Riffs of Duty: Music in the Heart of National Service

How do NSFs stay connected to their passions?

Elias performing at the Home Team Festival 2023.

Imagine a young National Serviceman (NSF) swapping his firefighting suit for an electric guitar after a gruelling 24-hour shift. From battling blazes to the strumming of strings, Elias’ National Service journey was anything but ordinary.

A Lifelong Devotion to Music

Music has always been central to Elias’ life. Inspired by a plethora of rock artists, he picked up the guitar during a music programme in secondary school, and from that moment on, he never looked back. Elias even formed a band with four of his friends, honing his skills on stage at various school events.

Reflecting on his biggest influences growing up, Elias mentioned progressive metal band Dream Theater, K-pop band CNBlue, Taiwanese rock band Mayday, and the countless guitarists who share their work on YouTube.

“[Watching] guitarists on YouTube… that’s how I learnt all the shredding and fancy stuff. It’s where I got the inspiration to further develop my skills,” he shared, emphasising how he emulated the styles of these musicians to sharpen his own technique.

Finding His Place in MPAC

After completing his GCE ‘A’ Level examinations, Elias enlisted as a full-time NSF in the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). He eventually joined the Special Response Unit, a specialised unit tasked with conducting Mass Decontamination and Fire Rescue Operations among other critical duties.

While Elias found fulfilment in his SCDF posting, he noticed something was missing. His school band had been on a hiatus due to conflicting schedules amidst the members entering different National Service vocations. Yearning to play in a band again, his encik suggested that he audition for the SCDF’s Music and Performing Arts Club (MPAC).

Founded in 2002, MPAC is a revamped version of the SCDF Combo Band, consisting of a group of 30 to 40 NSmen and NSFs who come together to perform at SCDF corporate events and ceremonies. Elias joined the club towards the end of his SCDF stint.

A Standout Performance at the Home Team Festival

Throughout his time in MPAC, Elias performed at several events. One standout moment was the Home Team Festival held at the Singapore Expo in November 2023, where he, together with his band, covered classics like ‘Still Got the Blues’ by Gary Moore and ‘Yellow’ by Coldplay.

Performing for a crowd of 200 was an exciting and surreal experience for Elias, especially since his friends, family, and former NS subordinates took the time to support him.

“The audience interaction was great, [they were] very vocal… it felt like I was performing for a real audience.”

Of course, every pursuit comes with its challenges. For Elias, the long commute to the MPAC studio was sometimes tiring. Nevertheless, his bandmates’ shared love for music and performing kept him motivated. Having an outlet to play music also served as an invaluable source of stress relief.

New Chapter, Same Passion

Even though Elias has completed his National Service and is now embarking on his undergraduate studies at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), he remains connected with MPAC and continues to play with the band.

Looking ahead, Elias hopes that MPAC will expand its presence and perform at larger-scale events in the future.

When asked what advice he would give to aspiring musicians in Singapore, Elias offered a simple yet profound insight: “We often underestimate how big [of a] music scene and community there is in Singapore. Don’t wait until you’re perfect — just go out there and do something!”