By Sophie Sim (27S05A)
24 FEB 3:23PM: An unexpected guest had made a splashy entrance at our Biodiversity Pond: An otter.
A real, whiskered, fish-in-mouth otter.
Nothing stood between it and an evening buffet of all the fattest koi our school had to offer. It was otter-ly villainous, chasing the fish playfully before grabbing an unfortunate koi in its paws and, rather unceremoniously, tearing off its head.
By Tomi Peh (26S06P)
“Separating the art from the artist” is a famous moral dilemma that has long been the topic of debate when casting judgement on art. It presents itself so commonly and is so entwined in the way we view art in fact, even in the process of writing this article, a fresh, prime example of this dilemma seemingly materialised out of nowhere – popular music artist, David Anthony Burke.
David Anthony Burke, better known by his stage name ‘d4vd‘, is a well-acclaimed alternative/indie pop artist, rising to fame around July of 2022 with his song titled “Romantic Homicide”, which currently sits at around 1.7 billion streams on Spotify.
Controversy struck, when the deceased body of 15 year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez was found in the trunk of David’s car. It didn’t take long for bits and pieces of evidence of a relation between David and Celeste to begin surfacing on the internet, which prompted a multitude of different accusations upon David, including serious allegations of murder and having an illicit relationship with the 15 year-old. Many fans now view him in a completely different light— the thought that the music they were listening to might be in reference to the now-deceased Celeste lingers in the back of their minds.
But this is not the first time a popular music artist has come under fire from the masses due to their actions.
Continue reading “Separating the Art from the Artist”
By Nithilan Balachander (26A01C)
At about noon on 19 August 2025, long-time cinephiles, arts scene enthusiasts, and performative (fe)males alike started discovering, devastatingly, that The Projector was closing down. Actually, it wasn’t even “closing down”— it already had, they were just announcing it. The only cinema in Singapore dedicated to indie film was in so much debt that it had to enter liquidation, and had to do it so suddenly that it could not even announce it in advance.
On 12 January 2026, the Straits Times reported that a new cinema called “Filmhouse” was to take over the space, and on 3 February 2026, Filmhouse started screenings, retaining many of the personnel and a lot of the interior furnishings from The Projector. Everyone rejoiced, some reposted the Straits Times/Mothership/CNA Instagram post, and a few even went to watch a movie or two…
But, wait. That’s really all it took? 5 months and 15 days, and indie cinema in Singapore was saved?
Continue reading “Filmhouse, The Projector, and the Struggle of Staying Indie”
By Gladys Koh (26A01B)
Alysa smiles as she glides across the ice, and already, something feels different.
From the first note, her performance brims with joy. Skating to the vibrant, disco beat of Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park Suite”, Alysa casts her hands in the air, surrendering to the music’s rhythm and flow. Every trail of her arm, every spin, every leap carries her above the world’s greatest stage. Alysa quickly becomes emotion unbound. And as the music builds into a sprightly, anthemic crescendo, she hurls herself into a triple loop.
It is clean.
The crowd erupts.
Alysa grins.
Continue reading “Alysa Liu: What Victory Should Look Like”
By: Gladys Koh (26A01B)
“We Ain’t Ever Getting Older”
Now playing: Closer – The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey
Palm trees are swaying. The sky is a vibrant purple-pink. The Chainsmokers’ latest hit crackles through the radio.
You have just entered Primary School. You and your friends sit in a circle, making Rainbow Looms. Fidget spinners lay beside. A parent heads over to take a picture for your group, and all of you dab simultaneously without saying a word.
Continue reading “Why is 2016 Back?”