Umami Records - SG

24/12/2021

Listen: https://www.umamirecords.sg/cry-reimagined/

A duet with Haneri, “cry (reimagined)” is the final single from Dominic Chin’s Re-Licensed To Cry—an online release featuring stripped-down versions of the same set of songs from Dominic Chin’s debut EP. Focusing more on the basic essentials of the tracks, the re-released version is redone entirely, from the music arrangement to the vocal recordings, to capture Dominic Chin’s organic, singer-songwriter side.

26/11/2021

Listen: https://www.umamirecords.sg/shy-reimagined/

A duet with Eli Ordonez of Count Vernon, “shy (reimagined)” is the 6th single from Dominic Chin ’s Re-Licensed To Cry—an online release featuring stripped-down versions of the same set of songs from Dominic Chin’s debut EP. Focusing more on the basic essentials of the tracks, the re-released version is redone entirely, from the music arrangement to the vocal recordings, to capture Dominic Chin’s organic, singer-songwriter side.

12/11/2021

Listen: https://www.umamirecords.sg/to-the-judge/

Bangkok-based Korean electronic producer Saint Nine releases “To The Judge”, a song centered around the frustration with a relationship that fell apart - someone who was not able to meet you in the middle and wants to reclaim what you had, but you’ve moved on. Saint Nine crafts music that transcends genres and moves the listener, constantly experimenting and borrowing elements from hip hop, future bass, lo-fi and even classical music.

28/10/2021

Listen: https://www.umamirecords.sg/the-observer/

The Observer is The Steve McQueens’ 5th studio outing, and shows a mature unit performing at the peak of their 8-year journey together. The characteristic playful inventiveness, musical twists and surprises are all here in spades, and listeners will find it hard not to have that little smile cross their faces at regular intervals.

Releasing through Singapore-based indie label Umami Records, the mercurial band’s latest album features music performed from their 2020 ‘Nerd Lounge’ tour of Singapore, Japan and Indonesia.

With the pandemic putting paid to their ‘live’ performance plans, the quartet went into the studio to record this collection of new music which simultaneously invokes alternative R&B, chill-pop, 60’s Motown and nu-soul.

Having released three of the singles in the record - Mila Ascending, Eye and Beginning, since July, the band is ready to drop the widely anticipated full album.

The Observer pokes at the culture clash between jazz traditionalists and the new vanguard. The band says: “The Observer is an indifferent spectator who stands apart, smiles quietly to himself and continues making his own music.”

And keyboardist Joshua Wan adds of the new album:

“I think one of our goals was to capture both the energy and intimacy of live performance, to make the music really speak, and to allow a restlessness to pervade that would let you hear something different at every listening.”

22/10/2021

Listen: https://www.umamirecords.sg/aware-reimagined/

A duet with Marian Carmel, “aware (reimagined)” is the 5th single from Dominic Chin's Re-Licensed To Cry—an online release featuring stripped-down versions of the same set of songs from Dominic Chin’s debut EP. Focusing more on the basic essentials of the tracks, the re-released version is redone entirely, from the music arrangement to the vocal recordings, to capture Dominic Chin’s organic, singer-songwriter side.

15/10/2021

Listen: https://www.umamirecords.sg/the-constant/

Eclectic music producer Wovensound and acclaimed rapper Ihasamic! mark another exciting collaboration with the release of their new single “The Constant,” out now via Umami Records.

With sultry R&B vocals from Sreshya, introspective verses from ZFRL and Ihasamic! himself, and a smoky, downtempo production from Wovensound, the massive new tune echoes the group’s frustrations and fears over the uncertainty that’s been clouding their headspace during this time of forced withdrawal.

Despite its tendencies to embrace pensive gloom, the song ties together stories of struggle, survival, and resilience with dignified honesty, while channeling their collective energy into something inspiring and worthy of discussion.

For his part, Ihasamic! openly questions his growth and progress, and if there even was any substantial enough to speak of, during these difficult times. But the Repack rapper comes to terms with the idea of allowing himself time out of time, realizing that it’s perfectly fine to rest, practice self-care and be sensitive to people who are going through difficult challenges in life. “It's a sorry-I'm-like-this apology letter to everyone I've inconvenienced because I feel very demanding asking for things,” he shares, navigating these huge emotional hurdles with newfound wisdom.

