Jacob Collier

M) KINGDO (UNITED

27 & 28 Apr

FRI & SAT, 8PM

Victoria Theatre PHOTO BY BETSY NEWMAN

1h 15m, no intermission

MESSAGE FROM THE FESTIVAL DIRECTOR I grew up looking forward to the Singapore Arts Festival every year.

Watching shows across different genres from around the world played a big part in shaping my artistic sensibilities. Shows such as Ninagawa’s Macbeth (1992), for example, entirely changed my perception of how Shakespeare could be performed.

In 1996, I acted in Singapore Repertory Theatre’s Sing To The Dawn; it was the first time a Singaporean musical opened the Singapore Arts Festival. Given this history, I was delighted and honoured to be asked to helm the Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) for the next three years.

What is SIFA’s role? Where does it fit in the cultural landscape, both at home and internationally? Who does it serve?

Where would I like it to be in three years?

As I was thinking of how to shape the festival, what I did know was that I wanted to programme a festival that would inspire young people in the same way that I was impacted 25 years ago.

With the support of the phenomenal team at SIFA, I aspired to curate a season that would showcase different art forms and perspectives from Singapore and around the world. We also strove to programme a spectrum of shows that would appeal to a variety of audiences, from the first-time festival-goer to the seasoned art lover.

We believe we have programmed artists who are game-changers in their fields.

In parallel, discussions commenced with several of the game-changers in the Singapore arts scene. One of SIFA’s roles is to commission and facilitate the creation of new Singaporean work – giving artists the time and resources to develop shows over a two- or three-year horizon. We look forward to presenting the culmination of this process in SIFA 2019 and 2020.

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Two memorable experiences from arts festivals I have attended around the world have been the free outdoor performances, and a festival ‘village’ — a place where artists and audiences can meet after a show and discuss what they’ve just seen. Both these elements can be found in SIFA 2018. The free outdoor programmes on the opening and closing weekends have some sensational performances to be enjoyed with family and friends. Over these three weeks, The Arts House will become Festival House.

It will be the heartbeat of SIFA with performances, lectures, readings, music salons and, of course, a place to just hang out and chat. Artists will give talks, conduct masterclasses or host Q&As, and hopefully we will build relationships with them that last beyond the festival.

A key initiative that I introduced this year is the $10 front-row student ticket. I want the next generation of Singaporeans to know that they matter to SIFA. My hope is that they will fall in love with the arts in the same way I did at their age.

I would like to thank Sarah Martin and the incredible team of people I work with at SIFA and at Arts House Limited. Despite the tight six-month runway to programme this festival, they have been nothing short of amazing and have worked tirelessly to produce a festival that we hope resonates with you as much as it does with us.

Most of all, thank you for your support. The scope, breadth and reach of shows in SIFA will continue to grow over the next three years. We look forward to taking you on this exciting journey with us.

Gaurav Kripalani Festival Director

MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

Festivals bring people together to celebrate causes or to mark momentous occasions. Arts festivals allow us to not only appreciate the arts, they allow us to experience and form lasting and transformative memories. It is through shared experiences that we come to form communities.

The inaugural Singapore Festival of Arts began in 1977 as a national showcase of the vibrant art forms found within Singapore’s diverse communities. In its many evolutions over the last four decades, the Festival has touched countless hearts, created invaluable experiences for many, and inspired even more to embrace the arts. From a time when Singapore was widely perceived as a cultural desert, the Festival has played an instrumental role in developing Singapore’s arts landscape and shaped the city-state into one of Asia’s leading cultural capitals.

This year, SIFA 2018 marks the 41st year and kicks off a new era with Gaurav Kripalani at the helm as Festival Director for 2018 – 2020. Condensed into 17 days of artistic adventures, it is our hope that

this exhilarating three-week format will create robust artistic engagement for a spectrum of diverse audiences. The Arts House will be transformed into the Festival House, and within its intimate spaces, there will be meaningful discourses on the various themes presented in the festival.

Built upon the foundation and achievements of those who came before, SIFA is the sum of many parts made possible by a team of many talents who has worked tirelessly and passionately to deliver the Festival Director’s vision.

I thank everyone who has had a hand in shaping the Singapore International Festival of Arts into a tradition for both new and existing audiences and making it the stalwart of Singapore’s dedication to artistic excellence.

Gaurav and the team have put together a festival of multiple layers allowing you to make up your own artistic adventures.

It is my hope that you will walk away with unique memories of the Festival.

Sarah Martin CEO, Arts House Limited

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Jacob Collier is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, arranger, composer and producer, based in London, England. Hailed by many as one of the most prodigious and innovative musicians and thinkers of his generation, Jacob has proven himself worthy of every superlative that has been used to describe him. Spreading joy amongst a multitude of generations with a glorious child-like energy, an old soul, a knowledge of music that is secondto-none, and a tremendous warmth of humanity, Jacob’s style is flabbergastingly unique, combining elements from every genre under the sun — and his world is easy to get lost in.

