Girls Aloud: Fresh Faces Pump Up The Volume At NDP 2024

The stage is set, the lights are bright, and the anticipation in the air is palpable. As Singapore prepares to celebrate its 59th National Day, a sense of thrill, excitement, and nervous energy grips four first-time participants who are about to make their debut in the National Day Parade (NDP) 2024 Show.

Singer-songwriters Amni Musfirah and shazza, Voices of Singapore Youth Choir member Sebastini Manimohan, and cellist Olivia Chuang are ready to take centre stage in front of an expected audience of 27,000 at the Padang, with millions more watching from home.

The quartet joins more than 3,000 performers, including students, community groups, and other first-time participants, to tell a distinct story about Singapore's past, present, and future through song and dance, stunning mass displays, emotive films, and spectacular multimedia effects.

We've all been there: butterflies in our stomachs as we prepare for D-Day. But honestly, there's no D-Day quite like NDP. We have a chat with these rising stars to find out more.

IMAGE: NICK CHEE

Amni Musfirah

Her role in NDP 2024: Performing "Anggerik Singapura" by Zubir Said, and an NDP original song, "Hold Up The Sky" in Chapter Three, a heartfelt tribute to the nation's pioneers

The 29-year-old singer-songwriter and producer is thrilled and grateful to be performing in NDP for the first time. "I received an email saying I’d been invited to perform, but I had to read it multiple times because I couldn't believe it! It feels really nice, because I’ve been singing for a while now, and to finally be recognised and trusted to open the show," she says.

You can't miss Amni. She’ll be appearing from within a large prop resembling an orchid. "It's super beautiful. I come up from the bottom, and then I rise and the orchid just opens up," she adds, also stating how honoured she is to perform 'Anggerik Singapura'. "The song means 'Orchid Singapura', which refers to our national flower. I'm very blessed to have been given this song because its lyrics are very reflective. It feels like a prayer written by Pak Zubir, and opening the show with a sort of prayer feels like whatever he envisioned then, is what we still envision for the future."

Amni describes how "Hold Up The Sky" reminds her of the importance of contributing to wherever home is. "When I'm performing it, it feels like a value I must hold on to no matter where I go. This is the country that raised me, and as a people, we hope to work together towards a better future for all of us, not just for me, but for future generations as well."

What makes a good NDP song? "It needs to resonate with the public, both young and old," she says. "Sometimes, NDP songs just need to be a big karaoke session for the nation!"

IMAGE: NICK CHEE

IMAGE: NICK CHEE

Olivia Chuang

Her role in NDP 2024: Performing an instrumental version of the NDP 2024 theme song "Not Alone" in Chapter Five, which portrays Singapore as a compassionate society

When it comes to pre-performance jitters, Olivia says, "I just deal with it." 😆 "I think it's always quite scary for me. I get nervous for every performance, big or small."

Jokes aside, this year’s NDP theme, "Together, As One United People", resonates deeply with Olivia. She feels it highlights how people are the essence of what makes a place feel like home.

"I think I connect with the idea that home is a feeling, not necessarily a place. We get attached to physical spaces because of the memories and the people associated with them. So, home is really about the people and the feelings it brings to us. I think that's what this song speaks to me," says the 26-year-old.

"I always look forward to the Red Lions," she says when asked about her favourite NDP segment. "But I won’t get to watch them this year because I’ll be backstage."

When it’s time for her solo instrumental piece, Olivia hopes everyone will just enjoy it. "Sit back, relax, and I think it's okay if everyone takes away different things [from the performance]. Just have a good experience, and I hope to deliver what this song really wants people to see."

IMAGE: NICK CHEE

The Voices of Singapore intergenerational and inclusive choir. | IMAGE: NDP 2024 OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHERS

Sebastini Manimohan

Her role in NDP 2024: Performing with the Voices of Singapore (VOS) Youth Choir, and singing "Fix You" by Coldplay, "True Colours" by Cyndi Lauper, and "Our Story", an original composition by VOS Founder and Artistic Director, Darius Lim, in Chapter Five

Sebastini has performed in the NDP before, albeit virtually from the comfort of her own room, but this is her first "live" performance. "Here at the Padang, you only have one take and one shot at doing your best!"

And it's an entirely new experience for the 19-year-old. "The first time we performed 'live' at the Padang, there wasn't an audience, but I already felt the chills. It was so different with all the fireworks and hearing the other singers like Benjamin Kheng and Shabir. I was just so happy that I was there," she says.

As for what audiences can expect during Chapter Five, Sebastini says, "I think people can expect a very moving section, with all the songs and the theme this year. The whole vibe of it is really good, with all the Soka Gakkai dancers and us in the back, it's a whole different aura."

Performing in a choir has helped Sebastini level up not only as a singer but also as a performer who listens. "Singing in a choir is very different compared to singing solo because when you sing in a choir, you have to interact with every single person on that stage. The sound is really different, and you have to listen a lot to all the parts, deciding whether you should bring it up a bit or let the melody slide with you in the background," she says.

"I've learned that it's not just about you. Sometimes, it's about the big picture and the whole choir." Talk about being on brand with this year's NDP theme, "Together, As One United People"! 💪

IMAGE: NICK CHEE

shazza

Her role in NDP 2024: Performing "You’re the Boy" by Shirley Nair & The Silver Strings, and "Andru Vanthathum Ithe Nila" by T. M. Soundarajan and P. Susheela in Chapter Four, a vibrant display of unity through our diverse food heritage

Singer-songwriter Shareefa Aminah, aka shazza, sees performing in the NDP as a major milestone in her life. "It's been a long-term goal of mine to be a part of NDP. And my ultimate dream is to one day write the National Day song," she says.

"I've started writing an NDP song already. I began writing songs when I was 11, so this has always been the way I expressed myself. NDP songs are such an integral part of our culture; I don't think you could name any other country that writes a birthday song every year. For me, it just kind of goes hand in hand."

The 23-year-old is particularly excited to sing "Andru Vanthathum Ithe Nila". "I wanted to do it despite never having performed in Tamil in public before, because I wanted to honour my Indian heritage," says shazza, who even got her father's help in nailing the pronunciation of the lyrics.

"He came down to the studio with me to correct me as I went. Every now and then, if I got the pronunciation wrong, he was like, 'Stop, do it again.' So that was very special that I got to do that and have that memory with him. It felt like a labour of love for my community," she says.

Chapter Four is food-themed, and shazza's all-time favourite dish is parippu curry. "It's an Indian dish made from lentils, and it's something that my mum makes. I really love it! It has a lot of good memories because I grew up eating that, and it's still one of my favourite dishes today," she says. "That, and garlic naan."

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