For Sreshya’s verses, the rising soul-pop artist dismantles the illusion of trying to be tough on the outside, and expresses how important it is to showcase vulnerability once in a while. “Instead of dealing with my issues and addressing my lows, I stick with the comfort of pretending it’s all okay and everything’s the same as it ever was, because otherwise, I might lose my mind.” She adds, “My ending verse is kind of an acknowledgement that everything is not as okay as it seems and I should embrace that because nothing’s in our control anyway. The line, ‘set these sails low’ isn’t admitting defeat, more about embracing the uncertainty.”

SFRL shares the same frustration with his fellow collaborators, but finds value in escaping the suffocation of repetitive routines. “I guess some people prefer to live within a safe space unlike others such as myself who prefer volatility and yet, the anxiety and uncertainty scares me,” the rap sensation says. “It gets confusing when both types of people look at you as either the outcast of society or an inspiration for them to seek out a higher purpose of living. I hope to find the balance between both.”

But aside from the inspiring confessionals, “The Constant” offers subtler moments that are admirable, and primal soundscapes that howls into the void. Thanks to Wovensound’s brooding production, the track doesn’t settle for anything less, complementing the bigness of the lyrics with visceral edginess.

08/10/2021

Listen: https://www.umamirecords.sg/touch-me/

Electronic producer Eve Alai lights up the virtual dance floor with bouncy house chords and throbbing percussion on his latest single “Touch Me,” released under Umami Records. Featuring fiery vocals from Z, the infectious raver makes isolation bearable as it delivers another ecstatic shot of energy from start to finish.

Even with the absence of clubs, “Touch Me” works as a soundtrack to late-night revelry. It’s a techno-inspired bop that underscores the healing power of being confidently sensual and hopeful despite being enveloped into the dark, trying times.

With influences that range from British electronic producer Chris Lake to Grammy-nominated Australian music producer FISHER, Eve Alai takes “Touch Me” to effervescent places with its glorious serving of after-hours party music.

Unbeknownst to everyone, the slinky material has undergone several changes in the production, and wasn’t initially penned as a dance anthem. “It was written originally as an R&B song,” Eve Alai explains. “I took that vocal and transformed it into a house track.”

Thanks to Eve Alai’s ‘90s techno production and Z’s robo-soul chops, the song delivers some of the most assured electronic music releases in Asia so far. It also speaks to an act of movement relevant to the current situation that people are facing right now.

24/09/2021

Listen: https://www.umamirecords.sg/better-reimagined/

“better (reimagined)” is the 4th single of Dominic Chin's Re-Licensed To Cry—an online release featuring stripped-down versions of the same set of songs from Dominic Chin’s debut EP. Focusing more on the basic essentials of the tracks, the re-released version is redone entirely from the music arrangement to the vocal recordings, to capture Dominic Chin’s organic, singer-songwriter side.

03/09/2021

Listen: https://www.umamirecords.sg/beginning/

Beginning is the third single released by The Steve McQueens before their latest album The Observer, drops on 28 October.
It is a song about the conservation of time and love, dependence and gratitude, acknowledgment and regret.
The music is sparse, eschewing edifice, leaving the emotions harshly exposed.

In an age of wokeness, the McQueens strive to sleep the sleep of the honest.

27/08/2021

Listen: https://www.umamirecords.sg/alone-reimagined/

“alone (reimagined)” is the 3rd single of Dominic Chin's Re-Licensed To Cry—an online release featuring stripped-down versions of the same set of songs from Dominic Chin’s debut EP. Focusing more on the basic essentials of the tracks, the re-released version is redone entirely from the music arrangement to the vocal recordings, to capture Dominic Chin’s organic, singer-songwriter side.

13/08/2021

Listen: https://www.umamirecords.sg/my-love/

Dominic Chin puts a refreshing spin on the Mando-pop of yesteryears with his new single “My Love,” featuring Jerry Galeries. Released on August 13, Friday via Umami Records, the song was inspired by Dominic’s fascination with the music of his childhood, while listening to the likes of A-mei, JJ Lin, and Stefanie Sun in the backseat of his family’s car.

Backed by rich, dramatic instrumentation and retro-leaning production, the prolific singer-songwriter/producer revisits classic Chinese pop balladry with emotional heft, reminding listeners of the genre’s timeless appeal, and how it transcends generational boundaries up to this moment.

