STAYR UNCOVERS: AN ASPIRING ARTIST IN THE PANDEMIC
Wafiq Hadee, 21 years old signed under The Wonda Factory. He is a local artist in Singapore, currently serving National Service and has released 2 singles, Peluang Kedua and Putus, on Spotify, Apple Music, and all streaming platforms.
Singing Journey
After discovering at his school’s talent show, Wafiq Hadee embarked on his journey to become a musician. Having the opportunity to perform at Flashbang at such a young age of 16, he knew that this was what was in store for him.
As mentioned by the artist, performing felt like ‘an escape from everything’; singing and writing songs, in particular, provided him a safe space to be himself.
‘Me, Myself and I,’ said the 21-year-old. It was a way for him to be fully self-expressed, especially when dealing with personal issues.
Live Performances in the Endemic
‘A big blow to the entertainment industry,’ the artist said. As COVID-19 stuck upon the world, almost everyone in the local entertainment industry took a drastic hit. Many live performances and gigs were postponed and cancelled due to government restrictions.
Live performances were a way for these artists to personally create a connection with their audience and engage with them. It was ‘a message from me to them’ as mentioned by Wafiq Hadee.
Surviving as an artist
“And these gigs actually gave me a source of income as well.” says the 21-year-old. Many of these local artists, such as himself, took damage to their source of income due to little to no performances allowed, especially during Phase 1 and 2.
As a student (before getting enlisted), he depended on these performances to provide him a little bit of pocket money. Focusing his efforts on school, performing was a ‘part-time side hustle’ for him. Hence, it affected him drastically when he had little to no opportunities to perform live on stage again.
Despite this setback, he was optimistic because he views it as a learning experience for him to grow as an artist. It was never about the money, it was about the passion that drives him to continuously tap on music.
Adapting with COVID-19
Live performances made it possible for him to build an emotional interrelation with his audience. It was “an amazing feeling” to perform live on stage, as mentioned by the artist.
Performing live on stage created an atmosphere that goes beyond words for Wafiq Hadee. The atmosphere and sensation of a live crowd cheering enthusiastically for him felt indescribable, and it is an experience that he could never forget.
However, to adapt to the new circumstances, many local musicians such as himself have leaned against social media such as TikTok and Instagram to continuously maintain a strong presence in the social space. Wafiq Hadee avidly uses these 2 platforms to post covers and create original content to engage with his audience constantly.
Rehearsing in the Endemic
One of the challenges he faces, especially in this pandemic, is rehearsing live. Due to the ongoing restrictions, it made it difficult to find available places to practice as a band or even solo.
Often, he utilises his own room where he sings and writes songs. While home equipment was available to him, it was not well equipped, such as a fully furnished rehearsal studio such as The Music Parlour.
Spaces such as The Music Parlour provided him with a complete set of equipment such as amplifiers, instruments, recording gears, and microphones. It was especially beneficial for him to rehearse and jam as a full band.
Hopes for the future
Like many musicians in Singapore, Wafiq Hadee hopes to have more gigs and performances up and running in the local scene as restrictions start to ease. Despite the continuous uncertainty, the local artist is willing to embrace the situation and wishes that fellow aspiring artists such as himself stay strong and positive.
Check out The Music Parlour on Stayr App and book your hourly jamming session with $5 off using the code: WAFIQHADEE5
