In this issue

For December we thought it fitting to end with a bang with five Singapore-based musicians who have been making new music content this year. On our cover we feature Jasmine Sokko, Benjamin Kheng, Yung Raja, Tabitha Nauser and Aisyah Aziz. Their music may span the gamut from rap to electronic to pop, but there are also striking similarities in terms of their hustle, grit and pure talent, and their determination to continue making music and art against the odds. As the rise of the internet and streaming services have blurred geographical lines, we have also seen the rise of a genre called bedroom pop — read about local band Sobs and how they have steadily built their own worldwide fanbase with nothing more than basic equipment at home and sheer talent.

Elsewhere in the issue, we cover the rise of FKA Twigs, a revelation in the music industry who has made herself a devoted student of various art forms — from dance to martial arts — in order to be the best performer she can be. We also interview the designer Matthew Williams to discover more about the collaboration between his brand 1017 Alyx 9SM and luxury label Moncler.

Is This The End Of The Manicure?

In an era of relaxed beauty standards, naked nails may be the new norm.

4 mins

In Smart Fashion

The ongoing partnership between Matthew Williams, the founder of 1017 Alyx 9SM, and the Italian luxury house Moncler doesn’t just represent another brand collaboration, but a possible way forward for fashion.

5 mins

The Gift Of Time

Jon Chua and Amanda Chaang talk about how small moments in time played defining roles in the course of their relationship.

3 mins

The History Of Trees

Rising through the foliage in Berlin’s Tiergarten is a mysterious townhouse complex completed in 1992 by the eco-architecture pioneer Frei Otto. Rediscovered by the city’s creative class, it’s now a model for living more freely in an everurbanising world.

10 mins

In Perfect Balance

In its newest Équilibre d’Hermès collection, Hermès collaborates with designer Jasper Morrison to revisit an old design of his, and give it a fresh twist.

8 mins

In Full Bloom

At Van Cleef & Arpels, floral-themed jewellery has moved from tentative first budding to a glorious springtime blossoming.

3 mins

The Use Of Stones In Beauty Treatments

The use of stones in beauty treatments has been carried out for centuries. Despite technological advancements, their popularity continues today.

6 mins

He For She

Chanel shines a light on the allure of androgyny with its iconic Boy.Friend watch.

4 mins

The Innovators

In Singapore, where cultural and systemic challenges to a career in music are endemic, it is no coincidence that these five musicians have built polymathic careers, branching beyond their craft and beyond our tiny island so as to thrive. Today, they are each piecing together a singular path toward a future in the local arts scene.

10+ mins

FKA TWIGS

Despite her ethereal aesthetic, inscrutable public persona and cerebral body of work that blends R&B and art-pop, the singer has charted a singular course for herself — and for the future of music — by doing something surprisingly earthbound: embracing the role of the perpetual student.

10+ mins

Read all stories from T Singapore: The New York Times Style Magazine

T Singapore: The New York Times Style Magazine Description:

As one of the most influential style and culture magazines in the world, T, The New York Times Style Magazine, illuminates the many facets of style - fashion, beauty and the finer things in life - with incisive commentary and artistic vision. With its Singapore edition now, T Singapore aims to interpret what is current, shedding light on popular culture and offering new and interesting ways to perceive. It is a guide to the cultural conversation through stories that are smart, sharp, exclusive and entertaining, with a distinct point of view.