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THELIONCITYBOY (Kevin Lester)

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THELIONCITYBOY (Kevin Lester) is a Singaporean artist, songwriter and music producer. Once a Marketing Manager in an IT company, Kevin decided to pursue his passion for music and has since performed on both international and local stages. He has collaborated with other notable local musicians including Benjamin Kheng of The Sam Willows and Sezairi Sezali. As of January 2020, Kevin is signed to Sony Music Singapore.[1]

THELIONCITYBOY
THELIONCITYBOY profile.jpg
Born
Kevin Lester Sarjit

13 August 1984
EducationDiploma in Mechanical Engineering
Alma materSt. Gabriel's Secondary School, Ngee Ann Polytechnic
Label(s)
Sony Music Singapore
Spouse(s)Aarika Lee
ChildrenZola Mae Lee-Sarjit, Ari Jon Lee-Sarjit
Websitehttp://thelioncityboy.com/

Background

Kevin Lester decided on the moniker ‘THELIONCITYBOY’ after realising that Singapore, his home country, had played a significant role in his life and career.[2] Kevin Lester has a YouTube channel called ‘THELIONCITYBOY Official’ which features his music videos (YouTube channel). His most viewed videos include ‘THELIONCITYBOY - YAYA feat. Benjamin Kheng’ with more than 180,000 views and ‘THELIONCITYBOY x FARIZ JABBA - Flexicution Remix’ with close to 40,000 views.[3]

Bonafide Vintage Flav'r (2004 - 2006)

From 2004 to 2006, Kevin was part of a local band called Bonafide Vintage Flav’r.[4] The band released an album in 2005 titled 'The BVF Project EP'. The same year, the band was nominated for Best Local Act and Best Local Song for 'Feels Good' in the local radio station 987FM’s year-end awards.[5]

Album The BVF Project EP (2005) Duration
1 Feels Good 3:27
2 Disco Love 3:52
3 Magic 3:12
4 Tell Me What It Feels Like 4:14
5 No More Mr Nice Guy Part 2 2:58

SIXX

 
Kevin Lester (4th from left) and Aarika Lee (3rd from left) with the rest of the members in SIXX. Photo from Bandcamp.

Subsequently, Kevin fronted a local band called SIXX, where he met his current spouse, Aarika Lee, who was the lead vocalist.[6] In 2010, Kevin quit his job as a marketing manager in an IT company to focus on his music.[7] The band released an album at the Marche International du Disque et de l’Edition Musicale (MIDEM) 2012.[8] The song ‘What if it’s You’ was written with the purpose of raising awareness for the less than ideal living conditions of the dolphins at The Resort World Sentosa’s dolphin attraction.[9]


In 2011, Kevin was named 'Music Act of the Year 2011' by ELLE Magazine Singapore.[10] He went solo in 2012 and was signed to the management company BMBX ran by apl.de.ap from American pop group The Black Eyed Peas from March 2014 to December 2015.[11][12]

Album Supersonic (2012) Duration
1 Supersonic 3:33
2 What if it’s You 4:10

Discography[13]

Albums

 
The album art for 'Paradise' (2016). Photo from Bandwagon Asia.
 
The album art for 'PYCO' (2014). Photo from Shazam.

In 2016, Kevin released his album titled 'Paradise'. The song ‘YAYA’ appeared on the Spotify Singapore’s Viral 50 Chart and ranked 15th on local radio station 987FM charts. Additionally, Kevin’s song HRLY (Harry Lee) had been dedicated to the late Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.[14] The album reached no. 1 on the iTunes Charts.[15]

Album Paradise (2016) Duration
1 HRLY - Harry Lee 2:37
2 YAYA (Ft. Benjamin Kheng) 3:16
3 Start Already / One Seven 4:09
4 New Bounce 3:49
5 Interlude (Ft. Charlie Lim) 1:22
6 Paradise (Ft. FlightSch) 4:08
7 My Way (Ft. FlightSch, Gentle Bones) 3:56
8 Decorate (Ft. Aarika Lee) 3:34
9 Not Over 4:38

In 2014, Kevin released the album 'Put Your City On'.

Album Put Your City On (2014) Duration
1 PYCO (Put Your City On) 4:15
2 She Wild 2:54
3 Rocket Ship 3:16
4 Overdrive 3:27
5 Jama 3:25
6 Forever 3:45

1n 2013, Kevin released his first album under the moniker THELIONCITYBOY titled 'Everything You Love, Everything You Hate'.

