Meet the 9-piece hip hop band Sixx and the million-dollar question is, “So what’s with the name?”

Well, here’s your answer: it actually refers to the concept of “6 degrees of separation” – probably never been truer than in today’s digital age. And with the nonet’s penchant for live gigs (highlights include ZOUKOUT’s 10th Anniversary, Roktober 2010, Mosaic Music Festival 2011, and the soon-to-come MIDEM 2012), the name definitely fits.

Making connections

So in such an interconnected world, is there’s anyone in particular they’d like to be linked up with?

Frontman and rapper Kevin Lester, who also has a solo career under the moniker the lion city boy, considers for a moment.

“It’s very hard to single out one person,” puts in Aarika, lead singer and the rose among the thorns – there are only 2 girls! – in Sixx’s “musical family of awesomeness”.

“There’s so much talent in Singapore,” Kevin explains. “People always think there’s not many artistes here, that they’re all in Taiwan, that they all zao [Singaporean expression for running off] already. But really, there’s a lot of talent here. You’ve got the Syndicates, the B-Quartets, even Cockpit.”

The latter is, by the way, described hesitatingly as a “fantasy… metal… band” – and that’s awesome, since the best way to know you’re truly unique is when people have no idea how to label you.

“They’re just fresh and entertaining. They don’t care what you think of them, they’re just gonna put themselves out there,” Kevin says.

And that’s the same attitude Sixx has about their own music – everything they write is a mash-up of their inspirations and influences, and whatever that sounds like, “it’s just Sixx”.

“The fun part would be to collaborate with someone whose music isn’t even like ours,” Aarika jokes. “So, you know, we could come up with some really crazy stuff.”

The songwriting process

“There’s no formula,” Aarika says emphatically.

Kevin illustrates this with the development of one of Sixx’s hits, ‘Hubert’.

“We wrote it vocally and there were all kinds of things going on. Our guitarist was just beatboxing – he doesn’t even beatbox! – and from there, we did 13 different renditions. It’s completely organic, it’s how we feel.”

And that feeling can hit at any time. Whether at a jam session or at home, there’s that moment when the lyrics just flow, and then they share their ideas and talk it over with the rest of the gang.

“Part of music-making is that it’s personal,” Aarika says. “You have to have your own space, but the point is that we all come together and throw it out.”

But of course, this doesn’t mean the entire group’s always on the same page. In Aarika’s words: “Sometimes, when you present to the group, no one gets it, and even after you explain, they’re like, “Sorry, that’s a stupid idea.” It sounded great last night, but now it sounds like crap!”

So it’s no surprise that this rough material undergoes lots of revisions before it’s polished into a proper little gem – which can even be transformed into completely different animal.

But as Kevin says, “That’s the idea – you shouldn’t stop.”

What’s next?

And on the subject of not stopping, it looks like 2012’s going to be a big year for Sixx as they’ll finally be putting records out. On the cards are the hotly anticipated ‘Supersonic’ single, available in late January. 3 other singles are currently in production, and their as-yet-unnamed full album will be out at the end of the year.

Unlike flash-in-the-pan bands who spring up and start churning out albums, Sixx has been taking its time finding their own sound – and it’s certainly been a long journey.

“We’re lucky that our fans have been very patient!” Kevin laughs. “But the thing is that we know who we are, and now we’re ready to put out everything.”

“It takes a while to build identity,” Aarika adds. “What’s more, with 9 people…! But I’m glad we didn’t put out the record 2 years ago or something. The songs we wanted to put out then – we love them so much more now!”

That’s great news for fans, and Sixx is one step closer to solidifying their status as one of Singapore’s rapidly-rising hip hop juggernauts.

Check out SIXX’s official site and their YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter pages.

Don’t beam for ice cream or think yoghurt is so yesterday? Then you’re in for a treat, ‘cause milkshakes are shaping up to be the next dairy-based craze to sweep the nation.

And following in the footsteps of designer delights like Cold Stone Creamery and Sogurt comes MakeShake, a local start-up that lets people “play with their food”, according to co-founder and Director of Shake Relations Daphne Ng.

Photo courtesy of MakeShake

At MakeShake’s bright, pop-arty outlet located in the basement of City Square Mall, customers – nicknamed “Shakepeareans” – can pick from an assortment of colourful and tasty of ingredients to blend with their shakes.

Called “shake-ins”, they’re definitely a cut above mere run-of-the-mill toppings. If you’re trying to assuage your conscience by going for healthier options, give the lychees and longans a shot. Or fancy jellybeans and gummy bears with lashings of caramel syrup and sprinkled with Oreo cookie chunks? Then help yourself to treats galore that’ll make even the most hardcore of sweet tooths ache.