PHOTO BY RETTS WOOD

Jacob, who is mostly self-taught, has been creating music for all of his 23 years.

In 2012, he began to share some of these creations with the world via YouTube.

These self-produced multi-layered multitracked audio-visual creations, borne from his family home in London, began to attract ears from all over the world, racking up tens of millions of views. One day in 2013, Quincy Jones’ ears reached Jacob’s sounds, and he signed Jacob to his management label, to help bring some of his ideas to life.

In 2016, Jacob released his debut album, In My Room, which was entirely selfrecorded, arranged, performed and produced in his home in London.

Jacob then set out to bring his room to the stage. With the help of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) PhD student Ben Bloomberg, he designed and built a groundbreaking one-man live performance vehicle which defies the musical laws of nature, featuring a circle of musical instruments, six simultaneous multi-instrumental loopers, a customdesigned vocal harmoniser instrument, a real-time reactive multi-Jacob video screen, and one Jacob in the centre of it all, The first ever performance was held at the Montreux Jazz Festival 2015, where Jacob opened for Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea. Minds were blown; goosebumps were risen. Jacob set out to tour the world.

From winning two Grammy awards for his debut album, to playing 150 shows in 26 countries on his One-Man-Show World Tour; to collaborations with Hans Zimmer, Herbie Hancock, Pharrell, Tori Kelly, Snarky Puppy, Metropole Orkest, Samsung and Apple; to speaking at the TED Conference 2017; to harmonising hundreds of fans’ #IHarmU melodies to crowdfund his musical adventures; to teaching masterclasses and confounding music theorists around the globe with chords and rhythms that shouldn’t exist; to improvising circlesongs with musicians on the streets of the world; to simply walking through the rain — Jacob’s life is full of different colours. He learns new things every day.

He looks forward to meeting you, someday.

Source: www.jacobcollier.com

THE CREATIVE TEAM Production Manager: Jose Ortega Production Assistant: Claudio Somigli Video Technician: Will Young 4

JACOB COLLIER – A STUDY IN MODERN MUSIC INNOVATION BY JOEL CHUA Listen to Jacob Collier’s cover of the Stevie Wonder classic, Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing, and you will be able to hear his use of intricate harmony leading up to the chorus. Firmly pitting consonance against dissonance, creating strong tension right before the emphatic resolution in the chorus, this has become a hallmark of Jacob’s unique and entrancing sonic canvas.

When asked in a YouTube interview, “How would you describe your music in one word?”, he replies with little hesitance, “Harmony”. In recent times, music in the mainstream has oft yielded to simplicity while more complex forms like jazz have waned in mass appeal. Nevertheless, one still finds themselves helplessly spellbound at Jacob’s expansive arrangements in the vocal or multiinstrumental covers of jazz and soul standards available online.

Born to parents who were both classical violinists, Jacob certainly had a musical upbringing but not in the way one might assume. While there was always a definite zeal for music within the family, Jacob emphasises the value of nurturing his own imagination as a child. He was never being pressured to do anything in particular but instead encouraged to do the things he was interested in, such as music. As a result of this, in spite of only taking classical singing lessons as a tween, he has since taught himself to play all manner of keyboards, guitars and basses. He also utilises his voice to fulfil the role of horns and woodwind instruments.

Beyond acoustic instruments, technology has been crucial in influencing and expanding Jacob’s repertoire of musical, as well as sonic options tapping into the vast resources of Digital Audio 5

Workstations (DAW) software, Cubase and Logic. His collaboration with Ben Bloomberg – a grad-student at MIT Media Lab, Boston – in 2014 to design technology and software, culminated in a unique harmoniser that works, in his words, “like an on the spot choir”. This has since become the centrepiece of his extensive one-man production which includes five simultaneous loopers across an assortment of instruments. This is accompanied by visuals from two 3D cameras tracking his skeleton, at times casting up to four or five “Jacobs” on stage all at once.

Still seeking to understand and perform music in a more profound way, Jacob highlights his desire to prioritise the emotional bridge to his music remarking, “I’ve always been very connected to the emotional part of music from a very young age. I think that my playing of instruments PHOTOS BY BETSY NEWMAN, ANDREAS SCHLIETER & CAMP SPRINGER

is almost secondary to that. It’s definitely secondary”. He acknowledges that it is indeed one of the greatest challenges musicians face, cloaking the intricacy and elaborateness of music in the veil of something simple. Jacob explores and performs with layer upon layer of harmonic and musical understanding, nuances of light and shade, all whilst recognising that the audience’s underlying disposition to the music is the “access point for all people of the world”. This approach has rewarded him with a strong millennial following, his videos having gone viral on YouTube.

