SINGAPORE
MAY 2016 ISSUE #212
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ONE MAN’S JUNK
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m83 the ROFL issue
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Singaporeans are often accused of being a no-chill bunch who are so high-strung and focused on the rat race (and the mundane day-to-day) that we can’t seem to take it easy and find humour in the everyday. A stranger approaches and our defenses heighten, someone tells a cold joke and we roll our eyes. Can’t we ever just relax? Well, it’s time to unfurrow those brows, folks. This is your chill pill in print form.
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To tickle your funny bone, we present some of the most chuckle-inducing people and happenings – from investigating comedy rock bands (page 14) to viral fashion memes (page 38), and from trying weird beauty hacks (page 66) to rediscovering some of our favourite childhood cartoons (page 74) and the hidden innuendos behind ’em seemingly innocent shows. We promise this issue will be a hoot. We just hope you can find it in you to laugh with us.
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CONTENTS M83
Over the course of his career, M83 has provided a brilliantly vivid and endlessly explorable delivery system of all the impulses that fall under the auspices of the pop continuum. Last month, he released his seventh album, Junk, and the effects of his newfound celebrity can be seen in how quickly it’s become a deeply polarising outing. We examine its merits ahead of his show here. Image courtesy of Andrew Arthur.
24
the lonely island The trio write, produce and star in their upcoming big screen outing.
meme and you
The oft-confusing world of fashion meets the Internet.
48
14
ROCK & ROFL
10 of the best comedy rock bands we love.
LAUGH OUT LOUD
38
This season’s best jackets and fun frocks.
THIS OR THAT S i x b e a u t y h a c k s y o u s h o u l d t r y.
74
more dimensions than one Rediscover your favourite childhood animations.
KUMAR The funny man reveals what makes him tick.
81
66
eugene soh The Dude talks about his Renaissance-inspired pieces.
80
MAY 2016
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obsessions
MOTHERN o PUCKER t since Dead Or Alive singer Pete Burns’ botched lip job have we seen an emergence of the trout pout trend. And this, we thank the Kardashian-Jenner clan for (lookin’ a t y o u Ky l i e ) . I n a bid to achieve fuller-looking lips on the cheap, women (and men) around the world took to DIY and experimented with bottles and ridiculous liner tricks – only to end up with bruising, l o s s o f s e n s a t i o n , a n d a c l o w n i s h ’ d o . To b a n k o n t h i s phenomenon, U.S.’s Fullips has released a lip enhancer that provides a “safer way” to plump up your puckers. We s t i l l t h i n k t h e t r o u t p o u t i s a b s u r d , b u t i f y o u m u s t , at least use a proper product – or get legit help. And please, don’t go cray on the over-lining yo.
EASY CHEESY As much as I’ve sometimes critiqued America’s excesses, I can’t help but marvel at some of its manifestations – those I find supremely hilarious. Aerosol cheese is a terrific example of this. Think about it, word by word: Aerosol. Cheese. Only from America could this have come. Even arch-innovators like the Japanese couldn’t have created this – ’cos of decency. There’s something about how Easy Cheese appeals to man’s baser instincts like sloth and greed that cracks me up every time I think about it. Right now, I want nothing more than to spray some bacon-flavoured (yup, Easy Cheese comes in flavours) processed cheese into my mouth and slurp it down to Happy Town. Time to hit up that Cold Storage. snackworks.com
US$41.99 (multi-pack), available at fullips.com.
what the actual F?!
Jazmin Kelly Six Editor @adoseofpretty
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THINGS THAT’VE HAD US IN STITCHES THIS MONTH.
TURN FOR THE BATTER
The tech world has long tried to enter the F&B realm, often to hilarious and utterly pointless ends – but the PancakeBot appears to be both a legitimate and ridiculous convergence of the two. And despite being indifferent to the fluffy, starchy discs, this pancake-printing device is something I could easily foresee using on a lazy Sunday morning. Using software that allows culinary craftsmen to channel their illustrative and tracing skills, the printer’s proprietary batter-dispensing system then prints the batter onto its non-stick electric griddle – turning your muses into morning munchies. Mona Lisa flapjacks, anyone?
US$299.99, available at pancakebot.com
Trent Davis Lifestyle/Online Writer @trentobentogram
bubble bubble
There’s no shower buddy that’s more fun than a bar of soap from Pop Cauldron. Founded in 2015, the U.S.-based brand is known for its hilarious take on pop culture in the form of handmade, vegan and organic soap products. In fact, each bar is made with only plant-based oils or butter, promising clean skin without irritation. But while all that is great, the truly stellar part of Pop Cauldron’s soaps is in its wit. Fly the Mexican flag with All Trumped Up’s cilantro and lime scent, or flaunt your nerdy side with Chimichanga (complete with Deadpool’s katanas sticking out). My favourite is the Miami Snow – a Tuscan leather-scented bar that has an actual dollar bill rolled up in the soap. Told you bath time can be fun. popcauldron.com
Aaron Kok Fashion Writer/Stylist @ak.ok
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JUNE 6, 2016
The Star Performing Arts Centre - The Star Theatre TICKET ON SALE
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SINGAPORE
SERVIN’ UP THE FRESHEST CONTENT
OUR EXCLUSIVE WEB HIGHLIGHTS THIS MONTH CHAT: CORINNE BAILEY RAE
THE SOUL/R&B SONGSTRESS SPILLS ON HER NEW ALBUM AND AESTHETIC TRANSFORMATION.
FLEX WITH CLARKS
THE MOCCASIN MEETS MINIMALIST DECONSTRUCTION WITH CLARKS’ TRIGENIC FLEX COLLECTION.
TIMEX WATERBURY RED WING COLLECTION PRECISION WATCHMAKING MEETS PREMIUM LEATHER CRAFTSMANSHIP IN THIS ALL-AMERICAN COLLABORATION.
CHAT: COPELAND THE MAESTROS OF MELANCHOLY SPEAK INTIMATELY AHEAD OF THEIR BY-REQUEST SHOW AT TAB SINGAPORE.
HOOD BY AZN
SLICK RHYMES AND FASHION CRIMES FROM ASIA’S NEW WAVE OF OUTLANDISH RAPPERS.
GRACE BY GRACE CODDINGTON
THE CREATIVE DIRECTOR TEAMS UP WITH COMME DES GARÇONS PARFUMS FOR HER DEBUT CELEBRITY SCENT.
CHAT: JAMES ZABIELA THE BRITISH BREAKBEAT AND TECH HOUSE SELECTOR CHECKS IN WITH US BEFORE TEARING UP ZOUK.
BOTTOM OF THE BARREL WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE WORST FILMS EVER MADE AND THE REASONS YOU NEED TO SEE THEM.
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riot of colour
Text Indran P Images Various Sources
“Every joke is a tiny revolution”, George Orwell once wrote. Besides succinctly describing the power of a good LOL and the way it pierces the routine calm of the status quo, the scribe also alludes to how humour creates and destroys meaning. It’s from this intellectual lineage that 20-year-old Mancunian, Kiran Leonard, hails – and he brings with him laughs aplenty. Not so much an angry young man but a supremely eloquent, intellectually hyperactive gent, he’s culled from absurdist literature, proto-existentialist philosophy and a beyond-eclectic genre-meld to deliver his new album, Grapefruit. One of its charms includes “Pink Fruit”, a 16-minute sound collage chronicling a sexual dalliance between a woman and a squid. Get your laughs on but take care to read between the lines.
