If you are the kind of music enthusiast who consistently travels and are thinking of your next destination for early 2013, you shouldn’t think twice about heading to this side of the globe that is Southeast Asia. This region is known for its mix of unique cultural elements, world-class beaches (ask Tom Cruise, he will agree about Bali), a variety of food that will make you cultured in no time and for the past few years, Southeast Asia has turned from a relatively least favorable hub for musicians to a region to a hotspot. Why? Simply ‘cause the St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival is here in Singapore!

Entering its third year on January 26 2013, Singapore’s indie music festival will be held for the first time at a new venue – The Meadow at Gardens By The Bay, which promises to be an ambient environment that will definitely maximize your festival experience.

Headlining this year’s lineup is multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter, Gotye, known for his massive international hit single of 2012 “Somebody That I Used to Know” from of his third studio album Making Mirrors. Anticipation is high for Bat For Lashes, the stage moniker for English singer-songwriter Natasha Khan who recently released the follow-up to her critically acclaimed debut and sophomore records namely The Haunted Man.

Bat For Lashes and Gotye aside, the rest of the lineups are equally majestic. Former Artist of the Week Of Monsters and Men and Tame Impala are BestNewBands-approved whilst our Newbie Awards nominees: Polica, Divine Fits and Mercury Prize 2012 winner Alt-J will take center stage in style, ready to rock you with their own brand of indie rock promising a festival to remember.

BestNewBands’ Asian-rep, Nazirah Ashari shares with you her three must-see-bands at Laneway Fest 2013 and why you should be excited as well.

Poliça

I have a thing for female-fronted indie bands and one fact about Polica being an offshoot of prolific Minnesota’s collective Gayngs, gave them a solid-A reference that promises musical satisfaction. The band’s debut Give You The Ghost, one of my favorite records of 2012, is a revelation of sound, mixing alt-rock with elements of post-R&B/hip hop and surely you’ll agree with me: vocalist’ Channy Leaneagh’s mesmerizing ethereal voice is another reason why you stick with Polica.

Laneway Fest 2013 song wishlist: “Wandering Star”

Of Monsters and Men

‘Nuff said, some of the best indie bands indie world comes out of Iceland and Of Monsters and Men is one of them. This 6-piece indie-folk rockers who have once been dubbed as the new Arcade Fire by Rolling Stone, are known for their feel good exuberant performances. Clueless still? My only advice for you is to pick the band’s debut My Head Is An Animal and memorize the words to crowd favorite “Little Talks.” You know you don’t wanna feel left out when the rest of the crowd sing-along to that signature ‘Hey!’

Laneway Fest 2013 song wishlist: “Mountain Sound”

Alt-J

The prestigious Mercury Prize have known for years to be a great award platform that showcase the best in British music. The prize’s most recent winner, Cambridge-based art rockers Alt-J are an exemplary reflection of the quality and standard in which the prize have continued to live up to for years. So when the best of Mercury Prize is coming to Laneway 2013, you know quality isn’t compromised. Yup, there’s no point for me explaining the whys and just dig into the goodness of the band’s debut An Awesome Wave and you know, that alone is self-explanatory.

Laneway Fest 2013 song wishlist: “Breezeblock”

Check out Laneway Festival 2012 Singapore official website here and for more event details or follow them on Twitter @LanewayFestSG