“This is a classic love song that stems from the old-fashioned style of professing one’s love for another person, with lines speaking poetically and hopping between two romantic languages: English and Mandarin,” says the Singapore-based pop sensation. With arrangement from Jerry Galeries, who brought the essence of the song to exciting new places, “My Love” features a more grounded form of singing, highlighting the voice and the production in its deceptively simple terms.

The Singapore-based pop artist reveals that the instrumentation was his favorite part of the track, giving credit to acclaimed singer-songwriter Jerry Galeries for capturing exactly the sound that they wanted to achieve. “The raise key caught me by surprise but I thought it was a fantastic emotional build up and release, just what the song needs since the song’s structure and lyrics was already very simplified,” Dominic shares in a statement.

The multi-talent singer and producer behind the hits “BETTER,” “ALONE,” and “CRY” hopes that with “My Love,” his music fans would be able to see another side of his artistry, especially his newfound love in writing and performing songs in his mother tongue. “I am also excited to show them a song where I put my love for singing on display,” Dominic points out. “I always loved experimenting with improving my vocal expressions; I think this song was the perfect way to challenge my singing and storytelling abilities.”

06/08/2021

Listen: https://www.umamirecords.sg/eye/

The Steve McQueens release their second single in a month with Eye, hot off the heels of Mila Ascending, launched on 16 July.

"Observers of life" often say to me, "don't sweat the small stuff, in the end it's all small stuff".
noted. with thanks.

Meanwhile what do i do with this growing bubble of rage under my left eye?

30/07/2021

Acclaimed electronic producer Eve Alai is turning up the groove once again with a reimagined version of Unscripted’s signature track “Sunscreen”—out this July 31, Friday on all digital music platforms via Umami Records. The blissful number reinterprets the original with sun-soaked funkiness and classic house touch, taking on an entirely new persona with every ebb and flow.

“The new material doesn’t follow the traditional four-on-the-floor thumper,” says Eve Alai. “Sure, it blends undeniable house grooves with upbeat funky vocals, but the drums don’t fit the norm: it’s actually more hip-hop inspired and rhythmic in a sense.”

As a joyous ride to a perfect sundown, Eve Alai and Unscripted’s latest bop brings the dancefloor closer to our homes. Its sentiments are romantic and hopeful in tone, and encapsulate the mood that music listeners need right now in the time of isolation: anthemic pop music that surges with clubby production.

When asked about what he loved the most about the track, acclaimed producer Eve Alai shares, “I honestly love the whole song, I don’t have a favorite moment.”

He also emphasized how the lyrics are powerful enough to help people who are going through difficult situations in life to bounce back and persevere even at their own pace and time. “Things get better, it’s always good to be aware of patterns in one’s life. I think that’s key to coming back stronger,” the acclaimed musician points out.

Listen to “Sunscreen” via Umami Records: https://www.umamirecords.sg/sunscreen-reimagined/

23/07/2021

Listen: https://www.umamirecords.sg/here-reimagined/

“here (reimagined)” is the 2nd single of Dominic Chin's Re-Licensed To Cry—an online release featuring stripped-down versions of the same set of songs from Dominic Chin’s debut EP. Focusing more on the basic essentials of the tracks, the re-released version is redone entirely from the music arrangement to the vocal recordings, to capture Dominic Chin’s organic, singer-songwriter side.

16/07/2021

Listen: https://www.umamirecords.sg/mila-ascending/

Mila Ascending is The Steve McQueens' first single release from their much awaited fifth studio album The Observer. The mercurial band went directly from touring Japan and the Asian Festival circuit into the studio to record this collection of new music which simultaneously invokes alternative R&B, chill-pop, 60’s Motown and nu-soul.

The McQueens celebrate their 8th year on the road with this release of coy and inconspicuous observations, and early listeners say its their best yet, balancing unique forms, ear-catching sounds and clever storytelling with an accessible pop sensibility.

Fans of their electrifying live sets will be happy to re-hear Mila Ascending, the first single release on Friday, 16 July.

Asked about the song’s title, keyboardist Joshua Wan answers in typical cryptic form: “Mila Ascending is about the 3 cornerstones of maturing: Expectations / maintenance, thinking vs feeling, failure and eating cow tongue. Coincidentally, these also apply to cheese…”

About the album’s direction: “I think one of our goals was to capture the energy and intimacy of live performance, to make the music really speak, and to allow a restlessness to pervade that would let you hear something different at every listening. We think of that as the ‘tilt’ – chords that don’t go where you’d expect, sections that morph and discarded beats strewn everywhere that kinda throw you off-balance a little. I mean, what's the point of so much predictability? Or maybe we’re just borderline sociopaths; it’s hard to say.”

