Thowback: Jamming with friends, with my harp!

Growing up, jamming was a way to hang out with friends. I loved it because we were creating, not consuming (like we usually do with food or movies when spending time with others). There’s a different kind of fulfillment that comes from jamming music with others. It's not like paid work, where expectations can at times take the fun out of it (e.g., being a professional harpist in an orchestra). Jamming feels more like teaming up just for the joy of it—kind of like going on a party quest in MapleStory.

A friend recently dug up an old video of one of these spontaneous jam sessions, which inspired this post. So here is a little archive of random, impromptu jamming moments from over the years, ranging from recent to really ancient.

1. Thinking Out Loud with Linus (2025)

My friend Linus is a budding singer-songwriter and our favourite artists include Ed Sheeran and Lauv. This is our harp-guitar-vocal rendition of Thinking Out Loud.

Linus' website: https://linusrphoon.com/

2. When a Child is Born with Gavin (2020)

A Christmas special!!

3. Fly Me to The Moon with Eugenia (2020)

Eugenia and I were studying a Diploma in Architecture together many years ago, and both of us decided the field wasn't for us! We only had time to film this harp-and-vocal duo after graduating.

4. 小幸运 with my Cell Group (2019)

My church cell group was celebrating an occasion and as part of the celebration program, we decided to throw a sing-along to the then popular song, 小幸运. I brought my lap harp to accompany my friends' guitar and singing.

4. 情非得已 with Ying Ying (2017)

Ying Ying and I used to volunteer together biweekly as musicians at the Ng Teng Fong General Hospital. So we'd frequently pull together mandarin and dialect songs to jam to entertain elderly patients in wards.

5. From Now On with Jacyline (2016)

Jacyline doesn't play any instrument, but she managed to learn how to play the melody of From Now On, from the then hit movie, The Greatest Showman, in under half an hour.

6. Over The Rainbow with Chermaine (2013)

Chermaine and I were in Secondary 4. One weekend, Chermaine came over to my place with ukelele in hand.

Hope you enjoyed this little archive!