Biography
In the emo pop realm, the five-piece outfit from Maryland known as Downtown Singapore expressed no regret over their conventional stance, adhering closely to the established route taken by earlier acts such as Jimmy Eat World and Cave In. Their progression encompassed hometown shows and independently issued recordings, followed by nonstop road work, digital audience cultivation, an attention-generating first EP, and a debut full-length handled by the era's sought-after producer. The group then dissolved without ceremony or announcement.
Downtown Singapore drew its name from a skateboarding magazine's account of the local scene in that Asian city-state. The initial members assembled in Waldorf, MD, during 2001 while still attending high school. The lineup settled into singer Jerry Scott, guitarists Matt "Spud" Van Gasbeck and Jake Rabadi, bassist Josh Louge, and drummer Matt Thorsen. The band secured a contract with Washington, D.C., indie Dcide Records, which issued their debut EP, Understanding a Guarantee, in 2005. Heightened touring, including dates with the All-American Rejects and He Is Legend, refined their crisp, commercially oriented approach and introduced them to producer Matt Squire, whose prior credits with Panic! at the Disco, Cute Is What We Aim For, and similar rising indie acts influenced the sessions for Downtown Singapore's first album, Don't Let Your Guard Down.
The record appeared in spring 2006 and featured lead single "Choir Boy," which included guest vocals from Larry Soliman, frontman of fellow Squire project My American Heart. Following additional live commitments, Downtown Singapore entered an official hiatus in fall 2006.
Downtown Singapore drew its name from a skateboarding magazine's account of the local scene in that Asian city-state. The initial members assembled in Waldorf, MD, during 2001 while still attending high school. The lineup settled into singer Jerry Scott, guitarists Matt "Spud" Van Gasbeck and Jake Rabadi, bassist Josh Louge, and drummer Matt Thorsen. The band secured a contract with Washington, D.C., indie Dcide Records, which issued their debut EP, Understanding a Guarantee, in 2005. Heightened touring, including dates with the All-American Rejects and He Is Legend, refined their crisp, commercially oriented approach and introduced them to producer Matt Squire, whose prior credits with Panic! at the Disco, Cute Is What We Aim For, and similar rising indie acts influenced the sessions for Downtown Singapore's first album, Don't Let Your Guard Down.
The record appeared in spring 2006 and featured lead single "Choir Boy," which included guest vocals from Larry Soliman, frontman of fellow Squire project My American Heart. Following additional live commitments, Downtown Singapore entered an official hiatus in fall 2006.