His cover of The Carpenters’ hit Close To You, for example, demonstrates this appeal and his relevance in today’s music and jazz world. Addressing the burgeoning niche of hip-hop-influenced jazz, Jacob’s rendition revolves around a backbeat reminiscent of James “Dilla” Yancey and Neo-Soul-esque bass lines akin to those on an Erykah Badu or D’angelo album. Certainly, the familiarity of these songs draws one to an initial

listen. Yet, the harmonic, rhythmic as well as instrumental interest are what piques the audiences ears and inevitably sends the listener down the “rabbit hole” of his extensive catalogue of covers.

Jacob’s mentor, jazz pianist Herbie Hancock, has been a beacon for progress in music, transcending decades of musical development and technological advances. His own exploits achieve similar, marrying the benefits of technology and the openness of the internet with ever deeper understanding of music harmony.

Uncompromising in expression, gratifying in reception, Jacob Collier’s music unites listeners and musicians alike across genre lines.

Joel Chua is a Singapore keyboardist and musician. He carries a kazoo where ever he goes.

#1 He enjoys wearing funny outfits

for his gigs. He once performed in a dinosaur onesie and is often seen with his bear hat on.

#2 He is part

Chinese through his maternal grandmother.

#3 He used to

listen to a new album every day.

#4 In his debut album, In My Room,

he made a snare sound by rolling a marble along the floorboards.

12 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT JACOB COLLIER Here are 12 fun facts about this generation’s jazz prodigy.

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#5 His birth name is Jacob Moriarty.

#6 He was a child actor – he

appeared in the Hallmark film adaptation of A Christmas Carol as Tiny Tim.

#7 His debut single, Hideaway, took him six months to produce while You and I, which earned him a Grammy award, took him just four days.

#8 Collier received the ABRSM Gold

Medal for achieving the highest mark in the country for his Grade Eight singing result in 2008.

#10 He helped to score DreamWork’s

#9 He invented, with some

help, his own instrument known as the Harmoniser.

It is a synth that enables Collier to sing harmonies live by sampling his voice in real time.

2017 animated movie, Boss Baby.

#11 He and Tori Kelly did an a capella rendition of

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas in 2017 on YouTube for their fans.

#12 He toured his one-man show from 2015 to 2017.

So this SIFA performance is a special gig!

PHOTOS BY BETSY NEWMAN, ANDREAS SCHLIETER & RETTS WOOD

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TICKET HOLDER PRIVILEGES

FLASH YOUR SIFA 2018 TICKET

TO ENJOY ATTRACTIVE DISCOUNTS & PROMOTIONS HOUSE POUR@FESTIVAL HOUSE

The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Lane, Singapore 179429

15% off drinks and light bites.

TIMBRE @ THE ARTS HOUSE AND BARBER SHOP BY TIMBRE

The Arts House, #01-04, Annex Building, 1 Old Parliament Lane, Singapore 179429

• • • •

Pizza Set and Twin Half Pints of Archipelago @$31++ Twin Glasses of Red or White Wine @$20++ Twin Pints of Archipelago @ $30++ Pizza Set and Twin Glasses of Wine @ $31++

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Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, 8 Raffles Avenue, Singapore 039802

1984 and An Enemy of the People ticket holders are entitled up to 15% discount at Esplanade Mall.

Visit www.esplanade.com for more information.

AURA

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15% discount on all food and beverages.

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10% discount on all food and beverages.

GALLERY & CO

City Hall Wing, #01-17, National Gallery Singapore, 1 St. Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957

• Free coffee/tea with purchase of any pastries.

• 1-for-1 cocktail, beer, house wine and house spirits all day.

• 10% discount on selected retail items.

SPRMRKT DAILY

41 Robertson Quay, Singapore 238236

10% discount on all food and beverages at SPRMRKT Daily.

SPRMRKT

#02-13/14 Cluny Court, 501 Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 259760

10% discount on all food and beverages at SPRMRKT.

For more festival deals, please visit sifa.sg Terms & Conditions: Unless otherwise stated, all promotions are valid till 13 May, Sun. Not applicable with other promotions, discounts, vouchers and offers by credit or privilege cards. Ticket stubs presented must be in its original condition. Management reserves the right to amend any promotional terms and conditions without prior notice. Merchants’ terms and conditions apply.

ABOUT SIFA Into its 41st year, Singapore International Festival of Arts 2018 presents diverse and distinctive work from Singapore and around the world that ignites the imagination, inspires myriad audiences, and provokes reflection and dialogue.

Get ready for a plethora of theatre, music, dance, literary and visual arts at the pinnacle national arts festival that will happen over three weeks from 26 April to 12 May, and across ten performance spaces, including the Festival House, located at The Arts House.

