8 Rising Mandopop Voices in Singapore That Deserve Your Playlist
Some of the most exciting Mandopop being made right now isn’t coming from Taipei or Shanghai—it’s coming from right here in Singapore. These homegrown artists are heartfelt, inventive, and proof that Singapore’s Mandopop scene is well worth your ears. Consider this your early pass to the front of the queue:
1. The Cold Cut Duo 雙節奏
The Cold Cut Duo, made up of Gwendolyn and Wilson, began releasing original music in 2019 with tracks such as ‘起飛’ and ‘#Addicted’. Their single ‘I’ll Keep Loving You 我會愛著你’ reached No. 26 on KKBOX charts in Singapore and Taiwan, and their songs have also landed on Spotify editorial playlists across Asia. A fun detail that sets them apart is their multilingual set list, which stretches across English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Hokkien, alongside a performance setup that includes vocals, guitar and beatbox. By the close of 2019, the duo had been chosen as mentees for The Great Singapore Replay, presented by Temasek with support from Sony Music, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Singapore and Zendyll Records.
2. OHMYMEITING 黃美婷
Singapore singer-songwriter 黃美婷, also known as OHMYMEITING, officially debuted in 2016 with the single ‘藍月’. She followed that early run with her debut EP, 別擔心！我不是壞人, which was launched at the Esplanade Recital Studio in June 2018. Her work has moved easily between intimate indie-pop writing and collaborations, including the 2020 duet ‘行星戀’ with Goose 我鳥. She has also shared stages tied to Esplanade’s Huayi programming, which places her squarely in Singapore’s Mandarin singer-songwriter circuit.
3. Yokez 叶玉棂
Yokez built her name the patient way, through original songwriting, a strong DIY streak and a clear gift for Mandarin ballads. She released her self-penned five-track debut EP in 2018, and its track ’How You Appeared’ entered Spotify’s Top 50 Viral chart in Malaysia. By 2023, the EP had passed 1.5 million Spotify streams, while her résumé had grown to include drama and OST work, an SG:SW 2020 merit win for co-writing ‘祝福你的歌 My Blessings’, and a SingVoice run that led to a deal with Warner Music Singapore.
4. The Freshman 插班生
Few Singapore Mandopop acts have the staying power of The Freshman. Carrie Yeo and Chen Diya emerged from Project Superstar and, by 2026, were marking 15 years together with their Esplanade concert BEING. One of the duo’s biggest chapters came when they joined Jacky Cheung’s A Classic Tour as backing vocalists, a run that had already crossed 120 shows by late 2017 and later stretched into a multi-year global experience. Their appeal remains rooted in close harmonies, emotionally direct songwriting and an easy chemistry that still feels lived-in.
5. Sherman Zhuo 卓振聲
Sherman Zhuo is one of the clearest recent success stories in Singapore Mandopop. His sound pulls from R&B, ballads and electronic pop, and the results have travelled well beyond Singapore. In 2024, he became the only Mandopop act recognised as Spotify Wrapped’s Top Local Artist on Hot Hits Singapore, after winning Top Local Song the year before. His breakout single ‘hard to let you go’ has surpassed 5 million Spotify streams and hit No. 1 on Spotify’s Top 50 Singapore, while ‘有話沒說 Unspoken Words’ kept that momentum going across YES 933 and multiple streaming charts. Most recently, he returned with the single ‘下一個你’, the latest addition to his expanding discography.
6. xxmxrcs
Singapore bilingual singer-songwriter xxmxrcs (pronounced “Marcus”) blends Mandarin and English influences into a pop sound shaped by clean melodies and introspective songwriting. He first entered the spotlight as the first runner-up on Mediacorp’s SPOP Sing! in 2018, before stepping onto larger stages the following year, including Stärker Music Carnival 2019 alongside Taiwanese rock band F.I.R., and as the opening act for Korean R&B artist Sam Kim during the Sun and Moon concert in Singapore. His most recent release, the EP A.S.L.E.E.P, highlights a mix of reflective and lighter pop moments.
7. Soph T. 霏霏
Soph T. has been steadily shaping one of the more contemporary Mandarin R&B-pop catalogues to come out of Singapore. Her 2022 EP 嘟声后请留恋 passed one million streams and helped land her on Spotify’s RADAR Artists list that same year. In February 2023, she was also named Spotify EQUAL ambassador for Singapore and Malaysia, with a feature on a Times Square billboard in New York. Competition-wise, she has the receipts too, having won SingVoice 2021, Stärker Music Jams 2018 and Huayi’s U Sing Competition in 2018. Her Spotify bio also notes that ‘百分知己’ entered Taiwan’s Viral 50 chart, while ‘丘比特’ was used in Mediacorp drama 过江新娘.
8. Ben Hum
Singapore singer-songwriter Ben Hum has built a reputation as a seasoned live performer, appearing on stages across the country since 2013, including Singapore’s National Day Parade 2023. His music has also found traction online, with songs such as ‘偏偏偏愛’ and ‘Gonna Let You Go’ circulating among creators on TikTok. Hum released his debut EP Milky Way in 2021 and continues to share original Mandarin pop releases alongside his live performances. Like many artists on this list, Hum also emerged from the competition circuit, finishing as a Top 2 finalist on Campus SuperStar Season 2 and second runner-up on Voice of Dester Season 1.
Home Dusk, Where Singapore Mandopop Comes Alive After Hours
If there is a room that neatly captures the energy around Singapore’s current Mandarin wave, it is Home Dusk at Clarke Quay. By night, the venue turns into a live house built around Mandopop, Asian contemporary music and a rotating mix of established and emerging acts, with featured names including The Cold Cut Duo, Yokez, xxmxrcs and Ben Hum. Make a reservation, settle in for dinner and stay for the set—this is one of the easiest ways to hear Singapore’s next playlist staple in the room where it is happening.
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