Ann Siang Sounds’ jam sessions are for everyone to watch – and perform

SINGAPORE – At Sentosa Sensoryscape on a recent Sunday night, some musicians are performing pop hits, classic rock bangers and American folk songs.

The crowd watching them sings along.

Then, unexpectedly, some of those who were in the audience step forward to join the performers – to sing or play a musical instrument.

This is an open jam session held by Ann Siang Sounds for anyone, regardless of music background or skill level, to perform impromptu in public.

Ann Siang Sounds was founded in March by three music enthusiasts – Mr Oliver Ow, 35, a musician and music teacher; Ms Lara Tay, 30, who works in advertising; and Mr Jeremiah Lim, 37, a designer and lecturer by day and gig musician by night.

Mr Ow and Mr Lim have been performing live at various venues as part of the band Suncitysons since 2021.

“Most jams in Singapore are exclusive to friends or pro musicians. We wanted to have a place where anyone could perform – whether they sing in the shower or on stage,” said Ms Tay.

Mr Ow added that the open jam sessions also allow his students “to gain experience playing with other musicians or performing in front of a live audience without the pressure of being perfect or not making mistakes”.

The group has put on six events since the first one held at Ann Siang Hill in March.

The inaugural session was supposed to be an impromptu jam with friends and students, but “as we performed, more and more people gathered to watch and asked if they could sing a song”, said Mr Lim.

The first event drew a crowd of 20 to 30 passers-by and performers, while the crowds at the more recent sessions have grown a few times larger, to more than 100 people.

Videos of Ann Siang Sounds’ events went viral on social media in June. Their most popular posts on Instagram attracted more than 500,000 views and their Instagram following grew from a couple of hundred to over 11,000 followers.

Mr Ow said: “To be honest, we wanted to keep it low-key. It’s grown way beyond our imaginations.”

Since its crowd sizes dramatically rose in June, Ann Siang Sounds has temporarily stopped performing at Ann Siang Hill Park owing to concerns about public safety and to pre-empt warnings or intervention from the authorities about unlawful gatherings in public. Mr Ow said: “We felt it was right to go through the proper channels rather than risk it.”

“There’s no existing permit for a group like us to perform.” Mr Lim added. “Now that it’s gotten so big, the last thing we want is for us to put on an event for the community only for it to be shut down. We want to go about this the right way.”

The founders have contacted government organisations such as NParks, the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the National Arts Council to obtain the necessary permits to perform at Ann Siang Hill Park.

In the meantime, they have held the sessions elsewhere – Haw Par Villa for the Skechers Sundown Festival, New Bahru and Sentosa.

A jam, which lasts three to four hours each time, usually opens with performances by a group of “core jammers”, including Mr Ow and Mr Lim, who warm up the crowd and give potential participants time to muster up their courage to perform.

A diverse range of music is performed. “Every location we perform at has a bit of a different vibe but generally we get everything from pop to rock to reggae,” said Ms Tay.

Some instruments, such as the drums, guitars and keyboard, are also usually provided, but participants are free to bring and use their own instruments.

All walks of life

The open jams have attracted music lovers of all ages, most of whom found out about the event via word of mouth or social media.

At Sentosa, Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary School student Natanya Chia, 13, played the drums at the event in a performance of Otherside by American funk-rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers.

She said: “It’s kind of intimidating to go up there and play with all these musicians that I don’t know, but I’m less scared now that I’ve met a few people.

“I’ve always performed with the same bands, but this has given me a chance to get out of my comfort zone and meet different members of the community in Singapore. I think it’s quite cool – you don’t get the chance to do this often in Singapore.”

Mr Prasad Sivaparagasam, 23, a guitarist and Lasalle music student, strummed along to Feeling Good by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse.

Such jam sessions are meaningful to the music community in Singapore, he said, adding: “It’s important to give people a space to gather and showcase their talent.”

For 38-year-old teacher Vincent Huang, who plays guitar and bass, the open jam sessions gave him a chance to bond with his family.

To cheers and applause at the event in Sentosa, he performed three songs, including Count On Me by Bruno Mars, with his two young children.

“The community here is so supportive and accommodating,” Mr Huang said.

“The vibe they create here is fantastic. It’s important that it’s given future generations a space to have fun and meaningful experiences.”