Six Rising Indie Artists in Singapore You Should Know About

Singapore, get ready to unleash your inner kid! Pop Toy Show 2025 is back and bringing the ultimate toy fiesta to the Sands Expo this August! 

From Aug. 22 to 24, 2025, the city’s iconic convention center will transform into a vibrant playground packed with exclusive collectibles, creative installations, and all the pop culture goodness that toy fans crave.

Brought to you by China’s design titan POP MART, this year’s show is all about the ever-popular Hirono series by Chinese artist Lang. Known for his deep, layered character and emotional storytelling, Hirono takes center stage in an epic Twin Cities Adventure that bridges the cultural vibes of Beijing and Singapore.

Since its debut in Beijing in 2020, the Pop Toy Show has grown into a must-visit event for designer toy fans worldwide, with Singapore joining the party in 2023. 

Now, in its third edition here, the show promises even more magic with exclusive figure drops, limited-edition merchandise, artist meet-and-greets, and immersive installations that bring the world of designer toys to life.

Visitors can expect live sketching sessions, interactive experiences, and pop-culture surprises around every corner.  

Mark your calendars and keep an eye out for more announcements! For the latest updates, stay tuned on Pop Toy Show Singapore's official website, Instagram, and Facebook. 

Location: Level 1 - Halls A, B & C, Sands Expo & Convention Centre, 10 Bayfront Ave,

Waterbomb Singapore 2025 has just raised the excitement with a major announcement, adding iconic K-Pop girl group 2NE1, along with Shinee's Taemin and Minho, to the event’s lineup!

Set for Aug. 30 and 31, 2025, at Siloso Beach, this year’s festival promises a star-studded roster, featuring top artists like Huta (Lee Minhyuk of BTOB), Junny, Jay B from GOT7, Ash Island, Anson Lo from Mirror, and EXID.

2NE1 will also be performing in Seoul in July, and fans can look forward to seeing them hit the stage in Singapore shortly after.

Huta, known for his electrifying stage presence, will return to Waterbomb after impressive performances in Seoul in 2023 and 2024. Fans are also in for a treat with GOT7’s Jay B, who will bring his solo flair to the festival — his first solo appearance since the group’s 2019 world tour.

Returning to Waterbomb as well are CLC’s Sorn and Seungyeon. Sorn debuted her unreleased track live at last year’s festival, and Seungyeon joined her on stage for a performance of “Rowdy” in 2023.

The festival will also feature a diverse lineup of international performers, including dance crews like Jam Republic and local acts such as former member of J-Pop group Estelle Fly and WHYLUCAS, a contestant from Chuang Asia 2 2025. As always, fans can expect everything from K-Pop performances to high-energy dance segments.

Hip-hop fans won’t want to miss Ash Island, the breakout star from The High School Rapper, making his Singapore debut. Anson Lo, the Hong Kong sensation from Mirror, is returning for his inaugural solo performance and Waterbomb festival appearance.

EXID is set to light up the stage with their comeback, and Team Bebe, the Street Woman Fighter 2 champions, will collaborate with a world-class crew for a spectacular performance.

Tickets are available in several categories: 1-Day General Pass is priced at S$228, 1-Day Premium Pass at S$258, 2-Day General Pass at S$388 and 2-Day Premium Pass at S$458.

General ticket sales start on May 16, 2025 at 10 AM (SGT), available on the ticketing platform Pelago here.

For more information, visit Waterbomb Singapore on their website, Instagram, Facebook, and X (Formerly Twitter). 

Location: Siloso Beach, Sentosa

Dates: Aug 30 and 31, 2025, exact times to be announced

Multi-platinum pop/R&B solo sensation TINASHE, best known for her hit single "Nasty," is bringing the whole package to the Capitol Theatre in Singapore on Aug. 21, 2025 for one unforgettable night.

With over 1.5 billion global streams and two successful world tours under her belt, Tinashe has solidified herself as a powerhouse in the music industry. Her debut album, Aquarius, dropped in 2014 and charted in the top 20 on the Billboard 200. 

Since then, she’s released four more albums, multiple mixtapes, and hit singles, collaborating with an endless list of big names like Tyga, Chlöe, Britney Spears, A$AP Rocky, and Calvin Harris.

Tinashe is also gearing up for the release of her highly anticipated album Quantum Baby, set for release on Aug. 16, 2025. 

Ahead of the album, she’s dropped the tracks “Getting No Sleep” and the viral single “Nasty,” which is already being hailed as a contender for “Song of Summer.”

Tickets for her show "Match My Freak 2025 World Tour" go on sale on May 15, 2024, starting from 11 AM, with prices at S$118 for Cat 2 and S$138 for CAT 1 Standing. 

