Who is remembered in Singaporean punk history, who has been erased in the commemorative process, and how? On this episode, co-hosts Jessica Schwartz and Russ Bestley speak with Ginette Chittick about her research efforts and digital archive practices that amplify "the voices that are rarely consulted in the already sparse research on Singaporean punk history." Ginette walks us through the significance of punk's emergence in a particular historical context, when soft authoritarianism and disciplinarity made Singaporeans subject to "common sense" etiquette and controls on political dissent, such that a band naming themselves "Opposition Party" was a meaningful act of defiance. Ginette shares how Singaporean punks had to navigate this system, where slam dancing was illegal and punks were required to raise $2,000 (in the 1990s!) just to put on a show. She also offers insight into how the uniqueness of this scene comes to life through the material culture she archives in her digital archive of Singaporean punk history, where studded leather jackets evince the layers of time, weather, and movements, from mosh-pit camaraderie to global flows of materials. Ginette also shared insights as a musician in a formative punk scene, playing in an all-female band--Psycho Sonique--in a male-dominated scene. And, we are excited to share a few of their songs with you all!

Guest Bio.

Ginette Chittick is an educator, subculture researcher, shoegaze musician, and a DJ. She is currently pursuing her PhD at the London College of Communication, University of the Arts London, and her research focuses on Singaporean punk history and visual and material culture. As a key member of the early local punk and indie music scenes of the 1990s, Ginette Chittick co-founded Singapore’s first all-female punk band PsychoSonique, co-produced the city state’s earliest punk zine Outcast, and later riot grrrl zine CherrybombPress. She ran a DIY indie label, organised mini music festivals, and established the short-lived Lion City Riot Grrrl chapter in Singapore. With a background in fashion, she is the Programme Leader of the Diploma in Creative Direction for Fashion at the School of Fashion, LASALLE University of the Arts Singapore.

This episode features the music: Psycho Sonique, "I Don't Give a Damn," "I'm Gonna Crash!" and "One Nighter." All rights reserved.

Links

Email: g.chittick0520221@arts.ac.uk

Instagram: https://instagram.com/ginettechittick

Website: ginettechittick.com Singaporeanpunkarchive.com

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We’d love to hear from you and are soliciting episode ideas and guests. Contact us at: punkscholarspodcast@gmail.com

The PSP theme music is excerpted from “Crows” by Watch You Drown. All rights reserved.

Season 2, Episode 9, was recorded on Friday, February 13, 2025, on Zoom with participants in Singapore, the UK, and the US. Russ Bestley and Jessica Schwartz co-hosted and co-produced this episode and edited the transcript, which is available here.

Jessica Schwartz also edited the audio.

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