Best Chris Toh Podcasts (2025)

1
Ep130: BigO 4-0 (a review part 2) 54:23

1M ago54:23

54:23

Was there a better way to spend a Sunday than having your eardrums blasted and your face melted by some of the biggest bands of the 1990s? Well, if you're not into that sorta thing, then yes, probably. But for us at the Lion City Rock pod, Day 2 of the BigO 4-0 show brought the house down as six bands took the stage at The Blackbird! Disko Biscuit,…

1
Ep129: BigO 4-0 (a review) 39:11

1M ago39:11

39:11

As crowds throng the spaces to listen to political candidates wax lyrical about how they plan to improve Singapore, the LCR team look back on two days in April when crowds thronged The Blackbird Singapore to listen to veteran indie rockers who came together to wax lyrical about the 40th anniversary of BigO magazine, the pre-eminent champion of loca…

1
Ep128: Surath and Joanna (The Blackbird, Reverie) 41:34

2M ago41:34

41:34

Where can you go to hear a live band play Steely Dan's "Reelin' In The Years" or the 11-minute opus that is the live version of "Sultans Of Swing", complete with sax solo? Well, The Blackbird at Gillman Barracks, that's where. The Blackbird's resident band, Reverie, plays songs that aren't always on your Spotify Top 10; instead, revelling in dishin…

1
Ep127: It's The Oddfellows! (BigO 40 Special) 51:02

2M ago51:02

51:02

What a show we have for you! Yes, you and only you! Our featured guests on the podcast are none other than The Oddfellows! They helped spearhead the Singapore indie scene in the late 1980s and have garnered much acclaim and accolades through the years. But what exactly are they doing now? Well, they're part of BigO 4-O: 40 Years Of Counter-Culture,…

1
Ep126: The Great Spy Experiment (BigO 40 Special) 50:15

2M ago50:15

50:15

We're continuing our Lion City Rock x BigO 4-O series for the 40 Years Of Counter-Culture music festival, which will be held on 12-13 April at The Blackbird to celebrate the 40th anniversary of BigO Magazine, one of the cornerstones of Singapore's indie music scene of the 1990s. The line-up features The Mother, Typewriter, Obstacle Upsurge, Force V…

1
Ep125: Disko Biscuit (BigO special episode!) 37:18

2M ago37:18

37:18

It's the first of our Lion City Rock x BigO 4-O episodes for the 40 Years Of Counter-Culture music festival. Happening on 12-13 April at The Blackbird, it's two days of music remembering and celebrating one of the cornerstones of Singapore's indie music scene of the 1990s: BigO Magazine. Bands performing include The Mother, Typewriter, Obstacle Ups…

1
Ep124: We Can't Believe It's Astreal! 1:26:43

3M ago1:26:43

1:26:43

IT'S FINALLY HERE: Our monumental mega-episode with ASTREAL! As one of the key shoegaze bands here in the Lion City over the past three decades, Astreal has been going through thick and thin, releasing three albums and performing at every major gig you can think of. Ginette Chittick (bass/vocals) and Muhammad Alkhatib (guitars) share the ups and do…

1
Ep123: No Excuse For Sexism Review 51:56

3M ago51:56

51:56

Happy International Women's Day! To mark the occasion, we're looking back at an album that made a splash back in the day: No Excuse For Sexism. Released in 1998, it was the first album to feature an all-female line-up, with all-female or female-fronted bands: Clothes Peg, Flying Pills, Sideshow Judy, Psycho Sonique and Astreal. How does the album h…

1
Ep122: Robin (KiDG) and Joe (Ng) 57:28

3M ago57:28

57:28

We're honoured to be part of No Finer Time To Be Alive, a music event on 15 March 2025, 6pm at Vertigo26 where The Substation will kickstart celebrations for its 35th anniversary. To share more about this lively do is the lively duo behind it all, DJ KiDG, aka Robin Chua and award-winning composer Joe Ng. The gig will feature iconic Singaporean mus…

