Synopsis (headphones recommended): Each month, The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio.
Podcaster: Eddino Abdul Hadi
Produced and recorded by: ST Podcasts & Studio+65
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.
S1E18: How a viral song made Singaporean singer Regina Song famous
Hear from home-grown singer Regina Song, one of the most streamed Singapore artistes in the past year.
Synopsis: Synopsis (headphones recommended): The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio.
In this special episode of Music Lab, ST’s music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts Regina Song, one of the most streamed Singapore artistes in the past year.
The 21-year-old first encountered fame when her 2024 song, The Cutest Pair, went viral on TikTok.
A song from her debut album Fangirl, it has since garnered 54 million streams on Spotify alone.
But as she discusses in the podcast interview, the singer wants to be more than just a one-hit wonder. She has been working on new songs and performed two of her newest tunes, Before I Leave and Midsummer Mansion, live on the podcast.
In the interview, Song talks about her relationship with social media and how it plays a huge role in how she operates as an artiste.
She also discusses the challenges of being a full-time music musician in Singapore, including the lack of a structured system for rising artistes.
This episode was recorded and filmed in front of a live audience of some 90 ST readers on October 7 at Esplanade Annexe Studio, as part of the ST Podcast Live! Sessions celebrating 180 years of The Straits Times in 2025.
Highlights (click/tap above):
10:23 How an old laptop and piano lessons set her on the path to music
17:30 On how The Cutest Pair made her one of the most streamed Singaporean artistes
23:13 The pros and cons of social media for a singer
28:46 Revealing personal details in confessional lyrics
33:03 The lack of a structured system for rising artistes in Singapore
38:04 A desire to headline bigger festivals and help other musicians pursue their dreams
Watch the full performance and podcast on YouTube: https://str.sg/JdzuV (https://str.sg/JdzuV)
Listen to Regina Song’s live performance of Before I Leave & Midsummer Mansion here: https://str.sg/MbDc (https://str.sg/MbDc)
Discover home-grown artiste Regina Song at:
YouTube: https://str.sg/ieaZ (https://str.sg/ieaZ)
Spotify: https://str.sg/o2WPs (https://str.sg/o2WPs)
Instagram: https://str.sg/9PLo (https://str.sg/9PLo)
Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa (https://str.sg/wFVa)
Host: Eddino Abdul Hadi (dinohadi@sph.com.sg (mailto:dinohadi@sph.com.sg))
Produced by: ST Podcast Team & ST Outreach & Engagement Team
Edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong
Discover previous artistes' live performances featured on Music Lab Podcast:
Channel: https://str.sg/7m92 (https://str.sg/7m92)
Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB (https://str.sg/w9TB)
Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6 (https://str.sg/w9T6)
Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg (mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg)
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 (https://str.sg/wvz7)
ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts (http://str.sg/stpodcasts)
The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa (https://str.sg/4Vwsa)
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB (https://str.sg/icyB)
Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX (https://str.sg/icyX)
--
#musiclab
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
28 Oct 2025
S1E18: Regina Song - Before i leave & Midsummer mansion (Live)
Hear from home-grown singer Regina Song, one of the most streamed Singapore artistes in the past year.
Synopsis (headphones recommended): This Music Lab playlist features the full live performance of music acts invited by The Straits Times to its podcast studio.
Listen to Regina Song talk about her musical journey in the full audio-only podcast here: https://str.sg/fsHh (https://str.sg/fsHh)
Discover home-grown artiste Regina Song at:
YouTube: https://str.sg/ieaZ (https://str.sg/ieaZ)
Spotify: https://str.sg/o2WPs (https://str.sg/o2WPs)
Instagram: https://str.sg/htdW (https://str.sg/htdW) (https://str.sg/DSEN)
Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa (https://str.sg/wFVa)
Host: Eddino Abdul Hadi (dinohadi@sph.com.sg (mailto:dinohadi@sph.com.sg))
Produced by: ST Podcast Team & ST Outreach & Engagement Team
Edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong
Discover previous artistes' live performances featured on Music Lab Podcast:
Channel: https://str.sg/7m92 (https://str.sg/7m92)
Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB (https://str.sg/w9TB)
Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6 (https://str.sg/w9T6)
Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg (mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg)
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 (https://str.sg/wvz7)
Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts (http://str.sg/stpodcasts)
The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa (https://str.sg/4Vwsa)
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB (https://str.sg/icyB)
Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX (https://str.sg/icyX)
--
#musiclab
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
21 Oct 2025
S1E17: How rapper Abangsapau’s difficult childhood shaped the songs on debut album
Hear from home-grown rapper Abangsapau, one of the Singapore hip-hop scene’s most promising young rappers.
Synopsis (headphones recommended): The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio.
In this special episode of Music Lab, ST’s music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts one of the Singapore hip-hop scene’s most promising young rappers, Abangsapau.
Known for his trademark sarong, he made his debut in 2019, and in the following year, performed at the 2020 National Day Parade (NDP). He is currently signed to Def Jam Recordings South East Asia, the regional wing of the iconic American hip-hop music label.
The 26-year-old has just put out his self-titled debut album, a 14-track release filled with brutally honest recollections of the experiences that shaped him into the person that he is today.
The rapper, who also performed at the 2025 NDP, did not have an easy childhood and had to deal with issues such as a broken family, substance abuse and bullying.
But as he discusses in the podcast, it is important for him to be as authentic as he can with his music, as it helps him connect with, and empower his audience.
This episode was recorded and filmed in front of a live audience of some 90 ST readers on October 7 at Esplanade Annexe Studio, as part of the ST Podcast Live! Sessions celebrating 180 years of The Straits Times in 2025.
Highlights (click/tap above):
2:46 How he got the name Abangsapau, and what it means
5:36 How talking back to his teachers led to him winning public speaking competitions
7:33 On his difficult childhood, experiences with substance abuse, family issues and witnessing his mother's struggle with depression
15:53 Sharing his experiences through his music led to a fan overcoming suicidal ideations
18:26 He wrote over 300 love songs when he was still juggling his former day job at a hospital
24:00 Performing with his mother at the 2020 NDP
27:18 His hope for a future where Singaporeans are proud of their local artists and support the local music scene
Listen to Abangsapau’s live performance of wow. and selamat, sayang here: https://str.sg/fwvW (https://str.sg/fwvW)
Discover home-grown artiste Abangsapau at:
YouTube: https://str.sg/oGhpp (https://str.sg/oGhpp)
Spotify: https://str.sg/KwtC (https://str.sg/KwtC)
Instagram: https://str.sg/DSEN (https://str.sg/DSEN)
Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa (https://str.sg/wFVa)
Host: Eddino Abdul Hadi (dinohadi@sph.com.sg (mailto:dinohadi@sph.com.sg))
Produced by: ST Podcast Team & ST Outreach & Engagement Team
Edited by: Amirul Karim
Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong
Discover previous artistes' live performances featured on Music Lab Podcast:
Channel: https://str.sg/7m92 (https://str.sg/7m92)
Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB (https://str.sg/w9TB)
Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6 (https://str.sg/w9T6)
Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg (mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg)
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 (https://str.sg/wvz7)
ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts (http://str.sg/stpodcasts)
The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa (https://str.sg/4Vwsa)
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB (https://str.sg/icyB)
Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX (https://str.sg/icyX)
--
#musiclab
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
459,935,246
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Podcast Authority Score: 27 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
16
Social presence
0
YouTube
93
Engagement
0
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