Mad For Music

By Chai Xin Yi

This is Pung Wei Yin Beatrice, 20, who loves singing since she was three years old. She joined the Singapore Symphony Children Choir (SSCC) when she was eight.

Now she is in La Salle, aiming to be a soloist singer.

This is Beatrice’s QNA with Artistry.

How did you get into singing? Like why of all the other art performances, you chose singing?

Ever since I was three, it was my passion, I like to sing songs, and as I got older, I realized that I could actually try out to pursue my passion. Like I can actually do this, I’m gonna do this. I can join other competitions and performances in Singapore.

What was your parents’ opinion of you singing?

They supported me since I was young.

But I hit a slight roadblock when I was 12, I didn’t want to sing in the choir anymore, but I still want to sing but I don’t know how to go about doing it. I told my mom I wanted to quit and she said: “No, you’ve made a commitment and this is your passion, you will stick with it!” And I continued on for two more years.

Then, one day my mom came to me and said: “If you really want to quit the choir, you can. I’ll help you find a solo singing coach.” And that was when I quit SSCC and started singing solo for my musical endeavors.

I went to find music teachers and I found one at Belcanto Music Studio and my journey started ever since.

What made you decide to enter The Voice Singapore and Malaysia Season 1?

Well, actually it was my teacher who found out this competition and was like oh you should definitely try this. And it was like the first season ever of The Voice. So they had like different people from other countries, and I was like I want to try this, seeing this as my passion, I was like this is a great opportunity.

And I tried it, I didn’t set too much of a high expectation of myself because I was realistic, like other countries from Taiwan and Malaysia, they are professional singers, so I decided to have fun singing instead.

Little did I know, I got in, and I was really happy and I met a lot of friends, and that was how I got into The Voice.

Out of all the performances you did, which one would be your favourite?

I would have to say The Voice, cause you to meet so many talented people from other countries, and you just learn a lot from them. Not just their voice, but like their personality, like how humble people are. It’s something you can learn from.

Throughout your musical career, what are some of the biggest challenges/setbacks you’ve faced?

I remember going to this workshop about two years ago and I was super excited because this is one of my first musical workshop that I’ve been to, and on presentation day, I went sharp on an important note, and I panicked.

I immediately felt like running off stage, but I restrained myself by breathing really deep and continued the song, I told myself it’s one mistake it’s okay, and I made through the song.

It’s hard because all eyes are on you and they know you made a mistake. But I try not to let one small mistake affect the rest of the show.

* See Beatrice's musical journey unfold in this timeline in our Interactive Works! *

Who is your inspiration?

When I was younger, like 10 to 14, it was Christina Aguilera cause I felt her voice was really strong and really powerful, she has so much soul, but then later on to present, it’s Anna Kendrick cause I really love theatre and I love musicals, and I love that Anna Kendrick’s voice is really clear and her songs tell a story. I just love the connection that she made that she has between songs and the lyrics.

I aspire to be like her.

So out of all the songs you’ve sung, which one’s your favorite and which one’s the hardest?

My hardest would be Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing by Tori Kelly. I sang that and it was really tough and she had a lot of running notes. And it reached like G5, and it was really high and then low notes and it was really groovy, and I had to dance also. That was my biggest challenge.

My favorite cover would be Secret Love Song by Little Mix and Love In The Dark By Adele.

I feel that these two were my favorite covers because, for Secret Love song, I felt that I had invested a little more emotions in that song than I usually do, and it was also technically challenging.

As for Love In The Dark, I felt like it was one of the best covers me and my boyfriend had ever done, and, as no one has ever done that song in a duet, I felt that we made that song special and the harmonies that we came up with worked extremely well.

* Listen to their Duet of Love In The Dark here! *

What is your go-to song to sing?

My go-to song is Someone Like You by Adele. Give me a piano and I can play it right now. I think I’ve been singing the same song since I was young. Every time I’m nervous or someone asks me to sing, I’ll always sing that.

What would you say your greatest achievement/proudest moment in your musical career?

It was a production we did last year, it was called BangSaWan. Basically as a class, we had to do our scripting, we had to do the play in 100% Malay, came up with original music, we learned it in Malay, we also came up with our own sets and props.

I got to sing and act and dance. That was so far the greatest achievement. Doing a whole production by ourselves, we were the light, sound, acting crew. Now when we go into the industry, we actually know the hard work that goes behind it.

What are your future aspirations?

I want to be a theatre performer or I would like to teach singing to other people.

What do you think about the art scene in Singapore?

We definitely have more than we know. But I feel that it should be better exposed to Singaporeans because I only found out more about the art scene when I came to La Salle. Like I didn’t actually know that these theatre companies existed during my secondary school days, my school never had any pamphlets, or any visits to watch Singaporean plays.

So, I feel that if people got a chance to watch these plays at a younger age, they’ll be more inspired and start from a young age. Nowadays I feel that we get our inspirations from other cultures and countries. Like why not look at where we have, like Singapore has a lot of plays and musicals that we put up too.

What would you like to tell those who would like to take the same path as you?

Go for it. You will never know until you try it, or take the risk. Don’t be afraid of not getting there. Like I didn’t think I would get into La Salle to begin with. I heard there were only 20 people that they take in per year.

Just try and try, and don’t give up.