November 01, 2022
35 for EMCC35 | ShiLi & Adi
In this instalment of our #35forEMCC35 series, we spotlight, ShiLi Yap and Adi Rakhmadian, otherwise known as ShiLi & Adi. The dynamic multilingual singing duo is well-known for being the only local act was invited to join the stellar international line-up of artists at the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix for four consecutive years from 2012 to 2015. Friends for over 19 years, ShiLi and Adi first met in the Victoria Junior College (VJC) Choir, and continued to hone their combined love for singing through NUS Jazz Band, while studying from 2005-2009. They recall how EMCC inspired them to start out as a male-female vocal duo, and provided the platform when they launched their first EP, Berdua, in 2019. They also recount the unforgettable experience of sharing the stage with many NUS luminaries at EMCC’s 30th anniversary concert, First Sparks. Beyond performing, ShiLi is the proud owner of the entertainment company, Merry Bees Live Music, which also manages ShiLi & Adi.
What was your first experience of EMCC?
We started as regular audience members who turned up for the free arts shows on campus. We were not a professional duo yet. We were just enthralled by the wide range of performances that the EMCC could support. We saw that EMCC welcomed performing groups of all sizes, even small bands, and the venue possibilities to do anything were endless.
When did you first perform on the EMCC stage?
ShiLi & Adi held our first ticketed concert in 2016. It took place in UCC and was programmed within the EMCC series. It was our first time headlining a full production in a major venue!
What was the process of staging Our Story like?
We worked closely with two producers from NUS Centre For the Arts (CFA) staff, Jeffrey Tan, and Abram Komara. It was our first experience learning how to put together a full show, complete with lighting, choreography and storyboarding, and Jeffrey and Abram were there to guide, and offer us all the help we needed.
Why did you choose the EMCC platform to launch your EP in 2019?
We knew that the EMCC platform was supportive of local artists and could offer us a platform to do the EP launch. Also, NUS has a special place in our hearts because this is where we first started blossoming as performers, so we wanted people to know where we came from. We chose the UCC Theatre as our launch venue as it held historic significance for us. It was here that we performed regularly with the NUS Jazz Band, and held our first concert Our Story, so you can say that it was our training ground! We felt very emotional during the launch. This was our starting point, and to return years later, as professional performers with an EP to promote, it was a wonderful moment!
The reception was beyond what we expected. NUS community, members of the public, and media came. We received encouragement, and very positive feedback.
You were involved in First Sparks, the EMCC 30th anniversary concert in 2016. What was that experience like?
We were humbled at the opportunity to share the stage with illustrious NUS alumni such as Rani Singam, Jack and Rai, Selena Tan and Pam Oei. They were all veterans in the entertainment scene and we were starstruck by their presence.
CFA wanted us all to collaborate for a finale item. ShiLi & Adi was tasked to lead this item, which involved us getting the group to brainstorm together, selecting a song, getting it arranged, distributing the parts to all performers, and guiding them on the singing.
Though so many of them were established artists, no one behaved like a superstar. They came and performed as one alumni family, and it was the NUS spirit that took centrestage.
What advice do you have for aspiring artists amongst the NUS community?
Know the unique characteristics of your act, and incorporate it in every performance to create a lasting impression. ShiLi & Adi carved a name in the industry by branding ourselves as a male + female harmonic duo.
Have a village that supports your career. It’s a hard path, so you shouldn’t go about it alone. It is important to have support from your family, because family is your closest support system. And always make time for them by planning family commitments ahead of time.
What do you have to say to parents who feel arts is not an important career in Singapore?
EMCC played a big part in normalising arts as a sustainable career choice because of the various EMCC Crew roles you can be a part of.
It’s a common misconception that being in the arts is only about performing on stage. Because of the love for music, ShiLi set up her own company, Merry Bees, which allowed us to take care of all aspects of our music and branding. Today, Merry Bees works with over 20 permanent/freelance staff and crew, and over 40 musicians to manage a variety of entertainment events, including livestream productions during the pandemic.
Looking after a company certainly requires understanding the whole music industry, and we found ourselves applying knowledge we acquired in university such as like marketing, finance, sales, and people management skills and other aspects of the music industry like production and managing people.
What hopes do you have for EMCC Crew or its programming?
We hope EMCC continues to be place for performing arts students to explore their craft, to expose audience to all art forms and to makes art accessible to everyone!
About #35forEMCC35
NUS Centre For the Arts is proud to commemorate 35 years of ExxonMobil Campus Concerts (EMCC) through our #35forEMCC35 series. Spotlighting 35 individuals from past and present editions of EMCC, the series showcases how EMCC has complemented these individuals’ academic and professional lives, and their hopes for EMCC in the years to come.