1
Rewind Episode: Yuni & Kim of The Substation 59:53

3M ago59:53

59:53

We're honoured to be part of No Finer Time To Be Alive, a music event on 15 March 2025, 6pm at Vertigo26 where The Substation will kickstart celebrations for its 35th anniversary. Featuring iconic Singaporean music curated and mixed live by DJ KiDG (Robin Chua), the five-hour non-stop set will take you through Singapore’s music history, with tracks…

1
Ep121: Taledrops 1:01:19

4M ago1:01:19

1:01:19

It's a tale of Taledrops this week! One of Singapore's freshest bands has been rocking the Lion City with their very own "Drama Rock". In this episode, the female fivesome—Shan, Jingmin, Kiara, Zee, and Pearly—spill the beans on their journey. They reveal what made them form a band, how the name Taledrops came about, who the worst timekeeper in the…

1
Ep120: Live At The Green Room Review 52:50

4M ago52:50

52:50

We travel back to 1998 to see, or rather, hear, what happened on 15 December of that year at the Green Room, a studio run by veteran Lion City Rocker Tony Goh. The result was an album recorded live and distributed by BigO magazine, featuring music by four young bands: Electric Co. (later to evolve into Electrico), Shereene's Closet, Steel Blue Skie…

1
Ep119: Sanny Veloo's Brighter Tomorrow 46:37

4M ago46:37

46:37

Friend Of The Pod Sanny Velloo is back to share more of his continuing journey as a solo musician. Fresh from launching his latest single, "A Brighter Tomorrow", Sanny shares what it has been like going solo, what his new album is about, and the chances of becoming the world's only Rock 'n' Roll Guru! *This episode was recorded in Dec 2024 Feel fre…

1
Ep118: New Year, New Ideas 36:28

5M ago36:28

36:28

It's our AAR episode! And then some! In 2024, we had over 2,000 downloads from more than 40 countries! That's not something we thought we'd ever achieve and we don't take it lightly! Thank you listeners for making it all worthwhile! But we aren't just patting ourselves on the back for a job well done in 2024. We're also on the lookout for new ideas…

1
Ep117: 2024 Wrapped (feat. Shye) 54:53

5M ago54:53

54:53

Oh, what a year it has been! As we say goodbye to 2024, we thought we'd reflect on the year with our top five fave moments on the pod. Unsurprisingly - or perhaps, surprisingly - Chris and Kevin had four same items out of the five on their list. But what was the different one? PLUS! A special appearance by Shye! PLUS PLUS! Our wishes for 2025! - - …

1
Ep116: The Return of Isaac Chiew 58:14

5M ago58:14

58:14

You know it's a fun day when Friend of the Pod Isaac Chiew returns to share more thoughts about the Lion City's music scene. How have his experiences working with record labels and youth organisations shaped his mindset? Which Lion City Rockers rock his boat? And when will his band, Cactus Cactus, drop their new album? The answers to all this and m…

1
Ep115: Busking with Pat Chng 50:01

6M ago50:01

50:01

We’re so happy to have friend of the pod Patrick Chng, back for another episode! This time, the Oddfather of Singapore Indie Music spills the beans about his new journey into the world busking in the Lion City. What does it take to be a busker in Singapore? Where are all the hot busking spots? And is it really true that all buskers MUST learn to pl…

1
Ep114: Iman's League 59:11

6M ago59:11

59:11

It's punk rock like you've never heard it before! With fans from all over the region, power trio Iman's League have been rocking the stage with their high-energy performances and ballsy bangers. Iman, Bat and Lal got on the pod to share their thoughts about the best and worst gigs, what peeves them most, and where Iman's League will be in 2025! (Eu…

1
Ep113: The Story of Shanty with Henry Chua and Wee Guan (The Quests) 1:22:39

6M ago1:22:39

1:22:39

IT'S ANOTHER BUMPER EPISODE! Lion City Rock legends Henry Chua and Wee Guan tell us the story of "Shanty", the song that changed the Singapore music landscape. Written by Henry and recorded by The Quests, it was released in Oct 1964 and became the first original composition by a Singapore band to reach No.1 – for 12 weeks! – knocking off The Beatle…

