On 18 October, alumnus Neil Chan (BMus ’15, RAS) will be performing in A Pleasant Evening as part of the NUS ExxonMobil Campus Concerts (EMCC) series. We catch up with him on his upcoming performance, wide-ranging interests in world music, and artistic journey thus far.
1. Tell us about your performance and the inspiration(s) behind it.
I see my music-making process as painting pictures that depict specific stories and themes. To do this, I draw on various styles (Carnatic, jazz, flamenco, Andean) as my palette of colours to create my artwork with.
For example, one of my pieces titled ‘Psalm 62’ depicts the tragedy of deception. The line ‘With their mouths they bless, but with their hearts they curse’ describes the evil intent of those who masquerade as friends while seeking to harm you. I evoke the emotion and essence of deception by choosing a specific Carnatic raga (melodic mode), jazz chord progression, and flamenco techniques. With these tools in hand, the rest is left to artistic improvisation on stage itself!
It has taken years of experimentation, practice and perseverance to develop my musical process, and I am incredibly excited to share my work in this performance.
2. Can you share more about how you will connect fingerstyle guitar with jazz, flamenco, Carnatic and Andean music in your performance?
I’ve always loved pushing myself and discovering innovative ways to play the acoustic guitar. My brain usually comes up with ideas way faster than what my fingers can keep up with! My discipline lies in sticking to my musical vision and practicing until I really bring the ideas together and into fruition.
One of these ideas was to create an Indian style of percussive fingerstyle guitar, which I specifically wanted to be improvisational in nature. To do this, I studied mridangam (South Indian classical drum) for three years and thereafter adapted the hand drum strokes to the body of the acoustic guitar. I then tapped on my prior jazz knowledge, literally tapping the fretboard to create Western harmonies with my left hand while drumming Carnatic rhythms with my right hand.
While there’s already too much on my plate to practice, I gave in to my love for new musical cultures and added flamenco guitar and Andean panflute into the mix!
This exploration now sees me singing Western or Carnatic melodies while tapping jazz chords on one hand, and drumming mridangam rhythms or playing Andean panflutes with the other. It’s challenging, but also incredibly fun and invigorating!
3. How did you get introduced to world music, and what has motivated you to keep pursuing it?
I was first introduced to world music during my studies at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, where I had opportunities to study diverse cultures including Carnatic, Balinese, Sundanese, African, Jazz, and Western classical music! I also had the chance to spend two whole weeks in Bali purely devoted to immersing myself in its musical culture.
A particular class that sparked my interest in world music was ‘Music in the Global Context’ with Assoc Prof Ty Constant, where I was first introduced to ethnomusicology and fell in love with it. I began to dig deeper into cultural contexts and understand the communities who create the music.
I continue pursuing world music and ethnomusicology today because it allows me to connect with people all around the world, and satisfies my artistic appetite as well!
4. Since graduation you have kept up an active portfolio of career activities. What have you been up to lately?
I’ve taken my love for world music and fused it with my passion for community outreach! In diligently studying cultures beyond my own, I’ve found it easier to share my music by adapting it into their culture instead of imposing mine on them.
With this approach, I’ve taught music at local schools in Timor Leste, led creative music workshops for Afghan refugees in Indonesia, and am currently an Artist-in-Residence at the Indian Heritage Centre in collaboration with the National Arts Council. Over the next four months I will be immersing myself in Little India (Singapore) to create music that depicts the journey of individuals and groups within the community. Drawing on my knowledge of Carnatic music, I’ve been better able to bridge cultures and articulate these stories through music, while offering a different perspective as someone not native to Indian culture.
5. What do you feel is a musician’s role in society today?
I feel that a musician’s role is to use their art to bless those around them. Music has the power to connect people and articulate emotions in ways words alone cannot. For me, it’s important to not make music about myself but to serve those around me.
Admission to A Pleasant Evening (Friday 18 October, 7.30pm, UTown Dance Studio) is free with registration. Learn more and register here.
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