ABOUT ARTS HOUSE LIMITED Arts House Limited (AHL) is a not-for-profit organisation committed to enriching lives through the arts.

AHL manages two key landmarks located in the heart of Singapore’s Civic District – The Arts House, a multi-disciplinary arts centre with a focus on literary programming, and the Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall, a heritage building that is home to the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. It also runs the Goodman Arts Centre and Aliwal Arts Centre, two creative enclaves for artists, arts groups and creative businesses, and performing arts space Drama Centre. AHL presents the Singapore International Festival of Arts, the annual pinnacle celebration of performance and interdisciplinary arts in Singapore commissioned by the National Arts Council.

AHL was set up in 11 Dec 2002 as a company limited by guarantee (CLG) under the National Arts Council and was formerly known as The Old Parliament House Limited. It was officially renamed Arts House Limited on 19 Mar 2014.

AHL BOARD Chairperson: Christine Ong Members: Chong Yuan Chien, Deborah Ho, Kelvin Ang, Lynette Pang, Madeleine Lee, Maniza Jumabhoy, Mok Wei Wei, Ong Chao Choon, Ong Choon Fah, Paul Tan, Sarah Martin (Ex-Officio)

SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ARTS THE SIFA TEAM Chief Executive Officer: Sarah Martin Festival Director: Gaurav Kripalani Chief Financial Officer: Yong Yuet Mei Advisor: J P Nathan Head, Programming: Jobina Tan Head, Production: Cindy Yeong Head, Marketing: Jasmine Gan Head, Communications: Carolyn Tay Head, Partnership Development: Payal Michelle Parekhji Assistant Head, Event Services Management: Emma Izzabella Tagoe PROGRAMMING Producers: Sara Joan Fang, Rydwan Anwar, Ye Junmin Senior Manager: Lisa Marie Lip Senior Manager, Place Making: Natalie Tan Managers: Kong Yen Lin, Shridar Mani, Pang Su Li Assistant Manager: Alicia Chong PRODUCTION Production Managers: Christopher Chua, Natalie Lim Production Co-ordinators: Celestine Wong, Melissa Chin Technical Co-ordinators: Huang Xiangbin, David Li Production Assistant: Chong Wee Nee MARKETING Senior Managers: Elizabeth Wong, Winnie Chan Assistant Manager: Koay Yi Ling Senior Designers: Muhammad Hakim bin Rahim, Md Firdaus bin Wari Executives: Diana Othman, Juliana Tan Interns: Clara Janssen, Lim Yi Shuen, Michelle Chia COMMUNICATIONS Assistant Manager: Willy Beh Wei Hong Intern: Rifdi Jaffar TICKETING Executive: Nor Limah binte Ja’ffar PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT Manager: Norita Senin Executive: Tan Yanru EVENT SERVICES MANAGEMENT Frontof-house Hospitality Manager: Dorothy Neo Front-of-House Manager: Mohd Afham bin Abbas Back-of-House Hospitality Manager: Nursheehana binte Akbal Ahmad Event Services Manager: Johnson Kee Secretariat Manager: Carine Lee Transport Manager: Syafiq Zulkepli FINANCE Manager: Vivian Gan Executives: Mandy Choo, Lai Zhi Ying, Priyasini D/O Balachandran HUMAN RESOURCE Manager: Noraliza Ramli Senior Executive: Elaine Neo ADMINISTRATION Manager, Arts: Liza Mustapha Executive: Norhanim binte Mohamed Tayib 10

DON’T MISS

THESE OTHER PRODUCTIONS IN THE FESTIVAL

BY SA X

BY TOY FACTORY PRODUCTIONS (SG)

30 Apr & 1 May, Mon & Tue

SOTA Studio Theatre

4 & 5 May, Fri & Sat

BY AMER

NADA X BRANDON TAY (SG)

Play Den, Festival House (The Arts House)

HLEHEL (PS)

) (US Victoria Theatre

4 & 5 May, Fri & Sat

Photo by Paul Marotta

4 & 5 May, Fri & Sat

KC Arts Centre Home of SRT

BY BALLET PRELJOCAJ (FR)

BY L-E-V DANCE

COMPANY (IL)

5 & 6 May, Sat & Sun

SOTA Drama Theatre

BY SCHAUBÜHNE

11 & 12 May, Fri & Sat

9 & 10 May, Wed & Thu

SOTA Drama Theatre Photo by Jean-Claude Carbonne

BERLIN (DE) Esplanade Theatre Photo by Arno Declair

SOTA Drama Theatre

12 May, Sat

Photo by Ana Cuba

FREE

PROGRAMMES AND MORE Photo by E+N

…Sodade… BY Cirque Rouages (FR) 27 – 29 Apr, Fri – Sun | Empress Lawn

Duke Ellington Orchestra (US) 12 May, Sat | Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage, Singapore Botanic Gardens

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