iQuartz Idol: Interior Designers Who Can Sing

Annual company D&Ds are so passé. It’s all about thinking out of the box in this day and age. Tony Chia, Managing Director of iQuartz, explains how the idea of iQuartz Idol was born. “It was a light bulb moment when I chanced upon Hikari Music Studio and saw a competition going on. I thought having a similar singing event would be an interesting twist to the usual dinner and dance,” he quips.

For some of us, Karaoke is a favourite weekend activity. So Tony thought of taking this popular past time to a higher level by gathering the best songbirds of Singapore’s interior design industry for a friendly contest. The hunt for the most croon-worthy person in the trade was on!

As there was an overwhelming response, the auditions spanned over four nights at Shebang pub. It was a relaxed environment, and spirits were high as contestants took turns to serenade the crowd with their chosen tracks. 

The ambience was peppered with cheerful banter

Even the most nervous of them loosened up with the touch of a microphone and the right background beats. From Mandarin, to English, and even to Hokkien songs, the auditions were a hodgepodge of tunes as well as personalities.

The judge of iQuartz Idol was Mr. Coleman Chua, master teacher at Hikari Music Studio.

Coleman (far left) gave valuable tips to the contestants after they were done

Each participant was evaluated over the score of 100 – based on factors like rhythm, vocals, and pitch. “Your voice suits songs that are on the lower frequency scale. This one may be a bit high-pitched for you,” Coleman comments helpfully to Chin, who belted out a number by Wang Lee Hom.

37 of them were picked to advance to the semi-final round. And these lucky few had the opportunity of receiving singing lessons from Coleman himself in preparation for the upcoming finale.

Four audition sessions, one quarter-final, and one semi-final round later; we had ourselves the cream of the crop – 16 finalists.

The Final Showdown

The atmosphere on the day of the finals was nothing short of electrifying. Animated buzz echoed throughout the entire space as the 16 finalists did last minute touch ups.

The judges from left to right: Chen Tian Song, Coleman Chua, and Tay Kewei

Tay Kewei and Chen Tian Song graced the event as guest judges, with Coleman the longstanding guide as the third. But the star-studded affair didn’t end there. Wang Weiliang, or better known as ‘Lobang King’, brought the house down with his energetic presence as the co-host.

In between the busy excitement and before the singing began, we managed to speak with some of the finalists. “Singing has always been a hobby to me, and being here feels surreal. It’s my first time in a competition, so naturally, I feel quite nervous,” Don from Juz Interior Pte Ltd expresses.

Branden, who heads his own business at B Z Design Home, reveals, “I think singing with passion is the most important factor here. You have to be yourself and truly feel the song in order to reach out to the audience.”

To add to the lively vibe, audience could present rose stalks to their favourite finalists, courtesy of iQuartz

At 630pm, the hustle and bustle had grown slightly tense. But once the contestants took to the stage with rounding applause from the audience, their nerves loosened and inner diva shone.

The crowd sang along with the finalists

After finalist Winston, emerged as a strong contender with his rendition of ‘Chun Tian Li’ by Wang Feng, everyone knew things were getting pretty serious. It even received high praise from Tay Kewei. “Your performance was captivating, and you have really steady vocals. I must say, I’m impressed!” she points out.

Latif belted out an old-school favourite – Unchained Melody

We were also treated to a special performance by homegrown band, 5IDES

Sixteen strong finalists were narrowed down to three in the PK round. Everyone’s ears were pricked up as the names were announced. 

The three who moved on to the PK round. From left to right: Branden, Willy, and Nicky

Each name received deafening claps from the audience as the host revealed them. The three crooners had one more chance to charm the judges before placing was decided. And charm the judges off they did.

Branden wowed everyone with his dual singing abilities as he switched from male to female voices seamlessly. Willy sang with passion and solemn fervor, while Nicky’s soulful voice resonated across the hall. It was hard to predict who would secure the title.

Ardent supporters of Willy

After an antagonising wait, scores were eventually totaled, and everyone was called back to attention. We shall spare you the dramatic pauses and nail-biting moments we had to endure by presenting to you:

The Winner Of The Night

Congratulations to Branden from B Z Design Home!

“I am really surprised and happy about the win. But most importantly, I’m really thankful for all the friendships I’ve made through this singing exchange. It was great fun, and I hope everyone else enjoyed themselves too!” Branden says excitedly.

His sentiments ran parallel with Tony’s, who remarked that iQuartz Idol turned out better than he’d thought. “It was heartening to watch these interior designers and contractors transform into such talented songbirds. I’m glad everyone grew closer, and that strong communal ties have been built. Ultimately, this contest was conceived with one thing in mind – to let everyone walk away with an experience that money cannot buy.” he adds.

“Maybe we’ll go even bigger and organise a group singing contest next year! Complete with dance moves and all the frills. Or a talent show perhaps?” Tony ends with a joke.

Trophies were awarded to all sixteen finalists, so everyone’s a winner after all! 

But who knows? We sure are looking forward to seeing what the next event would bring. And hey, the next time you hire an interior designer, be sure to check if he or she has a secret flair for singing too!

Watch the videos here if you didn’t get the chance to catch this exciting event.

About iQuartz

Think quartz. But with a wider variety, and at a pocket-friendly rate. As one of nature’s sturdiest materials, quartz has always been a highly sought-after surface for tabletops. Resistant to scratches, stains, and even bacteria, it is the answer to an efficient kitchen design. The brand of iQuartz brings this popular product to homeowners with its extensive collection of colours and textures. Like icing on the cake, its low-maintenance aspect makes iQuartz an ergonomic choice, and grants users the freedom of fuss-free cleaning.