You may have heard her songs in an episode of Gossip Girl and Private Practice or on the radio but Zee Avi hadn’t planned on being a star, when she innocently posted home videos on YouTube of her singing while playing her ukulele in 2007.

That was when the petite Sarawak native, who grew up in Kuala Lumpur, had just dropped out of fashion school. Shortly after, Patrick Keeler, drummer for the band The Ranconteurs, discovered the video and passed it on to Ian Montone, manager of The White Stripes. One thing led to another, and she’s since been signed on to Brushfire Records (co-owned by singer Jack Johnson).

The singer/songwriter’s first self-titled debut album, released on 19 May 2009 garnered the attention of “island indie pop” lovers around the world when the album hit the #130 US Billboard Hot 200 Chart and #2 US Billboard Top Heart-seekers Chart. Her first single “Bitter Heart” was widely popular in the Asian market and stayed on the Japan Top 100 Singles chart for 3 weeks.

Her second album, Ghostbird (a direct translation of the Malay term for owl), was released in August and followed the commercial success (over 300,000 copies have been sold to date) of the first. Writing songs for the album came naturally for the jazzy crooner, and it took just 2 weeks to record all 11 tracks on the album.

Despite a full day of interviews, during the South East Asia leg of her tour, the humble 27-year-old was all smiles as she began to share with UrbanWire what it takes to be Zee Avi — the musician, daughter, and storyteller.

UW: You were born Izyan Alirahman, how did the name Zee Avi come about?

ZA: “Donald Trump gave it to me. Just kidding. Hi, my name is Izyan and I’m an insomniac (laughs). Well, Izyan gradually turned into Izzy, which turned into ‘Zee’. And ‘Avi’ is an abbreviation of my last name because, as I always say, anything more than one syllable is a mouthful.

It’s something that’s universal and easier to remember. I just found out that ‘Zee’ means ‘sea’ in Dutch! Like ocean, pantai (Malay) you know? If you put an ‘E’ at the back of ‘Avi’, it means life. So… sea of life!”

UW: Why do you label yourself first a storyteller, then a musician?

ZA: “And then a human being. I’m a storyteller first and foremost. That was one of the reasons why I started writing songs. It’s because I had all these experiences that I had and one day I was trying to find a song that fit my mood, and then I couldn’t! So I was like, ‘You know what? I’m just going to write my own.’ And then I did. That’s when I started posting them on YouTube, and things like that and then, one thing led to another and then at the end of the day, I’m just someone who has this notebook filled with stories, and I just carry them with melodies.”

UW: If your latest album Ghostbird is inspired by the mysticism of owls, what mystifies you in daily life?

ZA: “People. People and things that are not tangible, like trust, love and faith. That mystifies me in the best way possible.”

UW: What was your family’s reaction to your rise to fame? Did they support you wholeheartedly?

ZA: “Well, they didn’t know that I was posting things on YouTube. I didn’t tell my family or friends, and so when I got the offer from the record label, I was like ‘Hey, so… Ma, Pa, this thing happened.’ And after I told them about it, they were like, ‘So that’s what you’ve been doing at 3 o’clock in the morning in your room, and guitar…’ and I was like ‘Ya, pretty much.’

And of course they were like ‘Make sure it’s legit, make sure you do you research …’ I think it didn’t hit them until I was finally in LA and I called them when I was in the studio. Now they’re like my street team, you know, a 158% behind my back.

You would think for them it explains a lot of my eccentricities. I think it’s allowed them to understand me more, as a person first, and then their daughter.”

UW: Are there any Malaysian traditions you hold on to or that have followed you to the West?

ZA: “Taking my shoes off, when I enter my house. Sometimes when I eat Indian food, I eat with my hands. How to be considerate and courteous and just be light and free in our expressions – that’s what I was taught and brought up on. Just take things by stride and be humble. And modesty is a great part of my culture too.”

UW: “Is there a difference in the way you write English and Malay songs?”

ZA: “I think in English and Bahasa Sarawak. I find, in terms of rhyming, sometimes it’s easier to write in English. But, in terms of expressing some things very simply, I find that easier to do in Malay. Cause there’s no filter or wall there. It’s just very free and comes very naturally. When conveying something like ‘I’ll be there beside you’, in English it’s been said so many different times and so many different ways.”

