The Observatory (band)

The Observatory
The Observatory performing at The Substation, 2016: Yuen Chee Wai, Vivian Wang, Cheryl Ong, Leslie Low
Background information
Origin	Singapore
Genres	experimental rock, art rock, electronica, indie rock
Years active	2001–present
Labels	Independent
Associated acts	Humpback Oak, Leslie Low, ARCN TEMPL, Meddle, Magus, Hanging Up the Moon, Piblokto, Chöd, X' Ho, SA, Far East Network (FEN)
Website	theobservatory.com.sg
Members	Leslie Low Vivian Wang Yuen Chee Wai Cheryl Ong
Past members	Evan Tan Ray Aziz Adam Shah Victor Low Bani Haykal Dharma

The Observatory is an art rock, experimental and electronica band based in Singapore, consisting largely of alumni from significant 1990s Singaporean bands. They are influential in the Singapore music scene. The band formed in 2001 and performed for the first time at the Baybeats music festival in December 2002. They have released eight albums: Time of Rebirth (2004), Blank Walls (2005), A Far Cry From Here (2007), Dark Folke (2009), Catacombs (2012), Oscilla (2014), Continuum (2015) and August is the Cruellest (2016). The band has performed in Norway, Italy, Japan, France, Germany and Singapore, and headlined regional music events in Malaysia and Thailand, such as MTV's Pattaya Music Festival, Heineken Fat Festival Bangkok, St Jerome's Laneway Festival and the Seoul Fringe Festival.

The Observatory is the subject of a crowd-funded experimental music documentary, The Obs: A Singapore Story, which premiered at the Singapore International Film Festival in December 2014 and travelled to the CINEDAYS Festival of European Film in Macedonia, DORF film festival in Croatia, Bare Bones International Music and Film Festival in the United States and more.

Leslie Low – Lead Vocals, Electric + Acoustic Guitars, Programming, Bass, Harmonica, Percussion

Former frontman of veteran local band Humpback Oak, Low is the singer, guitarist and occasional bassist in the band. He is a music composer and sound designer by profession. Low graduated from the School of Film and Media Studies at Ngee Ann Polytechnic with a Diploma in Film, Sound and Video. He has also been involved in several side projects. As PAN GU, Low's collaboration with Lasse Marhaug (electronics), Primeval Man Born of the Cosmic Egg, made it to SPIN's Top 20 Avant albums of 2013.