How brb. uses music to pay tribute to the "warm and comfortable" nostalgia of the 90s
You have all showed up to the shoot with your own earphones, what was it like trying Devialet Gemini out?
M: I was surprised actually because when you compare the sound between the two, it was so different, I wasn’t expecting that at all.
Z: I use Apple Music and they recently launched Dolby Atmos. I tried it on the AirPods Pro and it was just okay but when I tried it on Devialet Gemini, the sound completely changed. I tried it out on a lot of pop music – which is generally quite standard – and the sound is fully immersive, which gives an intimate listening experience. It takes you somewhere else and becomes an experience.
C: I was listening to Masego, and he uses very interesting plugins and weird instruments that you wouldn’t normally hear on other true wireless earbuds, and they stood out on Devialet Gemini – it all sounded so crisp.
Z: I love the app too – the whole EQ system and all that. The noise cancellation is great as well.
For your latest album “Fleur”, you changed things up somewhat – what is the new sound?
C: We are looking for a vibe. I think that’s how we kind of write as well. When we make music in the studio, we listen back to what we’ve created and look for a certain feeling – like how music usually does. The new sound is quite chill because that’s how we are.
Z: We always write in the night too. So I guess that’s part of the atmosphere – the whole, dark, moody vibe, like when you’re trying to get sexy with somebody. [Laughs]
Why is it so important for you to keep reinventing your sound?
Z: We don’t want to keep coming up with the same type of beat and we always want to explore and experiment. It’s not just for listeners, it also has to be fun for ourselves. The nature of our band is very collaborative – we each do our own thing and come together to share. It’s like an exploration of sounds.
Given that your sound changes so often, what would you say is the core of brb.?
M: We were looking some upcoming projects and listening to them – they felt like so many different genres. From indie rock to R&B to rap... We were thinking, what is the thing that anchors everything together? I think that one thing is Clarence and his voice.
C: Our ’90s influence also plays a big influence on our sound, throughout all our tracks.
M: Yeah, whether we know it or not. We grew up with ’90s pop, boy bands – that nostalgic era. Those things always seep into the melodies we write or the sounds that we choose – that era of MTV, being glued to the screen watching music videos, sitting in my parents’ car listening to the radio and the pop songs they played.
Z: Just simpler times.
M: Yeah, it feels warm and comfortable – that’s what nostalgia is to us.
How would you say Singapore’s music scene has changed in the last decade?
M: There are definitely more artistes coming up. Now with technology, it’s so easy to record your own music in your home.
Z: The kids are getting more talented. [Laughs] It’s sad to say but it’s the truth. When I was their age, the stuff I was putting out was nowhere near what they put out today. It’s crazy, but that’s how it works – it just gets better.
M: There’s more appreciation now, too. Back then there wasn’t as much diversity in terms of acts and genres.
Z: You can find local music on many different platforms now, not just local radio stations. There’s lesser gatekeeping.
What keeps you going?
M: We can’t deny the fact that seeing statistical success – like numbers on Spotify – hits a sweet spot. It does fuel us to know that the music we make is appreciated by people, and it gives us a reason to keep doing it. At the end of the day, we enjoy what we do.
Photography MUN KONG
Art Direction IZWAN ABDULLAH
Styling MANFRED LU
Production BRYAN GOH