UW: Have you ever felt pressured to create music that just wasn’t you?

ZA: “Fortunately, I work with people who allow me to, you know, sort of embrace any direction that I want to go into. It’s not like ‘This sounds too this, or this sounds too that.’ I have actually been [criticised] for being too poetic. Once, someone told me I’m being too metaphorical.”

UW: Was it tough breaking into the US market as an Asian, or did it make you more exotic? Did you face any discrimination?

ZA: “I don’t see colour and I don’t think music does either. [Music is] universal, it’s the same language, and it’s appreciated just the same. How does Justin Bieber break into the Asian market?

Being Asian has advantages. It gives me a chance to sort of tell people more about my customs and traditions and the land from which I came. They appreciate that. The fact that you have this girl who’s from Borneo, who started writing songs in her bedroom, and now she’s here performing for a vast variety of people! I think they just sort of accept that and embrace it, and we celebrate together the fact that I come from where I come from. There are just so many things I can integrate with my art.”

UW: What’s on your iPod?

ZA: “I listen to a lot of compilations from various websites or something from the 50’s. A lot of Afro Beat, jazz and French chansons from the 50’s. Basically anything before 1979.”

UW: If you had to choose a song to describe your life now, what would it be?

ZA: “Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance”. No, just kidding! I think it’s an instrumental one by the band, El Michaels Affair. It’s kind of like this soul funk, it’s a song called “Creams”.”

UW: Tell us more about your tattoo (‘A grand reception of oneself’).

ZA: “This is fake, dude. I got this in Bali. Life is a grand reception of oneself. Your life is your own party and it’s what you make it. Make it as fun as you can!”

UW: What made you laugh really hard recently?

ZA: “Oh man, so many [things]. Last time at the airport, I fell like this (hands stretched out, face down), and gravity [is my] best friend. The floor was really soft and my reflex was to laugh really, really hard. My bassist was like ‘It’s okay, you’re praying.’”

UW: If you could offer some advice to your ‘YouTube self’ back then…

ZA: “Don’t wear glossy red lipstick! I would definitely say, don’t take things too hard and always be grounded. Take things one day at a time.

And don’t wear glossy red lipstick.”

Check out Zee’s latest video, Frosty the Snowman, featured in the album This Warm December, A Bushfire Record Vol. 2.

Her latest album, Ghostbird, is available for purchase at US$9.99.

The night began with standard introductions, getting acquainted over one or two friendly songs and thanking the fans. But what followed, none of us expected – a broken guitar string, candid conversations and questions, lessons in Singlish and one heck of a Christmas party. The cosy, intimate environment was more of a casual jamming session in the pop star’s living room rather than a show in front of the adoring fans, and one special member of the audience watching the show through FaceTime.

Going Solo

Singing tracks from his first solo creation that began back in 2008, Kyle serenaded the teenage girl majority in the audience as he belted out the heartfelt lines of each of his songs. Despite the candid informality of the night, ‘Who Can I Run To’ and snippets of ‘Light at the End of the Tunnel’ and ‘Just Like My Heart Falls’ were emotional performances that revealed how personal each are.

During the course of the night, a few song requests were taken in addition to the Christmas songs requested on Kyle’s Twitter. A popular request was a song Kyle wrote about a girl he had amazing chemistry with despite her being attached, leaving him wishing they’ll be together in “another life” (the title of the song). During the emotional climax of the chorus, the charming crooner broke a guitar string at the intensity of the moment. Not letting it get to him, he resumed the chorus with 4 strings and a set of strong vocals.

In the band

3 singles from The Click Five’s second album (Kyle’s first with the band), Modern Minds and Pastimes, were immediate crowd pleasers. With a birthday girl in the crowd, the bandleader performed ‘Happy Birthday’ and topped it off with the occasional rocker hair flick.

The avid fans in the crowd did an impressive job singing the harmonies and accompanying parts to the moving number ‘Empty’, but nothing beat the audience’s reaction to ‘Jenny’. Everyone got on their feet as they sang (or screamed) the lyrics of the hit single.

With a restrung guitar, Kyle performed their most recent work ‘Don’t Let Me Go’, in collaboration with MTV Exit to raise awareness about human trafficking.

