“When I got the call to perform at the National Day Parade this year, I immediately texted my parents and just had a moment of freaking out. I was so grateful and thrilled. This is a bucket list performance for me,” says 23-year-old Shazza. The rising musician is one to watch this year, what with her debut album racking up over two million listens, a shoutout from Coldplay’s Chris Martin and—no biggie—a feature on a billboard at Times Square in New York City.
Despite her rising global stardom, Shazza’s identity is firmly rooted to Singapore. “I love Singapore, so it just felt like a natural thing to want to be a part of our biggest celebration here. The ultimate dream for me as a singer-songwriter is to get to write the official National Day song, and I’ll keep working hard to earn that honour one day,” she says.
This year’s performance is even more special for the singer as she is singing in Tamil. “I’m not fluent in Tamil but this felt like a wonderful way to pay homage to my heritage as an Indian-Muslim. Preparing for this song was a journey in itself. My dad, who is fluent in Tamil, helped me practise my pronunciation and even came to the recording with me to ensure that I nailed the song. I wanted to do it justice and I couldn’t have done that without him,” she shares sweetly.
Here, the singer takes us behind the scenes of NDP 2024—sharing her intimate digital camera snaps captured over the course of weeks of rehearsal leading up to the big performance.
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Growing up, did you enjoy attending or watching NDP?
I have always loved watching NDP with my family at home. My favourite part has always been the music, especially the official songs. I look forward to hearing the official song every year. In all honesty, I have to say that this year’s song—’Not Alone’ by Benjamin Kheng— is my absolute favourite so far. I promise it’s not just because I’m a part of the celebrations this year. It’s a fantastic piece of work and I’m so lucky I get to watch it live every week at rehearsal.
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Being a featured performer at NDP also often means stepping into a role of national representation. What does this mean to you?
Representation has always been something I’ve prioritised in my journey as a musician. I know that I represent multiple minority groups here and I see that as a huge honour. I want to uplift people, especially those who see parts of themselves in me, because I know firsthand how much of a difference it can make to see yourself represented. Everyone deserves to feel that way, and I hope my involvement in NDP will somehow bring that feeling to as many people as possible.
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Tell us about the item you are performing. What is special about it for you, and what are you most looking forward to on the actual day?
I am performing in Chapter 4, which focuses on Singapore’s food culture, as well as the finale. The music behind this segment is absolutely insane. Bang Wenfu, this year’s music director, did an incredible job with the songs and it is nothing short of an honour to perform his work every week. This segment is also ultra-special to me because I’m performing a Tamil song for the very first time. I’m singing a duet with NDP host Ebi Shankara, and the song is a beautiful Tamil classic titled ‘Andru Vanthathum’.
I’m not fluent in Tamil and I’ve never actually performed a Tamil song publicly but this felt like a wonderful way to pay homage to my heritage as an Indian-Muslim. I also wanted to do it for my grandparents, who I know are very fond of this song, and who don’t get to hear me singing in Tamil often. I’m also looking forward to the Fried Rice Paradise part of Chapter 4. It’s some of the most fun I’ve ever had as a performer, and I think the audiences will really love it too.
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How has your personal relationship with your Singaporean identity evolved over the years?
I love this question. As I’ve grown older, Singapore has increasingly meant more and more to me. My parents have always taught me that it starts at home, and I’ve held on to that over the years. For all the exploring and growing that I fully intend to do beyond our borders, Singapore will always be home. National Day is my yearly reminder that my country is growing alongside me, and that she will always ground me.
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After it’s all over, what will be some of your fondest memories from your journey to NDP?
I’m genuinely going to miss doing this every week. My fondest memories will be the friends I’ve made along the way, the makeup process (the artistry goes crazy), the long walks from the holding area to the Padang, and just being able to be a part of it all. I’ve been so lucky, and I’m going to miss it all. I really hope I get to do this all over again one day.