Album Everything You Love, Everything You Hate (2013)[16] Duration
1 Danger (Ft. Sezairi Sezali, Bani Hykal, Aarika Lee) 5:04
2 Hear Me Go 3:50
3 Blue Ribbon 3:38
4 Cartoons & Heroes 3:41
5 Everything You Love, You Hate 4:37

Released in 2010, Kevin's solo debut album was titled 'Let's Talk About Kevin Lester'.[17]

Album Let's Talk About Kevin Lester (2010) Duration
1 S.S.A 2:44
2 Kidhood (Ft. Aarika Lee) 3:47
3 Rockstar 2.0 (Ft. Vanessa Fernandez) 3:03
4 Fresh Pair (Ft. England National Rugby Union Team, Prinya Intachai, SonaOne, Syaheed) 3:52
5 Cartoons (Ft. Tim De Cotta) 3:50
6 You're a Winner (Ft. Tim De Cotta) 3:25
7 Overdo (Ft. Tim De Cotta) 4:39
8 Rockstar 2:23

Collaborations & features

Year Title Duration Notes Refs.
2019 NDP 2019 theme song: Our Singapore 4:00 Together with 26 other Singaporean artists, Kevin was featured in the 2019 National Day Parade theme song 'NDP 2019 theme song: Our Singapore' (YouTube video). The song is a mash-up of the 2015 rendition of 'Our Singapore' and 'We Will Get There', the 2002 NDP theme song. [18]
2016 We Are Singapore 2018 3:36 Together with local artists Aisyah Aziz, Charlie Lim, Joanna Dong, Shak’thiya Subramaniam and Vanessa Fernandez, Kevin Lester performed the song ‘We Are Singapore 2018’, a rendition of the 1987 National Day theme song. [19]
2017 The Fear Generation (Ft. THELIONCITYBOY) 3:40 Kevin Lester was featured in local rock band Villes album ‘The Cure’. -
2016 Terrified (Ft. THELIONCITYBOY) 3:34 Kevin was featured in local artist Sezairi’s album titled ‘SEZAIRI’. -
2015 Love Sings / Anbu Paadum

[Official Music Video]

5:02 As part of the compilation album ‘Sing, Love’, Kevin Lester collaborated with other artists such as Jeremy Monteiro, Nathan Hartono and Rani Singam. The album was released in commemoration of Singapore’s 50th anniversary (SG50). [20][21]
2014 Unrequited Love (Ft. THELIONCITYBOY) 4:09 Kevin Lester was featured in Dominique Choy’s (Dizzy Dizzo) EP album. -
2013 It Can Only Get Better 4:27 Kevin Lester collaborated with artists Aarika Lee, Grace Huang, Iris Judotter and Vanessa Fernandez to produce a single. -

Singles

 
The album art for 'Bitch, I'm on an Obike' (2018). Photo from Genius.

In 2015, Kevin partnered with recording label BMBX to release “Light It For Me” that featured American singer Marc E. Bassy. Kevin's 2013 single 'PYCO (Put Your City On)' was popularised after it was featured in Starhub’s ‘The Legend Returns’ commercial video that celebrated local football player Fandi Ahmad (YouTube video).[22]

Year Title Duration
2019 2 The Max 2:28
2018 Bitch, I’m on an Obike 3:04
2018 My Turn (Ft. Preetipls) 2:14
2015 All Night (Ft. Sezairi, Mr Boo) 3:27
2015 1030 3:17
2015 Light It For Me (Ft. Marc. E. Bassy) 3:32
2013 She Wild 2:54
2013 Rocket Ship 3:16
2013 Overdrive 3:27
2013 PYCO (Put Your City On) 4:15

Performances

2018

Date Festival Location Refs.
10 November 2018 Downtown East 30th Anniversary Downtown East, Singapore [23]
9 August 2018 National Day Parade 2018 The Float @ Marina Bay, Singapore [24]
27 January 2018 Laneway Festival 2018 Gardens by the Bay, Singapore [25]
22 March 2018 TheLionCityBoy with special guests Airliftz & Sounds Of Fai Kilo Lounge, Singapore [26]

2017

Date Festival Location Refs.
8 April 2017 Influence Asia 2017 Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia [27]