It’s Christmas time

In line with the holiday season, popular Christmas songs such as Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas’ were performed with Kyle’s “Baby” – what he affectionately named his custom Gibson.

Besides being a master on the piano and guitar, the multi-instrumentalist worked his magic on the omnichord, performing ‘Jingle Bell Rock’. One line into the song, he paused and puzzled over what seemed like wrong lyrics that he got off the Internet. All that worked to his advantage when it became a fun joke.

Who knew that in addition to playing many instruments, the musician could include varied vocals. The pop singer didn’t fail to amuse the giggly crowd as he nailed Elvis’ deep, soothing vocals with his ‘The Christmas Song’ Elvis impersonation.

After a moving performance of his original ‘Second Life’, Kyle pointed at the back of the room and froze for what seemed like forever, before a loud “Ho ho ho… Merry Christmas!” blasted over the speakers. Within seconds, the man transformed into a gold Santa and gave out presents to the Christmas remix of LMFAO’s ‘Party Rock Anthem’. Everyone in the crowd went positively wild, dancing and flailing their arms in hopes of grabbing a present.

Photos courtesy of Noel Teo.

Towards the end of the show, the winners of the Golden Tickets from a 98.7FM game were announced, entitling them to a coffee or ice cream date with the star of the night. The shimmering gold outfits might have been the lucky charm for 3 of his fans as they were brought up on stage for the audience to vote on the best outfit. Rachel Ho, was decked out in a gold sequined hat, top and skirt, making her the winner of the fifth Golden Ticket.

The hour seemed to pass in an instant as the show drew to a close with the anthem-like ‘Go For Gold’. We can look forward to Kyle visiting us again soon, with the upcoming release of his latest EP and his love for all things Singaporean (chicken rice is a must-eat each time he visits).

It also seems like he has a knack for Singlish, repeating the fact that “there’s so many chio bu’s here tonight!”

LUSH prides itself on products that are fresh, handmade, vegetarian and organic. As its name denotes, its products not only leave your hair and skin luscious and beautiful, but they do all that in an authentic and eco-friendly way.

One of the 3 partners, May, tells UrbanWire, “We believe in everything behind the product and not just the product itself.” Other company beliefs (making their mums proud, or filling the world with perfume) are printed on each paper bag that stores your purchases.

May (left) and Hannah (right)

Available in over 30 countries worldwide. May observed that locals are frequent travellers who are “more aware of what it’s about and how great the products are”. In fact, the partners who brought the brand back weren’t even aware of the 2 outlets of the store that used to exist in Suntec City and Isetan Orchard!

Picking out items were a challenge as avid fans of the brand swarmed the flagship store at Wisma Atria within hours of its opening on Dec 2. Upon entering, the sweet scent of LUSH’s concoctions hits you – very much like the aroma of freshly-baked cookies does each time you walk past a Famous Amos shop.

Special effort is taken to create original recipes for fragrances and body products. On top of that, all of them are freshly handmade using only vegetarian ingredients selected from ethical sources to adhere to the brand’s notion of “creative buying”. What’s interesting to note is that the LUSH team lets you in on who made the product, even including a graphic of the person.

Other ‘green’ initiatives include recycling the bottles and black pots – reducing the waste produced, and carbon, water and energy consumed – through their environmental policy “The Green Hub”, and giving back to the society by charities. Of course, Animal Testing is definitely a big “no-no”.

Take a bath, or shower

With our insanely busy schedules, most Singaporeans don’t have the luxury of taking a relaxing and long bath. Now LUSH’s range of bath goodies – from bubble bars to bath bombs – give us an incentive to do so.

Drop a Bath Bomb (fizzles like a can of soda) or Bubble Bar (for a bubble bath) into your bathtub and enjoy the fragrant and soothing pampering as each one releases a combination of moisturising ingredients that leave your skin supple or glowing after each bath.

Trays of Bubble Bath

Racks of Bath Bombs

Sunnyside Bubble Bath, like swimming in molten gold

Think Pink Bath Bomb was named after a song in the Audrey Hepburn film, Funny Face

Fancy bars dusted with gold glitter, coated with ‘icing’ and sprinkled with rainbow flecks, or pierced with a tiny flower, will tempt you into purchasing at least one jazzed up bar each time you enter the store (approx. $12 per bar).

