Singapore, 12 October 2025 — The SG:SW I Write The Songs 2025 Finale Concert, co-presented by Composers & Authors Society of Singapore (COMPASS), Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) and Ocean Butterflies Music, ended on a high note last night.
321 audience members were treated to a feast for the ears by the top 10 finalists, and captivating performances by local singer-songwriter and SG:SW I Write The Songs 2025 Ambassador Elton Lee, and Mandopop duo The Freshman.
The ninth edition of the nationwide Mandopop songwriting festival received 250 song entries from 131 participants, and the top 10 finalists featured the youngest line-up in the festival’s history — with the youngest finalist at 15 years old and almost three-quarters of the finalists belonging to Generation Z (aged 28 and below). This promising group of musical talents come from diverse backgrounds ranging from swim coach to electronics designer to archivist.
Earlier in September, the top 24 finalists presented their original works to 23,220 attendees over two days at Bugis+ Atrium – the largest turnout to date for SG:SW’s Live Showcase. They also had the opportunity to attend exclusive masterclasses led by renowned Taiwanese seasoned musicians – lyricist Louise Lou and composer Meilinbear.
At the finale concert, a total of six prestigious award categories were presented following a rigorous judging process of the finalists’ performances. Their compositions spanned across genres such as ballad, jazz, electronic, and rock, showcasing vibrant and diverse musical energy. The judging panel comprised Singapore Cultural Medallion Award recipient Dr Liang Wern Fook, renowned music producer Zennon Goh, acclaimed Taiwanese lyricist Louise Lou, award-winning Taiwanese composer Meilinbear, and Mediacorp personality Zhong Kunhua.
SCCC Chief Executive Officer Alvin Tan said, “Through SG:SW, SCCC seeks to cultivate local budding songwriters, recognise their song-writing efforts, and provide a platform to showcase their songs to a wider audience. Together with SCCC’s other initiatives such as TGIF Music Station and Sing.Lang, SCCC hopes to grow the local Mandarin song-writing scene and add to the vibrancy of the Mandopop scene in Singapore.”
Managing Director of Ocean Butterflies Music Colin Goh added, “As Singapore’s premier platform for original Mandarin music, SG:SW has spent the past nine years discovering and nurturing aspiring local songwriters, laying a foundation for their entry into the industry. This year’s Top 10 finalists, the youngest cohort to date, reflect the vibrant and sustainable songwriting ecosystem we have cultivated. We look forward to more outstanding talent and compelling works that will amplify the voice of Singaporean music worldwide.”
Chief Executive Officer and Director of COMPASS Dr Edmund Lam commented, “Songwriting is the heartbeat of music, and the SG:SW stage is where Singapore’s unique voices shine. For nine years, it has been a launchpad for emerging songwriters, a place where creativity is shared and celebrated. COMPASS is proud to stand with our partners to champion this local talent and fuel the passion of the next generation of music makers.”
Best Song Award and Popularity Award (Public Voting): Let Me Be Lazy
(Photo: Let Me Be Lazy, Melody and Lyrics by Crystal)
16-year-old Crystal clinched the Best Song Award and Popularity Award at this year’s SG:SW with her original song Let Me Be Lazy. Written and composed by her, the song combines a breezy jazz melody with the perspective of today’s youth navigating high-pressure lives—striving for progress while longing for a break. On stage, her lively and playful performance captivated the audience and demonstrated a maturity beyond her age.
Judge Meilinbear commented, “This song breaks away from the typical structure of pop music and was presented like a musical. The performance was natural and this is a very successful piece of composition.”
The Popularity Award is 100% voted by the public. Let Me Be Lazy garnered a total of 354 votes.
Melody (Merit) Award: Uni-Direction
(Photo: Uni-Direction, Melody by Alina Mak and Wong Kay Aik, Lyrics by Lee Jia Min)
A team of three former SG:SW participants won the Melody (Merit) Award with Uni-Direction, a ballad in 6/8 tempo. Built around the belief that “life is a one-way journey,” the song inspires listeners to pursue their dreams with unwavering determination. This message was perfectly embodied by member Alina Mak, who, after nine years of participating in SG:SW and submitting 27 entries, advanced to Finale Concert for the first time and triumphed, exemplifying relentless perseverance in action.
Lyrics (Merit) Award: The Quiet Goodbye
(Photo: The Quiet Goodbye, Melody and Lyrics by Teo Ying Ying)
Inspired by her experience caring for her father with dementia, Teo Ying Ying wrote and performed the poignant song The Quiet Goodbye, which moved the audience at the Finale Concert and earned her the Lyrics (Merit) Award. Told from a first-person perspective, the song expresses the deep emotions and inner struggles of watching memories fade, making it the evening’s most moving piece and leaving a lasting impression on both the judges and the audience.
Best Vocal Performance Award: To: My Dearest Girls
(Photo: To: My Dearest Girls, Singer: Andy Ong, Melody and Lyrics by Daniel Lim Jun Min)
To: My Dearest Girls, written and composed by Daniel Lim, is an upbeat R&B “love letter” celebrating the most important women in life — such as a wife or daughter. Through tender depictions of everyday warmth, the song conveys an unconditional promise of love and protection. With the singer’s heartfelt performance, the sincerity and emotional depth of the song resonated strongly with the judges and won the Best Vocal Performance Award.
Best Performing Band Award: Waiting For You to Realise
(Photo: Waiting For You to Realise performing band, Melody and Lyrics by Loh Jun Ming)
Written and composed by Loh Jun Ming, the heartfelt ballad Waiting For You to Realise delicately portrays the unspoken regrets of a love that slipped away before it could be professed. The singer’s emotive delivery transforms quiet sorrow into layered emotions, while the catchy chorus resonated deeply with the audience — earning the song the Best Performing Band Award.
Download the SG: SW I Write The Songs 2025 media kit here.
About the SG: SW I Write The Songs 2025 Finale Concert
Date: 11 October 2025, Saturday
Time: 7:00PM
Venue: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre Far East Organisation Auditorium, Level 9
Guest Artistes: Elton Lee and The Freshman
Hosts: Gao Mei Gui & Zhu Zeliang (Mediacorp YES 933 DJ)
About 【SG:SW I Write The Songs】
Website: https://sgsw.sg/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/SGSWFest
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sgswfest/
