The Young KL Singers is serving up its third artist tribute entitled “Watching A Sky Full of Stars with Hands in My Pocket”, jointly presented by The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac), from 11 to 14 September at Pentas 2, klpac.
A decade ago, The Young KL Singers (YKLS) broke ground with their edgy tribute to Björk which won the BOH Cameronian Arts Awards’ Best Group Performance – Vocal and followed that up with an electrifying Radiohead tribute in 2023.
Now, they are set to take on two of the biggest and, undoubtedly, most influential names in music. Fans will be quick to spot from the title of their upcoming concert which connects A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay and Hand in My Pocket by Alanis Morissette.
The timing could not be more apt. While Coldplay is on its record-breaking Music of the Spheres World Tour, which is in its third and final year, ending just a few days shy of YKLS’ concert, Morissette is celebrating the 30th anniversary of her iconic Jagged Little Pill that snagged the 1996 Grammy for Album of the Year.
Already the public has had a sneak peek with YKLS’ sing-along version during YSDAF 2025’s Urban Tour and it is no surprise that it was an absolute crowd favourite.
Now, they move into the theatre proper with a full-length version directed by Cheryl Ong and Ian Chow with Mak Chi Hoe as Music Director. The almost 40-strong YKLS choir will be backed by a three-piece band led by Jacqueline Teng (arranger and pianist) with Chow (guitar) and Alex Lee (drums) alongside a string trio comprising Andrea Sim (violin), Lee Kok Leong (viola) and Eugene Chong (cello).This tribute brings together Coldplay’s uplifting cosmic energy with Morissette’s grounded and emotional storytelling, featuring hits like Hand in My Pocket, Yellow, Ironic, Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall, Thank U, Fix You, Everything, Hands Clean and more.
Though both Coldplay and Morissette have very different styles, what ultimately ties them together and helped them become the icons that they are is their belief in the power of the human connection and the emotional resonance of their music.
For those new to YKLS, their concerts are more like an experience that extends beyond the music itself given the level of thought and care that goes behind presenting it as a show. In this introspective take that looks at how beauty lives in the cracks and how light emerges from heartbreak, they invite audiences to take their own personal journey back in time, heal and love again.
Ultimately, the end goal of “Watching A Sky Full Of Stars with Hands in My Pocket” is a feeling of hope, a message that we can rise again.
The Young KL Singers won Best of at the 20th BOH Cameronian Arts Awards for Spice, Magic and Mystique (2024), under the direction of Ian Chow and musical direction by Mak Chi Hoe.
Licensed by MACP, “Watching A Sky Full of Stars with Hands in My Pocket” tickets are priced at RM60 for regular seats and RM100 for POTA seats, which come with reserved seating and the option to support the arts. Concession pricing is available and tickets can be purchased here.
