For This Cycle EP Launch

After winning “Best Breakthrough Act” on Channel 5’s Live N Loaded, Singaporean singer songwriter Weiwen Seah, also known as the one man band For This Cycle, launched his debut self-titled EP on 11 July 2009 at Singapore’s *Scape: The Lab. Seven months in the making, For This Cycle’s EP was one of the most highly anticipated release of the year, and the crowds flocked to the launch like ants to honey.

Though the day started out in hectic fashion for those who were waiting impatiently to collect their tickets—thanks to the many fans of For This Cycle, who showed up in support of Singapore’s Jason Mraz and were practically engulfing the entire merchandise table to get their hands on the limited edition t-shirts, buttons and of course, the CD itself.

Fire Away, Samson! started off the evening with a few originals off their own upcoming EP. Frontman Coeway even made a special birthday wish to his girlfriend by calling her on his mobile. The whole crowd actually sang a birthday song with a cake and everything! They even threw what looked like stuffed roses to the front of the stage in thanks and appreciation.

Tacit Aria followed with an exceptionally brilliant acoustic cover of ‘Blame It’ by Jamie Foxx and T-Pain. After their set ended, local indie rock favourite Trella took the stage with songs from their ‘Orion’; the crowd sang along to familiar songs like ‘Faith’ and ‘Gavel And The Block’ in unison.

Seeing as Seah will also be the new lead vocalist in Trella, he was singing along with the band at the top of his lungs. Two familiar faces then took to the stage after Trella. It was the collabo bewteen Plainsunset’s Jon Chan and Watchmen troubador Kevin Matthews. Despite the age gap, many of the kids in the audience sang along to some of the songs. It was an interesting yet pleasantly intimate.

The real star of the show, For This Cycle, finally took the stage amidst manic cheering and screaming from the female fans. he opened his set with the song ‘Wishful Thinking’. With an ever-present smile on his face, he thanked the fans profusely in between songs. Seah played a total of ten songs, including an acoustic cover of Ne-Yo’s ‘So Sick’, the breakthrough hit ‘Paper Feet’ as well as his newer compositions.

Seah was accompanied by producer Roland Lim, percussionist and drummer Jordan Cheng, bassist Brian Koh as well as guest vocalists/guitarists Vinodhan Veloo and  Ze Wen Seah. They ended the show on an epic note as the crowd sang along to the final number ‘For What It’s Worth’. It was a long set, but every minute of it was immense. The crowd enjoyed themselves as well; they were more than satisfied as they happily held up their copy of the EP and posed for a crowd picture. Two lucky fans even managed to get their hands on Macbeth merchandise. Judging by the way he impressed the crowd that night, For This Cycle is going to go a long, long way.

WORDS ALEXANDRA PHOTOS REUVEN
www.myspace.com/forthiscycle