LEW (Lewis Loh)

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Lewis Loh, also known as LEW, is a Singaporean singer-songwriter. He first rose to fame with his rendition of the National Day song ‘One Singapore’ which went viral on the Singapore Police Force Facebook page.[1] His songs have since

LEW
Lew Loh profile image.jpg
Born
Lewis Loh

9 August 1996
Hong Kong
Other namesLEW, Lew Loh
EducationSha Tin College (IB), Berklee College of Music (Degree in Songwriting)
Websitehttp://www.lewloh.com/

appeared on iTunes Singapore’s Pop charts and have gained significant traction on Spotify. On top of his music, LEW had won the Noise Singapore Award in 2015 and performed on stages such as SHINE Festival. LEW is also active on Instagram (Instagram account) and Twitter(Twitter account).

Background

LEW first dabbled in singing when he auditioned for a solo part in a school production of 'The Lion King' at the age of 11.[2] In these early years, he mainly did covers of songs from artists such as Ed Sheeran, Birdy and Passenger.[3] After experiencing his first heartbreak at 17 years old, LEW started writing his own songs.[4] One of LEW’s songwriting influences is Michael David Rosenberg, the front-man of British band Passenger.[5]


In 2015, LEW appeared in a video (Facebook video) as the lead singer for the SPF band's rendition of ‘One Singapore’.[6] The video went viral and he had been dubbed the 'Singing Cop' at the time. As of May 2019, the video has more than 400,000 views, 9,000 shares and 9,000 likes on Facebook.[7] In the same year, LEW participated in a National Arts Council music programme and was one of six artists to be awarded the Noise Singapore Award. Along with the award, LEW had also received a grant worth S$5,000.[8]


Having been open about his bisexuality, LEW has been featured on Dear Straight People, a local LGBT online publication.[9][10] On the platform, he covered the National Day song ‘Home’ (YouTube video) and appeared in the music video alongside prominent members of the local LGBT community including NORIStar, Alexander Teh, Faliqh and Otto Fong.[11]

YouTube

LEW regularly uploads covers and music videos on his YouTube channel (YouTube channel). As of May 2019, he has more than 400,000 views on his channel which has more than 5,800 subscribers. His most popular videos include ‘LEW - Loved You So (Official Audio)’ (YouTube video) and ‘LEW - Two (Official Music Video)’ (YouTube video) with more than 68,000 views each.[12]

Discography

Albums

 
The album art for 'ENFJ' (2018). Retrieved from Bandcamp.

In 2018, LEW released two albums titled 'There's Something in My Eye' and 'ENFJ'.

Album There's Something in My Eye Duration
1 Real Human Pillow 2:40
2 Frank Ocean Song 2:45
3 Honest 2:40
4 Lauren's Song 3:12
5 A Little Convicted 0:59
6 Short Story Long 3:52
Album ENFJ Duration
1 ENFJ 3:37
2 Treehouse 3:33
3 Pillow Thoughts 4:47
4 Flaws 3:46
5 Mental Storms 3:40
6 We're Not Ordinary 3:27
 
The album art for 'Lullacry' (2017). Retrieved from Bandcamp.

In 2017, LEW released his debut album titled ‘Lullacry’. The album had managed to garner over 2.1 million plays on Spotify with it topping the Singapore iTunes Charts as well. Furthermore, the album was able to rank sixth on the iTunes Charts in China and ninth in Taiwan.[13] According to a 2017 interview with Buro247, the song ‘All I Am’ follows the story of someone who was falling in love with a more complicated person while ‘Wings’ was a testament to the flaws possessed by every individual.[14]

Album Lullacry Duration
1 Prelude 0:46
2 Crazy 3:41
3 Wings 3:29
4 Greed 2:51
5 Reality (ft. Joie Tan) 4:01
6 Boy I Knew 3:25
7 Organs 4:12
8 Loved You So - Lullacry Version 4:08
9 Infection 3:30
10 All I Am 4:59
11 Baby Steps (ft. Joie Tan) 5:38
12 Contract 3:35
13 Pill 4:47

Singles

In 2018, LEW collaborated with Indonesian producer Abram and Singapore singer-songwriter Theodora on the song ‘War in My Brain’.[15] LEW's 2016 single 'Loved You So' ranked ninth on the iTunes Singapore Pop Charts.[16]

Year Title Duration
2018 We’re Not Ordinary 3:27
2018 Flaws 3:46
2018 Lies and Covers (SLAYN) 2:57
2018 Insomnia (Ft. Jajoma) 2:48
2018 Love Is 3:38
2018 War in My Brain (with ABRAM and Theodora) 3:04
2016 Loved You So 4:10
2016 Two 3:26

Performances

Concert / Showcase

Date Festival Organiser Location
5 July 2017 LEW - Lullacry Album Launch[17] - The Annexe Studio, Esplanade, Singapore

Media appearances

Year Partner / Organisation Media appearances
2018 The Smart Lcoal LEW was featured in the fourth episode of TSL Office Jams.[18]
2017 MTV LEW was interviewed as part of MTV’s Bi Visibility Day 2017.[19]
The Straits Times LEW was featured on ST Sessions which features local talents.[20]

Music festivals

Date Festival Organiser Location
4 August 2018 SHINE Festival 2018[21]SHINE Festival is an annual festival held to showcase local talents. National Youth Council OCBC Square Stage, Singapore Sports Hub Singapore
July 2017 SHINE Festival 2017[22] National Youth Council Orchard Road, Singapore
17 December 2016 *Scape The Invasion[23]LEW performed with Singaporean artist Joie Tan. *Scape *Scape The Ground Theatre, Singapore
19 June 2016 The Twenty Something Theatre Festival - Goodman Arts Centre, Singapore
2013 Clockenflap 2013[24]LEW performed a duet with Scottish artist Nina Nesbitt. Magnetic Asia Hong Kong

Others

Date Festival Organiser Location
12 October 2016 Bandwagon Nights[25]The series also featured Singaporean band Sphaeras Bandwagon Hard Rock Cafe, Singapore
2 September 2016 Mosaic Music Weekend[26] Esplanade Esplanade Outdoor Theatre
3 October 2015 Make Some Noise![27]The series featured talents from Noise Singapore’s The Music Mentorship Programme 2015 Esplanade Esplanade Concourse, Singapore

References / Citations

  1. Ho, Olivia. “Singing cop Lewis Loh creates a sensation as Singapore Police Video goes viral”. The Straits Times. August 19, 2015. Accessed on 1 April 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singing-cop-lewis-loh-creates-a-sensation-as-singapore-police-video-goes-viral
  2. Sakshi Kuashik. “ASIAN ED SHEERAN: FALL IN LOVE WITH LEWIS LOH, HONG KONG’S RISING SINGER-SONGWRITING STAR”. Coconuts Singapore. September 18, 2014. Accessed on 1 April 2019. Retrieved from: https://coconuts.co/hongkong/features/asian-ed-sheeran-fall-love-lewis-loh-hong-kongs-rising-singer-songwriting-star
  3. Sakshi Kuashik. “ASIAN ED SHEERAN: FALL IN LOVE WITH LEWIS LOH, HONG KONG’S RISING SINGER-SONGWRITING STAR”. Coconuts Singapore. September 18, 2014. Accessed on 1 April 2019. Retrieved from: https://coconuts.co/hongkong/features/asian-ed-sheeran-fall-love-lewis-loh-hong-kongs-rising-singer-songwriting-star
  4. Foo, Sean. “Out Of The Closet: Lewis Loh aka LEW Shares His Story”. Dear Straight People. September 5, 2017. Accessed on 1 April 2019. Retrieved from:  https://dearstraightpeople.com/2017/09/05/out-of-the-closet-lewis-loh-aka-lew-shares-his-story/
  5. “Artist Spotlight: LEW”. Bakchormeeboy. August 9, 2017. Accessed on 1 April 2019. Retrieved from:  https://bakchormeeboy.com/2017/08/09/artist-spotlight-lew/
  6. Ho, Olivia. “Singing cop Lewis Loh creates a sensation as Singapore Police Video goes viral”. The Straits Times. August 19, 2015. Accessed on 1 April 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singing-cop-lewis-loh-creates-a-sensation-as-singapore-police-video-goes-viral
  7. Singapore Police Force. Facebook. August 9, 2015. Accessed on 21 May 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/singaporepoliceforce/videos/10154180413369408/
  8. Malcolm Mcnicol. “LEW had to turn down The Voice but that didn’t stop him becoming #5 on Spotify’s “Singapore Viral 50s” playlist”. Young Post. July 9, 2017. Accessed on 1 April 2019. Retrieved from: https://yp.scmp.com/entertainment/music/article/106729/lew-had-turn-down-voice-didnt-stop-him-becoming-5-spotify%E2%80%99s-
  9. "Out Of The Closet: Lewis Loh aka LEW Shares His Story". Dear Straight People. September 5, 2017. Accessed on 21 May 2019. Retrieved from: https://dearstraightpeople.com/2017/09/05/out-of-the-closet-lewis-loh-aka-lew-shares-his-story/
  10. Dear Straight People. "12 LGBTQ Singaporeans Share Their Hopes For Singapore". Dear Straight People. August 9, 2017. Accessed on 21 May 2019. Retrieved from: https://dearstraightpeople.com/2017/08/09/12-lgbtq-singaporeans-share-their-hopes-for-singapore/
  11. Dear Straight People. "HOME - LGBT NATIONAL DAY COVER OF KIT CHAN". YouTube. August 6, 2017. Accessed on 21 May 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=188&v=CvhMI8Sm-_Y
  12. “LEW”. SocialBlade. Accessed on 1 April 2019. Retrieved from: https://socialblade.com/youtube/user/nerualsiwel/videos/mostviewed
  13. “Bio”. Lew Loh. Accessed on 1 April 2019. Retrieved from: http://www.lewloh.com/bio
  14. Adibah Isa. “LEW talks us through his new album, Lullacry”. Buro247 Singapore. July 8, 2017. Accessed on 1 April 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.buro247.sg/culture/music/lew-lullacry-album-launch-singapore.html
  15. Surej Singh. “LEW and Theodora collaborate with Indonesian producer Abram for ‘War In My Brain’ - Listen”. Bandwagon. May 25, 2018. Accessed on 1 April 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/lew-and-theodora-collaborate-with-indonesian-producer-abram-for-war-in-my-brain-listen
  16. “Bio”. Lew Loh. Accessed on 1 April 2019. Retrieved from: http://www.lewloh.com/bio
  17. “LEW - Lullacry Album Launch”. Peatix. Accessed on 1 April 2019. Retrieved from: https://lullacry.peatix.com/?lang=en-sg
  18. TheSmartLocal. "TSL Office James | LEW - Flaws". YouTube. August 8, 2018. Accessed on 21 May 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZJZSYZSIvw
  19. Ony Anukem. “BI VISIBILITY DAY 2017 - Q&A WITH LEW’. MTV Staying Alive. August 23, 2017. Accessed on 1 April 2019. Retrieved from: http://www.mtvstayingalive.org/blog/2017/09/bi-visibility-day-2017-qa-with-lew/
  20. Eddino Abdul Hadi. “ST Sessions: Lew mends broken heart with music”. The Straits Times. January 6, 2017. Accessed on 1 April 2019. Retrieved from:  https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/st-sessions-lew-mends-broken-heart-with-music
  21. Gwee, Karen. “More than 30 artists, including Joe Flizzow, Charlie Lim, Tabitha Nauser to perform at SHINE Festival this weekend”. Bandwagon. August 1, 2018. Accessed on 1 April 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/youthx-shine-festival-joe-flizzow-charlie-lim-tabitha-nauser-etc
  22. “Shine Festival 2017 - LEW Performance”. Twitch TV. Accessed on 1 April 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/156512477
  23. Hon, Jing Yi. “Nathan Hartono, Inch Chua to collaborate on stage for the first time at *SCAPE The Invasion Festival”. Today. December 16, 2016. Accessed on 1 April 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/nathan-hartono-inch-chua-collaborate-stage-first-time-scape-invasion-festival
  24. Sakshi Kuashik. “ASIAN ED SHEERAN: FALL IN LOVE WITH LEWIS LOH, HONG KONG’S RISING SINGER-SONGWRITING STAR”. Coconuts Singapore. September 18, 2014. Accessed on 1 April 2019. Retrieved from: https://coconuts.co/hongkong/features/asian-ed-sheeran-fall-love-lewis-loh-hong-kongs-rising-singer-songwriting-star
  25. “LEW and Sphaeras lined up for Bandwagon Nights at Hard Rock Cafe”. Bandwagon. October 9, 2016. Accessed on 1 April 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/lew-and-sphaeras-lined-up-for-bandwagon-nights
  26. “LEW”. Esplanade. Accessed on 1 April 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.esplanade.com/festivals-and-series/mosaic-music-weekend/2016/lew-mmw
  27. “LEW”. Esplanade. Accessed on 1 April 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.esplanade.com/festivals-and-series/noise-singapore/2015/lew