Latest news with #SingaporeIdol
New Paper
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Paper
Singapore Idol's Leandra Lane to perform with son at Special Olympics Singapore National Games
About two decades after she first made her name as a teen contestant on the first season of Singapore Idol in 2004, home-grown artiste Leandra Lane is still actively singing. On May 30, the 38-year-old - who went by the name Leandra Veronica Rasiah and came in fifth in the hit local reality singing competition - will perform at the opening ceremony of the 10th Special Olympics Singapore National Games. The ceremony, which is set to take place at Bishan Stadium, will feature VIP guest President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. The 2025 edition of Special Olympics Singapore will see 543 athletes with intellectual disabilities compete in various sports at venues within the National University of Singapore until June 2. Lane and her 13-year-old son Alexander will perform their rendition of Reach, the 1996 hit by Cuban-American singer Gloria Estefan that was also one of the official songs of the 1996 Summer Olympics. Lane also mentors and trains young singers, including children with special needs, and runs Motown Kids, a music programme for those up to the age of 14. She says she got the upcoming gig via a friend who works with Special Olympics Singapore, and it will mark the first time mother and son perform together at a major public event. She says: "It is an extreme honour. This is also one of the most meaningful performances as Alexander and I get to share the message of working hard and giving all you've got." Alexander - her only child from a previous marriage to an Austrian engineer - started singing songs by veteran American singers Kenny Rogers and Bing Crosby since he was three. He has done several school performances and is currently a grade-eight student at Overseas Family School, an international school in Pasir Ris. Music and show business run in the family. Lane's African-American father, Rick Lane, was a member of the 1950s American soul group The Drifters, while her Eurasian mother, Lucia Rasiah, was a Miss Singapore in the 1970s. Like his mother, Alexander takes vocal lessons from Lane's sister and manager, Leynette. Leandra Lane and her 13-year-old son will sing together at the opening ceremony of the 10th Special Olympics Singapore National Games. PHOTO: LEANDRA LANE The former Singapore Idol alumnus - who joined when she was 18 - still keeps in touch with fellow contestants like singer and Kiss92 DJ Daphne Khoo. "Being on the show taught me early on about the entertainment industry and how unique we all are. I was one of the youngest contestants going in and was naive about it all. Being able to sing is one thing, and identifying healthy competition is another. This was what I learnt from my time there." After Singapore Idol, she took vocal lessons in a performing arts school in Sydney, Australia, and studied dance at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles. The singer ended up fifth place on Singapore Idol. PHOTO: MEDIACORP She organises regular concerts at venues like the Esplanade and performs at events such as the St Patrick's Day Street Festival at Boat Quay in March. She also spent several years based in Europe and the United States, and sang in Los Angeles music venues such as The Viper Room and Whisky A Go Go. She has been based permanently in Singapore since 2019. While music takes up most of her time, she is also a property agent, having obtained her licence in October 2024. She is also writing and recording songs for an upcoming EP that is slated to be released in 2026. In January, a close brush with death after a gig at an orphanage in India strengthened her resolve to dedicate her life to music. She was sleeping in an Airbnb apartment in Mumbai when the air-con unit caught fire. She and her friend woke up just in time to escape the apartment before the whole place went up in flames. "It was such a scary experience that taught me the meaning of life and to live life to the fullest. I want to sing as much as I can, and love the people whom I love with all my heart and soul."
