Magazine
From Singapore,
with love.
For the first time, Lürzer's Archive handed over their Reviews section in its entirety to a guest team. The creatives at BBH Singapore.
Thrilled, I submitted two reviews of uniquely Singaporean experiences, hoping they would choose one. They ended up publishing both, and I'm very proud that my love for the city was shared in entirety with the world.
Here in Singapore, we rise not to the crowing of the rooster but the iconic mating calls of the male Koel Bird – also named the uwu bird by locals, who are clearly done with it.
Nothing screams morning blues like “uwu, uwu” vibrating through the neighborhood at the break of dawn. The Koel hides well away from view in the trees, but its loud resonant cries make it sound like it’s everywhere all at once. Imagine a powerful soprano doing the same drill for hours on end.
Usually it would get replies from a female Koel with equally grating enthusiasm, and sometimes, now immortalized in a viral clip, the screams from a very angry man who just wanted to sleep.
No matter who you are and where you live in Singapore, the Koel Bird disturbs all. Our frustration unites us in a somewhat wonderful way.
The persistence of the Koel has certainly done a number on our hearts. It is hard to imagine waking up without its cries punctuating our mornings. Some Singaporeans overseas would even play YouTube recordings to ease their homesickness.
Even I find myself strangely missing their cries these days, now that their mating season (October to March) is over. So, imagine my delight one evening when a lone Koel decided to interrupt my walk and screamed his little randy heart out. He loomed hidden in the shadowy leaves, but in my mind I saw a diehard romantic with his head held high, undeterred by time of day and lack of replies, proudly singing his song.
https://www.luerzersarchive.com/reviews/koel-calling
On this hectic little island called Singapore, Wallflowers, an online film series is dedicated to uncovering precious breathing space in the little things. Started in 2021 by local artists, this multi-disciplinary project documents oft-overlooked sights and sounds to help Singaporeans rediscover the city’s everyday beauty.
Each film lets us linger in a certain time and space on the island – mornings at Tiong Bahru, sleepy afternoons at Toa Payoh, or nightfall in Geylang – and immerses us in a playful remix of its true colors, sounds and people.
Sometimes the creators would keep the lens still, and let us experience the scene like we’re there. One film shows a lone heron idling in the swamps of Sungei Buloh, unaware of a crocodile close by. As they hold the shot, it’s hard not to hold your breath. Sometimes the film walks a tightrope like an explorer with infinite interest and limited time, going with the flow of the place while still taking care to capture the elements that make it special.
One thing’s for sure: the creators aren’t shy about letting their personality shine through. On top of idiosyncratic cuts and soundtracks that express the vibes unique to each spot, they literally inject color into the everyday by featuring spray-painted local staples like the tingkat (food container) and the kopi (coffee) cup, all wonderful ways to refresh the mundane with tinges of new.
In a fast-developing city where spaces come and go, this series will become an invaluable time capsule for locals to revisit and reminisce over. For those who’ve never been to Singapore, I’m happy to say: a wonderful journey awaits you.