Gerald Goh

MUSIC, art and nature.

Local singer Jonathan Leong considers these to be the only valid reasons for travelling overseas.

The 30-year-old – who emerged second to Hady Mirza on Singapore Idol 2 and performed the lead role in circus theatre show Voyage De La Vie – got to indulge in all three of his passions on a two-week trip to London last June.

He told The New Paper: “I took my time in London just slowly exploring various attractions.

“I love travelling by myself because there’s no worrying about a set schedule and I get to appreciate life at its own pace. Often, I’ll get inspiration for my music while I’m exploring by myself.”

Leong, who is a big fan of Filipino-American thrash metal band Death Angel, couldn’t pass up a chance to see it live when he discovered it was performing in London.

He said: “I’ve always idolised them, and their music has been a great inspiration for my own music.

“I was so happy to get a ticket for one of their gigs at The Underworld on Camden High Street.”

At the autograph signing session after the concert, guitarist Rob Cavestany even invited Leong to have a drink with the band at a nearby pub.

Leong gushed: “It was a dream come true.We took a picture and Rob said, ‘You’re one of us!’

“Rob and I talked a lot, and we found out we had a lot in common. Music really brings people together.”

Leong – who released his debut Mandarin album Mysterious Hero last October – also visited Westminster Cathedral, where he listened to the Westminster Cathedral Choir.

He said: “The choir harmonises really well. The music really touched me as I was raised in a Catholic family.

Steeped in history

“The cathedral itself is steeped in history in a very awe-inspiring way.

“I’m a huge fan of art in general.”

Leong also made time to see the exhibit of British clay animation series Wallace & Gromit at the Science Museum.

He’s been a huge fan of it since childhood.

He said: “Part of why clay animation is so appealing to me is because it’s very much like recording an album.

“There’s so much effort involved in the creation of both, which most people never realise until they actually do it.

“The work is often slow and painstaking, but the reward of seeing your artcometo life is unbeatable.”

Leong revealed that one of the highlights of his trip – visiting the famous prehistoric monument Stonehenge – was like “walking into a painting”.

He had driven all the way from London to the county of Wiltshire in a six-hour trip starting at noon.

He said: “I was lucky I made it there when there was still light and there was nobody around.

“Stonehenge has this air of mystery about it.

“There’s an inside joke about Stonehenge that only fans of (the mockumentary) This Is Spinal Tap will know,” headded with a laugh.

Leong’s fascination with nature also saw him visiting both the Stourhead estate near Wiltshire and the Greenwich Park in London.

He said: “I went jogging in and around Greenwich Park a few times. Although the scale of the park is massive, it’s still very nicely laid out.

“There are a lot of nice flower arrangements and dogs are allowed off the leash there.”