Keynotes

Please introduce yourself.
Hi, I’m Yingqi, and I’m an NUS social work and sociology student. I also play keys in the band stereoblu.

How did you get into playing keys?
I’ve been classically trained since I was 4, but then I realised classical music wasn’t for me. So I decided to switch genres. I only started playing pop keys in March of this year, so it’s quite a recent switch.

Now that you’ve been playing pop keys for a few months now, what’s the biggest difference between classical and pop keys?
Classical piano is very structured, while pop keys give you the freedom to improvise—and I really enjoy that. So for me, I’d like to keep learning more about playing keyboard in bands and exploring pop music in general.

Was there a learning curve when you first started playing pop keys?
I would say yes, but not in a very significant way since I already understood how things worked. The more challenging part was learning how to improvise while making sure I didn’t overpower the rest of the band. Since I play a supporting role, it’s important that I enhance the overall sound rather than trying to stand out or outshine anyone.

Interesting! I there a specific piece of music that never fails to get you inspired?
Classically speaking, I’d say Bach’s music has been quite a source of inspiration for me. His use of counterpoint techniques is something I find really interesting, and surprisingly, it’s quite applicable to pop keys too. It creates a nice structure that aligns well with the bass lines, which I really appreciate. So in that sense, his work definitely inspires me—maybe also because I’ve played a lot of it over the years!

What songs have you been listening to lately?
I listen to a lot of shoegaze and indie music, and I’m also really into local bands like Subsonic Eye and 7nightsatsea—they’re in that same genre that I enjoy. I’ve also been listening to Nosedive, a relatively young local band that’s been making great music. I also listen to international indie bands like Beach Fossils and Sorry Ghost.

Any artist in particular you look up to?
For me, I don’t have a specific artist that I look up to. It’s more about the genre—or actually, music as a whole. These days, it’s hard to strictly categorise music by genre. Even when we label something as a certain genre, it often overlaps with others. And I think that’s what I really love about music—it’s fluid, creative, and open-ended.

What I admire most is how music allows you to channel your emotions into something you genuinely enjoy doing. I’m especially inspired by how artists today use lyrics, or even just melodies, to convey deep feelings.

Agreed! Then how would you describe stereoblu?
I would describe the band as chaotic, but we gel well. I think all of us have a ‘work hard, play hard’ mindset. Even though we have commitments outside the band, we still try to have fun with each other and I think that’s the essence that’s really keeping the band together. I look forward to more events with the band in the future!

Do you have any goals for the band?
Not really any major goals right now, but I hope that we can continue having fun. Music has been a great outlet for us to relieve stress, and I think it’s important not to put too much pressure on ourselves to perform perfectly. Of course, we always try our best, but I’d rather not push ourselves to the point of burnout lah.