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Singapore Idol's Leandra Lane to perform with son at Special Olympics Singapore National Games
Singapore singer Leandra Lane first made her name in the inaugural season of Singapore Idol in 2004. PHOTO: LEANDRA LANE SINGAPORE – About two decades after she first made her name as a teen contestant on the first season of Singapore Idol in 2004, home-grown artiste Leandra Lane is still actively singing. On May 30, the 38-year-old – who went by the name Leandra Veronica Rasiah and came in fifth in the hit local reality singing competition – will perform at the opening ceremony of the 10th Special Olympics Singapore National Games. The ceremony, which is set to take place at Bishan Stadium, will feature VIP guest President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. The 2025 edition of Special Olympics Singapore will see 543 athletes with intellectual disabilities compete in various sports at venues within the National University of Singapore until June 2. Lane and her 13-year-old son Alexander will perform their rendition of Reach, the 1996 hit by Cuban-American singer Gloria Estefan that was also one of the official songs of the 1996 Summer Olympics. Lane also mentors and trains young singers, including children with special needs, and runs Motown Kids, a music programme for those up to the age of 14. She says she got the upcoming gig via a friend who works with Special Olympics Singapore, and it will mark the first time mother and son perform together at a major public event. She says: 'It is an extreme honour. This is also one of the most meaningful performances as Alexander and I get to share the message of working hard and giving all you've got.' Alexander – her only child from a previous marriage to an Austrian engineer – started singing songs by veteran American singers Kenny Rogers and Bing Crosby since he was three. He has done several school performances and is currently a grade-eight student at Overseas Family School, an international school in Pasir Ris. Music and show business run in the family. Lane's African-American father, Rick Lane, was a member of the 1950s American soul group The Drifters, while her Eurasian mother, Lucia Rasiah, was a Miss Singapore in the 1970s. Like his mother, Alexander takes vocal lessons from Lane's sister and manager, Leynette. Leandra Lane and her 13-year-old son will sing together at the opening ceremony of the 10th Special Olympics Singapore National Games. PHOTO: LEANDRA LANE The former Singapore Idol alumnus – who joined when she was 18 – still keeps in touch with fellow contestants like singer and Kiss92 DJ Daphne Khoo. 'Being on the show taught me early on about the entertainment industry and how unique we all are. I was one of the youngest contestants going in and was naive about it all. Being able to sing is one thing, and identifying healthy competition is another. This was what I learnt from my time there.' After Singapore Idol, she took vocal lessons in a performing arts school in Sydney, Australia, and studied dance at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles. The singer ended up fifth place on Singapore Idol. PHOTO: MEDIACORP She organises regular concerts at venues like the Esplanade and performs at events such as the St Patrick's Day Street Festival at Boat Quay in March. She also spent several years based in Europe and the United States, and sang in Los Angeles music venues such as The Viper Room and Whisky A Go Go. She has been based permanently in Singapore since 2019. While music takes up most of her time, she is also a property agent, having obtained her licence in October 2024. She is also writing and recording songs for an upcoming EP that is slated to be released in 2026. In January, a close brush with death after a gig at an orphanage in India strengthened her resolve to dedicate her life to music. She was sleeping in an Airbnb apartment in Mumbai when the air-con unit caught fire. She and her friend woke up just in time to escape the apartment before the whole place went up in flames. 'It was such a scary experience that taught me the meaning of life and to live life to the fullest. I want to sing as much as I can, and love the people whom I love with all my heart and soul.' Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
My Perfect Weekend with Ocean Purpose Project CEO and singer Mathilda D'Silva
Who: Mathilda D'Silva is the Singaporean founder and chief executive of Ocean Purpose Project (OPP), a Pasir Ris-based social enterprise that turns ocean plastics into hydrogen and promotes ocean conservation. She works with indigenous groups, as well as scientists, to drive innovative sustainability strategies. The OPP will be putting on Ode To The Sea, a free event that blends music, dance, sustainability, creativity and culture, and she is one of the featured vocalists. Taking place at Bedok Town Square from May 16 to 18 at 7.30pm, the commissioned work is part of the Singapore International Festival of Arts 2025. Besides being an ocean conservationist, D'Silva – who declines to reveal her age – is also a jazz and R&B singer and actress who first came into prominence as a contestant on the first season of local reality singing show Singapore Idol (2004). 'I enjoy outrigging, canoeing, dragon boating and paddleboarding. As long as I am able to rest my brain over the weekend, and switch off and do fun activities, either sports or music, I'm great. When I'm out at sea, internet connectivity is terrible, so that is the best way for me to unplug. About two weeks ago, I was with my team in Bali and the connection wasn't great. I could switch off and not answer any e-mails or join any Zoom calls, and just focus on swimming around the floating pontoon and watching the dive teams descend. Those are some of the little moments I take to relax. But being invited to eat in a kampung or a fisherman's home is the best meal I can think of. About two years ago, the fishermen I worked with said, 'We are going to take you in our little boat all the way up to Johor, and we're going to stay in some small, dinky village to celebrate your birthday'. They taught me to play golf there. And after that, they took me to one of the fishermen's homes, and he had big prawns from fishing in the South China Sea. There were a couple of fish and vegetable farmers who brought some of their produce too. It was one of the best meals I've had, especially with that traditional style of cooking. It really was an experience. I enjoy these adventures over the weekends. ' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