1
Ep112: 1964 - 60 Years of Rock & Roll (Part 2) 49:39

7M ago49:39

49:39

It's Part 2 of 60 years of maximum rock and roll! In July, The Beatles caused a minor riot as 3,000 teens flock to the airport to see the Fab Four's... plane. In Oct 1964, The Quests reached #1 with "Shanty", knocking The Beatles off the top spot! That same month, local and international bands took part in a charity concert, called the 8.30 Special…

1
Ep111: 1964 - 60 Years of Rock 'n' Roll 47:05

7M ago47:05

47:05

Can you imagine when Singapore wasn't Singapore, but Malaysia? We can't – but luckily, we read history books. In 1964, the Lion City hadn't achieved independence. The geo-political and socio-economic landscapes were still on shaky ground. But the pop scene was already making inroads. The Crescendos were consolidating their position as the top vocal…

1
Ep110: Dawn Parry and Joe Eades 56:07

7M ago56:07

56:07

"It's a new dawn comin' round..." And she's right here on our podcast! Our guests are Dawn Parry, host and presenter on newdawn.fm, and Joe Eades, the A&R Coordinator of Jukebox Judgement, a show where some of the top producers in the world give their reviews about new music from around the world. Back in February, Singapore was the first Southeast…

1
Ep109: Yuni & Kim of The Substation 59:04

7M ago59:04

59:04

Back in the 1990s, The Substation was The Place To Be for many musicians, artists, actors, filmmakers, performers and well, just about anyone who was into the arts. But while the building may be gone, it's thanks to people like Yuni Hadi and Kim Dy-Liacco who ensure that The Substation is still A Home For The Arts. They share what The Substation is…

1
Ep108: Tan Peng Sing (Club Mild) 1:16:54

8M ago1:16:54

1:16:54

How can young musicians develop their brand? Should we follow what's trending in the music scene? What does it mean to "make it" as a musician? Find out the answers to these questions and more with our guest, Club Mild guitarist Tan Peng Sing. Peng Sing has worn many musical hats – not only is he a musician and a champion of local music, he was the…

1
Ep107: Benny's 47:42

9M ago47:42

47:42

We're sorry this is so late. The past few weeks have been strange at the Lion City Rock pod. But we're back with this new episode featuring a chat with young singer-songwriter, Benny's. A true music fan, Benny's wears her musical heart on her sleeve and her songs reflect her thoughts about life, the universe, and well, just about everything. Benny'…

1
Ep106: Josh & Leonard of Tumbleweed Studios 56:22

10M ago56:22

56:22

It's the return of Leo! Yup, Leonard Soosay is back! This time, he's joined by Josh Wei to talk more about their plans for 'Weed - Tumbleweed Studios, that is. The pair started Tumbleweed (conveniently located at The Esplanade) because they felt younger musicians needed a conveniently located jamming studio that's also affordable. And did we say it…

1
Ep105: The Great Catch-up Episode 44:08

11M ago44:08

44:08

Chris and Kevin took time to catch up in this episode where they talk about the LCR schedule, money money money, our guitar-toting PM, Chris' new anime fetish – Bocchi The Rock!, and Kevin stacking up his Substack. They prattled on for so long we just had to cut it sho- ****** LINKS The Lion City Rock Playlist Power of Pop Substack Bocchi The Rock!…

1
Ep104: Bellied Star 50:58

11M ago50:58

50:58

It's all about Star power! Bellied Star, that is. Young rockers Audrey, Ethan, Marco and Mitch have been making a splash on the scene in the last 18 months with their exuberant rock and energetic live performances. With their debut album, SPUT, just out, Bellied Star is keeping the Lion City rockin' with songs like 'Skinning', 'If You Mind' and 'Pe…

1
Ep103: Art Fazil (he's back!) 1:12:49

11M ago1:12:49

1:12:49

We're a few weeks late with this one, but hey, that's Life. Our guest is returning friend of the pod, Art Fazil, who's back to share more about what's been happening in his life, the Ramadan Moon album he recorded earlier this year, and what it takes for the Singapore scene to get off the ground. Again. *this episode was recorded mid-May ****** LIN…

