Singaporean electronic superstar DJ Myrne’s collaboration with classical musicians David Loke (violin) and Judy Tsai (cello), with its scintillating fusion of infectious beats, emotional energy, and dynamic textures, features at Paragon’s ‘Hello Summer’ showcase.
Myrne, since breaking out in 2015, has performed at EDM extravaganza Tomorrowland as well as festivals and clubs all over the globe. His eclectic blend of progressive and trance-inspired house earns him more than 300,000 listeners on Spotify every month. In addition to a string of hit singles, he’s also found critical acclaim with numerous remixes.
Myrne’s collaborators for DJ x Strings, Loke and Tsai, are also accomplished musicians who traverse genres effortlessly. “I’m really looking forward to working with Myrne,” says Loke, who is a founding member of fusion ensemble Lorong Boys. “Bringing his artistic vision to life and adding a live element is something that I’ve always found joy in.”
DJ x Strings is among the highlights of ‘Hello Summer’, which shines a spotlight on local talent through music and cultural expression. The festivities, which run until 10 August, also include a “Spread Joy with Jo Malone London #justbecause” pop-up, with new and limited-edition fragrances, delicious treats, and exciting workshops.
Catch Myrne, Loke, and Tsai in action at DJ x Strings, 12 July (Sat), 6pm and 7pm, at Paragon.
What inspired this collaboration?
This was an off-kilter proposition to combine live strings with electronic music—to me, it seemed quite natural. Balancing the emotiveness of strings with the rigid rhythms of electronic music has always yielded interesting results. I enjoy listening to a lot of classical music, and a lot of it influences my own music.
What can we expect from your set list?
Most of the tracks are mine, along with several custom compositions specifically for this show. Some already-released tracks of mine that we’ll be performing include ‘Peter’s Theme’ (2024) and ‘Heal’ (with Shallou) (2025), where the recorded versions have string arrangements.
Was it tough to find a shared musical language between electronic and classical?
A big challenge for us was trying to lean into the cello and violin’s excellent ability to skirt around time. Solo cello and violin pieces really let you stretch and bask in the moment, and I don’t think that’s really possible with a quantised, four-on-the-floor beat.
SG60 is just round the corner. What’s your favourite NDP song?
‘We Are Singapore’, first recorded in 1987. It was a beautiful operation, uniting musicians from all over the spectrum.