2015

Date Festival Location Refs.
21 - 22 August 2015 IGNITE! Music Festival Republic Polytechnic, Singapore [28]
21 June 2015 YFest Esplanade Outdoor Theatre, Singapore [29]
7 August 2015 Sing50 National Stadium, Singapore [30]
2015 *SCAPE Invasion Tour Various Locations, Singapore [31]

2014

Date Festival Location Refs.
5 August 2014 Canadian Music Week 2014 Detour Bar, Canada [32]
13 March 2014 Red Bull Music Academy Presents: Solid Gold Aliwal Arts Centre -

2013

Date Festival Location Refs.
29 November 2013 Made for Music 2013 Festival Mansion@Esplanade, Singapore [33]
5 October 2013 HOUSE PARTY: An SGMUSO Open House Aliwal Arts Centre [34]
20 September and 21 September 2013 1 World Music Festival Marina Barrage Singapore, Singapore [35]
30 August and 31 August 2013 HOMEMADE UNPLUGGED, Singapore Night Festival 2013 Singapore Management University U-Square, Singapore [36]
22 May and 24 May 2013 Music Matters 2013 Various locations, Singapore [37][38]
21 April 2013 SHOW IT! Youth Arts Festival *SCAPE Warehouse, Singapore [39]
6 April 2013 Big Wig Festival Fort Canning Park, Singapore [40]
13 March 2013 SXSW 2013 Meduse Lounge, Texas, United States [41]

