Projects like this push us to explore new textures, and that keeps our sound evolving: Twin Strings

“Rhythms of Singapore” is an immersive exploration of a city that already hums with its own organic soundtrack. In this conversation, Twin Strings reflect on how they moved beyond conventional songwriting to truly listen to Singapore, absorbing its textures, movements, and emotions before translating them into music. From the pulse of MRT trains to the serenity of hidden neighbourhoods, the duo reveals how lived experiences shaped every note. They also delve into crafting a multi-part sonic journey, balancing artistic authenticity with collaboration, and how this project marks a deeper evolution in their storytelling approach.

“Rhythms of Singapore” explores the idea that every street and corner has its own sound, how did you translate these real, lived experiences of the city into your songwriting?

For us, it started with just listening. Not as tourists, but as musicians. We weren’t trying to write songs first, we were trying to absorb the city. The MRT rhythm, the water at Jewel, the chaos of Chinatown, even footsteps and conversations, everything had a pulse.

We’d record these sounds, sit with them, and slowly build music around them. Sometimes a beat came from a train, sometimes a melody came from the mood of a place. It felt like Singapore was already making music, we just shaped it into songs.

The series is structured as a multi-part musical journey with each episode reflecting a different mood, how did you approach creating distinct sonic identities for each part while keeping a cohesive narrative?

We treated each episode like a different emotion of the same story. Instead of forcing variety, we leaned into our individual personalities.

One perspective was more melodic and musical, another more visual and ambient, one more raw and artistic, and one more energetic and nightlife driven. That naturally gave each episode its own sound.

The cohesion came from one idea, the city as the common thread. No matter the mood, everything was built from the same environment, so it all still felt connected.

Watch Episode 1 – Into The Sky here:

Brand collaborations in music are becoming more common, how do you ensure authenticity while working with commercial partners?

For us, it’s simple, the idea has to feel honest. If the story doesn’t excite us as artists, it won’t translate.

With this project, it never felt like a brand film. It felt like a creative opportunity. We were given space to interpret the city in our own way, and that made all the difference.

We always try to keep the music first. If the music feels real, everything else automatically falls into place.

Your music beautifully blends indie-pop with storytelling, how has your sound evolved over the years, and what continues to inspire it today?

Initially, we were more focused on covers and finding our sound. Over time, it became more about telling our own stories.

Now, we’re a lot more intentional with emotion and space. Sometimes it’s minimal, sometimes it’s cinematic, but it always comes from a feeling first.

What keeps inspiring us is real life; travel, people, relationships, even silence. Projects like this push us to explore new textures, and that keeps our sound evolving.

Watch Episode 2 – I See You here:

From skyline energy to hidden neighbourhoods, Singapore offers a wide cultural palette, was there a particular moment or location that unexpectedly influenced the music the most?

Jewel was definitely a big moment for us. That waterfall, both visually and sonically, just pulls you in. It almost feels like a natural instrument.

But interestingly, some of the smaller, quieter places had an even deeper impact. Walking through lesser-known streets, hearing everyday life, those moments felt very personal.

That contrast between grand and intimate really shaped the music.

“Rhythms of Singapore” sits at the intersection of music, travel, and storytelling, do you see this as a new creative direction for Twin Strings or a one-off experiment in musical world-building?

Honestly, this felt very natural to us. We’ve always been storytellers, this just expanded the canvas.

Music, visuals, travel, all of it coming together, it’s something we really connected with. So it doesn’t feel like a one-off.

If anything, this feels like the beginning of a new way of creating, where we don’t just write songs, we build worlds around them.

Watch Episode 3 – Afterglow here:

“Rhythms of Singapore” stands as a testament to the power of listening, not just as musicians, but as storytellers attuned to the world around them. For Twin Strings, this project goes beyond capturing a place; it redefines how music can be experienced, blending sound, space, and narrative into a cohesive artistic vision. As they embrace this expansive approach to creation, the journey feels far from complete. Instead, it signals a new chapter where songs are no longer standalone pieces, but part of larger, living worlds shaped by culture, environment, and emotion, inviting listeners to experience music in entirely new ways.

Article by Sneha N.

Photo credit to the band