“I write because books saved me; I write knowing that one day my life will end. I write because I must.”
Photo credit: Sherry Zheng
“In years to come he’d look back at this moment and say: he’d never been more in love with the present, back then. He’d never been more enamoured with life, and its singular, insistent ways.”
Delicately pressed onto your fresh bag of coffee beans are words by Singaporean writer Daryl Qilin Yam. This excerpt is from, “A Film by Hong Sang-soo”, a short story in Daryl’s latest book “Be Your Own Bae” (Epigram Books, 2024).
Daryl Qilin Yam (b. 1991) is a writer, editor and arts organiser from Singapore. Shortlisted for the Singapore Literature Prize and nominated for the International Dublin Literary Award, he is the author of two novels, a novella and the bestselling short story collection Be Your Own Bae (2024). He co-founded the literary charity Sing Lit Station, where he presently serves as the managing editor of its publishing arm AFTERIMAGE. Connect with Daryl here: Website / Instagram
FEATURED TITLES
BE YOUR OWN BAE (2024)
Daryl Qilin Yam’s first collection of short fiction combines magical realism, speculative autobiography and ekphrasis to weave illusory figures out of gung-ho millennials and the well-meaning mentor figures who fail them, and unveils the strange quests queer folk must embark on in order to keep a hold on love.
SHANTIH SHANTIH SHANTIH (2021)
A dozen lonely individuals in Singapore witness a freakish instance of snowfall, lasting for exactly four minutes and twenty-six seconds. “Shantih Shantih Shantih” is a heady mix of desire and dauntlessness that revels in its interconnections, pulling together a community that is at once together and apart.
KAPPA QUARTET (2015)
Set between Singapore and Japan, Daryl Yam’s debut novel, “Kappa Quartet” is split into eight discrete sections, tracing the rippling effects of this chance encounter across a host of other characters, connected and bound to one another in ways both strange and serendipitous.
This collaboration is made possible through a joint partnership between a literary arts charity Sing Lit Station and ECHO.
ABOUT SING LIT STATION
Sing Lit Station is a registered charity and Institution of Public Character (IPC). Our vision is to be a platform where readers and writers can meet. Our core mission is to serve the local literary community of writers and readers by:
Supporting local writers to develop their artistic and professional lives
Inviting readers to explore Singapore’s literary culture
Bring communities and partners together to develop dynamic literary communities
Supporting impactful and efflorescent work that extends and renders anew the country’s rich literary lineage through our publishing arm AFTERIMAGE
Some of more established programmes include 2024’s Poems on the MRT, Singapore Poetry Writing Month (SingPoWriMo) and our annual literary arts practitioner fellowship, the Jalan Besar Fellowship. We also support other writing initiatives such as the Migrant Writers of Singapore, poetry.sg and various other writing groups.
Interested in finding your written tribe? Follow us here:
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A donation would help add colour to Singapore’s reading and writing scene in more ways you can imagine - trust us! We’re an imaginative bunch.
ABOUT ECHO
ECHO goes beyond just the café—it’s a pause amidst the rush of city life. Started by Zilennial-preneurs who look to go against the grain, ECHO is our way of stepping beyond the 9-to-5 grind to build something that resonates. It’s a space for balance, where the clinking of cups and the soft hum of conversations create a comforting rhythm for those navigating the dynamic pace of modern life.
Serving up everyone's favourite pick-me-ups, from specialty coffee to matcha, tea and light bites, every provision at ECHO reflects this vision, blending high-quality ingredients with genuine care to leave a lasting impression. True to its name, ECHO mirrors the dreams and desires of young people seeking connection, comfort, and a break from the hustle. It’s a testament to finding moments of pause, where small joys and meaningful connections can brighten the day.
Follow the journey:
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Visit ECHO
KADA, #01-08, 5 Kadayanallur Street, Singapore 069183