by: Jewel Philemon/
Inch Chua a Singaporean singer-songwriter, musician, composer and multi-instrumentalist, who gained national recognition after being the first Singapore solo artist to be invited to the prestigious South by Southwest Music Festival; an artiste who gained visibility with the release of her 2010 full length debut album Wallflower, announced on her Facebook note that she has decided to move to another country to pursue her career, because she is hurt, angry and heartbroken that she is judged and assumed by many to have made “some majorly bad decisions in (her) life to wind up a musician”.
Saying, “I don’t need your definition of success to be placed upon me. I don’t need your approval to do what I know I should be doing. I don’t need you to tell me that there is no future in Singapore Music, I don’t need you to tell me that what I’m doing is a lost cause,” the twenty-three year-old adds that “minimal government support” to the music industry is another reasons why she has decided to leave Singapore.
Describing herself as a “100% home-grown Singaporean artist and proud of it”, she says that she has got no other choice but to leave the country, as in Singapore, she has to constantly prove her worth and contributions to the nation.
Saying however that she has not given up on Singapore, she adds that she’s leaving because “now (she’s) more ready than ever to get out of the boat and walk on water”.
In a previous interview to Channel NewsAsia, she had said she applied for various grants from several Government bodies like National Arts Council and Singapore international Foundation, but that they had not replied to her.
Inch Chua has never sold her own music, preferring instead to distribute it free online. She believes in bringing performances back to old school, where the artists put more heart and soul in their gigs.
She encourages people to be a part of her music by coming down to her live performances and enjoy the experiences of it. She earns her living through these live shows.
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Local talents are leaving Singapore to seek better future and all because of the Singapore government that is of the opinion that Singapore’s future lies with the foreigners and not Singaporeans.
Maybe a merger with China would be a better option for Cheena Lee (not Harry Lee) as he said that Singapore is connected to China. That explains the colour red and the star on the Singapore flag.
@Richard, I agree. What Inch needs badly are worthy recording and mastering engineers.
..and forget about the SG govt to support anything local when you haven’t made an international name for yourself.
You can go read about Mr Sim Wong Hoo’s story on how he had to fund himself. When Creative Tech and Sound Blaster finally became a big name in the US, EDB then approached him and wanted to pump in money. Who needs them anymore? This govt of ours can only take success and not failure.
The Singapore goverment spent so much money constructing arts and cultural centres like the Esplanade etc, but it seems like when it comes to the core of arts and culture – the talented local artistes – they are left on their own. I suggest the Singapore government gets their priority right.
Talented Singaporeans are better off being in another place which appreciates their talents more. Local gov doesn’t appreciate local talent, they prefer foreigners, be it cheap labor or specialized skill. As for locals, they like mindless drones who accept orders blindly & never question. As such, creativity is not valued in sg. To be creative, you gotta question norms & step outta the box. Questioning norms is what the gov doesn’t approve of.
Its true that if you are a ft,you get all the benefits,they will welcome you with red carpets,provide you grants,you don’t have to waste time applying for it,it will be given to you on a silver platter.grant you pr in an instant cos you are very valuable,sg got no talents you know,only the ruling party has all the talents,the rest are daft.
By the way,i support you to go overseas,and try your luck.Here you are as good as dead.Maybe come back as a ft when you are succesful ,you will be treated with more respect than being local,by then they will praised themselves orh…..see how the system works,we can produce successful entertainers…bull!
@steven kho
hey i have been reading your post and i can say you are one of those #@#$#@##,don’t you have anything nice to say about other people,can you sing or dance like her,if not just shut your trap,you are jealous are’nt you,b’cos you are not as talented,maybe take a look in the mirror,i can visualised,you look like a monkey,go get a life and foreigners you got no right to post here,its only for singaporeans so don’t meddle in our affairs.
Actually, it has nothing to do with our government. We are brought in such environment that “academic matters” and to certain extend we did not acknowledge our Singaporeans’ talents.
Ironically, it is in other countries that recognize our local talents before he/she becomes famous in Singapore. We belittle in ourselves and most of the time we are being cynical to our own people.
Again back to point, what has causes the factors; It may that our Government, has ruled the people for too long and believing that the worst of human beings and motives. Gov is cynical and thinks nothing good from us and they are always right ( By saying that, I am not saying that our government is a bad government).
LSI 1 August 2011
..and forget about the SG govt to support anything local when you haven’t made an international name for yourself.
You can go read about Mr Sim Wong Hoo’s story on how he had to fund himself. When Creative Tech and Sound Blaster finally became a big name in the US, EDB then approached him and wanted to pump in money. Who needs them anymore? This govt of ours can only take success and not failure.