kiranleonard.bandcamp.com
music
cover feature
back to the future
M83 music
cover feature
MODERN POP IS BUILT ON INDULGENCE. OVER THE COURSE OF HIS CAREER AS THE CREATIVE SHOT-CALLER FOR M83, FRENCH SINGER AND MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST, ANTHONY GONZALEZ, HAS PROVIDED A BRILLIANTLY VIVID AND ENDLESSLY EXPLORABLE DELIVERY SYSTEM OF ALL THE IMPULSES THAT FALL UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE POP CONTINUUM. IN THE FIVE YEARS THAT’VE FOLLOWED SINCE HIS EXCELLENT 2011 OPUS, HURRY UP, WE’RE DREAMING, HIS PROFILE HAS EXPANDED CONSIDERABLY. LAST MONTH, HE RELEASED HIS SEVENTH ALBUM, JUNK , AND THE EFFECTS OF HIS NEWFOUND CELEBRITY CAN BE SEEN IN HOW QUICKLY IT’S BECOME A DEEPLY POLARISING OUTING. A RETRO-CELEBRATING GALA, MUCH LIKE DAFT PUNK’S LATE-CAREER COUP, RANDOM ACCESS MEMORIES, IT HOLDS A MIRROR TO GONZALEZ’S PERCEPTION OF THE ’80S AS THE TRUE GOLDEN AGE, AND REPRIEVE FROM A PRESENT THAT FALLS IMMEASURABLY SHORT. HERE, WE EXAMINE ITS MANY MERITS AHEAD OF HIS ARRIVAL ON OUR SHORES AS PART OF THE LANEWAY PRESENTS SHOWCASE. Gonzalez is a romantic. As the lifeforce behind M83, he’s ensured that every transmission from the project is suffused with passion, wide-eyed wonder and the fall-on-your-knees longing that one can also glean from Wordsworth and Shelley. Though the M83 sound has shape-shifted throughout its six earlier albums, Gonzalez’s commitment to sonically rendering every pulsing of the heart has remained. He’s described his songs as “adult-scripted teen dreams”, fixating on the immediacy of the everyday, but on Junk, our adolescent impulses are even more urgent to him – and he elevates them to space. The album cover depicts McDonaldland-esque characters and a cheeseburger looking lost in deep space amidst a sea of stars. It’s a jokey image but it’s a deception. This is the biggest, vastest record that bears the M83 name. Even when Gonzalez says that it has “a lot of eclecticism” and that it’s “very epic”, he’s underselling it. Consider the first track and lead single, “Do It, Try It”. Beginning with a jazzy piano intro, it gathers steam as a synth-led, arena-sized chorus crashes into the mix, paving the way for an EDM drop with trancey textures to ride it out. This monumental sonic information carries lyrics that compel us to “walk into the feeling” of a “new tomorrow”, and makes you wonder what kind of listener Gonzalez is trying to court – possibly all of them. But it gets bigger. “Go!” shoots off with funk-guitar licks until festival-ready megaton synths kick in before a Zeppelin-like guitar solo rips through. It turns out that it came courtesy of Steve Vai. Yes, Gonzalez enlisted one of the reigning guitar gawds of our time to strut his stuff in a song about “going at full speed”. Throughout the album, EDM tropes clash with gonzo rock wizardry, shoegaze mind-noise and pop exuberance; it’s stunning. Gonzalez has said that he wanted to make an album that features sounds that “aren’t supposed to live with each other” and he’s certainly achieved that. Junk has a distinct late-night feel and captures, rather beautifully – and – manically, that wish to get lost in space and revel in that feeling.
Text Indran P Image Andrew Arthur
BACK WHEN… On the surface, Junk plays like a hard-won triumph. Within the scope of M83’S body of work, it stands out as a vanguard record, a career high. And with farcical electro-house bangers informing much of the current tenor of pop and “indie” rock, Junk gleams like the exception that it is. But its lush extravagance belies a bitter dislike for the contemporaneity that it exists in. Gonzalez is not down with how things are going today. At first, it’s the childlike innocence that underpins the lyrics and musical extravagance that hits you. This sensibility peaks in the emphatically-titled “For the Kids”, where the daughter of Junk’s co-producer Justin MeldalJohnsen plays the part of a child’s ghost – assuring her parents in her lovely voice that she is “the wind” and that the wind is “never sad” and that she’ll soon be strong enough to make her fly as well, and ends with, “Nothing will stop us then”. It’s odd, powerful stuff. Odd, because in this age where the
ennui of The Weeknd dominates popular consciousness, we’re hit suddenly with a sentiment that is pure and free of spite and cynicism. And when you probe deeper, you’ll realise that this is a carefully guarded emotional threshold of Gonzalez’s. While we’ve seen dramatisations of childhood throughout the M83 catalogue, it’s on Junk, which Gonzalez describes as his “most personal record yet”, that this urge to revisit youth is the most poignant. Particularly, this stems from his distaste for how we’ve “lost the culture of making things”. He sees the digital age as one where the bar is low and where nothing is new. And when he lets on that mainstream music makes him want to vomit – you know his disaffection is a beyond-visceral thing. That’s why Junk, for all its teeming festival-sized sounds, is so thoroughly a retro-minded work. Gonzalez himself has said that he was “looking backwards to the ’70s and ’80s”. And if you accuse him of believing in a false Eden, then you only prove his point. ZERO GRAVITY When the record comes to a close after the brilliant “Sunday Night 1987”, it’ll be obvious to you that so much has happened along the way. Spoiler alert: Beck shows up, too. But besides the echoes of all the overpowering lushness, what also lingers is just why all of it was Junk to Gonzalez. If he was so opposed to how disposable and indistinct our culture’s become, why would align his most high-stakes offering with it? Pressed for an answer, he doubles down on his earlier point but is much more unguarded. It’s called Junk because he sought to make an “organised mess” from which people will pick one or two songs that they like – “the rest becomes junk”. Junk that floats around in space and orbits the planet. Yikes.
Junk, then, is a deeply thoughtful musician’s premonition of what’s to come; of the way music will be received by a carnivorous culture that spits out as much as it devours. It used to be that music was released into the zeitgeist. Now, it’s made against it. Too fatalistic? Not really. Not if you’ve dedicated yourself to making timely, impactful art. So, what’s the move forward, then? Do we sit around and mope while the end is nigh? No. As Gonzalez has it, the proclivities of culture shouldn’t affect our happiness. Speaking for himself, he says that he’s well into his career to care too much of about what people think. Public opinion only matters insofar that it expands his horizons. And with steely-eyed resolve, he finishes off with wisdom we’d all do good to heed: if you’re going to leave junk behind, make sure it’s your junk.
Catch M83 live at The Coliseum on May 19. ilovem83.com
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ROCK & ROFL
WE’RE SO USED TO MUSICIANS APPROACHING THEIR CRAFT WITH WHITE-KNUCKLED INTENSITY, BUT THERE’S ANOTHER BREED OF MUSIC-MAKERS THAT’LL LOOK UPON THE FORMER IN WHY-SO-SERIOUS PUZZLEMENT. HERE, WE HONOUR THEM – 10 OF THE BEST COMEDY BANDS OUT THERE.
THE DARKNESS
Chest-thumping bravado is de rigueur in rock & roll. So these catsuit-wearing Brits thinking that they’re the “greatest rock band on earth” isn’t what makes them outrageously funny. Besides the aforementioned catsuit thing, these pushing-40 gents typify excess in their bloated, throwback-to-the-’80s rock, which bears frontman Justin Hawkins’ shrill falsetto and the usual litany of excess: Hawkins fell off a massive stage-prop doughnut and cracked his ribs, then went to rehab after blowing £150,000 on cocaine; during a heated recording session for their second album, bassist Frankie Poullain left the band by climbing through a window. They’re parodies of themselves.
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KURUPT FM
STEEL PANTHER
TENACIOUS D
How cool is it that this West London comedy crew is also an actual pirate radio station that beams garage and drum & bass, as well as stars in their very own BBC TV show, People Just Do Nothing. Created by and starring Allan Mustafa, who plays the crew’s leader, MC Grindah, the group puts on this mean-mug persona that believes in its own hype. For example, in a recent interview, when asked who his favourite new artiste was, Grindah replied, “Kurupt FM. Because every year, we come up with new s**t. So, technically, I am my own new artiste”.
Rock & roll is an obligingly monstrous phenomenon. It calls for outsize personalities and taste-defying attacks on what’s perceived as society’s polite norms. Comedy rock giants Steel Panther both celebrate and desecrate that. Every aspect of their aesthetic – sound, image and philosophy – is a spoof of glam metal blown out to insane propotions. Their hyper-puerile lyrics, like “Fat Girl’s”: “I wanna take your chubby ass back to my place / Squirt my baby gravy all over your face”, are so facepalm-inducing, that it’s not a stretch to say that Steel Panther spoofs the very practice of spoofing.
