If you’re a fan of Singaporean music, you’ll be happy to hear that you can now enjoy it on your daily commute, thanks to a new collaboration between the National Arts Council (NAC) and SMRT Trains Ltd.

The two organizations signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today, to bring more art and culture to the public transport network. The partnership will feature music, poetry, and busking initiatives that will showcase local talent and enrich the commuting experience for over 3 million passengers across 125 MRT, LRT stations and bus interchanges operated by SMRT.

The highlight of the partnership is the launch of a year-long “I Play SG Music” campaign led by Hear65, a national music movement by NAC and produced by music media company Bandwagon.

The campaign was inspired by a 2021 study by NAC, which showed that Singaporeans became more interested in local music after listening to curated playlists. It hopes to reach wider audiences and make local music more accessible in public spaces.

The playlists will feature a diverse range of original Singaporean music acts, from pop to indie to hip-hop, selected from artists and repertoire under various music labels. The playlists will be curated by Hear65 to suit different moods and times of the day, and will be updated every three months to include new artists and songs.

In addition, the partnership will also introduce other initiatives to liven up your commute. You can expect to hear snippets of poetry and prose in trains as you travel, and be inspired by the beauty of local literature. You can also support buskers with disabilities who will be given accessible platforms to showcase their musical talents at train stations across the island, in collaboration with ART:DIS Singapore.

Are you excited to listen to local tunes on your MRT rides? Or do you prefer silence or your own headphones?