Passing – Leslie Low in Concert for The Substation's 35th Year

Join us for The Substation’s 35th anniversary as an independent arts development company as we present one of Singapore’s most prolific singer-songwriters in Leslie Low - who also marks his 35 years in music.

"Leslie Low's songs are like love letters to Singapore and this concert, in a way, is our love letter to the artist and community". ~ Yuni Hadi, Co-chairperson of The Substation

Passing is a lyrical and sonic journey through Leslie's indie-pop and soft rock reflections as an artist growing up, living in, and experiencing Singapore. Reaching back to his first album A Walking Purgatory (1999) to his latest effort Chimera (2024), Leslie has handpicked personal favourites from his solo repertoire, including a previously unreleased track, for this special 80-minute show – performed by Leslie on guitar, with guests Sean Lam (Concave Scream, Hanging Up the Moon) and Alexius Cai (Piblokto).

Audiences can expect an intimate evening of heartfelt songs, stripped down to the pure sound, poignant lyricism, and evocative emotions behind Leslie Low the artist.

An event of Gathering Ground 2025, this concert follows recent collaborations to celebrate the music of Singaporean artists, many of whom began their formative years at the old Substation Garden or Guinness Theatre—including Leslie as then frontman of 90s bands Humpback Oak and The Observatory.

Photo credit: Elizabeth Low

About Passing and Leslie’s music

The title, Passing, is ambiguous but reflective of the mindset behind Leslie Low’s songwriting – with lyrics open to interpretation, inviting the listener to tap into their own set of lived experiences and emotions. By baring the soul, Low hopes to find common ground with the listener.

The common thread is essentially the story of growing up. Like journals, Low’s songs document life through the years – from a place of naivety and innocence through the realities of adulthood, and beyond into the years of stasis during pandemics, to losing one’s job and recovering from it. All of these against the backdrop of an ever-changing Singapore horizon-scape. His songs conjure a feeling of ‘the Singapore experience’ not often talked about or presented in mainstream media, yet is a feeling that is intimately known and deeply relatable in the collective consciousness.

Depending on which album or period, Low’s lyrics can be conversational like in Blood Red Pale White (2021), or as in Worm (2006), seemingly inconsequential and simplistic but dressed up to obscure a deeper meaning. But always, there is an emotional quality behind the words and introverted presentation that define most of Leslie Low’s music.