On The Road: Travel Essentials Curated by Local Band, Take Two

Being musicians, travelling is part and parcel of their routines, especially when there are tours involved. While we are getting this piece done, Take Two, an up and coming local indie band, is already on their way to Beijing to charm their fans as part of Singapore: Inside Out's line-up. Before they got on the plane, these 5 boys have taken time out to choose their dream travel essentials from Naiise. You can browse them here.

Read on and find out more about how this budding local band come about and how music plays a part in their lives. 

Tell us more about Take Two: Who you guys are, what you do for a living individually, and something that is unique about you guys as Take Two.

We're five indie musicians from Singapore, playing guitar-driven music with influences that swing from Bombay Bicycle Club to Kimbra to Last Dinosaurs and sometimes to Bananarama. That's our superhero secret identity! By day, we disguise ourselves as tax consultants, financial product business associates, market analysts, naval officers and a jobless hobo living off his parents.

How did you guys come together to form Take Two?

Most of us met in a dark and damp jamming room in an NUS Hall of Residence in 2012. A year later, Paddy got tricked into thinking he was joining a legitimate band and because he didn't read the fine print when he signed, he's stuck with us. We've been playing music and trying to get used to the smell ever since. Lately it's been smelling nice though.

How has music play a great part in your life?

Berthold Auerbach said, "Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." That is what we feel every time we play a show, write a song, rehearse a set or goof around on each others' instruments during jamming.

What is that one song that you guys can listen to over and over again? Why? (Feel free to answer individually.)

There are so many! But because you said "feel free" we would like to answer freely that "Feel" by Bombay Bicycle Club is our current ear worm.

Photo: the freestyle photographer

How does your typical day look like?

Work work work. Sometimes music. Work work work. This cycle continues indefinitely but we'll keep on keeping on because we love doing it.

What are Take Two's upcoming plans?

We just launched our debut EP titled "PAIRS" and will be going to Beijing as part of the Singaporean entourage for Singapore: Inside Out, playing a couple of shows there as well as other venues in the city to try and spread some love for Singapore music. When we come home we'll be playing for the *SCAPE Invasions Tour too, so exciting times ahead! Really looking forward to it.

Any words for budding musicians?

Being in a band is like being married to 5 other people. You will see them more than your own girlfriend and family. Learn to love all of them and accept them for who they are, and work on being together as a team of star players. Also, practise as much as you can! Keep your head down and keep working!