Jack Black did try to write a serious song once; it was a breakup song. And, of course, it ended up sounding like “like a hot blast of cheese, a melodramatic corn sauce”. This was in high school and since then, Black and his man-child-in-crime Kyle Gass decided to stick to making what critics have called “mock rock” – a sickly-sweet blend of rock cliches with frat-boy humour and rock virtuosity. The duo has released three flat-out great albums, their own feature film and “Tribute”, which, as you may know, is “the best song in the world”.
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STAN FREBERG
THE JIMI HOMELESS EXPERIENCE
THE BONZO DOG DOO-DAH BAND
“The decision as to what’s funny and not shall rest solely with Mr. Freberg”, this parody veteran once declared. He had to put his foot down since the untouchable greats of yesteryears – namely, Harry Belafonte, Johnnie Ray and The Platters – weren’t too pleased with his hilarious renditions of their songs. But it’s worth noting that his takedowns actually increased sales of the original records they spoofed and that he was specially commissioned by enduring powerhouse label Capitol Records to make these jokey tunes. So convinced was the label of his laughter-summoning powers that it gave him his very own big band.
It’s hard to think that people would dare molest the legacy of Jimi Hendrix, one of the most inarguably brilliant musical minds to ever stride the planet. Oh, but they will. On the 40th anniversary of the release of Hendrix’s worldbirthing debut, Are You Experienced?, these Los Angelinos surfaced with their first, Are You Homeless?. Led by multiple hat-wearer Jon Kinyon, a known parodist and owner of a bespoke condom company, the band has their names on Hendrix-inspired songs like “Boxy Lady” and “Hobo Child (No Deposit, No Return)”. That they dress in hobo accoutrements is part of their charm.
You need only look at the band’s name to assume that it’s the handiwork of a bunch of merry pranksters. In the ’60s, writer-poet-nut job Viv Stanshall and Monty Python collaborator Neil Innes got some of their art school friends together to start a jazzy, avant-garde band/art project, through which to dispense their explosive creative energies. Besides parodying themselves by taking at dig at their own jazz roots on the intentionally badly-played song, “Jazz, Delicious Hot, Disgusting Cold”, the contents of their fame includes the Elvis-mocking “Death Cab For Cutie”, the birth-name of your favourite emo band.
Text Indran P Images Various Sources
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SPINAL TAP
“WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC
ROSEMARY’S BILLYGOAT
Rock and heavy metal have long struggled with identity crises. While it’s fun to buy into torrid sexcapades, drugs-like-water excesses and dalliances with the devil, it’s also hard to take all this seriously beyond a certain point. In the late ’80s, this ‘band’ of musician-comedians fused social critique, comedy and show-stopping chops and rode a cultural perfect storm to legitimate icondom. From the groundbreaking, patently hilarious film This Is Spinal Tap, the band would grow from a fictional band that made fictional songs like “Lick My Love Pump” and “Sex Farm”, to an IRL band with three charting albums.
Give it up for the greatest of them all! There’s no one artiste as prolific as Alfred Matthew “Weird Al” Yankovic in the field of tongue-firmly-in-cheek music. He stands atop a whopping 14-album-tall discography that – from his very first showing to his 2014 coup Mandatory Fun (which debuted at the top of the Billboard 200) – holds up a distorted mirror to culture at large. Yes, that’s right, no genre is sacred to him. From “Smells Like Nirvana” (you get it), to “Handy” and “Word Crimes”, send-ups of contemporary megahits, “Fancy” and “Blurred Lines”, respectively, he’s gleefully defiled the work of our most-polished idols.
Here’s the cast of this fantastically costumed freak show: frontman Mike Odd, guitarist Neal Gargantua, bassist Pat Trick and drummer Paul Bearer. Fans of the B-movie canon, this quartet is known for its kitschy but tremendously detailed horror-themed stage shows that incorporate many comically absurd props and stunts – including pyrotechnics, electric chairs and monsters. Here’s a quotable from one of their best, “Silver Bullet”: “I put my fingers in thee, and I breeze past security! / Nobody checking on all of my deeds, I need a checker for all of my deed / Hey, Kemosabe! I’m alone! I am alone!”
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VANESSA FERNANDEZ
NICHOLAS CHO
MUSICIAN
Playing at the Kaleidoscope Arena at ZoukOut last year has to be my favourite Zouk memory. The music was awesome, the local acts were dope and it was just overall an awesome vibe.
SHIGGA SHAY
OWNER, FLESH IMP
RAPPER
Zouk was the first club I’ve ever performed at and it’s a club where I met my DJ, NashD.
I thought it was such a huge milestone for Zouk, a Singaporean club, to come in Top 10 amongst massive international super clubs all over the world in the DJ Mag poll.
WILLABELLE ONG INFLUENCER
ROZZ
EUGENE LIM
THE GENTLEMAN’S PRIDE I’ll always remember combining free drink coupons with friends to claim the most potent drink – Long Island Jug. And then huddling round the jug sharing the drink through many straws.
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We told DJ Ghetto that it was my friend’s birthday and he actually stopped the music, made everyone sing ‘Happy Birthday’ and made my friend down vodka straight from the bottle for five seconds, while everyone counted.
RADIO DJ My favourite memory of Zouk would be the year I was hired as a podium dancer at the main room. It was hard work, we danced three-hour sets, with only 15-minute breaks per hour, but it was a hell lot of fun!
TRACY PHILLIPS DIRECTOR, PPURPOSE
Zouk allowed me to indulge my many passions and helped me recognise my life purpose – to bring people together and create positive change. Thank you, Zouk, for everything and Happy 25th!
TWENTY-FIVE CANDLES CHARMAINE SEAH
LINCEY
OWNER, ELEMENTARY CO.
Of all my favourites memories at Zouk, it would have to be that one Saturday night at the old Velvet where I was casually waiting for my drink to arrive. Instead, I got proposed to! A year later, we got married!
WAYNE LEE AGM, ZOUK
Sven Väth at Zouk is always a highlight.
RESIDENT DJ, ZOUK As a DJ, I’ve been fortunate enough to stand shoulderto-shoulder with some of the greatest DJs on the planet. Many of them have been huge influences to me but none more so than DJ Hong and his nights at the old Velvet Underground.
DEE KOSH SOPHIA CHONG INFLUENCER
My favorite DJ is Lincey! He’s great!
GABRIEL LING SUPERVISOR, ZOUK
My favorite celebration at Zouk would have to be our yearly Halloween affair, where Zouk’s customers and staff put in so much effort for their costumes. It’s always a unique experience.
YOUTUBER
I think my fondest memory of Zouk was when Major Lazer came to town in 2010. Their hype man Skerrit Bwoy started DAGGERING. Everyone was wondering what was going on, but I was feelin’ irie!
VICKY
SECURITY, ZOUK My favourite event has always been Zouk Halloween!
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GUAN MIN INFLUENCER
AUNTY AH LAN
I love the member parties that Zouk has; they really do know how to throw a party. Zouk is more than just a club to me and I couldn’t be more proud to be able to celebrate every milestone with them.
VELVET AUNTY
My favourite memory is receiving my 10-year service award when ex-bosses Lincoln and Adeline gave me my Tag Heuer watch.
SONIA CHEW RADIO DJ
I first got acquainted with Zouk when I was 18, and seven years later, I still feel like we are getting to know each other better as the months go by. The familiar contours and rooms of the club will always be embossed in my mind – along with the memories that I’ve made there.
FRANCESCA TAN INFLUENCER
One of my favourite celebrations has definitely got to be Zouk’s Halloween parties – beats are so on point, decor is amazing and it’s a pure delight seeing everyone dress up!
ZUSHAN
RESIDENT DJ, ZOUK I remember the days of turntablism battles in Zouk, back in July 2007. I snatched my first win at the Phuture DJ Battle. That was a rather defining moment in my career, especially on my first year of DJing out.