It’s these customisation options that keep MakeShake’s fans coming back in droves, and enticing new converts into the fold.

The huge range of possibilities can be a little intimidating at first, though, so here’s the essence of MakeShake distilled into 3 easy steps, as listed on the shop window:

Photo courtesy of MakeShake

1. Choose your shake-ins

2. Place your order

Shakes come in 2 sizes: small ($3.70) and large ($5.20).

After the shake-ins have been selected, they’re blended together with milk and MakeShake’s homemade malted vanilla ice cream – which is so good some customers even buy it on its own!

What comes out is a delicious concoction that’s wonderfully smooth and creamy. As the ice cream’s specially formulated to be less sweet so the ingredients’ flavour stands out more, you can really taste what goes into them.

Left: strawberries and cream. Right: Oreo and mint

3. Suck hard

While I personally like my milkshakes comfortably drinkable, Daphne explained that authentic milkshakes should be as hard as possible – in fact, the pinnacle of milk-and-ice-cream blends is a concrete, a milkshake so thick you could turn it upside down and not a drop would drip.

MakeShake’s shakes aren’t quite that jaw-breaking, and as the ice cream’s frozen overnight, you’ll have to come early to get a really solid shake. Ice cream made during the day doesn’t have that long to freeze over, so swing by then if drinkable shakes are more your cup of tea.

The brand’s spirit of customisation runs through the entire store, from the furniture (the tables interlock and can be rearranged into different shapes) to the cup designs themselves, which have the make-your-own-motto “Work Hard Make ______” printed on them, and even come with stickers so you can fully personalise them.

So if you’re looking to slurp up sublime shakes, you absolutely can’t go wrong with this delightfully fresh and funky spot. Forget strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla – at MakeShake, anything goes!

MakeShake is located at 180 Kitchener Road, #B2-K2/K11, City Square Mall, Singapore 208539
Opening hours:

• Mon – Sun: 10am to 10pm

Milkshakes are priced at $3.70 for a small and $5.20 for a large, with 10% discount for students.

For more information, check out their Facebook page and their official website.

As the follow-up to the 2010 New York Times bestseller I Am Number Four (made into a 2011 movie starring Alex Pettyfer), The Power of Six has a reputation of otherworldly proportions to live up to. And with a gripping, fast-paced plot and genuinely fascinating glimpses into a highly-advanced society far removed from our own, it clearly stands up to the legacy of its predecessor.

For newcomers to the series, here’s a quick summary of the premise: when their home planet is invaded by another alien race, the Mogadorians, the entire Loric race is wiped out except for 9 children with latent special powers, called the Garde, and their 9 Cêpan, or mentors, who flee to Earth. Relentlessly pursued by the Mogadorians, the Garde are numbered from 1 through 9 and are protected by a charm that prevents them from being killed out of order. By the time I Am Number Four begins, 3 have already been killed, leaving Number Four (alias John Smith) vulnerable.

The Power of Six focuses on Seven (alias Marina) and her Cêpan Adelina, who’ve managed to find shelter at a convent in Spain after their ship landed on Earth. As Seven struggles to discover her Legacies and find a way to fight back against the Mogadorians, she finds her greatest adversary in Adelina, who’s been lulled into doubting her mission and turning her back on the Lorien prophecy by long years of peace and stability within the cloisters.

Legacies are the special powers members of the Garde develop in adolescence. One of Four's is lumen, the ability to produce light and heat from his hands

A parallel narrative follows Four’s life on the run after the death of his Cêpan, Henri, in the first instalment of the Lorien Legacies series. Accompanied by his human best friend Sam Goode and another member of the Garde, Six, he has to juggle keeping the police off their trail, honing his combat prowess, and dealing with his feelings for his girlfriend Sarah – and his deepening crush on Six.

Six, probably the most powerful Garde, has the power to control the elements.

With such an out-of-the-world premise, it’s no wonder the novel scores high on suspense and intrigue. From car chases and sinister stalkers to battles with bizarre, grotesque monsters and, of course, the vicious Mogadorians who haunt the Loriens’ dreams, The Power of Six is tautly plotted and wonderfully readable. It’s clear the writers – James Frey and Jobie Hughes, under the pseudonym Pittacus Lore (one of the elders of the Lorien civilisation) – are masters of creating and sustaining a reader’s interest.

