Soundwaves from the Straits

Vol. 24 | Featuring cool new music across the Malay peninsula

Author

Valerie S.
March 12, 2025

Dear music explorer,

Lately, I’ve been tuning inwards and discovering new artists — not just locally in Singapore, but across the region. With a wave of upcoming gigs in the next few months, there’s plenty of fresh faces and new soundscapes to explore.

This week, I invite you to sail away with tunes by our rising artists from Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Have a go at our SEA-grown bops, and check out a special feature on Ezekiel Tok and his latest single. ✨

ICYMI, I dropped a few updates on Substack, since I’ve been on a creative writing spree lately! You know that feeling when you don’t have a solid topic in mind, but you just need to write? Anyway, check out my latest blog posts below ✌🏻

Where will the music take you today? My DMs are always open for you to share your music adventures 🏞️

Safe music travels,

Val ♫

(P.S If you are reading this in your email, please click “Read Online” at the top-right corner next to the date for a better reading experience!)

In this week's setlist:

🎤✨ Artist Spotlight: Ezekiel Tok

Ezekiel Tok breaks into the local indie scene with his debut single, “Wail”

Meet Singapore’s newest indie-folk voice, Ezekiel Tok, who’s packed quite a punch with his heartfelt debut single, released on 21st February last month. At just 20, he’s already proving that raw emotion and storytelling are at the heart of his music.

Starting out in an acapella group, Ezekiel has since carved out a presence in the local music scene, performing at popular local gigs like Swee Lee Clarke Quay’s Open Mic, LASALLE’s Rock & Indie Festival 2024, and RESURRACK’s Vintage Market.

He was also featured in Mothership’s making.wavs Season 1, and also took the stage on Scratch ‘n’ Shuffle, where he delivered a soulful rendition of Hozier’s Cherry Wine alongside an original track, Dancing Devotion.

A storyteller at heart, Ezekiel draws inspiration from indie giants like Hozier and Noah Kahan, weaving rich narratives into both his performances and original works. While listening to Dancing Devotion, I hear familiar melodies akin to those by Iron & Wine and Novo Amor, all nicely blending into Ezekiel’s distinct music style.

His debut single, Wail, is inspired by local folk stories he grew up hearing, and delves on the complexities of navigating a relationship with an emotionally distant person.

“Wail is about trying to care for someone who's numb. And to remind yourself that to be numb is not to be unfeeling,” he points out. “I think it's interesting to relate to someone who has no capacity to relate.”

From the first notes, it feels like I’m being transported to simpler times in a rural kampung. The sound of cicadas softly humming against clear guitar riffs, paired with Ezekiel’s deep vocals, paints the image of a golden dusk at a quiet neighbourhood street.

Like the rise and fall of the tides, the lyrics mirror the struggle of loving beyond someone’s capacity. The repetition of “Let me feel for you” echoes an unconditional willingness to bear the emotional weight of another.

As a longtime fan of Noah Kahan’s storytelling and world-building, I’m familiar with the wolves and forests of Northern America — but now, it feels like I’ve discovered a soundscape that feels uniquely home.

For my fellow nostalgic Singaporeans, this is the kind of song best enjoyed over a picnic at Palawan Beach, or on a quiet evening stroll through Coney Island or Sembawang Park, with the evening breeze softly blowing in your hair.

With such an emotive debut and more unreleased songs from the vault, we’re looking to see what Ezekiel will share next.

🇸🇬🦁 Majulah Beats by the Bay

Welcome to Singapore, where the music is vibrant and larger than its little city-state. Here, you’ll find great music other than the famous National Day Parade (NDP) songs that will have you singing along.

Here are some of my local picks:

🇲🇾🐯 Tunes from the Heart of KL

Let’s head up north to our favourite neighbour, where the food, culture and vibes are bussin’ 🌟

I’m just starting to explore Malaysian music, and I’m making a mental note to check out more artists from across the Causeway. So far, I’m really liking these songs:

🇹🇭🐘 What’s Bangin’ in Bangkok

Our next stop: The Land of Smiles and the Golden City 💛

I’ve always been into Thai music, especially their pop-rock artists, but this was a fun exercise to explore beyond my usual picks. Maybe it’s just me, but the further up north we go, the more synth-heavy and electric guitar-loaded the songs get.

Let’s get the party started with these beats:

🔖 New on Substack

What happens when hopeful singles meet at a vinyl listening café instead of a club? Last month, I decided to give this interesting setup a try. Check out my recap here!

Vinyls and Mingles: What went down at my first music-themed singles’ mixer

Can you find a spark through music-infused connections? A curious music muser weighs in on a different kind of dating experience

musicmusings.substack.com/p/vinyls-and-mingles-what-went-down

Have you ever heard of the “I met my younger self for coffee” trend? If you haven’t, it’s basically where people imagine a conversation with their younger self.

Well, I thought, “Why not put a musical spin on it?” So here’s my take on the trend — karaoke style! 🎤✨

I met my younger self for karaoke.

Doing the "I met my younger self for coffee" trend, with a twist

musicmusings.substack.com/p/i-met-my-younger-self-for-karaoke

🎶 New Music This Week

The Thrill by Gamma Skies: Looking for a Push To Start spinoff? This track combines amapiano, the beach and a pink sunset vibe.

Top Tier by sunkis: After the viral success of Like I Do, I’ve been listening to sunkis a bit, and he’s definitely got a groove, for sure. The only catch is that I keep mishearing “Top Tier” as “Toss it” sometimes. 🤣

Inspired by this week’s music picks?

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