MAE TAN
INFLUENCER
Apart from all the out-of-this-world insanely talented DJs, I would say my favorite is DJ KoFlow; you wouldn’t want to miss Solid Gold nights with his solid gold tracks.
A QUARTER-CENTURY MILESTONE ISN’T ONE TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS IS JUST ABOUT THE RIGHT TIME TO TAKE A STEP BACK FROM LIFE AND SURVEY HOW FAR YOU’VE COME. IT’S ALSO THE RIGHT TIME TO CELEBRATE – IN A BIG WAY – THAT DISTANCE TRAVELLED, THE TROPHIES AMASSED, AND THE GOOD TIMES HAD. THIS YEAR, ZOUK TURNS 25. FROM LOCAL ICON TO DJ MAG-CERTIFIED GLOBAL INSTITUTION, OUR BELOVED DIGS AT 17 JIAK KIM STREET HAS CONTINUALLY SCALED NEW HEIGHTS. IN HONOUR OF THIS LEGACY, WE’VE GATHERED 25 PERSONALITIES CLOSE TO THE CLUB, TO RAISE THEIR GLASSES AND TOAST TO ITS BIRTHDAY.
PAT LAW
OWNER, GOOD STUPH I was merely 21 when I was at Zouk just about every week for Media Night. Flash your name card and enjoy one-for-one drinks at Wine Bar. I must’ve requested for my then-agency to print at least 400 cards.
ZOUK IS 25 NAOMI NEO INFLUENCER
I have many fond memories of Zouk but a very special one was when I had an all-girls night with my best friends once. I had so much fun dancing to the music – everything was perfect.
SOFIE CHANDRA
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HEAD OF MARKETING & EVENTS, ZOUK I always love our Zouk Flea & Easy – the coming together of individuals at a contained creative space just for a Sunday. The first time I was at Zouk Flea, I thought to myself, “Wow what did I get myself into? Thank God I didn’t choose banking!”
JAZMIN KELLY SIX EDITOR, JUICE
From Adam Low’s Mambo Jambo to We <3 House with djB and all those wacky Ready, Set, Glo nights – Zouk has seen me through my many ‘phases’ over the years. Its “Listen Without Prejudice” mantra still holds true and I credit my wide-ranging musical taste to the ‘education’ I received at this institution. Sour Plum shots FTW!
IRENE ANG
OWNER, FLY ENTERTAINMENT
Every FLY party in Zouk is memorable for me. But when I was invited to be part of Zouk’s yearly Chinese New Year Reunion Lunch for the Pioneer Generation of the Tiong Bahru Befriender Service, I was very moved.
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REMEMBER JOAN JETT’S ’80S ANTHEM “I LOVE ROCK ‘N’ ROCK”? MADRID INDIE FEMME FATALES, HINDS, CERTAINLY DO. THEIR EVERY MOVE IS SUFFUSED WITH THE FIST-UP IDGAF ETHOS THAT UNDERPINS REAL ROCK MUSIC. FROM WRANGLING WITH CANADIAN ART-ROCK INSTITUTION, THE DEARS, TO RELEASING THEIR DEBUT FULL-LENGTH LEAVE ME ALONE EARLIER THIS YEAR, CARLOTTA COSIALS, ANA PERROTE, ADE MARTIN AND AMBER GRIMBERGEN HAVE BEEN BREATHTAKING IN THEIR OWN WAY. FROM THE MOSH PIT TO THE STUDIO, THESE GIRLS ARE GOING AT FULL-SPEED AND IT’S GLORIOUS. VOCALIST-GUITARIST ANA PERROTE TAKES A BREATHER WITH US HERE, AHEAD OF HINDS’ FIRST SINGAPORE SHOW, AND PUTS AN END TO THE WHOLE BARCELONA VS. REAL MADRID DEBATE.
RIOT, GIRLS!
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HINDS business too. Can you tell us more about how you work? We usually do all our music videos ourselves. We think about them and then Carlotta edits them. She is the one that knows best what we want, and she does it for free! We design the merch, choose the supporting bands, play and write, deal with the social media, do all the press and mails and design the art of physical releases.
Leave Me Alone is making a real splash and the indie world is raving about it. How did the album come together? We wrote LMA between 2014 and 2015, when we were back from tours and packing for the next trips, so the result was 12 songs that document what we felt and saw during that whole year. The first songs were more bright and cheerful because we wrote them in summer. But the last songs were written in a rush and in winter, so they happened to be more honest and, probably, sad.
And what drew you guys to the lo-fi, garage rock kind of sensibility? It was two things. On one hand it was because we didn’t have the choice. We didn’t have money or time to spend on a good recording studio with some big producer. We just went to our rehearsal room with one mic, one friend that studied sound and a laptop. And on the other hand, we really liked the sound – it’s more honest and pure, so why would we choose a different thing?
Hinds is known to be pretty hands-on and DIY about all the non-musical aspects of the
The name debacle with The Dears is part of the band’s history now. We loved how you handled it with such a cool swagger (especially that adorable handwritten note).
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We thought it was a joke, or something we could handle easily. Changing our name was such a big deal for us that thinking of keeping something from the old name made us happy. Plus we are women, so being Hinds made sense for us. Some people have criticised Hinds for lacking in technical ability. How would you respond to such detractions? We don’t pretend anything. We know what we have and we are fighters. If I have to miss a chord because I’m crowdsurfing I’ll be happy to do it. And if my voice is not perfectly in tune because it’s the fifth month I’ve been touring, and I can’t afford a sound engineer or I didn’t have a soundcheck because I was answering emails, it’s okay. Rock and roll, soldiers!!! And lastly, Barcelona or Real Madrid? Pick one. ATLETI.
Catch Hinds live at Kult Kafe on May 11. hindsband.com
Text Indran P Image Aaron Serrano Interview courtesy of Songs For Children
Hey Ana! You’ve been touring and playing in many different places. How would you describe your touring schedule? We’ve been playing shows almost every day for one-and-a-half years! It’s just been the craziest experience. Few people have the opportunity to get to know what being a musician at a professional level is like, and it’s great to think that we’re now making music professionally.
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IN FOLK WE TRUST just because of that one song and don’t pay much attention to our other tracks and that’s fine. You don’t write for others, you write for yourself and then hope that others get it.
Text Indran P & Ng Jun Sheng Image Universal Republic Records Interview courtesy of Symmetry Entertainment
OF MONSTERS AND MEN “DON’T LISTEN TO A WORD I SAY / HEY”, GOES THE CHORAL BURST IN OF MONSTERS AND MEN’S QUADRUPLE-PLATINUM INDIE SMASH HIT “LITTLE TALKS”, BUT WE’RE AFRAID WE HAVE TO POLITELY DISAGREE. WITH THE RECENT RELEASE OF THEIR SOPHOMORE ALBUM, BENEATH THE SKIN, AND THEIR UPCOMING LIVE PERFORMANCE HERE AT THE COLISEUM, WE’RE EAGER TO HEAR EVERY WORD, TUNE, AND LYRIC REFRAIN THAT THE ICELANDIC FOLK-ROCK QUINTET HAS TO OFFER. BUT BEFORE THEY CAST ANCHOR ON OUR SHORES, WE SIT DOWN WITH LEAD VOCALIST AND GUITARIST, RAGNAR ÞÓRHALLSSON, TO LISTEN TO MORE OF HIS WORDS.
