His song tops iTunes for 3 days

The past year saw a handful of local acts scale new heights with their music.

We are talking about Singaporean musicians - such as rapper Shigga Shay and Mandopop singer Derrick Hoh - who grabbed top spot on local iTunes charts with their songs or albums.

The most recent artist to achieve this feat is singer-songwriter Gentle Bones.

The 19-year-old full-time national serviceman, whose real name is Joel Tan, scored a No. 1 with his debut single Until We Die.

According to Tan, the song, which was released last month, stayed at the top of the chart for three days. It was ahead of Disney tune Let It Go, off the Frozen movie soundtrack.

Tan, who expects to release his next single and debut album later this year, said it was "very encouraging" for him.

iTunes chart positions are based on sales through the iTunes store. Acts who have made it to the top have used different strategies - quirky marketing and social media hype - to get their music noticed.

On why his single did well, Tan said: "It has a lot to do with everything. But if I had to pinpoint a factor, I'd say it's because Until We Die is immediately relatable to the audience. It speaks of being free and (of) something everybody can connect to."

He said it will take a few months before he receives the sales figures for his track from Apple.

No pressure

His musical style calls to mind comparisons to English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, most notable for hits Lego House and The A Team, and more recently for I See Fire, off The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug movie soundtrack.

Tan picked up the guitar and songwriting at the age of 16, and has gone on to perform at the Noise Festival in 2011 and Mosaic Music Festival in 2012.

He said his upcoming single will have the same vibe as Until We Die.

But for him, there is no pressure to make sure that it rises to No. 1 as well.

"I just want my music to be the best that it can be," he said.

Other Singaporean acts are also likely to attain the No. 1 spot on the local iTunes chart in the coming year, said industry experts that The New Paper spoke to.

They credit this growing trend to easier access to music and changing music consumption patterns.

Founder of artist management agency and record label Riot! Records Mike See, 36, said that engaging the audience and building a relationship also helps, as in the case of indie-rockers The Great Spy Experiment with their album Litmus.

The band, managed by Riot! Records, had a dedicated website for the album, with videos for each of the tracks.

"It is encouraging to see that local artists can now top charts, and it also indicates an increased consumption of local music," he said.

Mr Dex Wong, 34, owner of music events company The Linch Agency - which manages pop-rock act The Summer State and bookings for Gentle Bones - said the trend reflects well on the quality of music by local acts.

"Singaporean artists are starting to understand the standards of music for the masses," he said.

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