The other day, my editor was asking me about my opinion of local bands and if I do have any recommendations for the blog. Well, my friends. I have many, of course!

One may think our Singapore local music is small and tiny but in my opinion, if I were to check out all the bands out there in our island, I probably won’t have time to do anything else. Local music may have yet to achieve mainstream appeal, but there are still quite a far bit of outlets and venues to look out for if you would like to discover homegrown talent. Universal Music Singapore recently released a massive 3-CD compilation titled +65 Indie Underground. Baybeats auditions are upon us again. Local bands like The Karl Maka, Fatskunks, Another Sunday Afternoon will be hitting the Mosaic Music Festival come March. Online/print publications such as Aging Youth, Audioreload, Power Of Pop, Walk On Music, MagMug and Junk write about local and regional music all the time. And if you want to join a forum and partake in spirited debate about the music scene in general, you can hop on to Soft.

Like I said, busy busy! But if you’re still lost like bambi, here are some bands you might want to check out. This list is by no means definitive. I’m singling them out because I happen to like what they do, a lot!

Quick Quick Danger

Quick Quick Danger – www.myspace.com/quickquickdanger

When I saw Quick Quick Danger on MySpace, I just want to proclaim them as my new favorite local band. Totally marketable image and they do have a signature sound that they call their own, as evident in their covers and originals. If you ask me, Quick Quick Danger is what being young is all about to me. They are fun, vibrant and attractive! The world’s for their taking!

Audiocean

Audiocean – www.myspace.com/xaudioceanx

Their producer, Roland Lim, has been telling me on and off to check them out when he was recording their EP last year. Band sounds tight and polished, played Baybeats 2009 and was nominated by Junk Sounds Awards as one of the Most Promising Act of 2009. Achievements aplenty! I was at this small studio gig and saw Sarah sitting with the band by the entrance and had to ask my friend Gerald from Waiting For Nothing, “Who’s that girl that looks like she’s in a band?” Dude went, “Oh why! It’s Sarah from Audiocean of course! Hot, isn’t she?” Point taken! I mean, just how awesome it is to possess star power? It’s like how those Idol judges often put it – Either you have it, or you don’t. Other than a set of good pipes, it does take a lot more to be the front person of a band. Go Sarah!

Love Jets

Love Jets – www.myspace.com/lovejets

Man, I adore the boys from Love Jets. Garage rock at it’s finest! While their peers are probably busy pursuing the sounds of screamo, emo or whatever-momo, Love Jets takes it old skool. The minute I heard “Love Getaway,” I fell in love. That and I love Akid’s great hair-do. More please!

The Lion Story

The Lion Story – www.myspace.com/thelionstory

Super catchy power-pop is gonna get you! Patrick from The Oddfellows/TypeWriter always plays their EP in his car and talks to me all the time about them. I’ve never met the boys, but after hearing all about their great harmonies, bassist Amin’s producing skills and so much more, I feel like I’ve known them forever already.

Fibelis

Fibelis – www.facebook.com/pages/Fibelis/179422486451

Yes, Fibelis is not your traditional rock band but I do like to mix things up a little. The boys are all musos who kick some serious ass with their instruments. And they are all so young! I’ve lost track of how many awards drummer Chow Kiat has won or how many drum kits he owns now. If you like fusion, check out their recently released EP that, according to Chow Kiat, is available at Drum Resources at 10, Haji Lane.

And that’s it. My current five until something better comes along! If you are in a local/regional band and would like to showcase your music, drop a comment below! Till then, pick up your instruments, find a bunch of like-minded friends and kick out the jams!