Their debut appearance at Laneway Festival 2013. The show itself is a bit hazy but it went pretty well. I do remember the festival being absolutely lovely though. The darker tint of Beneath The Skin compared to their debut, My Head Is An Animal. For this album, I think we just had a lot to say and we didn’t want to hold anything back. We were just coming off an almost two-year-long tour and in that time we experienced so many new things. So I guess there was just a lot to talk and write about and consequently, the album became more personal and self-reflecting. Their musical evolution. I think we’re always finding out more and more about who we are and what we like, and I feel you can hear that in the music. It’s getting more focused and the negative space is becoming more important. But we’re always learning and growing as we go. We’ve only released two albums and I can’t wait to start on the third. On transcending “Little Talks”. I’m sure there are tonnes of people who know us
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The magic of Iceland. I think the standard of Icelandic music is so high because the scene over there doesn’t give you any reason to compromise. There are no big pop charts to climb or radio stations to get on. None of the politics that kind of control the big music markets are to be found in Iceland. If you write a good song in Iceland, people will hear it. It’s as simple as that, and that’s a big reason why we have so many great artistes coming out of Iceland. On the (un)importance of Valentine’s Day. There’s no tradition for Valentine’s Day in Iceland and frankly, I think you don’t really need a special day to do something with your partner. The day is very convenient for greeting card makers though, wouldn’t mind getting in on that. On their cameo appearance on Game Of Thrones. Yes, you should be able to catch a glimpse of us somewhere in the background in this next season of Game of Thrones. We play a travelling band. It was a lovely experience. To you, with love. We’re so excited to be coming back! We look forward to seeing our fans and playing for them and we hope to see as many people as possible at our show! Also, a random fact: Did you know that there’s an Icelandic band called Singapore Sling?
Catch Of Monsters And Men on May 10 at the WOAH Festival Sideshow happening at The Coliseum. ofmonstersandmen.com
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BETH YAP PENG IS A CLASSIC CASE OF PETITE FRAME, PRODIGAL TALENT. THE DIMINUTIVE 22-YEAR-OLD OWNS A HONEYED COO THAT EXPANDS INTO A POWERFULLY EMOTIVE AND JAZZY YOWL THAT GIVES HER SINGING A SUBLIMELY HIGH-STAKES FEEL. SHE’S ALSO A BASSIST WHO KNOWS HOW TO SLAP A SUMPTUOUS GROOVE OUT OF HER INSTRUMENT. LATER THIS MONTH, ALL THESE GIFTS WILL SURFACE IN HER DEBUT ALBUM, BEAUTY FOR ASHES – A WORK MADE WITH CARE, CRAFT AND ENGAGEMENT AND ONE THAT WILL MOVE YOU. BUT BEFORE YOU HIT REPEAT, STUDY UP ON THESE 10 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HER.
Bass wasn’t the first instrument she picked up. My background is actually in classical piano. I started playing when I was six. When I was 12, I took an interest in singing. By age 14, I was playing the guitar and writing my own songs. It was only at 18 that I was assigned to the bass by my lecturer in school. I just felt more musically-inspired playing the bass than the guitar.
Beauty For Ashes chronicles a cycle. Making music is my way of transforming negativity into something positive – taking ashes and turning them into beautiful things. A lot of my songs are a result of unpleasant things that I encountered. The album is arranged in a cyclical way: it starts off on a bright note but it gets progressively darker. Oftentimes, it’s through darkness that we experience light. She’s recorded in the same studio as Stevie Wonder, U2, Lauryn Hill and Tori Amos. My single “Californian Dream” was written and recorded in San Francisco, at Fantasy Studios. It’s a special place to me, since some of the greatest, most inspiring musicians have recorded there.
GIRL ON FIRE
She likes challenging herself as a songwriter. I wrote “Vandal Miss Joachim” for National Environment Agency’s Eco Music Challenge. I’ve realised that writing well for specific topics is a skill. The competition was meant to broaden my horizons. The haters don’t faze her. “Haters Gon’ Hate” is a message against being judgemental towards others. Everyone’s going through their own problems, so why hate on others? She doesn’t like being spoon-fed. On one hand, I’m grateful that there’s not a lot we need to worry about, being in Singapore. At the same time, I feel like everything being so sterile, methodical and whitewashed has made us complacent and sheltered. If you only care about the rat race, you’re denying yourself actual, rewarding life experiences. Getting too “Comfortable” is not her thing. It’s become trendy to have ‘First World Problems’. But I often wonder whether or not these are ‘real problems’. I believe that materialism is a luxury, not a prerogative. That’s why I wrote “Comfortable”. Alt-rock and jazz inspire her equally. I love Lianne La Havas, Esperanza Spalding, Snarky Puppy, Allen Stone and Robert Glasper. But my songwriting is influenced mainly by bands I listened to when I was younger, like Switchfoot and Anberlin. I think it’s really cool that they tackle existential themes within a pop-rock framework. She wants to help. I hope Beauty For Ashes encourages people when they’re in a funk. It’s been my source of hope and it’s my wish that it translates that way for others too. Music is one of the best ways through which we can all rise up.
bittymacbeth celebrates the launch of Beauty For Ashes with a live performance at the Esplanade Recital Studio on May 31. soundcloud.com/bittymacbeth
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Text Indran P Image Raphael Ong
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BITTYMACBETH
Instagram brought producer Dru Chen and her together. Dru’s best friend tagged him in an Instagram post of me covering a Sly & The Family Stone song on bass. I didn’t even know who his friend was! But we added each other after and met at Music Matters last year.
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GOOD THINGS SOMETIMES COME IN PAIRS, AND THAT’S THE CASE WITH THIS SWEDISH DUO. THEY HAVE THAT CHEMISTRY, THAT SPECIAL VIBE BETWEEN THEM THAT TURNS THE ALWAYS-CREEPY PROPOSITION OF MEETING ONLINE INTO A DANCE FLOOR-QUAKING, FESTIVAL-RESOUNDING, HOUSE MUSIC-REPOSITIONING PARTNERSHIP. TOGETHER, DIMITRI (BORN DIMITRIOS VARDALIS) AND WYMAN (ANDREAS WIMAN) HAVE SCORNED THE IRE OF PURISTS AND FITTED THE 4/4 THUMP OF EDM WITH THE BEST PARTS OF CLASSIC HOUSE. A STRING OF WELL-CELEBRATED SINGLES DOCUMENTS THEIR GOLDEN TOUCH, AS DOES THEIR RECENT IN-DEMAND HIT, “EMPIRE”. BEFORE THEY ELEVATE YOU AT THEIR UPCOMING ZOUK SHINDIG, THEY DISH HERE ABOUT WHY IT TAKES TWO. Hey guys, we’re glad to have you back in Singapore. You recently released the longanticipated “Empire” original mix. What took so long? We are so glad to be back! I think we played almost four hours the last time and we hope to do that again. We’re really humbled by all the feedback for “Empire”. Yes, we honestly took our time with it. Everybody had a tight schedule. But we’re glad it finally got released through our own label, Buce Records. How did the collaboration with Tom Staar for “Empire” come about? We were speaking with Tom on Skype and were giving each other feedback on our respective productions, and one thing led to the other. Tom is a great producer!
Text Indran P Image Felix Frank Photography Interview courtesy of Zouk Singapore
Share your experiences with other collaborators, like Steve Angello and AN21. Pretty much the same old thing: ideas back and forth until we’re all happy with the end result. The AN21 collab lead to the Steve collab and so on. Everyone brings something different to the table in terms of ideas, sounds and vision.
Why are you so drawn to progressive house? I think it was about six years ago, when the scene was a little different. We always wanted to show emotion in our music and I believe now, after all that time, our fans appreciate us for just exactly that. For us, melodies and chords have to be emotional. Progressive house was just the natural platform for us to achieve that and at the same time, take it to dance floors and festival stages. We heard the two of you met on the web. How did that eventually evolve into a professional music partnership? Well, it’s not more than two guys meeting up and working with each other. We got along well and things were so much fun and eventually, we landed a record deal with a major label. The rest just progressed naturally. Today, we are so much more than a duo. We are family. What’s the process of making music like as a duo? Does one of you take on particular roles or aspects of the process? Working as a duo is like making a collab – it’s all about bouncing ideas off each other. Nowadays, we are so in sync that whenever someone has an
BY THE POWER OF TWO DIMITRI VANGELIS & WYMAN music
idea, the other is already thinking about it. You kind of grow into each other. Some guys feel they glide away from each other, music-wise, after a couple of years, but we’re the opposite. For so long, the Swedish pop scene has commanded global attention. How do you think the Swedish electronic scene is going to develop? The Swedish music scene is very small, but at the same time, we have a lot of global heavyweights within that little scene. In terms of the electronic scene, it’s like the global scene. Almost everybody is trying to find a new hot sound to progress into and use, perhaps, to separate from the rest. We, on the other hand, aren’t trying to force anything. Whatever music we might release in the future, you’re going to hear us. That’s what it’s about. We only release what we believe in.