CNA
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
Fan mobs, stalkers and death threats: Singapore Idol's Paul Twohill on dealing with his celebrity status at 17
Despite having only a half-decent voice, 17-year-old Paul Twohill knew one thing was for certain when he stepped onto the Singapore Idol stage all those years ago: fans would go berserk and bellow his name. As a contestant on the second season of the reality singing contest, Mr Twohill's punk rock aura and his trademark Justin Bieber-esque fringe – which covered half his face – made him stand out from the rest of the competition. His prominent braces and dorky quips only served to enhance his likeability. Somehow, nothing he did then could dampen his popularity. Perhaps that's why he always seemed larger than life to 10-year-old me who watched every episode on television with rapt attention. Fast forward 16 years to 2022 and I found myself, then a part-time English tutor in a tuition centre where I was teaching classes, shaking hands with 'Teacher Paul'. I recalled squinting my eyes briefly to take a closer look at "Teacher Paul" who had a deep voice, the vibe of a well-adjusted man and clean-cut trim on his head. Gone were those signature braces, too. I approached him later that day after his students had waved him goodbye because I just had to know: 'Are you … ?' 'Yes I am,' he said with a chuckle. 'I get that a lot.' Mr Twohill's new stage was the front of a classroom and his audience was no longer made up of screaming admirers but mischievous children under 12 who are generally harder to please. For the last seven years, he has been an English teacher in an enrichment centre. Now 36 years old, he moved to Australia in February this year where he is pursuing an 18-month master's degree in applied learning and teaching. We met up at his Singapore home in April for a proper sit-down interview during a university term break, and I found it quite fitting that his four-room flat in Ang Mo Kio was stylish but somewhat jumbled, because conversations with Mr Twohill can often feel that way. Over several video calls before meeting in person, our conversations covered everything from education to politics with his light-hearted stories peppered with some wry humour, interspersed frequently with bursts of passionate debate. That day however, in his home where he lives alone, we were determined to stick to the script. THE SHOCK OF WAKING UP TO OBSESSED FANS When I asked him to describe what it was like being a teenage pop star, Mr Twohill said it was an "incredible experience". 'You had thousands of fans screaming, running up to the Singapore Idol van after filming, people writing your name on vending machines,' he said beaming. He still keeps boxes full of memorabilia and magazine clippings featuring him from 2006 but its main contents are the troves of handwritten letters from fans. He reckons there are hundreds of them. At the peak of his popularity, just walking from one end of Orchard Road to the other would take him two to three hours as he had to stop to sign autographs and take pictures with fans. But the popularity also came with some dicey situations: For every hundred fan letters he received, he would receive a handful of hostile texts and even death threats. Once a man had even lunged to attack him in public. 'I've had phone calls where I apparently made someone pregnant, but I've never met them in my life. There was once I was out in the wee hours of the morning and a guy wanted to beat me up. 'I've also been told by a producer during a road show that a guy ran over and literally tried to stab me and another contestant. I didn't even know, I was busy waving around,' he said. He admitted that there was a lot of social anxiety that came with the attention and that led him to want to stay home "a lot of times". But he quickly pointed out that even being at home was not a surefire way to shield himself from the public eye either. 'I used to live on the second floor and fans used to hang around downstairs,' he said. 'This particular day, I woke up from a nap and there were people in my room! It was a precarious situation … I was only in my boxers.' Some secondary school girls had lied to his aunt that they were his friends and she opened the door to let them in. 'Obviously I covered myself up and politely asked them to exit the room so I could get dressed… I entertained them for a little bit, then asked them to leave because I had schoolwork to do.' It wasn't just starstruck teenagers he drew the attention of either. Mr Twohill said he received just one admission offer from a school in 2006 before his Singapore Idol appearances. In 2007 at the height of his popularity, local polytechnics caught wind that he intended to pursue a diploma in mass communication and offers from all five schools fell onto his lap. Brands aplenty approached him to sign sponsorships and record deals. At one point, he signed a deal with producer John Klass – now of the Gold 905 radio station – and produced a song that was number one on Singapore radio charts for three weeks. 'The possibilities seemed endless,' he recounted. For the teenager who once dreamed of marrying pop icon Britney Spears and becoming a bonafide celebrity, he had gotten almost everything he ever wanted (bar Britney Twohill). The irony? He didn't think he deserved any of it. 