Where it falls flat, unfortunately, is in characterisation. Many are 2-dimensional and fit easily into common archetypes – the femme fatale, the religious zealot, and the sidekick who’s constantly overshadowed by the hero. The dialogue feels stilted and unnatural, the love triangle is unconvincing, and character motivations are often left up to your own imagination.

Despite these flaws, The Power of Six is still an enjoyable read, and no matter how little you may care about the characters themselves, their overall fate and the mysteries of their civilisation are more than enough to draw you in. Definitely unmissable for fans of the series, The Power of Six will probably make you one too.

It’s not just about books, though, as visual artist Donna Ong can testify — her exhibition, Witness, which examines the divide between first-hand accounts of survivors of the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and online comments posted by netizens reacting to the disaster, will be installed in a former chapel at the Singapore Art Museum (SAM).

If you’re a budding writer yourself, why not try out the Microfiction Writing Contest? Scheduled for 10am – 1pm on Oct 23 at the Salon at the NSM, this event gives participants 3 hours to churn out short stories of under 500 words, which will then be posted online for public voting. Looking for a way to overcome writer’s block? This could just be it!

This is just the preface, of course — there’s volumes more in store at SWF, so answer the following question to grab a pair of Festival Passes (worth $15; 2 pairs available) and experience it all for yourself!

Email your answer together with your name, IC and contact details to contests@theurbanwire.com.

Contest closes on Oct 21. Prizes proudly sponsored by the National Arts Council. Winners will be notified by email.

For more information, you can visit SWF’s Facebook and Twitter pages, as well as the official website.

Get out your sketchpads, fire up Photoshop, and let your imagination run wild: Mapletree Investments Pte Ltd – creators of the award-winning VivoCity – is launching Design in the City, an outdoor furniture design competition.

If you’re a tertiary student attending a local art or design school who thinks a $12,000 cash prize and the chance to have one of your brainchilds realised (and even mass-produced) sounds pretty sweet to you, then get busy!

Designs will be evaluated based on how functional, ergonomic, sustainable, and thought-provoking they are, and the 2 winning designs will then be installed at 2 locations – the Open Plaza and the Eco Pond – at the company’s headquarters, Mapletree Business City (MBC).

To fit in with the company’s image, the designs should also be inspired by MBC.

And an inspiration it is.

With a multitude of facilities, including a massive auditorium, a sky gym, a lap pool, laundry and childcare services, and plenty of dining options to choose from, the sprawling 1.9 million sq ft complex looks more like a commune than a corporation.

That’s the reason behind the company’s emphasis on creating spaces for people to relax, interact, and communicate.

As James Ng, Head of Singapore Investments for Mapletree Investments said, “it’s about building a community”.

Originally conceived based on a sculpture, MBC is also filled with works of art by local and overseas artists, and the company hopes to add to its collection through Design in the City.

Design students, what are you waiting for? Send in your designs by Jan 6 2012!

For more information, you can visit Mapletree’s official website as well as their Facebook page.

Photo courtesy of Klix Photography

But in person, the 63-year-old entertainer – whose real name is the hardly-less-theatrical Vincent Damon Furnier – couldn’t be more different from his stage persona. A prolific golfer and restaurateur, he’s also a born-again Christian, has been married for 34 years with 3 children, and even acts as confidante to fellow musicians struggling with drug and alcohol issues.

And one thing’s for sure – he knows how to put on one hell of a show.

In Singapore for the first time on his No More Mr. Nice Guy tour (named after the 1973 hit single), Alice Cooper, joined by Australian singer-songwriter Orianthi, played to a crowd of 2000 at the Hard Rock Hotel last Wednesday.

Photo by Ryan Chang, c/o Chugg Entertainment

And it never let up.

Throughout the evening, each succeeding act was more outrageous than the last, featuring creatures and sets that would’ve fit right in at a slaughterhouse run by lunatics.

Photo by Ryan Chang, c/o Chugg Entertainment

And in homage to his recent stunt at his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he appeared on stage with a snake wrapped around his neck – only instead of an albino boa constrictor, this time it was Mr Magoo, a local yellow python.

Photo by Ryan Chang, c/o Chugg Entertainment

Alice definitely saved the best for last – his signature hit “School’s Out”. The crowd – which in testament to his 4 decades in the industry was mainly adults who hadn’t stepped into a classroom for years – belted out the lyrics, not even missing a beat when Alice segued into Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall”, finishing to resounding screams and applause.

Photo courtesy of Klix Photography

Alice Cooper’s latest album, Welcome 2 My Nightmare, is available from CD stores islandwide at approximately $25.