The most practical option for a shower is the bar soaps displayed in huge blocks, sold by weight (approx. $9/100g). May advises consumers to “store the soaps in the fridge” when not in use, to avoid them from melting in the humidity and heat. Just make sure your brother doesn’t snack on it one night.

UrbanWire recommends Porridge for a gentle daily exfoliation (if you don’t mind the bits of maroon pinhead oat shells left in your wake), and Figs and Leaves for a slightly musky scent (you’ll find actual leaves and fig seeds in this one).

For the majority of us who are accustomed to 15-minute showers, LUSH has plenty of variations in store. The Shower Jellies and Smoothies smell as delicious as they sound and come in a wide range of flavours, each with various moisturing or fragrant qualities. “It’s Raining Men” and “Grass” are a few names of the Shower Gels that stand out from the lot of catchy names. The former smells sweetly of honey and toffee, while the latter literally smells of the grass on fields.

Let down your hair

You’ll be hard pressed to find the variety of shampoos that LUSH offers. The shampoo gels, bars and slushies cater to a wide range of hair types, from dry to added volume and shine.

All over

Our skin requires post-bath or shower pampering on a daily basis (weekly for you lazy bums). The Body Tints and Dusting Powders add an extra tinkle and radiance to your complexion and body. In addition to their shelves of moisturising products for hair, skin and pretty much every other part of the body, their Body Butters and Massage Bars create an almost therapeutic nourishing experience for the skin. Try the Body Butter “Buffy”, made of ground almonds, rice and aduki beans that helps to even out any bumps on your skin and gets rid of dead skin.

Feed your skin!

On top of the products that fit the basic 3-step facial routine – cleanse, tone and moisturise – treat yourself to LUSH’s best-selling Fresh Face Masks. Displayed in metal bowls filled with a creamy paste, accompanied by the raw versions of key ingredients included (avocado stalks and banana slices), they can easily be mistaken for a sumptuous yogurt feast. The seemingly edible goodness is handmade weekly and should be stored for no longer than 3 weeks and finished within 4 months.

A delicious spread of Fresh Face Masks made the night before the event by May!

Ayesha Fresh Face Mask grants you smooth and taut skin the next day.

Smell Me

If you love the fragrances from any of the above products and wish you could wear it the entire day, try the Gorilla Perfumes at LUSH. Fit a stick (approx. $17) in your purse for a mid-day refresher, or opt for the conventional spray perfumes (approx. $60).

All of the ingredients used and products not handmade locally are shipped in from UK in Air Freight containers and kept in air-conditioned rooms day and night. Based on the amazing turnout on the opening, we can expect more LUSH delights around town. Besides expansion plans, there is talk of working with local companies such as the World Wildlife Fund to “help Singapore to become more green” through campaigns.

LUSH can be located at Wisma Atria #B1-13, 435 Orchard Rd.

As sappy love stories go, Restless pretty much makes the cut. But unlike most, the story begins on a depressing note of funerals and death, a departure from the usual indie romance plot where boy meets girl, they fall in love after a series of sweet, “couply” moments together that come to a standstill in some form of a devastating climax, ending their momentary bliss.

In this case, the boy, Enoch Brae (Henry Hopper), meets the girl, Annabelle Cotton (Mia Wasikowska), at a funeral that he gatecrashed. Unlike most romance films, the ‘devastating climax’ ­– the female lead is diagnosed with terminal brain cancer –presents itself in a rather casual way during a conversation during a soccer match at the park.

Upon hearing that Annabelle had only three months left to live, Enoch calmly stated that one could do a lot in three months, from learning French to learning how to play the xylophone and he offers to help her cope with the fact and keep her company till the end, promising to bring her the xylophone as well.

However, the withdrawn Enoch has his own demons to deal with. A car accident, on the way back from his Aunt Mabel’s (Jane Adams) award presentation, robbed him of his parents and put him in a coma for 3 months. Until he met Annabelle, he spent the most part wishing that he too died in the car crash, but his suicidal tendencies never saw the light.