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well said, EDB and govt bodies and mini-sters these are just paid workers, so they wouldnt want to take responsibilities if anything fails…
Were you the one who said that I would be nothing
Well, I’m about to prove you wrong
I’m not the only one who believes in something
My one wish is about to come true
I’m not stopping for you
No matter what you do
I’ll just keep on dreaming
My head up in the clouds when nobody is around to see…
[Chorus]
This is my moment, my moment
It’s my time, flying high, lime, mine
Feels like my moment, my moment
I’ve waited for so long
But now everybody knows this is my moment, my moment
It’s my time, flying high, lime, mine
Feels like my moment, my moment
I’ve waited for so long
But now everybody knows this is my moment, my moment
You knew it all along, I was afraid of you
I thought I couldn’t be myself
You tried to be my friend
But I wouldn’t let you
Remember what you said
Don’t miss out on your chance
Your life is in your hands
So take it just as far as you can
But trusting in youself, forget everyone else
Believe…
[Chorus]
This is my moment, my moment
It’s my time, flying high, lime, mine
Feels like my moment, my moment
I’ve waited for so long
But now everybody knows this is my Moment, my moment
It’s my time, flying high, lime, mine
Feels like my moment, my moment
I’ve waited for so long
But now everybody knows
[Bridge]
Haters, said I’ll see you later
Can’t talk to you right now
I’m getting my paper
Said I’m doing big things
Things you never dreamed of
I hope you are happy cause I’m ’bout to blow up
[Chorus]
This is my moment, my moment
It’s my time, flying high, lime, mine
Feels like my moment, my moment
I’ve waited for so long
But now everybody knows this is my moment, my moment
It’s my time, flying high, lime, mine
Feels like my moment, my moment
I’ve waited for so long
But now everybody knows this is my moment, my moment
Only one word fits Inch Chua: Outstanding.
Do well, the world is your oyster. Singapore is too small for you anyway.
LSI
Who needs them anymore? This govt of ours can only take success and not failure.
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when ongbengseng was approached as 1 of the main sponsers in F1 the 1st time..
ong beng seng said YES..mei wun ti(no problemo..he decided to stake 100 million$ investment
next come the usual greedy pap government rulin$..TELLIN ongbengseng if you make more than $100 million$ (since you invested the same amount) you will be llowed no more than $100million$ in profit$..the balance$ if make will goes to the treasuries…
ongbengseng replied if my $100million$ is wiped out..got refund or not..
pap DOGs answer as usual..you 1st a guranteed card..try buyin a toaster from mustafar..(hee hee gotcha you all..that MOI’s usual line)
without a doubt..who else sponser..nobody but singtel….
very nice song – is it in itune?
Let’s put things in perspective here.
Whether or not an artiste makes it here should not be blamed on the PAP. A true artist pursues his art in spite of government opinion. The best artists are in fact, anti-establishment.
So is Inch a failure here? I don’t think so. She has cut albums and performed in some leading public places. Perhaps she wants financial success and celebrity status. Nothing wrong with that, and she’s perfectly right in her observation that locals shun local talent.
But what she might need to understand is, the world is an even harder place to make it. Each country embraces its own talents and in larger markets, she will compete with many more people of comparable talents. But the world is more meritocratic. No-one will care where you’re from if you’re really good.
“angry_one 2 August 2011
Let’s put things in perspective here.
Whether or not an artiste makes it here should not be blamed on the PAP. A true artist pursues his art in spite of government opinion. The best artists are in fact, anti-establishment….”
@angry_one,
Do you think there is an equal playing field in the competition you mentioned?
Nature and nurture play equally important parts in producing world talents. Inch Chua is one example of many Singaporeans with natural creative talents, but are unfortunately born in Singapore, which does not support/nurture creative talents of her own. We get angrier when Singapore gov uses tax-payers’ money to import foreign creative talents rather than use the money to groom our own. I think you are the one who need to see things in perspective.
Look at our own singers like Stephanie Sun and JJ Lin, or even our Singapore idol Taufik. They have all decided to go overseas, with occasional performances back here in Singapore.
In terms of music, our market here is obviously too small.
So, Inch, you made the right decision to go overseas.
Time to re-think and reflect, Oh PAP, something is wrong with the current system, is this the right system you want?? Im very disappointed….
Hi Richard Frias,
Have you heard of another Singapore talent named’Asha’ gone the same way for the same reasons as this girl. check out her website : Asha Edmund
This is nothing new, the whole Pappy team and their puppy servants are bean counters. They only see “value” in technology, profit and loss; they have no f-king clue when one comes to less tangible things like culture, compassion and the like.
So you see the kind of industries they “nurture” and the kind of people they take into the establishment.
Result: All the hardware, rules and processes but no soul, no heart. Just one kind of cookie-cutter cronies filling the top … it’s a lost cause … almost …
Go and be famous. Then come back and write another crappy national day song for the NDP committee.
Hehehe … go, leave, scram! If she makes, good for her.
Want real talent? Go to China, you have 1.3 billion to select as opposed to 3 million:(( No offense but that is the truth.
She’s boring. Stop celebrating mediocrity you losers. No wonder she didn’t get a grant.
Take a stroll in a London Tube, and you’ll see many talented musicians too.
Ps: I thought TOC was bankrupt!? Where are the “help us if you have heart” posts?!
at least she’s brave enough. papaya team only care about $$$$: c how much $$$$ they pump into foreign table tennis players but choose to totally ignore home grown talent?????