'I personally don't think, to this day, that I had the level of talent to justify having that amount of fame. 'In this day and age, you see so many singers who are 17 or 18, and they are really great. 'But it was different back then, your penetration point (to fame) was low and you had to bank on luck – and many other things.' THE DOWNSIDE OF FAME Exactly how and why he became such a popular figure is something Mr Twohill has spent a fair bit of time examining. He had even written an essay in university searching for the answers to these questions. He surmised in that reflection: 'Celebrities and stars are created by the mass media to satisfy the requirement of commercial interests.' While he tried his best to be true to himself, Mr Twohill believed he was ultimately a 'tool' to generate interest for the show. 'I was first presented to the public as an 'emo' punk rocker, styling long hair, punk clothes, with a persona portrayed as goofy, eccentric, and relatively queer,' he said. 'Everything from song choice to my mannerisms in public were, at times, controlled by producers to what they deemed appropriate to further 'market' my image and trademarks.' For instance, when asked to put up an item for a charity auction, his suggestion of auctioning a guitar was waved off in favour of a pair of used boxers – reason being that he had to be more 'humorous' than inspirational. He was also often required to wear specific sponsored clothing to suit this 'style'. But this struggle to be authentic is only half the baggage that comes with being a popular figure. He was also introduced to a world of vice even before he turned 18. Mr Twohill recalled being invited to parties, movie premieres and clubs almost every week, where alcohol and infidelity, he learned, were standard items on the menu of those who were famous personalities. At one of these events, he was even molested by an adult in the fashion industry. It was something he felt at the time he had no choice but to shrug off and move on from, he said. He also picked up drinking at an early age to try and overcome his anxieties and to socialise better – a skill he felt was required of a pop star. 'For most people, it's difficult enough to handle the social dynamics when they enter secondary school – and this was on another level. 'I was 17. I was still studying. I had to learn the way the industry works and how to navigate around it. In gist, I felt it was a very accelerated social learning process.' That pressure to conform to a curated persona has stuck with him to this day. 'Even right now as I'm on camera, I have this tendency to want to be goofy. But I'm not really like that. I'm actually quite intense,' he said. 'I don't bring this side of me out often because I feel like it can be intimidating. It's easier to navigate social situations when I'm just taking it more lightly, and usually a joke helps. 'If anything, I was goofy (on stage) because at my core, I want to make people happy.' THE MAKING OF TEACHER PAUL In one of our earlier conversations, Mr Twohill was quick to bring up the concept of 'ikigai' – a Japanese concept that roughly translates to a person's reason to live. He cites his own 'ikigai' as the reason for why life has taken him from the noise of entertainment to relative quietude of education. Since graduating from RMIT University Singapore where he studied mass communications in 2014, he dipped his toes in different industries but continued his job as a part-time host on Click Network which he joined in 2007. Though his infectious personality in several web series like 'Chick vs Dick' and 'Wonder Boys' helped its YouTube channel reach a million subscribers, he walked away from that world in 2017 when he decided to become a teacher. 'I just didn't think the content was always appropriate for children,' he said. 'And I didn't want what I'd done in the past to bleed into how I'd be perceived in this new career.' But does it still? I asked. I had recognised him back in 2022 after all. He smirked: 'Sometimes the parents show my old videos to their kids, and then the kids come in and tease me. 'But they still keep sending their kids to me. And that to me is the ultimate validation that I did something right back then.' It was there, during his seven-year stint as a teacher at Jan & Elly English Language School, where he said he found not just his purpose, but his peace. He tells me with conviction that he intends to continue teaching upon graduation from his Master's programme next year. 'I remember asking myself, if I was going to die tomorrow, what is the one thing that would fulfill all the different elements of what I want to pursue in my life – and that was teaching. 'I've always wanted to bring joy to people and impart good things to people. It's fulfilling to inspire young minds, and not to mention that in my quest for knowledge as a teacher, I also get to learn,' he said. Just then, I paused for a brief moment to ponder about the polarity between his public persona and the introspective man sitting next to me. That thought was swiftly broken by a quip and a grin. 'And then of course there's bribery,' he exclaimed. 'I get to give the kids Pokémon cards, and they'll say 'Wah, this teacher is the best teacher.'' As we wrapped up the interview, I realised that his seemingly "jumbled" persona was just two versions of Mr Twohill living simultaneously within a vessel, with either appearing when fitting to live out his life mission of making others happy. In one breath, he could recount wild, absurd stories from his heyday. In the next, he would speak with conviction about pedagogy and how to make learning joyful. Harkening back to his time as a Singapore Idol star, I asked him about the most memorable placard a fan made for him and his answer was more than apropos. 'Who needs one hill when you've got two?'