To add the unusual mix of personalities in the movie, Enoch plays Battleship with a close friend every night – a WWII kamikaze ghost, to be exact. Seen by Enoch after his first encounter with death, Hiroshi (Ryo Kase) not only appears to be the boy’s only companion in the movie (besides Annabelle), but also serves as a fatherly figure.

Despite their tragic histories, the quirky couple’s love blossoms over a series of unordinary dates that mostly take place in various parts of the hospital (a morgue on their first date) or on a bench along an unfrequented river, usually accompanied by Hiroshi.

Wasikowska fits Annabelle’s pleasant demeanour to a tee and complements it with her own subtly witty personality, despite the character’s impending death and alcoholic mother (Lusia Strus). She claims, “if it’s not fine, then it’ll be fine”. She takes everyday within her stride, choosing to “sing” rather than weep. Wasikowska references songbirds that sing everyday, as they’re “just happy not to be dead” after expecting to die with each sunset.

Things aren’t that bright and cheery with the other Cotton girl. Schuyler Fisk plays Annabelle’s older sister, Elizabeth, where she reveals her uptight and almost prudish side. Her character has taken on the role of mother in the family – cooking dinner, sending her for hospital checkups, questions her about Enoch.

The couple’s quirky antics make it a light-hearted film despite the apparent theme of death, with a few witty comments slipped in during the harsher scenes that elicited laughter from the audience on more than one occasion.

Have a pack of tissues at hand, as the bittersweet love story is definitely a tearjerker, yet a feel-good movie on a whole. As far as independent films go, this one is worth time as we could possibly learn a thing or two from the characters’ almost-childish optimism despite their encounters with life’s greatest fear.

Movie: Restless
Rating: 3/5
Opens: Dec 1
Duration: 91 mins
Language: English
Age Rating: PG
Genre: Drama, Romance

Director: Gus Van Sant
Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Henry Hopper, Ryo Kase

Named Our Korner, the contemporary bar-restaurant located at the corner of Ann Siang Hill is all about keeping up with the growing ‘indie’ café culture within our small nation, with other popular establishments such as P.S. Café within the vicinity. Don’t be intimidated by its slightly business-like ambience, you’ll have forgotten by the first mouthful. Drop by for a taste of a few local favourites with an unexpected twist, or chill outdoors by the patio with a drink from the indoor bar.

Who hasn’t heard of local favourites such as Laksa and Chilli Crab? When you add Clam Chowder and Linguine to the equation, one can’t help but draw a big mental question mark.

So we began by experimenting with the Laksa Clam Chowder ($14). Served in a focaccia bread bowl, the hearty soup drizzled with truffle oil instantly registers as deliciously creamy, with a coconut aftertaste that is reminiscent of laksa. Unlike the overwhelmingly chunky chowders, the delightfully light flavours of this one urge you to down the whole bowl, literally.

For starters, expect to fork out a rather hefty sum of around $15. The ideal chicken wing has crisp brown skin coating the juicy and tender meat. The Oriental Chicken Wings ($16) served with a homemade spicy sauce, is marinated with 14 herbs and spices that give it an unexpected fragrance. Together with the pan-fried Spicy Garlic Prawns ($16), the appetisers have accomplished their task of getting your appetite geared up for what’s to come.

The 7-inch Curry Chicken Pizza ($12) really stood out for me, as literally as the golden brown fries did – poking through the cheesy curried mix atop a thin crust. Each bite tastes of a slightly spicy homemade curry chicken dish mixed in with crispy bread and a whole lot of chewy cheese. The curry powder taste stands out, but is mellowed with the melted cheese topping that doesn’t overwhelm.

If that wasn’t enough of a stunner, the Chilli Crab Linguine ($25) adds to the list of combinations that work. The sauce is a slightly spicy tomato base with generous portions of crabmeat. A tempura-battered soft shell crab and poached egg add the finishing touches. The poignant crab essense stands out after your first bite, but the dish doesn’t entirely strike you as the traditional Chinese Chilli Crab dish, more so as a zesty tomato-based sauce with crabmeat.

Sate your palette with your choice of desserts. The chocolate lovers can have the Nutella Chocolate Tart ($14) while the Pear Tart ($12) serves as a milder alternative, with slices of poached pear laid over a thin spread of almond cream and a light crust. The flat slice of tart doesn’t distinctly taste of pear, rather a sweet pastry as a whole, but light enough to complement your meal.

