Meteoor: R.O.J.A.K by Electronic Music Lab

With music sounding like a mash up between Nine Inch Nails and Mortiis with visuals reminiscent of KMFDM and Rammstein, one would be surprised to know that this happened at an art installation as opposed to a music festival.But then again, R.O.J.A.K is anything but what you perceive it to be and that was one of the themes that was being explored by this exhibition put up by Electronic Music Lab.

Held at the NUS Cultural Center for 3 days (12-14 March), R.O.J.A.K is a history lesson that has come alive and bringing you back to the pivotal points of Singapore's history through its 4 stations; Coolie quarters (Depicting scenes from early 19th Century and the struggles of the migrants), Club Amigo A-Go-Go (The vibrancy of the 50's and 60's with the influx of new music genres and lifestyles), The Lonely Lounge (The highs and lows of Singapore's development and how modern technology became an escapism away from reality) and finally, the live performance that showcases the qualms and desires of the everyday Singaporean, bringing out the theme of R.O.J.A.K into prominence. 

Not only was this exhibition named after the traditional fruit and vegetable salad dish that incoporates a vareity of ingredients, it also stand for Retrospective Oriental Journey Audio Kaleidoscope and it definitely lived up to its billing as the audience were left spellbound and impressed at the end of the tour. As its namesake suggests, the lines of suffering and celebration are blended together seamlessly with the exuberance of the 60's masking the grim reality of racial conflict and the struggle of an infant nation and the contrast of sounds used in the live performance in tandem with accompanying visuals. Until the next Electronic Music Lab comes around, here is some food for thought; Given the variety that is being bestowed upon us, have we been able to fit the pieces into a perfect jigsaw puzzle or it has become nothing more than a "rojak"?

(One of the many features of R.O.J.A.K)

(Dalsix with Electronic Music Lab's principal tutor, Mr Benjamin Ang)

For more information:

Electronic Music Lab website: http://www.eml.org.sg

EML on Twitter: htp://www.twitter.com/emusiclab