Duck Dynasty: Isaac Chiew's Vision To Uplift The Local Underground Music Scene With Big Duck Music
We talk to Isaac Chiew from Big Duck Music, a Baybeats reject turned underground local music promoter and artist where we find out why he chose this career path
By: Nashrul Farhan Bin Sazaly
SINGAPORE – When was the last time you immersed yourself in the vibrant local music scene by attending a live gig featuring homegrown talent? In bustling Singapore, our fast-paced lives often keep us from fully appreciating the thriving music industry that exists right on our doorstep. Beyond the glitz of major concerts by global sensations like K-pop stars Twice and the upcoming concerts from Taylor Swift and Coldplay at the National Stadium, there's a hidden treasure trove to explore—the dynamic local underground music scene.
Spanning genres from indie to hard rock and even unapologetic hardcore punk, Singapore boasts a burgeoning community of bands that may have eluded many. You might wonder, 'Are there a significant number of bands in Singapore?' or 'Are these local talents truly exceptional?' Well, the answer is a resounding yes. Our local music scene is teeming with talent that can rival international acts, some of whom have embarked on successful global tours. The likes of Subsonic Eye, Forests, Fuse, and Doldrey, among others, have garnered devoted followings.
But it's not just our local gems shining bright. Singapore has also been graced by the presence of renowned international acts, such as Anxious, Fiddlehead, Sunami, Movements, and Angel Du$t from the United States. Australian sensation Speed left a lasting impact with their high-energy performances at Annexe Studio Esplanade. And the excitement doesn't stop there. More international bands are making their way to Singapore to ignite the underground scene, with acts like Citizen, Soul Blind, and the hard-hitting Desolated from the United Kingdom set to deliver electrifying performances. As younger generations increasingly flock to shows, they not only get to experience international sensations but also rally behind our exceptional local talents, ensuring that Singapore's music scene continues to thrive.
The music scene has seen a gradual increase in Singaporeans listening to local music. A survey done by the National Arts Council (NAC) found out that 67% of Singaporeans listen to music composed or performed by local artists in 2022. With more up-and-coming talented local bands debuting, the percentage will surely see a significant increase in the years to come.
“I’ve been going to local gigs ever since I was in Secondary School, and honestly, it’s pretty chill to see more kids coming to local shows post-covid,” Francis, 32, a gig-goer we interviewed at a local show, stated that even the scene veterans are more than happy to see this change.
Meet Isaac Chiew
Isaac Chiew, a dynamic and passionate figure in the music scene, has made a significant mark as a gig promoter with Big Duck. Issac not only spearheads the organization of exciting events but also plays a pivotal role in the band, Cactus Cactus.
His journey in the music industry traces back to an inspiring origin story in 2019 when his former band, The Intimate Friends, faced rejection from BayBeats. Undeterred, Isaac and his peers decided to take matters into their own hands.
“Yo, If we get rejected, then make our own BayBeats la.”
To go more in depth into the origin story of Isaac Chiew, after auditioning for Baybeats through the Budding Bands Mentorship Program, he and his band mates where at a coffee shop way past midnight having supper. It was there that the idea of Cactus Cactus was given birth to.
This event marked a turning point in Isaac's perspective on event management and ignited his passion for bringing cutting-edge acts to the forefront. Known for his affable and approachable nature, Isaac Chiew engages with his audience in a friendly and enthusiastic manner, fostering a sense of community at the shows he organises. This became quite apparent during our interview with him, as he skill-fully balanced enjoying a kebab in one hand while warmly welcoming all his friends who had gathered for the event.
On a daily basis, he manages his responsibilities at Scape, where he conducts music programs, utilising the skills honed through his work with Big Duck. His life is a whirlwind of activity, balancing work, band practices, show bookings, and socialising, making each day a unique adventure in the vibrant world of music. Isaac aspires to see the Southeast Asian music scene thrive, hoping to facilitate opportunities for artists to become full-time musicians and promote their work on a global scale.
The journey means more than the destination
Many would be relieved when reaching their final destination, but for Isaac it is all about the journey there, the success and the hardships, the goals and dreams he plans to achieve.
In 2019, the official formation of Big Duck marked a turning point for Isaac and his bandmates, setting the stage for an extraordinary event known as Naybeats. This unique showcase saw the invitation extended to all rejected bands, a testament to their tenacity and determination to make the event a resounding success.
Isaac, reflecting on his earlier mindset as a young music enthusiast, remembered the challenges of running shows and the financial setbacks faced by bands performing at sparsely attended events like the Decline show during his formative years. However, armed with experience and insight, Isaac realized that by playing it smart, staying passionate, and curating events with exciting and cutting-edge acts, success was not only possible but inevitable.
