The unassuming Gordon Lee picks up his harmonica and bam—he's a different person altogether. The award-winning harmonica player from Hong Kong stepped into our cargo lift to lift our spirits with a rousing and captivating rendition of Amazing Grace. He was here for a performance with the Lorong Boys at Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts 2023.

Video: Made by Identity
Audio: Edwin Wee Music

Stuff 500 metres of fairy lights into a cargo lift with The King's Singers and you get a sight and sounds to behold. Lit in the glow of our makeshift festive box, the celebrated choral group brought their magic to our cargo lift, ringing in the holiday season with enchanting renditions of Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day and The Christmas Song. The group was in Singapore for Voices –  A Festival of Song 2022, which took place from 1 – 4 Dec 2022.

Where was Charlie? In our cargo lift, it turns out. The beloved singer-songwriter showed us exactly how he won over his fans with song excerpts from each of his critically acclaimed records: EP (2011), TIME/SPACE (2015) and CHECK-HOOK (2018). 

Listen to Charlie Lim, Yung Raja, weish and Ruth Ling ruminate on homegrown pop's future possibilities in the podcast episode, PopLore #7: The Future of Singapore Pop.

Video: Made by Identity
Audio: Edwin Wee Music

It’s a voice that stops you in your tracks: Compared to the likes of Billie Holiday, jazz singer Lucy Yeghiazaryan expresses emotions with an ease and grace that’s hard to find. Accompanied by guitarist Greg Ruggiero, Lucy warmed up our chilly cargo lift while she was here for the inaugural festival edition of Jazz in July (2022).

Video: Made by Identity
Audio: Andrew Lim

There is something innately powerful and moving in the voice of Ustad Anwar Khan Manganiyar—Just ask the audiences who gave him and his musicians standing ovations at every performance at A Tapestry of Sacred Music, held in March 2022.

Seated on a plush carpet in our cargo lift, these seasoned musicians swung into action with ease, presenting a rousing rendition of Payoji Maine Ram Ratan Dhan Payo, a bhajan (devotional song) by Bhakti saint Mirabai.

Special thanks to Lotto Carpets Gallery for the loan of the carpet.

Video: Melvin Wong
Audio: Andrew Lim

There was a palpable sense of excitement when Chinese pianist Zee Zee stepped foot into Esplanade—after all, she was one of the first few international artists back at the centre after a little over two years. The virtuoso was exuberant and outspoken, excited by the novelty of performing in a cargo lift. 

Yet, her mood noticeably shifted the moment the lights went down. Intensely focused, she presented Maurice Ravel’s Gaspard de la nuit, I. Ondine with equal parts dramatic force and nuanced expressions. She later presented the full work on the Concert Hall stage as part of her performances on 23 and 24 Jan for Esplanade’s Classics.

Video and audio: Made by Identity.