

A/X Armani Exchange’s (#02-13/14 Paragon, 290 Orchard Rd., 6732-5726) collection for Spring is understated yet rebellious. Eastern influences collide with west coast rocker chic through a collection that fuses neutral colours such as navy, black, white and grey. The mix of organic fabrics and elongated silhouettes ensure that the cuts are always flattering (especially if you’re well-toned as well), while for the ladies, look out for floral printed dresses, striped knit polos and willowy tops. Get them now.

All Geared Up

Denim lovers must not miss Diesel’s (#02-40 Paragon, 290 Orchard Rd., 6732-3525) hot Spring/Summer collection. Ensuring boys and girls that they look good all the time, the jeans are cut in such a way that waistlines are semi-low, and look best when cinched with big multi-buckle belts. The cut is also slim, with small embellishments and functional pockets ensuring that the look remains accessible yet rugged.

Walk This Way

Put your best foot forward with pretty new shoes from Sole 2 Sole’s (#03-28, Mandarin Gallery, 333 Orchard Road, 6836-3230) latest arrivals. From London Soles, choose from an assortment of comfy ballet flats ($239-279) in funky leopard prints, polished patents or understated leather. From Arch Shoe Salon, new T-bar pumps or sassy slingbacks (lined with bright red in soles) will match almost any party frock in your closet. Versatility is key as these pumps will work well with formal wear too.

Crazy Kitsch

Who would have thought zebra crossings, The Joker and chubby faces will look so good on bags? Zebras prints, traffic lights and other colourful images have made their way onto various totes, purses and shopping bags. Made exclusively by Louis Farnay for Nué, this range of collectible bags is a must-have for lovers of Pop Art and everything funky. Available from Nué (#03-31/32 Paragon, 290 Orchard Rd, 6836-7677).

Dressed to Kill

Queen of dresses Diane Von Furstenberg strikes again with her Spring/Summer collection that is all about casual attitude with elegance. Dubbed “All About Eve,” this flirty collection makes heads turn with fluid modern dresses, gorgeous prints, cute ladybug designs and all-round structured tailoring that will make any woman look good—a trademark of DVF’s, definitely. Available from 2/F, Takashimaya, Ngee Ann City, 391 Orchard Rd., 6736-3691.