The new album, The Observer will drop on September 16, 2021 in conjunction with an album launch concert at The Esplanade Concert Hall in Singapore. The Observer is the band’s fifth studio release, and will feature eight new tracks.

12/07/2021

12/07/2021

02/07/2021

Listen: https://www.umamirecords.sg/youth/

Chen VANNA covers Daughter's 2013 single 'Youth'. Recorded live with a minimalist arrangement, showcasing her totally exposed, emotive vocals. Her sensitive interpretation is a strong example of a touching cover making small changes to the original production with powerful effect.

VANNA covers Daughter’s 2013 single ‘Youth’. Recorded live with a minimalist arrangement, showcasing her totally exposed, emotive vocals. Her sensitive interpretation is a strong example of a touching cover making small changes to the original production with powerful effect.

25/06/2021

Listen: https://www.umamirecords.sg/clse2u-reimagined/

Dominic Chin has finally dropped the stripped-down version of his emotional pop ballad “clse2u.” Released under Umami Records, the reimagined material features a duet with Singaporean singer-songwriter Jean Seizure 吳思佳, whose captivating vocals add a layer of dreaminess to the track.

“Jean was a longtime friend, and we always wanted to collaborate but there was never a chance,” says Dominic Chin. “When the idea for the album popped up, it was only natural for me to want to work with Jean on this very special song.”

Incorporated with lush orchestral arrangement and dramatic flourishes, “clse2u (reimagined)” offers some truly transcendent moments that you would rarely encounter in modern pop—an extraordinary gift, to be exact.

Dominic Chin and Jean Seizure’s collaboration also comes with an official music video, which Jean filmed herself. Because of social distancing measures, the video shoot team had to downsize in terms of numbers, and think out of the box to achieve maximum results with maximum limitations.

Dominic Chin has finally dropped the stripped-down version of his emotional pop ballad “clse2u.” Released under Umami Records, the reimagined material features a duet with Singaporean singer-songwriter Jean Seizure, whose captivating vocals add a layer of dreaminess to the track.

04/06/2021

[NEW RELEASE] Singapore-based producer Wovensound and acclaimed hip-hop artist Ihasamic! take collaboration to an entirely new level with their new single “End Simulation”.

Exploring the outer limits of their signature sound with sprawling instrumentation, both artists took their love for drum n’ bass-influenced rap-rock and turned it into a colossal anthem that is palatable for the modern audience.

LISTEN: umamirecords.sg/end-simulation/

28/05/2021

[NEW RELEASE] Electronic producer Eve Alai teams up with soulful vocalist Senara on a tropical club anthem. "Swiping Right" examines the difficulty of confronting one’s mental and emotional headspace.

Behind the Afrobeat-inspired rhythms and laid-back production, the song finds human connection on the dance floor, embracing the vulnerability that comes with escaping reality and navigating personal issues on life and relationships.

LISTEN: umamirecords.sg/swiping-right/

13/04/2021

This bi-weekly music series brings you the city's freshest music export that we've got played on repeat

27/03/2021

[NEW RELEASE] Acclaimed producer Wovensound , rapper Ihasamic, and alt-pop songstress jeena have recently teamed up for a song about two lost souls crying for help as they struggle to find their place in a world that invalidates their feelings and actions. Released under Umami Records, “Lonely Shores” comes from a place of emotional pain and confusion—a track written by Ihasamic! in his attempt to “reflect on times where we sometimes like to hold on to things that hurt us.” Framed with cinematic production and ethereal calm, the collaborative effort from Singapore’s finest musicians tackles mental and emotional health with a level of sensitivity that is often unheard of in contemporary hip-hop/R&B releases—for most of its existence.

LISTEN: umamirecords.sg/lonely-shores/

19/03/2021

“Melancholic nu disco meet nu garage vibes lay over a modern house groove, with sultry pop vocal top lines and stabs reigning through. Think of a slowed down two-step remix of a vocal banger from the early two-thousands, this Asian collaboration has done a bit of digging around to carve their soun...