Stay tuned on Ticketmaster here for the ticket release and don’t miss your chance to see Tinashe live in Singapore! For more information, visit Ticketmaster on their website, Facebook, Instagram, or X (Formerly Twitter).

Location: Capitol Theatre Singapore, 17 Stamford Road, Singapore 

KFC Singapore’s serving up some real exciting things soon! 

Have you heard the news yet? KFC Singapore and Live Nation Singapore are partnering up for some unforgettable concert experiences every month! Starting April 15, 2025, KFC customers who spend at least S$15 per purchase can enter an instant draw to win concert tickets, exclusive merch, KFC vouchers, and unique fan experiences! 

To join, interested customers must scan a QR code and enter their receipt number for a chance to win instantly! Each receipt is eligible for one chance to join the lucky draw. 

KFC Singapore and Live Nation Singapore will be releasing a new batch of unique fan experiences such as backstage tours, VIP suite access, soundcheck passes, early entry passes, and other exclusive concert experiences every month. 

The names of the artists lined up to hold concerts in Singapore have not been revealed as part of the artists’ rights management.

But, according to their first KFC Concert Nation post on social media, the first will be the hottest concert in May! Any guesses?

Winners need to claim their prizes from KFC within seven working days after being told in person or by a representative. Prize collection is time-sensitive because of fixed concert dates, so any delay may result in the forfeiture of the prize, so keep a keen eye out!

Participants and customers also get a chance to win KFC vouchers worth S$30 e-voucher with a minimum S$60 purchase, S$20 e-voucher with a minimum S$40 spent, and S$10 e-voucher with a minimum S$10 purchase. 

Waiting for a chance to get some exclusive concert experiences and a sign to eat more KFC? Why not try your luck at any KFC store, on the KFC app, or website? 

For more information, visit KFC Singapore’s website, KFC x Live Nation website, Facebook, and Instagram pages. 

In the daytime, Asia embraces a true hustle culture; by night, we let our hair down and erupt in a magnificent energy to good crowds and good music. In Tune With meets the electric DJs and music makers of Hong Kong and Asia to feel their pulse and uncover why they entered the frenetic nightlife industry.

Seoul-based DJ, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Mogwaa is a one-man powerhouse in South Korea’s electronic music scene, celebrated for his infectious grooves and masterful use of hard-ware instruments and gear.

Dubbed ”boy wonder" by peers and collaborators, Mogwaa glides effortlessly across genres and defies borders — spinning together ‘80s boogie, house, electro, and ambient jungle into dreamy, minimalist soundscapes that feel both retro and futuristic.

With roots in classical piano, guitar, and trumpet, Mogwaa’s finely tuned ear and self-taught production skills have propelled him to new heights. Since his debut EP "Déjà Vu" in 2017, he’s continued to evolve — most recently with "Translucent," an album recorded entirely on a 4-track cassette tape and released through his own label, Magnetic Paws.

Mogwaa has enchanted crowds from all over, including Boiler Room Seoul and Wonderfruit and released tracks under Peggy Gou’s Gudu Records imprint.

Ahead of his set at Sunda Festival in Singapore, Mogwaa speaks to The Beat Asia about his musical beginnings, current inspirations, and the state of Asia’s electronic music scene.

What excites you most about playing at Sunda Festival 2025?

I’m so excited to play with such a great lineup. It’s my second time in Singapore but my first time outside of the city, so I can’t wait to enjoy the nature of Singapore. For my live set, I’ll be playing new unreleased tracks. I hope the audience will enjoy them.

How did your love for electronic music start?

My love for electronic music started from boogie funk, I was digging all those drum machines and synthesizers those bands used back in the day, and now here I am. 

I started my career as a guitarist, but later I found out how electronic music works and realized I can be a one-man band within electronic music. So that's how my journey started.

You’re known for your eclectic, cross-genre DJ sets and have spent your early days in a soul/jazz and funk band. How does that background shape your electronic music today?

Sound-wise, instruments like synthesizers, drum machines etc., might be distinct from electronic music. But I get a lot of ideas and inspirations from their arrangement, composition, and how the music handles the space.

Are there any new or emerging artists in the Asian music scene you’re inspired by?

Jesse You. I’ve seen him since day one when he started to produce music. He’s been putting crazy efforts and countless hours into his production. The result of those efforts has just started to come out in the past few years, and of course, they’re amazing.

How do you think the Asian underground music scene has changed compared to when you first started as a DJ, and are you excited by where it’s heading?

Locally, I see more producers, which makes me happy that we are not only consuming but also creating. I feel like the Asian countries are getting closer than before and building a healthy community.

Do you have a standout performance that was particularly meaningful for you as an artist?

The live set I played at Wonderfruit 2023 and Shi Fu Miz 2023. I saw and felt people vibing during my set and it meant a lot to me.

