SERVING THE NATION THROUGH SONG

Private (PTE) Sezairi Sezali brings his singer-songwriter talents to the Music and Drama Company (MDC) as he joins a seven-member pop-rock combo band.

After being crowned the Season 3 winner of Singapore Idol in December last year, there was nothing PTE Sezairi wanted more than to take a relaxing break after three hectic months of auditions and performances. However, midway through the season, he received his National Service call-up, and was due to enlist one week after the show ended.

After completing his Basic Military Training, the unassuming 23-year-old joined MDC in March as part of a seven-member combo band that performs a repertoire of pop and rock songs.

"Rehearsing with the band gave me the opportunity to play instruments other than the drums which I grew up with. It also changed the way I arrange and compose music, even for my upcoming album," the singer-songwriter told PIONEER.

When away from MDC, PTE Sezairi spends all his time on recording his new music album, titled Take Two. For someone aspiring to break into the United States music scene, PTE Sezairi sees this album as a way of giving back to the fans.

"Through this album, I hope they get to see the real me. With the music and songs, I hope they get to see what kind of singer I am and what kind of style I possess," said PTE Sezairi, who doubles up as the executive producer of the album and songwriter. He wrote more than half of the songs recorded.

Fans of PTE Sezairi will be in for a treat and can expect a trip down memory lane, as his new album will encompass old-school songs from the 60s and 70s, as well as rock and roll. The album will have a mixture of original songs and covers.

Besides working on his new album, he has been busy preparing for his National Day Parade (NDP) performance. Together with Sylvia Ratonel, the second-runner up for Season 3 of Singapore Idol, PTE Sezairi will be performing the NDP theme song titled Song for Singapore, which was written by Los Angeles-based Singaporean singer-songwriter Corrinne May.

Counting his blessings, PTE Sezairi said he was surprised to be chosen as one of the main performers for this year's NDP. "The first thing that struck me was that children, who watch NDP, will be singing the songs that I sang, and in that I will be part of our culture and our natural history. It's kind of humbling," he said.

PTE Sezairi feels fortunate to have put his talents to good use in MDC and to have had the chance to perform for the President at the Istana and for the public at the Navy Open House held in May.

"There are many talented people who audition for MDC but don t make it, because there are only so many slots available," he said. Having said that, he vehemently believes that the two years of National Service, no matter what vocation you are in, will teach you a lot about life.

"It's life-changing!" he quipped.