The journey from the initial struggles was transformative. Isaac and his bandmates transitioned to organizing progressively larger shows, turning their challenges into triumphs. They discovered that strategic thinking, combined with a passion for music, and a knack for promoting acts that resonated with audiences, could draw significant crowds. This newfound approach led to the realization of dream shows, including Early Days, The Mediocre Haircut Crew, and notable rap performances featuring Abang Sapau and AhmadJohnson69, dating back to the roots of the local music scene.
From these grassroots endeavors, Isaac and his team ventured into hosting international artists, expanding their horizons. No Good from Malaysia, among others, became part of their lineup, representing some of Isaac's punk heroes. The progression from Naybeats to hosting revered international acts showcased the transformative power of dedication, strategic planning, and a profound love for groundbreaking music.
Isaac's journey stands as a testament to the resilience of the local music scene, proving that with passion and perseverance, rejected ideas can evolve into thriving realities. The story of Big Duck is not just a musical evolution but a testament to the enduring spirit of the Singaporean music landscape.
When asked what he could have done differently in his journey, the answer was simple, a no.
“All the mistakes have made me the person I am today and I've been able to learn from them.” he added.
Through the various projects, the mishaps and being able to learn from them, he is finally able to venture into bigger projects such as bringing in SweetAss from KL who are one of the best garage rock bands from Malaysia right now. SweetAss packs out venues and festivals in Malaysia and now Isaac is finally able to have them in Singapore.
The creation of the series “B-4” was because Isaac wanted to not only give a chance to give new artists an opportunity to showcase their craft but also wanted his audience to always be able to appreciate and take in new aspects of music. Isaac would get half of the line up where it is an open call where he would try and get brand new artists, like strip back sets to come and perform. This series would be a completely different concept and angle as compared to a show where he has an experienced or international line up ready to play.
Though Big Duck is a big part of his life, it isn’t his day job, despite the various things he has to do. Things like the expenses and the cost of hosting, the angles of the shows that he wants to put across to his audience. What is exciting and cutting edge as people evolve with the times. After all that is fine tuned and aligned to what the team is trying to achieve, he has to promote and sell the show as well. Thankfully, Isaac does not do this alone, he has his very trusty and loving team with him to be able to bring all the projects and shows to life. They would tap in on each other’s strengths like how Jasmine helps with finance and admin and how JX handles the editing and marketing for Big Duck.
Big Duck started off in 2019, which means they had gone through the big rollercoaster of COVID-19 as well. With the special measures taken to fight the pandemic, BigDuck was not able to host any shows for the entirety of the 2 years as well. When covid struck, Isaac was also serving the nation. It was hard for him to find the free time to work on Big Duck with all the restrictions he faced but Isaac was never one to back down from a challenge. Big Duck had then pivoted to music editorials which proved to be extremely difficult for Isaac as he was not a writer by trade. Wanting to pull through and see his dreams through made him adapt and learn, with the help of his wonderful friends and team, he was able to make it work through the two years.
Individually, Isaac has a dream to play music full time which he plans to turn into his reality. He wants to run shows that matter and highlight the artists that he loves, the artists that are behind the culture, artists that are underground.
Inspirations for artists and the future of the scene
With all the exciting plans Isaac has for Big Duck and the underground scene, we asked the multi-talented musician what his future goals for the scene were, he simply laughed and told us that “In the States, every night there's a gig of original music, you know, every night, can you imagine a gig every night, and it's packed? Well Singapore now, I mean, there's a lot more gigs, but we're not there yet” signaling that he would want to be a full-time artist but given that the scene is still in it’s fetus stage, local artists are not able to lead that lifestyle and would have to support themselves with other jobs as their source of income.
Isaac wants to tour the USA with his band Cactus Cactus someday and put out records he loves. However, for now, to set up building blocks to reach that goal, he plans to tour neighbouring countries like Indonesia. To take in the culture and the different ways of living and jamming out. Just like how they did when they toured Malaysia. They got to appreciate the skill and sense of music they had while also being inspired to take in the value of being humble through success. Those are the things he wants himself and Big Duck to carry forward.
“If there's only a 1% chance in this life of making it, whatever that means, you should give yourself that full 1% every day.”
These are the words of motivation that Isaac wants to empower anyone in any generation who might have been or is in his situation. He believes consistency is king but also to do everything in moderation, even moderation itself. In this line of work, be it being a vocalist in a band or an event promoter, being mentally and physically drained is something that happens very often.
The final act
With the music scene in Singapore, consistency is definitely something that is lacking. From time to time there will be some breakout artists like Yung Raja or the Sam Willows that are locally birthed. However, for a genre that is pretty niche and underground, the popularity element is not enough for it to be a hit or allow talented young artists to take flight. Isaac Chiew is the anomaly in the system where despite all the struggles he has faced, he continues to pave the way for this community. Both being a gateway for artists to have their opportunity to gain exposure and chase their dreams but also allow Isaac to chase his own with Big Duck.