The interior of the restaurant was designed in line with the natural architecture of The Scarlet hotel, giving the room a hexagonal shape (as seen in the coasters, upholstery and menu), and the overall concept drew upon the layout of the room to create an edgy and sharp aesthetic . What better way to add to the cosiness than have Michael Bublé’s crooning and smooth jazz playing over the speakers?

Photos courtesy of Noel Teo & Our Korner.

Our Korner would be the place to seek out an innovative take on local favourites or organize a get-together with friends, for a drink or two. Although people are, for the most part, weary of the idea of fusion food as it can get a little too quirky, this restaurant hits the mark and the generous portions are definitely worth the dollar.

Address: The Scarlet, 33 Erskine Road, Singapore 069333
Telephone: 6511 3323
Opening hours:

• Mon – Thu, 7am – 1am
• Fri – Sat, 7am – 2am
• Sun, 7am – 1am

Rating: ★★★★✩
Price rating: $$-$$$

The grand prize of S$45,000 is what 15 contemporary artists from 14 Asian Pacific countries are vying for in the triennial Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation Signature Art Prize.

Selected by an elite panel from 130 works submitted by artists from 24 countries and territories in the region, the finalists’ works are diverse range of media – from monumental installations to larger-than-life video art. They was first presented at the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) during the opening ceremony on Nov 10, and members of the public could cast their votes over the span of 1 week. On Nov 17, the winners were announced at an awards ceremony.

The top prize of $45,000 – double that awarded at the first competition in 2008 – went to Rodel Tapaya of the Philippines for his stunning depiction of a labyrinth of native ancient folklore and myths. Entitled Baston ni Kabunian, Bilang Pero di Mabilang (Cane of Kabunian, numbered but cannot be counted), the piece’s vivid imagery took old tales of greedy men being punished and reinterpreted them with a modern-day effervescence – as a reminder of the importance of a strong moral fibre and a responsibility to society.

The stellar pieces made it a feat for the panel – made up of 5 art aficionados (all of whom are heads of internationally recognised art institutions or directors of similar exhibitions) ­– to select the ultimate winners. According to a statement by the judges, “extremely moving pieces” with excellent “concept and execution” scored more points.

The panel also presented the $10,000 Jurors’ Choice Awards to 3 impressive works for their “negotiation of cultural heritage and contemporary forms of expression”. The 1st award went to Daniel Crook from Australia for his single-channel video art Static No. 12 (seek stillness in movement), featuring the warped and elongated movements of an elderly man as he performed taichi (a branch of Chinese martial arts practised for its health benefits) in a park Crook often passes by.

Sheba Chhachhi’s expansive installation The Water Diviner was the 2nd recipient of the prize, with an installation that featured a consolidation of media – heaps of books, light boxes depicting the ruined environments of Indian gods and deities, a map of Delhi, and still images of an elephant underwater projected on a screen.

The final Jurors’ Choice award went to Aida Makoto’s Where’s Wally?-esque painting, Ash Color Mountains. What initially appears to be a scenic view of misty mountains reveals, on closer inspection, faceless white-collar workers who have neglected their families due to work demands. Some playful touches have been added to this otherwise solemn painting of heaps of faceless bodies, though – see if you can spot the Disney character Wall-E!

But it was local artist Michael Lee who won the hearts of the public and swept away the People’s Choice Award with his digital work Second-Hand City. This sequence of 8 prints captures architectural “spaces and margins”. Put simply, Lee seeks to expose the “failures like demolished, destroyed, collapsed buildings or haunted houses” in society that “give us a lot of clues on human desires.”

This year’s APB Signature Art Prize has certainly raised the bar for future participants. General Manager of APB Sarah Koh told The UrbanWire that the competition encourages “the growth of a vibrant arts scene in the region” by giving them a distinguished platform to present their works both locally and internationally.

From left to right: Sheba Chhachi, Michael Lee, Rodel Tapaya, Aida Makoto, Daniel Crooks

From now until Mar 4, 2011, you can head down to the SAM to view the finalists’ works and participate in a line-up of programmes organised in conjunction with the APB Signature Art Prize, such as curatorial talks, artist talks, and guided talks that delve into the meaning and intention of each work.