1
Ep102: Orchard Road Special ft. Li Lin Wee, Shaiful Risan & KK Liew 1:30:08

1y ago1:30:08

1:30:08

Orchard Road – Singapore's most famous road! – is more than just a shopping belt. Back in the 1960s, it was the home of tea dance venues like the famous Golden Venus. In the 1980s, shopping malls like Far East Plaza and Centrepoint were hubs for scores of teens. And for four years running, Orchard Road was the site of Singapore's biggest street par…

1
Ep101: Time of Rebirth (a review) 40:54

1y ago40:54

40:54

When The Observatory's debut album, Time Of Rebirth, was released in 2004, it was an eye-opening (ear-opening?) experience for listeners. Filled with rhythms and grooves, along with a smattering of the experimentation that the band would go on to do, it was lauded by critics. It was even picked as an album of the year by the media - well, one media…

1
Ep100: Shazza 58:12

1y ago58:12

58:12

Who's that girl who blew up the Internet singing with Crash Adams? Why, that's Shazza, our Lion City Rock guest today! The singer has been making waves in recent times, and she shares all about her music journey so far: dropping her debut album last year, appearing on the Times Square billboard, and getting more than 20mil views online for her coll…

1
Ep99: Steve Ferzacca 48:36

1y ago48:36

48:36

Anthropologist and author of Sonic City Steve Ferzacca joins us this week to talk about his book and why a Canadian academic (that's Steve, btw) ended up writing about the Singapore music scene. Along the way, he shares his memories of the late Jimmy Appudurai-Chua; gigging with a Straydog in Vietnam; and what money has to do with making music and …

1
Ep98: Coming Up Roses 44:06

1y ago44:06

44:06

Everything is Coming Up Roses this week! The band have been busy over the past 12 months: they released a single, 'Utopia Reimagined: These Corners', saw personnel changes, did several gigs to hone their chops, and put together a new eponymous EP, which will drop on 5 April (or has dropped already, depending on when you hear this!). Singer and bass…

1
Ep97: What's Your Story (a review) 46:11

1y ago46:11

46:11

Back in 1994, Padres, a Singapore indie band - or you could call them a supergroup - released their debut EP, What's Your Story? It was a collection of thoughts about life and love and everything else the youth of Singapore were going through - but with electric guitars, bass and drums. But who were Padres? And what's their story? Only one way to f…

1
Ep96: Lim Yu Beng 1:11:57

1+ y ago1:11:57

1:11:57

Best known as an actor and theatre practitioner, Lim Yu Beng embarking on a new journey as a singer He chats about his debut album, Notes To Self and why he's made the leap into the world of music. Along the way, he also talks about... Why having good friends who support you is important Appearing in Zack Synder's Rebel Moon How not to get caught w…

1
Ep95: Must we always mention "original music"? 49:45

1+ y ago49:45

49:45

It's a new year and a new series! Kevin and Chris are back with more about what makes the Lion City rock. Recently, there were several entries in the All Things New concert series that emphasised musicians playing original music. But why does it matter? What kind of music do audiences expect? And why is it only seen for music gigs and not others, s…

1
Ep94: The Year End Episode 45:26

1+ y ago45:26

45:26

Goodbye '23, Hello '24! It's the end of the year as we know it, and we feel... well, this is the episode where we tell you what we thought of 2023. Thanks for making this year such a memorable one! ****** LINKS Follow Lion City Rock Facebook and Instagram Listen to 4Christmas and Kevin Mathews' music Listen to KayMac Music Listen to Rondo Vitale **…

1
Ep93: RINES 45:43

1+ y ago45:43

45:43

It's Christmas, baby! And guess who we have as our Lion City Rock holiday guest? It's RINES, baby! This singer started spreading her wings in recent times with releases like 'Little Bird', 'When You Fall' and 'Clown', but the relative newcomer is an ol' sweet soul when it comes to music. She was bitten by the music bug years and years ago, running …

1
Ep92: Inch Chua 40:57

1+ y ago40:57

40:57

From her early days as the lead singer of Allura to a fruitful solo career, Inch Chua hasn't been afraid to shake things up - whether as a musician, an actor, or even a chef (who else would name a dish Sting Tang Tong?). She shares her thoughts about her journey as a creative, what it means to be part of a scene going through its peaks and troughs,…