Dimitri Vangelis & Wyman will elevate you at Zouk on May 27. dimitrivangeliswyman.com
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TEEN SPIRIT
WE CARE ABOUT THE YOUNG FOLKS
THESE BANDS CELEBRATE YOUTH IN ALL ITS VARIED SPLENDOUR. THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART
What’s in a name? Everything, for this former-band-turned-solo-project of frontman Kip Berman. Mining the same vein as youth-minded gatekeepers like The Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana, Berman is devoted to making fuzzed-out indie rock with a twee sensibility. “Simple And Sure”, is his motto.
THE MEN
Though their moniker might give you the impression that these New York rockers are jacketed Interpol-esque gents, they’re actually dirty-jeaned long-hairs who make sweaty, ’70s-reviving rock about being in a band, winning and losing at love, and basking in the nothing-like-it pleasure of music.
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COURTNEY BARNETT
MAGIC POTION
Cut from the same shaggy cloth as The Big Lebowski’s Dude, Stockholm natives – vocalistguitarist Gustaf Montelius, guitarist Johan Harrius, bassist Kristoffer Byström and Andreas Sandberg on drums – espouse a slacker worldview which posits that everything will be okay if we were to just be. Musically, that translates into Zen philosophy being inflected via catchy, C86era rippling guitar-pop, complete with maximum hum-value. On their blogosphere-celebrated 2015 debut EP, Melt, they brought this old formula to bear on the modern world, especially on the tongue-in-cheek “Booored”, where they scoffed the endless options we have for distracting our online and IRL selves by expressing their boredom with the present day. “Life is such a breeze / If you don’t think you have to worry” – this is a coda that resonates with the youth of any era. It’s inextricable from the right to love, the right to dream, and the right to look around you and be amused by the fact that the present circumstances aren’t really ideal for you. Then, you go create your own world, because that’s the imperative of being young and having standards. Magic Potion makes music for that in-process state when you’re still figuring things out. And when their debut album Pink Gum drops later this month, we can expect them to arrive – bigger, fuller and funnier.
magicpotionmusic.com
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Tuning out the noise from the world and revelling in the sanctity of one’s own thoughts – even if they were to flit from one thing to another – has been this Aussie garage rock lass’ game plan. It’s won her a Grammy nomination and our confidence.
MAC DEMARCO
Mac Demarco is the quintessential millennial. His Dylan-inspired songs are wistfully simple but intensely personal. Self-explanatory gems like “Viceroy” and “I’ve Been Waiting For Her”, express a sentiment that puts him and his beloved at the centre of the universe in a majestic, bluesy way.
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2016 is a tricky time to be making the claim that feel-good anything never goes out of style. Is the notion of timelessness now just a dewy-eyed exercise in whimsical editorialising? We sure hope not. In any case, no one can deny that a lot of music’s universality stems from its goodtime proffering powers. And Swedish outfit Magic Potion is highly invested in making sweet, fuzzy and effervescent indie pop that’s destined for your pleasure receptors.
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THREE KINGS THE LONELY ISLAND
videos. While they’ve also got two feature films to their name, none of their past endeavours compares to the scale and sweep of their upcoming big screen outing, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. Written, produced and starring all three members – including a whole host of A-Dlisters – the film reprises the trio’s meta, comically subversive perspective of pop culture’s obsession with celebrities and the correspondingly deluded egomania of much-adored public figures, and blows it out to insane proportions.
The Lonely Island is known primarily for their music; for running the “frap”, or to quote them, “fake rap”, game with their three sumptuously spoofy albums and trove of meme-birthing music
In the film, Samberg plays Conner4Real, a pop hunk going through an existential crisis as a result of his poorly-received second album. Watch the trailer, take in Conner’s penchant for jaw-dropping
excess – “It takes a village to make me look dope” – and you’ll realise that the Biebs is the impossibly head-in-the-clouds superstar locked in The Lonely Island’s parody crosshairs. At a time when many public figures have displayed a dismaying cultural muteness about the world around them, Samberg, Schaffer and Taconne have tapped into the celebrity industrial complex to take it to task. To drive the point home, here’s a zinger from comedienne Sarah Silverman who plays Conner’s publicist: “I’d love to get Conner to the point where he’s just kind of everywhere, like oxygen or gravity or clinical depression”.
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GREATEST FITS FOUR OF THE LONELY ISLAND’S MOST HILARIOUS MUSIC MOMENTS.
“D**K IN A BOX” (2006) The Lonely Island has always provided the musical pedigree to back up their goofball schtick, and for this one, they enlist Justin Timberlake – to attack overly syrupy male-gaze R&B with their own self-consciously stupid conceit that spells out literally what all those Usher songs only hint at.
“I’M ON A BOAT” (2009) This is the big one that stopped time on the Internet. Together with AutoTune impresario T-Pain, the Islanders put on a massive rager on a cruise ship, hilariously indicting rap-game braggadocio a la “I got a nautical themed pashmina afghan / I’m the king of the world, on a boat like Leo”.
“LIKE A BOSS” (2009) Besides launching its title into pop culture’s vernacular of slang, this is one of the very few Lonely Island tracks that parodies a specific song. Inspired by rapper Slim Thug’s number, Samberg lists the ways – including bombing the Russians – in which he’s a “boss”.
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“YOLO” (2013) The trio reinterpreted the tired cliches of YOLO, into You Oughta Look Out – flipping the script in hilarious splendour. They spend the whole song advising young’uns to play it safe, save money and “Never go to loud clubs / ’Cause it’s bad for your ears”.
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Andy Samberg has that face. Powered by an endlessly expressive mile-wide grin, that mug of superhumanly infinite elasticity is custom-built to give you the best medicine. You can’t train for something like that – you just have it. Since the early-2000s, Samberg has harnessed his natural endowments, and, together with his friends Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taconne as The Lonely Island, has given the world so much sidesplitting gold. And in a few weeks, their biggest, most ambitious project will be unleashed.
MUSIC HOWIE LEE (LIVE) / CHACHA (LIVE) / HOWELL AL ROCCO & BLOW / THE OBSERVATORY / SYNDICATE ATTAGIRL! / PLEASURE / MR. HAS / SA PUSHIN’ON / FAUXE / HOME / DARKER THAN WA X THE DONN / #VINYLOFTHEDAY
V I S UA L S HEYLOU
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EMPYREAL
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CHILDREN
* MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED!
21.05.16
STUDIO 1939
9PM TILL LATE
KEONG SAIK CARNIVAL PRE-PARTY X SYNDICATE FEATURING MR CARMACK (US) / INTRIGUANT / F ZPZ JERREAU VANDAL (SOULECTION, NL) / KIAT / JERLS VISUALS BY SSYSTM
S P O N S O R S | PA R T N E R S
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AL ROCCO AND BLOW FEVER
CULTURE CLASH 026
LAST YEAR’S SG50 HULLABALOO WAS A MACRO CELEBRATION OF HOW FAR SINGAPORE HAD COME FROM HER PROVERBIAL HUMBLE BEGINNINGS. YET, WHAT GOT LOST IN THE DIN OF FIGHTER JETS AND FANCY PARADES IS AN APPRECIATION OF HOW OUR PAST AND HIGHLY-TECHNOLOGISED PRESENT COMMINGLE IN FASCINATING AND ENDEARING WAYS. ENTER KEONG SAIK ROAD: A PART OF SINGAPORE THAT IS SO SIMULTANEOUSLY HISTORIC AND MODERN, IT IS THE SITE OF THE KEONG SAIK CARNIVAL. HELMED BY POTATO HEAD FOLK, IT IS A STREET MARKET AND LIVE MUSIC AND CULTURE EVENT THAT CELEBRATES THE DASHING COEXISTENCE OF OLD AND NEW. HERE’S AN OVERVIEW OF THE MUSICAL GIFTS THAT AWAIT YOU.
