Singapore — What does one of the United Kingdom’s leading chain of coffeehouses have in common with some of the nation’s most creative talents? Well, a lot more than one might imagine. In fact, kicking off Costa Coffee’s new initiative, titled Costa Coffee With, is local singer-songwriter Gentle Bones, who will be performing this Saturday (Sept 12) at 6.30pm at Costa’s VivoCity outlet. In the spirit of the brand’s London heritage, the ongoing series will showcase a mix of local and London-based talents — blending music, visual and literary elements with the fine art of coffee making. The platform also aims to give local talent the opportunity to collaborate with Costa to create experiences for fans based on a shared love of the creative arts. Each session will draw inspiration from the home of Costa, London — whether in the form of a collaboration with a London-based artist or London-inspired content from a local artist.

And Joel Tan, 21, who is better known as Gentle Bones, is a performer with just that connection, having returned from touring London as part of Singapore: Inside Out (SG:IO), a multi-city traveling showcase for local talents. The 21-year-old artiste, who has opened for international acts such as Us The Duo and Christina Perri, will also give fans a glimpse into his experiences at the event. “It is exciting to see a brand like Costa work hand in hand with the creative community to come up with new experiences. It’s the first time I’ve done something as intimate as this and I’m ecstatic to be able to explain the process behind my music and perform it.”

Said Cindy Poh, regional marketing manager of South-east Asia and India for Costa Coffee: “London has an incredibly diverse and rich creative scene — whether it is arts, music or literature. We find that these pursuits tend to go best with a cup of coffee in hand. The Costa Coffee With series was born out of our desire to contribute to the local creative community by bringing the best of London and Singapore together in a way that would excite our customers.”

As such, the next session (which is slated to take place in a couple of months and still being planned) will champion the literary arts. Held in collaboration with Books Actually and its owner Kenny Leck, it will likely feature local writers, book reading sessions and writing workshops.

“As part of this programme, authors will share their creative inspirations via an interactive session that blends literary expression with fine coffee making,” Poh added. “Singaporeans can look forward to these creative showcases at least once every quarter, and follow our Facebook page to find out about our next session.”

At each Costa Coffee With session, Costa’s baristas will also run specially curated master classes, to give coffee lovers a glimpse into the art of making and appreciating skillfully handcrafted coffee. Admission is by invitation only and those interested can visit http://Facebook.com/CostaCoffeeSingapore for more details. DON MENDOZA