1
Ep91: Jean Seizure 39:42

1+ y ago39:42

39:42

Jean Seizure has been in the public eye as a child actor, but since has since become one of Singapore's notable singer-songwriters! 2023 has been quite the year for Jean - she recently capped of the year with an award for being one in the Top 5 "Rising 65" chart on Spotify (for the track 'Tell Me'), and she has been creating content for platforms l…

1
Ep90: ABANGSAPAU 40:18

1+ y ago40:18

40:18

When it comes to the Lion City's hip-hop scene, someone who's making a wave in recent years is ABANGSAPAU. He's one of the new breed of rappers that have inspired the young(er) generation of music fans in Singapore. In this special chat, he talks about his love for rap, and how one fateful gig changed his life forever. Kevin's and Chris' rant and r…

1
Ep89: The Axean review (feat. Bas Linders) 57:04

1+ y ago57:04

57:04

The Axean Festival last month featured 50 music artistes taking the opportunity to strut their stuff for the audiences at the Goodman Arts Centre, but did it achieve its goals? We don't know, we didn't organise it. But we can tell you what we liked and didn't like. Especially since we have our favourite gig guy Bas Linders in this episode to share …

1
Ep88: J.M3 (feat. Lennat!) 56:05

1+ y ago56:05

56:05

THIS WEEK: It's the incredible tale of J.M3! Recorded in early October, we sat down with the Singapore hip-hop artiste who has been making waves not just in the Lion City but in the region and beyond. Her hit 'Hot Sauce' has been featured in the US TV series, Kung Fu; 'Tap Out' was in the movie, Joy Ride (starring Everything Everywhere All At Once …

1
Ep87: Aeriqah 54:13

1+ y ago54:13

54:13

Meet Aeriqah, a musician whose introspective tunes have captured the hearts of fans both in Singapore and overseas. How else can you explain her picking up the Best Duet (Viewers Choice) prize at this year's California Music Video Awards for her song 'Maybe', a duet featuring Umar Sirhan? From forming a circle of like-minded friends in the music sc…

1
Ep86: Lim Kiang 45:06

1+ y ago45:06

45:06

Ti-i-i-ime seems to be on Lim Kiang's side. As a founding member of Straydogs, he was responsible for helping to shape the sound of Singapore's Sixties, thanks to songs like 'Freedom', 'Mum's Too Pampering', 'Cold Morning' and 'Repent'. The band captured the harder rhythms that earlier bands like The Quests and The Crescendos lacked. Now, nearly 60…

1
Ep85: Joe Ng (Pt. 2) 44:13

1+ y ago44:13

44:13

It may not seem like it, but our guest Joe Ng has probably worked on more movies than, er, Fann Wong, Chin Han and Tan Kheng Hua combined! (*We could be wrong - maths is not our strength.) But let's tick off those that we know: Confinement, The Maid, Gone Shopping, One Leg Kicking, Eating Air, Rule #1, Zombiepura, Unlucky Plaza, Bait, Battle Of The…

1
Ep84: Joe Ng (Pt. 1) 44:13

1+ y ago44:13

44:13

"Hey Joe, where you gonna go..." well, if it's Joe Ng, then he went from fronting synth-pop duo Corporate Toil to promoting bands as a record executive to becoming an award-winning music composer for film. But just how did he do it? Find out what he really thinks of... working with Richard Claydermann being the co-star of Mee Pok Man having a band …

1
Ep83: Shye 44:25

1+ y ago44:25

44:25

You'd have to be living under a rock not to know about Shye. She's one of the hottest names in the Lion City these days and no wonder: In the past five years, Shye has released 4 EPs, 1 album, received a slew of awards, gigged around the world, and played support acts for some big names in music-dom (most recently for Grammy winner Daniel Caesar). …

1
Ep82: Axean Festival 2023 59:01

1+ y ago59:01

59:01

Wanna know what the sound of 50 bands from the region (and then some!) is like? Then head to the Axean Festival 2023 on 28-29 Oct, 2-10.30pm. This multi-genre showcase will feature rising music stars from countries like Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam, The Philippines, Indonesia and more! To tell us more about it is Piyapong "Py" Mu…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Chris Toh Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide