By Jane Ng (25S03D), M.B. Dharshni (25S03O) and Teo Hui Sian (25S06C)
Special thanks to Betty Ding (25A01B) and Isaac Chan (25A01B)
All photographs courtesy of Li Houzhe (25A01A) (not affiliated with RPS)
To most, a cappella music often comes across as an intimidating art—one that only cultured musicians can fully appreciate. However, we can say, without a doubt, that the vivacity and musicality of Din and Tonics’ recent performance at RI was enjoyed by all.
From the heart rendering melodies of The Girl from Ipanema or Fly, to the more goofy tunes of Duetto Buffo di Due Gatti, the sincerity of the Dins’ passion for music certainly shines through.
Textbook-perfect renditions of old time classics are a definite marvel. However, the Dins’ distinct ability to let loose and have fun on stage, whilst still maintaining that high standard of performance and continuing old traditions from the age-old institution, is what sets them apart from others.
For such a brilliant showcase, it’s easy to forget that the Dins are actually (somewhat) similar to us Rafflesians in the audience. After all, they too are students – leading a busy life of academia, performing with their ‘CCAs’, dressed in their own unique ‘uniform’.
Still, apart from basic inferences, we don’t know much about these wonderful performers as individuals. Simon Ma, our very own RI alumnus, may be the one we’re most familiar with out of the bunch.
“It’s almost like I never left,” Simon tells us. Interestingly enough, Simon’s time in RI wasn’t spent in Raffles Chorale or Voices (Y14’s Choir CCA).
Instead, his interest in a cappella sprouted from watching Harvard a cappella performances on Youtube, which eventually prompted him to audition for 5 such groups when he entered the university. Why did he choose the Din & Tonics? Well, he “got shortlisted to only 1 group”. It seems fate does have its way of bringing us exactly where we’re meant to be.
As one might expect, getting to the Dins’ standard wasn’t exactly a walk in the park, especially for someone who didn’t have prior a cappella experience. Fortunately, he had his fellow Dins to rely on. Among others, the Dins’ music director, Carolyn Hao, was a major pillar of support, as she would “host 1-on-1 sessions with us”.
Now, as the music director of the Dins, Carolyn has the herculean task of maintaining the standard of singing and arranging songs for performances. She lets us into the secret behind the former – “creating an inclusive environment” and recognising that “everyone can bring in something really, really amazing musically”, something that their performances exemplify.
In a similar vein, Carolyn tells us, “Finding songs where [the Dins] could contribute our [their] own unique interpretation is really important”.
“Their love for music made me realise that music doesn’t always have to be 100% perfect. [It’s] the small flaws and the small things [that] help make us, us.”
Caroyln Hao, 26’ Music Director
There’s another face we – and our ‘for you’ pages – might be familiar with. For Elio Kennedy-Yoon, the TikTok-fueled limelight has been particularly bright. Reflecting on the sudden surge in popularity, Elio humbly remarked, “It’s easy to forget that I’m just a guy, you know I’m just a regular person … but it’s very flattering.”
Elio, too, didn’t start singing until university. A fan of Jazz from the beginning, Elio’s choice to join the Dins ultimately boiled down to two factors: the music and the people. He recalls being “overwhelmed by how kind and warm and welcoming the Dins were”.
Now a member of that family himself, he adds that his TikTok virality has one special highlight – “The support for the Dins has been really lovely, and I’m really glad to see the rest of the Dins get the recognition that they deserve.”
Undoubtedly, the Dins’ fame stretches far beyond social media, evident from their recent international tour’s success. Since their opening stop in June in Copenhagen, they’d travelled around the world for seven weeks, taking them from London to Budapest to Manila, before they finally touched down in our little red dot.
To some, being on a seemingly perpetual trip with eleven other people may sound like a nightmare. To others, it may be a dream come true. The latter seems to be the case for the Din and Tonics. “Going into it, we treated each other like family. It’s amazing to have somebody to lean on, and somehow despite the amount of time we spend together, we still get along well as a group.”
For sure, the group chat will be making it out of this one, and stronger too.
Punctuated with memories, new inside jokes and “new ways of roasting each other”, it may seem like the Dins’ tour has been nothing but fun. Notwithstanding, “extremely chaotic” is another adjective Simon would use to describe the experience. “At some stops, you may not know where you stay for the night.” This uncertainty is arguably where the family dynamic shines the brightest—“the Dins look out for each other”.
Thankfully, Singapore is quote–unquote “one of the most well planned stops”. Their dynamic is evident even in their stop at our Bishan campus. “I was definitely most excited to see the old stomping grounds of Jay Hong and Simon. We love them so much, and it was so insightful to see the environment in which they grew up.”
While their experiences might seem more characteristic of a backpacking trip with friends, the Dins never forget the more serious side of the tour. As Elio aptly puts it, “We do have to sort of lock in sometimes and be professional”. Nevertheless, it certainly never takes away from the enjoyability of their performances.
“We take our music seriously, but we don’t take ourselves seriously.”
Simon Ma
Striking a perfect balance between entertainment and artistry; the Dins’ have mastered the art of not just being singers, but also performers who fill the entire show with light-hearted banter and funny quips, showcasing their camaraderie not only as a group, but also as tight-knit friends. “It’s the tight harmonies, it’s the tightness as a group, and we create this unique sound.” [Carolyn]
When asked what she would like to tell her fellow bandmates, Carolyn says:
“I feel very very lucky that my college experience and my first couple years in college were shaped by this group.”
The most taxing part of the tour, physically, might have been the 13 hour transit in a subway car from Zurich to Budapest. But, as Simon puts it, “[The] worst part of the tour is saying goodbye.”
Though their concert in RI lies towards the tail end of their tour, we have a feeling that the unique bonds the Din and Tonics have won’t dissolve at their Singapore stop, nor their subsequent stints in Kuala Lumpur, or even their World Tour finale in Sydney. In fact, we’re sure that their kinship will go beyond even their time in the Dins, and Harvard. That’s evident from the way their energy seeps into the hearts of the audience as they sing, made from the very same special sauce they sing of in McDonald’s Girl.