SINGAPORE - The Straits Times has launched a new live music video series called ST Sessions. It aims to introduce to a wider audience popular local acts and bands, along with some international names that visit our shores.

While coverage in ST's Life pages showcase the print and picture format, ST Sessions will broaden the scope for the bands in video, with accompanying short stories and social media links.

Episode 1: Shigga Shay

Back with a more up-front filming style, ST Sessions kicks off Season Two with Singapore rapper Shigga Shay (real name Pek Jin Shen).

He might have recently made his acting debut in the musical comedy movie 3688, but Shigga is first and foremost a rapper, and one of Singapore's most prominent at that.

Watch the performances and video interviews here

Episode 2: Charlie Lim

Singaporean Charlie Lim - writes poignant songs of heartbreak - gave up the idea of studying medicine early on to pursue music, as he mentions in ST Sessions.

The son of a doctor and a teacher, he instead left his family who had moved to Melbourne, to return and base himself in Singapore.

Watch the performances and video interviews here

Episode 3: TheLionCityBoy Kevin Lester

Once a shirt-and-tie wearing corporate executive, TheLionCityBoy is now representing Singapore on the global hip-hop stage.

In 2014, Lester became the first home-grown artist to sign on with BMBX, an artist development and brand marketing company headed by Apl.de.ap from popular American pop/hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas.

Watch the performances and video interviews here

Episode 4: Us The Duo

American husband-and-wife singing act and social media stars Us The Duo have absolutely no problems having their music - and marital life - constantly in the public eye.

The Southern Californian pop/ folk pair dish advice on love and talk about how despite arguments and disagreements, working with each other is the best job of all.

Watch the performances and video interviews here

Episode 5: L.A.B

Formed in 2012, home-grown quartet L.A.B, an acronym for Listen And Believe, create music that is a meld of genres like neo-soul, jazz, hip-hop and R&B. Their debut EP, Listen And Believe, was released in April this year.

On paper, the band's line-up reads like a who's who of the independent music scene in Singapore.

Watch the performances and video interviews here

Episode 6: Cheating Sons

Home-grown roots-rock quintet Cheating Sons pride themselves of making genre-defying music that blends the best of Western and Asian pop and stands out from the rest of the pack.

Formed in 2008, the band released their eponymous sophomore album in May 2015, a follow-up to their critically acclaimed debut, 2011's Masters, Wives, Daughter.

Watch the performances and video interviews here

Episode 7: MMXJ

In 2009, MJ Kuok, was forced to pull out of reality singing show Singapore Idol because of his studies, despite making to the Top 13.

The 26-year-old is back and now making his name as a DJ/producer under the moniker MMXJ. In November 2015, he launched his debut album, Into The Wild. For ST Sessions, he played stripped-down, acoustic versions of songs from the album.

Watch the performances and video interviews here

Episode 8: Linying

Linying's song Sticky Leaves made its international debut in January 2016 and landed in music streaming service Spotify's American and global Viral 50 chart.

It is quite an achievement, considering she has yet to release her debut EP, expected to be completed later this year.