Daniel the Busker
It’s late-afternoon in Newton Circus and rain is threatening to fall. Daniel, the blind busker, is standing solitary in the heart of the hawker center bashing out a mash up of tunes from the Beatles to the Mama and Papas and even a Japanese and Tamil ditty, complete with a series of idiosyncratic aural twangs. Hawkers are cheering and passer-bys are momentarily distracted from dinner. But like many things in his life, nothing can distract the man from doing what he loves.
Born with a sight deficiency, Daniel has since been rendered blind but refuses to let this hinder his passion for making music. From Serangoon Gardens to Woodlands and Newton Circus, he has touched a nerve with those who bother to stop and listen.
Commonpeople had the opportunity to grab dinner and kick it with the man. In our conversation, he shares with us his experiences of being a busker for the last 10 years.
Thanks to Daniel the Busker
Shot & edited by YC Teo
Interview & produced by Seraphina Woon
July 2009
Hey Sera
I saw Daniel perform at Tiong Bahru awhile back… I was so taken in awe with his singing i ended up standing there waiting for him to play lousy song that i didn’t recognise or one that i didn’t enjoy…
Shaun