Coming Back to the Heart
Writer: Melissa Lim

Songwriters Showcase 5 by CSMusic
Date: Friday, 24 October 2008

Time: 7:30pm
Venue: Acts Centre

I was very excited when Dawn, my literature teacher (and editor of Createlevoyage), said she was sending me to CSMusic's Songwriters Showcase 5 as a writer. Having never attended a gig, I wasn't too sure what to expect. And since it was a Christian event, I was even more excited.

Despite the horrendous traffic along South Bridge Road, I managed to reach China Square central on the dot. Contrary to my pre-gig-scene idea of people hanging around and busily conversing with drinks in their hands, I found myself entering a Christian store with a sign that read, "No drinks and food allowed". For a brief moment, I thought I had gotten the venue wrong. Holding a gig in a mall seemed a tad unconventional. Nevertheless, I found a seat in the awkwardly still-empty hall and caught a few breaths before heading out to familiarise myself.

People only started streaming into the hall at past 8pm. I wondered if gigs are meant to start late! Finally, Reverend Ng Koon Seng took the mic and kicked off the event by leading us in partaking of the Holy Communion. This ritual was done in a traditional manner and interestingly, lasted about half an hour.

Tee Suwit L and his partner Justin took the stage soon after this. Tee, who hails from Thailand, shared testimonies in the intervals between his songs. He shared that though he once persecuted Christians, he has since found direction, purpose and love in God. He had been deeply moved by Luke 15 and that that passage of scripture had changed him into who he is today-- a missionary. God indeed works in mysterious ways!

I particularly liked the last song of Tee's set, Here I Am, Send Me. Not only was it the song I related to most strongly that night, it was also the one during which he asked the audience to stand up and engage the Holy Spirit. "It's not about a show, gig or whatsoever, but about worshipping God," Tee said before he started strumming his guitar. I could instantly feel God's presence lingering subtly as we worshipped. I was left tingling by another of the unforgettable lines he uttered that evening: "I have nothing to pay back, nothing to offer but praise and worship, and I offer my life to Him."

While Tee displayed his gifts in writing worship songs, there is no doubt that Isaac Teo, a home-grown songwriter, took us to another realm and level of revelation. He brought us (specifically, me) to a new perspective of Christian music. Using beautiful melodies and the exploration of the different vocal variations, he fully utilised all that he had in hand-- a mini installed audio-control in his laptop-- and presented three short but certainly enchanting pieces. His lyrics were like poems, and accompanied with the lush ambience of his music, resonated within us. He sort of reminded me of the American soft rock musician Jack Johnson. Say what you will about solo musicians; Isaac awed his audience and earned himself appreciative applause and cheers.

Despite the slow start, the night definitely ended well and everyone pretty much went home satisfied. And me? Before I knew it, I was at Newton Food Centre sipping a cup of delicious teh tarik and chewing on roti prata. And I had the privilege of sitting diagonally across from Isaac and an eccentric but lovely new friend, the visual artist Donna Ong!