A majestic call to arms that precedes cross-genre music from Axel Brizzy, Calista Liaw, and Jeremy Wong. They’re ready for war. Are you?
Singaporean Hip-Hop artist Axel Brizzy has joined forces with creative director and Erhu trailblazer Calista Liaw and award-winning Pipa player Jeremy Wong to present ‘WAGING WAR’ — the first single off their upcoming collaborative EP ‘The Art of War II‘.
Produced by Wovensound and Khalif Rawi, this genre-defying anthem delivers a powerful blend of bilingual rap and soul-stirring melodies from the traditional Chinese instruments, the erhu and pipa, as well as slick guitar instrumentation and solo by Wovensound.
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Following the second edition of ‘The Art of War‘ trilogy series directed by Calista Liaw, which draws inspiration from the timeless Chinese philosophies of Sun Tzu, the poignant yet motivating story of ‘WAGING WAR’ is made up of an atmospheric traditional Chinese soundscape fused with heavy Hip-Hop beats.
It captures the very essence of humanity and resonates with anyone who has experienced moments of rage and frustration in life.
The evocative message of the song helps listeners find solace in the realisation that, amidst life’s struggles, one can discover their own legacy through the wisdom of Sun Tzu.
Speaking on the new single, Axel shared that ‘WAGING WAR‘ opens up a new direction for his musical trajectory.
“Firstly, it’s an honour to be able to work with all these talented musicians from vastly different backgrounds. It’s also the first time I’ve ever written in both English and Mandarin and now this single will be my first release of the year,” said Axel.
“With that said, this single definitely holds a special place in my heart. It has been an inspiring journey making it, and I hope it will be received as well as we love them,” he added.
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‘WAGING WAR’ is now available on all major streaming platforms. The rest of the EP ‘The Art of War II’ will be unveiled in two weeks.
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About Axel Brizzy
A dedication to authenticity underlines the work that Axel Brizzy puts out. This Singapore-based artist makes music that’s built upon honest introspection and truthful commentary on the world around him.
Evoking different emotions and moods, he paints a vivid picture of his truth with his words and versatile artistry.
Being the youngest rapper in Singapore to top the local iTunes Hip-Hop charts, he has garnered over 2 million streams across all streaming platforms to date. His biggest single thus far, ‘Thursday’, garnered over a million streams on Spotify and picked up the “Best Song To Sing Along To” award at the inaugural Singapore Youth Music Awards in 2019.
Since his debut in 2017, Axel Brizzy has graced the stages of the Chingay Parade 2023, F1 Singapore Grand Prix, Esplanade, and various music festivals. He has also been featured multiple times in Men’s Folio Singapore and worked with brands such as Adidas, PUMA, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, G-Shock, Rémy Martin, SuperDry, and Ermenegildo Zegna.
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About Calista Liaw
Calista Liaw is a visionary trailblazer in the world of contemporary Chinese music. With a unique blend of tradition and innovation, Calista has achieved critical acclaim for her solo erhu performances and curated music content under the moniker ‘calyourerhupal’.
She has also contributed to Hollywood productions, recorded and exhibited commissioned pieces, and been recognised as one of the 30 under 30 Music Leaders by the Southeast Asian Directors of Music.
Calista is pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Music & Society at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, with a Minor in Southeast Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore.
With her unique artistic vision, passion for innovation, and dedication to her craft, she is a force to be reckoned with in the world of music and the arts.
About Jeremy Wong
An award-winning pipa player and ensemble musician, Jeremy studied under Dr Samuel Wong when he was 14. By the age of 18, Jeremy won the first prize and second prize in the Pipa Youth and Open category of the biennial National Chinese Music Competition respectively, while also clinching third prize at the Asian Youth Music Competition 2007 (Chinese Music).
After graduating from Singapore Polytechnic with a Diploma in Music and Audio Technology, Jeremy went on to attain his Distinction in Diploma for Pipa Performance from NUS. He also took on the role of Principal pipa player for Toa Payoh West Chinese Orchestra from 2007 to 2017, which has won multiple prizes — including first in the National Chinese Music Competition Ensemble Open category.
Since then, he has been featured as a soloist in numerous concerts and events, working with local
organisations such as the Hsing Hai Arts Association Chinese Orchestra and Toa Payoh West Community Chinese Orchestra, among others.
After completing his national service as a musician in the Singapore Armed Forces Music and Drama Company, Jeremy was also featured by Steinway Gallery Singapore at Singapore Men’s Fashion Week 2012 alongside local pianists. In 2013, Jeremy was invited to perform with the Orchestre Symphonique De Bretagne in France to high acclaim.
Never one to settle for the status quo, Jeremy collaborated with Samuel and formed The Pipa Quartet in 2013, and developed the world’s first electro-acoustic pipa. Following the Quartet’s performances in Thailand and Kuala Lumpur, Jeremy began coaching at various Chinese Orchestras such as Hong Wen School, Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road), and Elias Park Primary School.
Subsequently, in 2017, Jeremy combined his love for music with a growing passion for music education through his work at the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra. He continues to perform as a pipa musician with the TENG Ensemble and TENG Gives Back, and currently leads the marketing team at The TENG Company.
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