The National Institute of Education’s own expert in Singapore music history, Associate Professor Eugene Dairianathan from the Visual and Performing Arts Academic Group (VPA) is currently working with the National Heritage Board (NHB) to co-curate the musical soundscapes for the upcoming exhibition “Home, Truly”.

Associate Professor Eugene, who is widely known for his innate musicality and frequent label by students as a “walking music encyclopaedia”, is no stranger to the TV and radio audience as he is a frequent expert voice on the Singapore music scene. His latest endeavour in the curation of significant musical pieces for a post-1950s Singapore would prove to be another exciting and intriguing project.

“Home, Truly” will be a showcase on moments and experiences that express who we are as Singaporeans from the 1950s to today. The music tracks for “Home, Truly” were shortlisted from hundreds of local songs, including two that were handpicked by Associate Professor Eugene. The tunes will be featured at the music station as part of the visitor experience to help the audience perceive the exhibits of ‘Home, Truly’ in a more multi-sensorial and evocative way.

The tracks that were selected by Associate Professor Eugene included “Shanty” by The Quests, and one of Associate Professor Eugene’s personal favourites, “Dunia Perlumbaan” by Sweet Charity, a song written in 1983 as a reflection of the consequences of a human race. Sweet Charity was headed by Mr Ramli Sarip who recently made headlines for his rock rendition of Majulah Singapura at the 2019 National Day celebrations.

When first contacted by NHB, Associate Professor Eugene recalled being pleasantly surprised and grateful for the unique opportunity to share his knowledge and love for music.

“Whenever I take on a project like that, it’s an education for me,” Associate Professor Eugene shares. " There’s so much for me to learn in this entire process, even when I was delving through looking for sounds, it was an opportunity for me to familiarise myself with sounds that were around me, sounds I didn’t know because they were largely hidden for a while.”

Apart from the opportunity to grow several more “pages” of Singapore’s music history into his “walking encyclopaedia” of a mind, the research had enabled Associate Professor Eugene to reconnect with some of the musicians whom he had spoken to in the past. “Singapore musicians truly encompass a music blend of many different cultures that is uniquely Singapore. It isn’t until you see the bigger picture that you actually understand your own location,” said Associate Professor Eugene.

Find out more about the “Home, Truly” exhibition on the NHB website.