THE KEONG SAIK CARNIVAL
Shanghai posse BUSYGANG has been chiming in on the trap wave for a hot minute now. Their recent Red Money mixtape is a good example of what they traffick: spitfire flows, with a voluptuous, brooding swell of bass made to shake club walls. Count on crewmembers Al Rocco and Blow Fever to bring da ruckus at the festival.
CHACHA China isn’t exactly the bastion of civil liberties but Zunyi native, ChaCha, has shattered some of the boundaries of oppression to blitz her own path. The first Chinese artiste to be accepted into the Red Bull Music Academy, the singer has also worked with big-name luminaries like Kode9, Adrian Sherwood and The Bug, on her own trip hop-influenced work.
DRUNK MONK Englishman Gaz Williams is one of the most influential and respected figures in the Shanghai underground scene. Besides managing Shelter, widely regarded as Shanghai’s best club, he also runs a record/clothing label called SVBKVLT, and makes great bass and jungle music. What you’ll be getting from him is a crate digger’s love for music channelled via thick, rapturous grooves.
HOWIE LEE SoundCloud regulars will know the juddering trap cut by Brooklyn-via-Hubei MC, Bohan Phoenix, and Beijing producer Howie Lee titled “They Don’t Know”. Bars aside, the production is a bass-buoyed East-meets-West mix that makes the ‘fusion music’ tag so weak by comparison. All eyes are on this Sino futurist-minded auteur and he’ll be doing his thing right in front of you. music
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POTATO HEAD’S FOLKS MR. HAS A tastemaker whose beyond-eclectic palette informs his transportive DJ sets, Mr. Has is also a mainstay who’s adorned the decks in Singapore for a long time. Though his former stint as the Lo & Behold Group’s Music Director and his current gig as Asia Pacific Music Director for W Hotels speak for what he brings to the table, his genre-flitting live sets are the best testament.
PUSHIN’ ON The Pushin’ On crew will take care of all your funk, soul, hip-hop, boogie, disco, Afrobeat, Latin and jazz needs. For almost a decade, The Mighty Mighty, MC Masterpiece, Shellsuit, Chunk and Code have been blessing the scene with their patently chilled-out selections. They’ll definitely add a lot to the good vibes at Keong Saik that day.
We catch up with Potato Head Folk’s marketing managers, Jerls Su and Audrey Choy, to find out what went into the planning and curating of Keong Saik Carnival and what the festival means for one of Singapore’s most historic streets.
How did the idea to have a carnival at Keong Saik Street take shape? Audrey: It was the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) who approached Potato Head Folk with the possibility of having an event at Keong Saik. They wanted to make the area more vibrant, along the lines of an oldmeets-new theme. I think Keong Saik, which has undergone quite a bit of gentrification, is a good example of this. Jerls: Eventually, it was decided that Potato Head Folk would handle the creative aspects of the carnival – curation, etc – and Division Communications would take charge of production. What does the history of Keong Saik mean to you? J: I just think that it’s such an interesting place. Looking at the businesses and establishments operating here today, I find it so hard to believe that it used to be red light district. A: I love the architecture and how it captures some essence of Singapore’s past. It’s a cool mixture of sights and sounds – just beside Potato Head is a bah kwa uncle’s shop.
SYNDICATE No stranger to the cutting-edge, Syndicate has been flying the flag for ‘Made In Singapore’ sounds with a distinctly progressive thrust for a long time. Its roster includes torchbearers Kiat, Cherry Chan and KoFlow, as well as newer, scene-stealing talents like Intriguant and .gif. Though their interests defy canons, each of their envoys promises a heady, intoxicating time.
So the carnival was initially inspired by the pasar malam format. Tell us more. A: When we were first planning it, we wanted it to be a well-curated hipster pasar malam. But now, it’s evolved into more of a showcase of what Keong Saik offers. J: Besides food, we’ve enlisted vendors with cultural capital, like bookstores and vinyl record retailers. We’ll be doing visual projections on the shophouses. It’ll be nice to see how modern technology interacts with the old art deco designs.
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It’s great how the musical acts on the lineup also reflect this. J: Exactly. That was something we had in mind from the very beginning. Take Howie Lee, for example. He mixes old-school Chinese samples with trap and UK bass. The same goes for the local acts we picked. A: It proves that you don’t need big international names to have a good festival. There’s enough talent throughout Asia to do that.
THE OBSERVATORY This local avant rock institution’s place on the lineup is an unqualified win. Album after album, the band has served up complex, superbly realised statements of what it means to live in Singapore amidst a powerful payload of textures. Expect live servings of their new full-length, August Is The Cruelest, which the band describes as “political noise”. music
And lastly, what do you think the crowd will find different about this festival from the rest? A: Something like this has never been done before. I’ve never been to a street festival in Singapore, let alone one with this aesthetic in mind. J: We have elements of everything – music, fashion, food and the arts. It’s a total cultural experience.
The Keong Saik Carnival happens on May 28 at Keong Saik Road.
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drones get DANGEROUS Muse is one of those bands that can command a budget to throw ridiculously extravagant live shows. But every now and then, their highfalutin concepts come around and bite them in the a**. In keeping with their politically-minded album, Drones, the band’s taken to flying massive drones over the audience during their live shows. And at a recent London set, a gigantic blimp-shaped drone crashed into the crowd at the O2 Arena. Thankfully, no one was injured.
SOMETHING LOVELY THIS WAY COMES
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It’s with a face-busting smile that we bring you the following tidings: Grizzly Bear is working on a new album! The Brooklyn art-rock exemplars broke the four-year silence after their 2012 coup, Shields, on Twitter when they recently announced that they “are starting to record the new album next month with tonnes of songs” and that they are “super excited” about it. Well, so are we! In their absence, “indie rock” as we know it, has evolved into an EDM-reflecting affair. Maybe this is when it comes home? grizzly-bear.net
MORE MUZIK 4 U Remember when Spain weighed in on the whole indie-dance phenomenon with Delorean? Though there was every risk that their retro-futuristic moniker would be made to seem a little on-the-nose by their retro-futuristic transmissions, they avoided this pitfall with silver-sheened sun-kissed songs that prefigured the shape of the current SoundCloud. After surviving a harrowing kidnapping ordeal in Mexico City in 2013, the band channels a sense of urgency and heft into their lushly throbbing sound, which you’ll get on their forthcoming album, Muzik. Moving on is as good as it sounds. soundcloud.com/deloreandanz
THE SUPER SUPERGROUP
HOPELESSNESS
There are moments in music that make us feel grateful for its existence. Anonhi, the new guise of the artiste formerly known as Antony Hegarty, will deliver her first full-length, HOPELESSNESS, under her new name later this month – and it will be powerfully uncompromising and weighty. First listens “4 Degrees” and “Drone Bomb Me” have showed us what we can expect: dance music’s body-moving potential tapped to give vent to life-impacting issues as disparate as climate change, war and mad-hatter politics, just to name some. The involvement of Hudson Mohawke and Daniel Lopatin also promises to make this one of this year’s most riveting releases. anonhi.com
GET your FREAK ON
If you like it heaving and heavy, you’ll like this. Members Of Mastodon, Queens Of The Stone Age and At The Drive-In have come together to form Gone Is Gone. Mastodon singer-bassist Troy Sanders, QOTSA guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen, At the Drive-In drummer Tony Hajjar, and multi-instrumentalist Mike Zarin, are part of this allstar lineup and plan to release a 13-song crusher into the ether soon. A preview snippet of the single “Violescent” hints that it will be loud. gonrisgoneofficial.com
She of the transfixing death stare and mindbending guitarwork is writing and directing a horror show. Yes, St. Vincent, born Annie Clark, will lend her talents to XX, an upcoming horror anthology of “four deadly tales told by four killer women”. At this writing, only the film’s poster – a pair of red-lip – sticked lips shaped into a skull – has been revealed. Will Annie give James Wan a run for his money? We’ll see. music
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rage against the elders We’re always told to respect those that came before us – those that made it easier for us to be us with the sweat off their own backs. But here are three recent examples of massive shade thrown at the old guard.
