Curious about the creative minds who call the Esplanade home? Meet Lee Wei Song and Leonard Soosay, two passionate pioneers in Singapore’s vibrant music scene.
We all know Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay as Singapore’s iconic durian-shaped landmark. But beyond its facade, this vibrant arts and lifestyle venue is home to over 4,000 programmes, and more than 40 curated retail and dining shops that enhance its artistic mission and creative community. Curious to find out more, I went behind the scenes to meet two of Esplanade’s tenants: Lee Wei Song, founder of Lee Wei Song Music Academy, and Leonard Soosay, co-founder of Tumbleweed Studios. Here’s what we chatted about, from their stories to their aspirations for the local music industry.
Finding his tune in the industry
Lee Wei Song is how you’d imagine someone with a larger-than-life personality. Dressed in an eye-catching floral top and a fedora hat, he was chatting animatedly with a student when I stepped inside his music academy. After greeting me with the same warmth, we dove deep into his 41 years in the industry.
Wei Song’s journey began in 1984 when he was a bright-eyed kid in secondary school. After taking part in a local TV drama’s theme song competition with his twin brother Si Song (a fellow industry veteran), it jump-started their career in singing, songwriting, and eventually, music production.
Over the years, the twins have written, composed and produced for A-listers across Asia. Think iconic Mandopop and Cantopop classics from Stefanie Sun, Gigi Leung, Sandy Lam and Jacky Cheung.
When asked about the founding of his music academy, Wei Song tells me it was partly inspired by his mum, who owns a sewing school. In a similar fashion, he wanted to set up a school to impart his skills and knowledge to music lovers. That’s how his music school was born in 1995.
Taking a leap from Economics to music
Next, I met Leonard, the co-founder of dedicated music rehearsal facility Tumbleweed Studios. Calm with an easygoing demeanour, he delivers his thoughts with a quiet sincerity that compels you to listen. I instantly felt comfortable in our conversation.
An acclaimed local record producer, and mixing and recording engineer, those in the music industry would be familiar with Leonard. Over the years, he has chalked up over 500 domestic releases and created commissioned remixes for international artists like David Bowie, Kylie Minogue and John Lennon.
Like Wei Song, his journey started at a young age. “My mum used to play music at home and I was always curious about how vinyls and recordings were produced. This piqued my interest in music production,” shares Leonard.
It might surprise you, but Leonard started out as an Economics student at a Toronto university before switching to a music course in his final year. This switch felt like his calling and made him “feel alive”.
Upon his return to Singapore in the late 1990s, he became acquainted with the small yet vibrant music scene. He describes it as an underground scene with little support from the government, the private sector and the public.
“With my skillset from studying in Toronto, I thought I should be doing something to help the scene,” says Leonard. That’s when he decided to open his recording studio, Snakeweed Studios, in Chinatown. He offered affordable semi-professional services for young artists, including helping them with music recordings and CD releases, and pitching them to record stores like HMV and Tower Records.
Calling the Esplanade home
With the opening of Snakeweed Studios, Leonard realised another gap in the music industry: the lack of professional rehearsal facilities. He explains that rehearsal rooms were typically only found in shopping malls or unconducive and unruly environments. With the opening of Esplanade in 2002, it felt like an ideal venue for a professional music rehearsal space.
What makes a professional music rehearsal space? Think of it as a stage-like setting with technical equipment like floor and in-ear monitors. To craft a space that means business, Leonard even personally flew to Japan to check out their rehearsal rooms. According to him, they can rival the best in the world.
“By recreating a stage set-up, the musicians can prepare their settings ahead of time so they feel more comfortable before going onstage,” he shares, referring to it as a safe haven for performers to fix any mistakes, overcome their fears and improve their performance.
For Wei Song, his music academy moved five times before calling Esplanade home in 2021. “When Esplanade was established, I was drawn by how stunning and artistic it was. It was my dream to eventually set up my music academy here,” he shares in Mandarin.
With an array of notable alumni (think homegrown talents JJ Lin, Stefanie Sun and Huang Yida), I was curious about what makes Lee Wei Song Music Academy different from others.
Wei Song’s answer? “We are a one-stop music academy that offers comprehensive services for our students.” This includes classes for singing, composing, recording and vocal styling. He adds that his teachers are holistically trained in all areas, too.
It isn’t just a space for those who dream of stardom. He has students of all ages and backgrounds, from those pursuing music for leisure or stress relief to others looking to improve their vocal techniques and Mandarin proficiency.
Likewise, Tumbleweed Studios also sees a diverse clientele. Besides professional bands who book the facility before gigs, it is also popular with expatriate families on weekends and school kids on weekdays.
Leonard says he has seen returning Filipino and Korean families who book the space for leisure jamming. “They always leave the space looking very happy,” he adds.
Composing the future of local music
It is undeniable that Singapore’s music scene has grown leaps and bounds over the years – just look at how more local musicians are performing on bigger stages and events like the National Day Parade!
But, as industry veterans, what more do Wei Song and Leonard believe can be done? Both are unanimous on the need for more funding and support.
“The income earned from streaming [by local artists] doesn’t justify the amount of money spent on production – organising shows, recording studios, hiring producers and sessionists and the like. But a lot of people still do it because they are so passionate about it,” shares Leonard.
To make our local talents more prominent, there needs to be a greater investment into development, publicity and marketing, he tells me.
Wei Song agrees: “I wish for local artists to have more support and opportunities to perform and share about their passion, and create a stronger and more vibrant music scene in Singapore.”
Both veterans plan to continue doing their part to keep the local music scene alive. For Wei Song, this means cultivating more talents with holistic abilities and helping them go beyond our shores. Meanwhile, Leonard is keen on building a strong and diverse community, so those with similar interests and talents can connect.
For me? I left this chat with greater awe of the passion and dedication of local artists and music veterans like Wei Song and Leonard, and can’t wait to see our music scene flourish further.
Esplanade: A hub for arts, culture and more
Besides being a thriving space for the arts and culture, Esplanade is also home to various restaurants, cafes, unique boutiques and family-friendly offerings. Eat your fill at Makansutra Gluttons Bay and Canopy Esplanade, grab a cuppa at Foreword Coffee and Muro Coffee, and indulge in retail therapy at Alexandria Maison and The Naturalist Grandeur.
ICYMI: celebrations are in order at this vibrant destination as part of our Little Red Dot’s 60th this year!
From now till 15 October 2025, the beloved local icon Ang Ku Kueh Girl and Esplanade’s children mascot PIP join hands for a special ‘We he(art) local’ limited edition travel pouch (worth $20) that Esplanade&Me members can redeem with a minimum $60 spend at Esplanade Mall. Additional pouches are up for grabs at $8 each. Psst: if you’re not a member, sign up to join the Esplanade family for free and score these goodies.
Want to be a part of this vibrant celebration and community? Visit Esplanade for a date with the arts!
This post is in partnership with Esplanade Mall.