References / Citations


  1. ↑ thelioncityboy. "2020 is gonna hit different. Signed to @sonymusicsg". Instagram. December 31, 2019. Accessed on 3 January 2020.
  2. ↑ Mathews, Kevin. “The Unexpurgated interview with Kevin Lester”. Today. April 26, 2013. Accessed on 27 February 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.todayonline.com/blogs/poparazzi/unexpurgated-interview-kevin-lester
  3. ↑ “THELIONCITYBOY Official”. YouTube. Accessed on 27 February 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6l5hZN5qoBOppjHk7GGHsA
  4. ↑ Eddino Abdul Hadi. "Rapper TheLionCityBoy goes to LA and rediscovers Singapore roots". The Straits Times. August 21, 2015. Accessed on 24 April 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/finding-his-voice
  5. ↑ “MARK BONAFIDE FEAT. SLEEQ – URGF”. Sleeq Online. April 30, 2011. Accessed on 27 February 2019. Retrieved from: https://sleeqonline.wordpress.com/2011/04/30/mark-bonafide-feat-sleeq-urgf/
  6. ↑ Low, Tracy “Finally, a taste of paradise”. The Newpaper. August 17, 2016. Accessed on 27 February 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.tnp.sg/m/music/finally-taste-paradise
  7. ↑ Low, Tracy “Finally, a taste of paradise”. The Newpaper. August 17, 2016. Accessed on 27 February 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.tnp.sg/m/music/finally-taste-paradise
  8. ↑ “Supersonix”. Bandcamp. Accessed on 27 February 2019. Retrieved from: https://wearesixx.bandcamp.com/
  9. ↑ Filkhairi Zaini. “Famous and for a cause: Kevin Lester”. Youth.sg. February 12, 2015. Accessed on 27 February 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.youth.sg/Spotted/People/2015/2/Famous-and-for-a-cause-kevin-lester
  10. ↑ “THELIONCITYBOY”. Bandwagon. Accessed on 12 March 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.bandwagon.asia/artists/thelioncityboy
  11. ↑ Eddino Abdul Hadi. “Rapper TheLionCityBoy goes to LA and rediscovers Singapore roots”. The Straits Times. August 24, 2016. Accessed on 27 February 2019. Retrieved from:  https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/finding-his-voice
  12. ↑ “Kevin Lester”. LinkedIn. Accessed on 27 February 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-lester-40767125/
  13. ↑ “THELIONCITYBOY”. Spotify. Accessed on 27 February 2019. Retrieved from: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5OwVPmFnyYzcaPYZqMxN7o?si=3AGUjQpBRXy3pWpYkaMewQ
  14. ↑ Eddino Abdul Hadi. “Rapper TheLionCityBoy goes to LA and rediscovers Singapore roots”. The Straits Times. August 24, 2016. Accessed on 27 February 2019. Retrieved from:  https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/finding-his-voice
  15. ↑ “THELIONCITYBOY”. THELIONCITYBOY. Accessed on 27 February 2019. Retrieved from: http://thelioncityboy.com/about/
  16. ↑ “Everything You Love, You Hate”. Spotify. Accessed on 27 February 2019. Retrieved from: https://open.spotify.com/album/3FhBqkZkWKBmRZSHY1GWLF
  17. ↑ “THELIONCITYBOY”. Bandwagon. Accessed on 12 March 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.bandwagon.asia/artists/thelioncityboy
  18. ↑ Mohan, Matthew. "NDP 2019 theme song combines familiar tunes We Will Get There, Our Singapore". Channel News Asia. May 22, 2019. Accessed on 24 May 2019.
  19. ↑ Jalelah Abu Baker. “NDP 2018: 'We Are Singapore' back as theme song, but with a twist”. Channel NewsAsia. May 22, 2018. Accessed on 27 February 2019.
  20. ↑ Toh, Christopher. “Local album Sing, Love pay tribute to Singapore”. Today. May 7, 2015. Accessed on 20 November 2019.
  21. ↑ Lee, Benita. “Sing, Love album”. TimeOut. July 2, 2015. Accessed on 20 November 2019.
  22. ↑ “The Lion City Boy”. Vans. Accessed on 27 February 2019. Retrieved from: http://www.vans.com.sg/artist/lion-city-boy/
  23. ↑ “Downtown East 30th Anniversary”. Expat Living. Accessed on 12 March 2019.
  24. ↑ Gwee, Karen. “Who are the musicians performing and singing their hearts out at this year's National Day Parade?”. Hear 65. August 1, 2018. Accessed on 27 February 2019. Retrieved form: https://hear65.bandwagon.asia/articles/guide-to-musicians-national-day-parade
  25. ↑ Eddino Abdul Hadi. “St Jerome's Laneway Festival back for eighth Singapore edition”. The Straits Times. January 27, 2018. Accessed on 27 February 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/st-jeromes-laneway-festival-back-for-eighth-singapore-edition
  26. ↑ “TheLionCityBoy with special guests Airliftz & Sounds Of Fai”. Facebook. Accessed on 27 February 2019.
  27. ↑ “Influence Asia 2017 Celebrates Social Media Influencers Across Seven Asian Countries!”. Go Asean. Accessed on 12 March 2019.
  28. ↑ Ng, Rachel. “5 Fresh Acts from the IGNITE! Lineup That You Must Check Out”. Ignite Music Festival. Accessed on 25 July 2019.
  29. ↑ “Gizzle Rhymes: Feat Mean, Akeem and THELIONCITYBOY”. Esplanade. Accessed on 27 February 2019.
  30. ↑ Eddino Abdul Hadi. “Star-studded line-up for mega concert”. The Straits Times. March 8, 2015. Accessed on 27 February 2019.
  31. ↑ “THE LION CITY BOY”. Vans. Accessed on 27 February 2019.
  32. ↑ “ADI ULMANSKY, HALF CHANCE HEROES, KEVIN LESTER + MORE (CMW)”. Canadian Music Week 2014. Accessed on 27 February 2019.
  33. ↑ Leong, Mint. “[Mint.Music.Event] Attend Budweiser 'MADE FOR MUSIC' 2013 Festival On 29 & 30 NOV”. Mint Leong. November 14, 2013. Accessed on 27 February 2019.
  34. ↑ “HOUSE PARTY”. Facebook. Accessed on 27 February 2019.
  35. ↑ “1 World Music Festival”. JUICE Singapore. July 15, 2013. Accessed on 12 March 2019.
  36. ↑ “Singapore Night Festival”. National Archives Singapore. Accessed on 27 February 2019.
  37. ↑ “Music Matters Live”. Music Matters Live. Accessed on 27 February 2019.
  38. ↑ Hidayah Salamat. “Interview: Kevin Lester”. SG Magazine. May 10, 2013. Accessed on 27 February 2019.
  39. ↑ “*SCAPE PRESENTS SHOW IT!”. Noise Singapore. Accessed on 27 February 2019.
  40. ↑ Hidayah Salamat. “Singapore's first . MBig Wig Festival to feature Pharoahe Monch, The Pharcyde and Akil of Jurassic 5”. SG Magazine. February 1, 2013. Accessed on 27 February 2019.
  41. ↑ “Kevin Lester”. SXSW Schedule. Accessed on 27 February 2019.
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