What can audiences expect at your upcoming set at Sunda Festival?

These days, the priority of my live set is to make people dance. I hope audiences will dance a lot during my set.

What do you think of the dance music scene in Singapore? How is it compared to Seoul?

I have similar feelings about both scenes. Both Singapore and Seoul are big, but they have small scenes, so everyone knows and is friends with each other, which makes a unique vibe across the genre/styles.

You’ve described your music as a diary or record of your state of mind at the time. Are there any recurring themes or emotions that have been shaping your recent productions?

It’s more about sound these days.

For the past few years, I’ve been researching and archiving a place called Cabaret/Colatec (Cocacola-Discotheque), which is a dance place for seniors who are retired and in their 60s or 70s. They always have keyboard player there, and their concept of sound and how they design their sound inspires me a lot.

You regularly post videos of yourself brewing coffee on your Instagram. Does this ritual play a role in your creative routine?

In the beginning, it didn't, but right now yes. Somehow it became a trigger to start my studio time and daily life.

After Sunda Festival, what’s next for you?

I’m planning a European tour during June. And I’m working on album right now that I can hopefully finish this year!

For more information, visit Sunda Festival’s website or Instagram. Stay connected to Mogwaa on his Instagram and Linktree. 

Enjoyed this article? Check out our previous In Tune With profiles here.

Mogwaa's Set Details:

Location: Jurong Stage, Sarimbun Scout Camp, 70 Jalan Bahtera, Singapore

Date and Time: Apr. 19, 2025, 8 to 9 PM 

Dust off your calendars, polish your teacups, and become an honorary guest at Beauty and the Beast The Musical, which is waltzing into Singapore for a magical December run at the Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands. 

Taking place from Dec. 11, 2025 to Jan. 4, 2026, the Disney classic returns to the stage in a reimagined production that promises to dazzle audiences with its only Asia stop on a global tour.

Fans of the beloved tale can expect all the musical moments that have enchanted generations, featuring the original songs from the original Broadway production by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, and Tim Rice. Get ready for the spirited “Belle,” the show-stopping “Be Our Guest,” and the title song “Beauty And The Beast.”

But this isn’t just a nostalgic retelling. The production has been refreshed with brand-new sets, lavish costumes, and cutting-edge stage technology — all courtesy of the team behind The Lion King, Aladdin, and Frozen.

Even better, the creative powerhouse team behind the original Broadway version, including director-choreographer Matt West, award-winning book writer Linda Woolverton, and Tony Award winner Ann Hould-Ward as Costume Designer, are returning to this production to breathe new life into the timeless story. 

Tickets are expected to fly fast! Pre-sale access beginning Apr. 10, 2025, at 10 AM. Early-bird public sales open Apr. 14, at 10 AM to May 31 11:59 PM, and Public On-Sale opens Apr. 14, 2025, at 10 AM on Marina Bay Sands Ticketing here, SISTIC and Klook. 

For more information, visit Base Entertainment Asia on their website, Instagram, and X (Formerly Twitter). 

This Songkran, prepare for a collision of luxury, flavor, and high-energy revelry as the tropical resort paradise W Koh Samui sweeps into W Singapore – Sentosa Cove for a four-day aquatic celebration.

From Apr. 10 to 13, 2025, the tropical oasis of Sentosa will transform into a playground where Thai-inspired feasts, craft cocktails, and infectious beats set the stage for the ultimate water festival experience.

The festivities kick off on Thursday evening with Donn’s sunset grooves at WET Deck, where the golden hour melts into a rhythmic warm-up for the days ahead. As night falls, Sivanesh takes over WOOBAR with a disco-infused aperitivo session, blending retro vibes with modern mixology magic.

Over the next three days, guests can indulge in Chef Supaporn Chanvijit’s fiery Thai BBQ spreads, savor inventive cocktails from W Koh Samui’s Pablo Azzalin, and discover the bold flavors of Chef Aon’s (Sophon Nakjaroen) Thai tapas. 

A highlight not to be missed is the Songkran Sunday Brunch, where Southern Thai Yellow Crab Curry and Crispy Fried Aralia Leaves with Prawns take center stage, accompanied by live entertainment and yacht-side surprises.

And what’s Songkran without water fights and a pool party? The grand finale on Sunday brings DJS like Olliedes, Prav, and Ramesh to turn up the heat at the Songkran Pool Bash.

For those needing fuel between splashes, WOOBAR at W Singapore hosts a special guest shift by Pablo Azzalin, featuring his signature Shiso Paloma and Black Sesame Espresso Martini, perfectly paired with zesty Larb Tuna and Turmeric Grilled Prawns.

For reservations, visit WOOBAR here or The Kitchen Table here. 

For more information, visit W Singapore - Sentosa Cove's website, or Instagram and Facebook.