Singapore, 4 October 2026 — The 10th anniversary edition of local Mandarin songwriting festival SG:SW I Write The Songs concluded on a high note at its Finale Concert last night where the top 10 finalists performed their original compositions to a panel of esteemed judges and close to 350 audience members. The Finale Concert opened on a celebratory note with a special performance featuring 10 representatives from past editions of the songwriting festival who sang the festival theme song.
The milestone marked a decade-long effort for SG:SW I Write The Songs to discover, nurture and showcase the next generation of Mandopop songwriters in Singapore. Co-organised by Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC), Ocean Butterflies Music and the Composers & Authors Society of Singapore (COMPASS), the festival continues to support homegrown talents in Mandopop songwriting through mentorship and the provision of platforms for them to showcase their compositions.
This year’s festival received 239 song entries from 223 participants. Organisers also specially introduced a new team-based format, led by local singer-songwriters and SG:SW ambassadors Yokez (叶玉棂) and Ben Hum (范平庚) who each mentored 12 finalists throughout the four-month festival journey, providing guidance on songwriting, arrangement and stage presentation. They also made guest appearances at the Finale Concert, putting up energetic performances and sharing their songwriting tips.
Earlier in August, the top 24 finalists presented their original works to 23,240 attendees over two days at Bugis+ Atrium – the largest turnout to date for SG:SW’s Live Showcase. The top 10 finalists had the opportunity to participate in a Songwriting Camp which was held for the first time, receiving training through workshops and a masterclass conducted by Mandopop songwriter-producer Real (阿沁) and acclaimed Mandopop songwriter Tina Wang (王雅君) as they prepared for the Finale Concert. The youngest of top 10 finalists is only 16 years old, reflecting the festival’s success in attracting young songwriters.
At the Finale Concert, a total of six prestigious awards were presented following a rigorous judging process of the finalists’ compositions which spanned across genres such as city pop, R&B, oriental, and ballad, reflecting the depth and diversity of musical talents. The judging panel comprised Singapore Cultural Medallion and Singapore Chinese Cultural Contribution Award recipient Dr Liang Wern Fook, renowned Music Producer Zennon Goh, Mandopop songwriter-producer Real, esteemed Mandopop songwriter Tina Wang and Mediacorp Personality Zhong Kunhua.
SCCC Chief Executive Officer Alvin Tan said, “With SG:SW, SCCC is working with industry partners such as Ocean Butterflies Music and COMPASS to identify promising local songwriters and provide a platform to showcase their compositions to a wider audience. In doing so, we hope to strengthen the pipeline of local Mandopop talents and contribute to the sustainability of the Mandopop scene in Singapore.”
Ocean Butterflies Music Managing Director Colin Goh added, “For a decade, SG:SW has nurtured a new generation of local songwriters, giving promising newcomers a stage to grow and be heard. Their spirit of “daring to write, sing and be different” brings the fresh energy and voice that Mandopop needs.”
COMPASS Chief Executive Officer and Director Dr Edmund Lam commented, “Over the past 10 years, we are fortunate to witness the growth of the Mandarin songwriting scene in Singapore. We hope SG:SW will continue to provide a platform for the younger generation of songwriters to push boundaries and stay true to themselves.”
Best Song Award: All Is Well
(Photo: All Is Well, Melody and Lyrics by Clavin Cher)
A recipient of the Lyrics (Merit) Award at SG:SW 2023, Clavin Cher returned for his third SG:SW this year and clinched the Best Song Award with All Is Well. The judges praised the young songwriter for tackling such a profound social theme, complemented by a powerful dark rock arrangement that heightens the song’s intensity and impact. Set against a world in turmoil, All Is Well reflects on the cruelty and chaos of our times while urging us to face adversity with love — for as long as love remains, there is always hope for a new beginning.
Melody (Merit) Award: Falling For You
(Photo: Falling For You, Melody by Wong Yijuin and Kenta, Lyrics by Wong Yijuin)
After four years of participating in SG:SW, Wong Yijuin finally secured a spot in the top 10 finalists with her upbeat, electronic-infused confession song Falling For You, and went on to win over the judges to clinch the Melody (Merit) Award. Written by Wong and co-composed with her close friend Kenta, Falling For You is a sweet, electronic-infused love song that captures the excitement and tentative feelings of falling in love, while reminding us that not every romance has a fairytale ending — but every love story is worth living.
Lyrics (Merit) Award and Popularity Award (Public Voting): Spot
(Photo: Spot, Melody by Ho Mei Xuan, Lyrics by Anne Chua)
The youngest duo at this year’s SG:SW — Anne Chua, the youngest lyricist, and Ho Mei Xuan, a double-award winner at SG:SW 2024 — won the Lyrics (Merit) Award with their new-age composition Spot. Spot captures fleeting yet precious moments, hoping each listen helps us cherish the present and fall a little more in love with the life we’re living. Ho’s infectious performance drew cheers from a 50-member support group and moved the judges, showcasing Gen Z’s confident stage presence. The duo also won the Popularity Award with a high vote count of 1470 — an award Ho had already claimed in 2024. The Popularity Award is 100% voted by the public.
Best Vocal Performance Award: Demolished
(Photo: Demolished, Melody by Edmund Ng, Lyrics by Lee Jia Min, Performed by Janelle Chen)
Having first crossed paths at SG:SW 2020, lyricist Lee Jia Min and composer Edmund Ng have since forged a dynamic songwriting partnership. Returning for their fourth SG:SW, the duo once again drew on their distinctive chemistry to create Demolished, earning strong acclaim from the judges and clinching the Best Vocal Performance Award. They previously received the Lyrics (Merit) Award in 2022 for their collaboration Would You Stay. A poignant reflection on growth and parting, Demolished explores the irreversible changes within a relationship, capturing the bittersweet struggle of letting go despite the lingering sense of reluctance.
Best Performing Band Award: Inked in Time
(Photo: Inked in Time, Melody by Gresilda Tan, Lyrics by Ang Min Jia)
The sole Oriental Pop offering among the top 10 finalists, Inked in Time transported audiences at the finale concert into the evocative world of a period drama, brought to life through live guzheng and flute performances. A collaboration between two past SG:SW award winners, the song captivated the judges and earned the Best Performing Band Award. Lyricist Ang Min Jia and composer Gresilda Tan draw on the art of painting as a metaphor for longing and waiting. Time becomes the colour that layers the painting, while reunion is simply a return to the very first stroke.
Download the SG: SW I Write The Songs 2026 media kit here.
About the SG:SW I Write The Songs 2026 Finale Concert
Date: 3 October 2026, Saturday
Time: 7:00PM
Venue: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre Far East Organisation Auditorium, Level 9
Guest Artistes: Yokez & Ben Hum
Hosts: Gao Mei Gui & Zhu Zeliang (Mediacorp Personality)
About 【SG:SW I Write The Songs】
Website: https://sgsw.sg/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/SGSWFest
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sgswfest/
