In The Moment

Introduce yourself!
I’m Emira, and I’m a university student at Coventry University at PSB Academy, studying digital marketing, but I’m also working part-time. I like to play music in my free time, and I also do photography. Apart from that, I don’t really have time for other hobbies.

Yeah, between work and life, it can be hard to find time to do the things that we love. When and how did you first get into photography?
From my CCA in polytechnic. I joined a photography club and then experimented with film photography first. I thought it was quite expensive (laughs), so I changed to digital photography and also did videography as well. I did event photography for my school, and then I went into music photography.

Cool! So you managed to blend your love for music and photography!
Yeah, I love going for gigs and concerts in Singapore!

Tell us more about your interest in music then—do you play any instruments?
Yeah I play bass, electric guitar, and piano. I self-taught myself guitar when I was younger, when my grandfather passed me a very old guitar. I was like “Oh, just learn ah”. That was in primary school, so I learned how to play from YouTube. After that, I studied music in polytechnic, which is where I picked up other instruments. I only started playing bass two years ago, but I think I like it most now since it’s new to me.

My grandfather passed on this passion for music to me and my sisters, but I pursued it more than them. I can’t sing though—I can only play instruments (laughs).

Well the fact that you can play so many instruments is impressive in itself! Are you in a band?
No (laughs). I want to! But I don’t have the time. And I don’t actively practice because I’m so busy so it would be hard.

Aww hopefully one day then! Going back to what you mentioned about going for gigs and stuff, what’s the best gig you’ve been to?
Oh! Last New Year’s, there was a Music Day Out! at *SCAPE, and they had bands from Indonesia, Thailand all. Wah, it was really good. Usually I don’t join the mosh pit, but for that gig I went all out. I mean, because it was New Year’s also so just go all out lah. But it was really good! Sukses Lancar Rejeki was really good—they’re a pop punk band and I really enjoyed their set.

Oh yes, we’ve heard great things about Music Day Out! What other artists would you recommend?
Oh, my God, can I pull up my Spotify? (laughs) This is so hard! I can’t think of any local bands right now, but I’ve been listening to a lot of Arctic Monkeys because they made a comeback recently after how many years? I think maybe that’s why I’m always in black also, because Arctic Monkeys is always black and white.