After seemingly traversing the whole campus, we finally arrived at the High School’s music room. Upon opening the door, we were greeted with a dark room, an impressive-looking piano at the front of the room, and pockets of students excitedly chattering away in various discussions. This is WeYoung. I was curious to learn about what WeYoung was as a CCA besides the fact that it was one of the CCAs under the Chinese Society. As such, Katelyn and I sat down with the WeYoung President, Wang Yu An, to find out more about the inner workings and quirks of WeYoung!
Now, some readers might be wondering, what exactly is WeYoung? In the words of a member, Clavin, Weyoung is ultimately a songwriting club, which focuses on songwriting and events around songwriting. Moving out of songwriting, the CCA also tries to organise different events, like their annual 写一首歌给你 (Write A Song For You) competition, where WeYoung encourages students from the High School Section, Nanyang Girls’ High as well as those from the College Section to submit Chinese songs they’ve written. WeYoung then gets judges externally to assess them, even planning workshops to refine their songwriting skills. Ultimately, the aim of this event is to not only host a competition to increase awareness, but also to increase the CCA’s exposure. On top of that WeYoung members can choose to participate in competitions like 新空下, which is the national Xinyao competition, as well as a multitude of other contests. These competitions act as a platform to elevate the members’ standard of music, satiating their ravenous desire to indulge in the art of songwriting. Beyond that, they perform for school events such as National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival, displaying great passion for learning, growing and sharing the stage with one another. Yu An best describes the process as experimentation, improvisation and a whole lot of magic going on.
However, she also mentions that there are a few misconceptions about their CCA, which we’re here to debunk. One of the bigger misconceptions is what WeYoung is like as a CCA. While it is technically not a standalone CCA, considering it is under the Chinese Society with other branches including 黄城 & 创贤, WeYoung operates completely independently. Additionally, others might not understand what it means to be a songwriting club because there are so many aspects to songwriting, from writing the lyrics to composing the melody and actually arranging the song. There is no correct solution to composing a song, offering much creative freedom to the CCA members. Yu An also reflects that when she first joined the CCA, she, like many others, had little idea of what WeYoung was about. Yet, this did not faze the members, as Yu An describes the beauty and interesting aspects of WeYoung is that you learn something new constantly.
We were intrigued to know the process behind writing these songs. According to Yu An, members have a lot of autonomy and need to take the initiative, also requiring the cooperation of the batchmates. When planning for events such as concerts or the C1 Orientation, everyone chips in and plans for these events together, even if the members are not in exco, they also get to benefit from planning CCA activities. Thus, the WeYoung experience is perpetually enriched. Clavin also adds that for sessions on Wednesdays, members share their songs and get constructive feedback from their peers, learning from each other. Fridays are for members to form groups and experiment with song composition, often discovering new techniques or new chord progressions that can add a lot more flair to a song.
As if to answer our questions, a symphony of noise alerted us to the front of the room, where students were preparing to present their composed works to receive feedback from both the Teacher-In-Charge, Mr. Ong Juin Han, as well as their peers. Deciding to sit back and enjoy the show, Katelyn and I were treated to a spectacle, with the students showcasing their lyricism and skills with a plethora of instruments. The raw talent on display opened our eyes to what the CCA is capable of, as the atmosphere of the whole room started bursting with passion as the audience cheered loudly. After each piece, the audience scrutinised the areas of the song which they felt could be improved, giving suggestions regarding the pitch, variation, and notes which could be tweaked in the piano score. All this while, I was in my seat, fully out of my element, as I listened in awe to the bustling mix of conversation and melodies. This was a truly impressive display that we were grateful to get front-row tickets for.
As for the inspiration for their songs, the members relate to many factors, like their observations of others, their imagination as well as their own personal experiences. Listening to other songs is also a very important part of the ideation process since it can help greatly when composing a song of similar genres but of different languages. Yu An further explains that their moments of inspiration provides just a glimpse into the songwriting process, the entire journey to compose music pieces is much more intricate. As such, CCA hours are comparatively shorter to cater to the members’ freedom to explore, both emotionally and physically, beyond WeYoung.
Nevertheless, it is clear that the members’ have grown to master this intricacy.
As Katelyn and I observed the gaggle of students gathered in different areas around the music room, it was immediately apparent that WeYoung is a tightly-knit community. Evidently, Yu An believes likewise as WeYoung is a relatively small CCA, such that decisions need to be made together as a whole, and the homely environment makes for an extremely cozy atmosphere. The members share their unwavering passion for songwriting, acknowledging everyone's strengths and empowering one another through their WeYoung journeys.
Regarding the most memorable experience in her CCA life, Yu An excitedly mentions their recent concert, Encore. Through the massive efforts put in by the members to plan the event, and liaise with the many departments in the school, the performance was a huge success. Yu An cites the efforts and cooperation of everyone involved as to why the concert was so special, allowing her to realise how much the members had grown in their time together. It served as a testimonial to the rewarding experience WeYoung provided them with. Clearly, Encore was the crowning achievement of many members of WeYoung.
When asked about her personal growth in WeYoung, Yu An reflects on what she has taken away from this immensely fulfilling time. She shares how confidence and willingness to expand one’s comfort zone are key elements in her development.Yu An reveals how initial attempts at songwriting were not always commensurate with her standards or appreciation for songwriting. Nonetheless, she expresses how constant practice propelled her to greater heights and improved her confidence to freely share her skills.
Principal Mr. Pang participates passionately in WeYoung’s concert, Encore!
Safe to say, Encore was a massive success.
Lastly, Yu An states that one thing on her bucket list that she hopes either she herself or the new batch of members can achieve is WeYoung’s very-own batch album. With many friends asking about WeYoung releasing a compilation of their songs, Yu An was heartened by the support and encouragement and hence hopes that future batches can do so since the seniors would be stepping down soon. Moreover, Dean, a member of WeYoung, hopes to challenge public perception of Mandopop songs, by encouraging musical diversity and inculcating a sense of appreciation for Chinese pop among the general public.
When asked about the name of the CCA, WeYoung (未央), Yu An provides a really unique and succinct response. 未央, literally means 还未达到高峰, which roughly translates to someone or something having yet to reach their full potential. It also refers to the waxing gibbous phase of the Moon, where the crescent expands to around half to almost a full moon, perfectly encapsulating the representation of the potential growth that WeYoung can provide its members with, not only to grow as a songwriter and musical artist but also as a person. Just like the waxing gibbous of the glimmering moon, WeYoung has a massive amount of raw potential, and will definitely grow into an immense powerhouse of a CCA with the batches to come.
Waxing Gibbous
Interviewees : Wang Yu An (22A10), Clavin Cher (23S62), Dean Kiatproongwech (23A14)
Written by: Ryan Tan (22S75), Katelyn Pang (23S7A)
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