JOHN CALE
LUSH
STEVE MILLER
Here’s a sense of how important the Welsch
The newly-reformed shoegaze pioneers were
This cuts both ways. The blues-rock icon was recently inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame
visionary’s music is to pop culture: he’s been
supposed to play at Coachella 2016 when they
knighted. Being the creative fuel feeding the Velvet
were denied visas by the U.S. government. Not
by his stylistic progeny, The Black Keys. During
Underground and as a standalone musician,
cool! Aren’t the U.K. and U.S. allies till the end
his acceptance speech and at the post-event press conference, Miller ranted about the industry’s sexism,
Cale is a legend in any musical terrain. Yet, the
on everything? Doesn’t the U.K. show mad love
organisers of All Tomorrow’s Festival 2.0 have seen
for U.S. exports like Maroon 5? Then why did the
called the whole process “unpleasant” and basically
fit to slight Cale, by moving the festival 65 miles
Land Of The Free close its doors to one of rock’s
rained on everyone’s parade. The fact that he’d never
from its original location at the last minute. Tweets
most crucial bands? There’s still no word on
been outspoken about these issues before and yet
Cale: “Regrettably, @therealjohncale’s ATP shows
why this trio of ageing rockers was barred from
chose this particular forum to air his grievances
now cancelled. We did our best to believe in the
playing a rock show. Lush, calmer than us, has
struck many as weird. Case in point: the Black Keys
organisers, in the end, they let us all down”.
since rescheduled their cancelled date.
left the ceremony immediately after their speech.
ALL HAIL AXL!
FAREWELL AND GOODBYE
So this is something that no one could ever have seen coming. Axl Rose is now the frontman of AC/DC. The Guns N’ Roses frontman has had quite a year, reuniting not only with his former band but also taking the lead for one of the most widely influential and universally adored rock bands of all time. After AC/DC’s singer, Brian Johnson, was told by his doctor that he had to cease touring or risk “total hearing loss”, Axl stepped up to fill in for him. If you’re lucky enough to see him at it, take lots of videos.
Text Indran P Images Various Sources
strange revelations Baroque-folk troubadour Father John Misty is known for his delightfully erratic behaviour. Musically, this manifested itself in the covers he unspools during his live shows. After giving a frankly upstanding rendition of Rihanna’s “Kiss It Better”, he served up the Nine Inch Nails classic “Closer” to a reeling crowd during a recent Chicago show. What’s even more amazing is his revelation that “Closer” is his “favourite love song”.
music
After 15 years, Canadian indie poptimists Hot Hot Heat are letting the curtain fall on themselves. Writes frontman Steve Bays about how it’s all been, “It changed all of our lives. It was the greatest experience I could ever imagine. I’m proud of every single record, and of finding the ground between making it challenging and fresh, but also not being afraid to be entertaining and put on a crazy show”, in the press release. But before they exit completely, they’ve promised us a final, as-yet-untitled album. soundcloud.com/hothotheat
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INSIDE COMEDY
BY FAKKAH FUZZ
CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME A JOKE?
“Please! Please! Just one!” – being asked to tell a joke at a party or in a social setting is ironically something I enjoy the least. Don’t get me wrong, I know comics who never have an ‘off’ switch when it comes to telling jokes. For example, I’ve heard of a comedian getting a call before a show telling him that his father has passed away. Sad and in need of someone to talk to, he turns to the comic next to him and said “My dad just died”. Without skipping a beat, the comic replies “Oh great! Now your mum’s single”! Now, if this exchange were to occur to regular everyday folk, it would probably end up with the comic’s head being pounded like sambal belacan in a Malay family’s kitchen. But these are not everyday people – these are comedians. There are no “too soon” tags to a good joke. It is welcome anytime and just needs a proper setting and the right moment. I first started trying out stand-up comedy in 2009. I was broke but surprisingly could keep a girlfriend long enough to encourage me to give it a shot. She was probably just sick of hearing me talk and wanted to share the pain with everyone else. One thing I can tell her all these years after breaking up is – “I don’t care about us getting back together. I just want you to listen to the material I have now! I promise you it’s much better”. I started performing on a regular basis and it didn’t take me long to realise that the real show is not on stage; it’s what happens when the comedians are chilling at the bar after they are done with their routines.
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There are usually five typical characters at any one setting. The Alpha Comic Typically the nucleus of the group. This guy usually headlines and is the funniest comic amongst all who went on that night. At least he would never fail to think that regardless of how his performance went. He will be loud and dominate the conversation by throwing punch lines all night.
LOVE STREAMS TIM HECKER (4AD LTD)
At some point during “Music Of The Air”, hairs at the back of one’s neck will be raised – is this how the ghost of a choir would sound like, trapped in digital space, inchoate vocal fragments splintered between dissonance and buzz? In order to make this ambient masterpiece, Tim Hecker worked with Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson and the Icelandic Choir Ensemble; studied the work of 15th century composer, Josquin des Prez; worked with recordings made in the “Ghost City” of Ordos, Inner Mongolia; and rearranged (albeit, unknowingly) Latin lyrics. Call it ‘new age’ if you wanna, but when your consciousness is immersed in Hecker’s coalescence of orchestral music, choral voices, and swatches and tides of synths, terms matter little.
The Listener Always quiet and writing notes. Never engaging in any intense or heated debates but always observing. These people are usually deadpan comedians. Their strengths are in writing as opposed to performing – though not necessarily all the time. The Joke-Tweaker This guy can be the most helpful but also the most annoying. He’ll come up to a comic after a set and go, “That was a great bit…but if you added this word…or that word…”. Usually not much help but at times, on a rare occasion, he can make you strike joke jackpot. Main rival of the Alpha Comic when it comes to banter. The Rookie The one who receives endless advice from the Alpha Comic and the Joke-Tweaker. Three to four months into comedy and still looking for his voice. Always at the open mic nights hungry for a spot. Stays quiet in conversations but occasionally throws in great lines that will impressively crack everyone up. The Organiser The one all the comics are nice to because he puts the show together and decides who goes on and who doesn’t. Always the adult in the group, making sure everything falls into place. What’s most interesting about these unique characters is that they apply to comedians worldwide. It’s almost like comedians are a separate race of our own. So the next time you are at a comedy club and want to see a real show, hang out with the comedians afterwards. I guarantee that’s where you’ll get your best stories. Unless, of course, you ask them to tell you a joke.
music
POTENTIAL THE RANGE
(Domino Recording Co Ltd)
YouTube: bane or boon? For most of us, it’s just a way to open multiple windows to the world, to satiate our voyeuristic selves. For some, it is a door of opportunity. It is in these few that 27-year-old James Hinton has taken an interest. Trawling and trudging through countless videos, he took it upon himself to sample vocal snippets from lesser-viewed individuals’ vids and place them in his tracks. The songs in themselves aren’t breakthroughs, with the vocal samples drafted atop minimalistic grime, jungle and hip-hop beats. But when concept, lyrics, Hinton’s intent and feelings, and even the YouTube singers and their manipulated voice samples come together, they are slices of bliss for the listener, of human potential becoming kinetic sound.
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PICKS OF THE MONTH WE DISAPPEAR
A MINERAL LOVE
FULL CIRCLE
(Saddle Creek) Six albums and 15 years: trading in the genre of power pop and punk rock, there’s only so much pretty packaging that even a band like Portland’s The Thermals can dress their sad stuff in. For their seventh album, they succeed in putting new bows on old wrapping with the help of Chris Walla – their relationship woes delivered with zip on “Hey You”, “Thinking Of You” and “My Heart Went Cold”.
(Warp Records Limited) Broadly speaking, Stephen Wilkinson’s music crosses Brit folk, electronica, vintage funk, and old school pop – newold assemblages that won’t offend your gran, but will intrigue your young cuz. His latest is easy-pleasey to the ears: “With The Thought Of Us” is soft-disco plumped up for hipsters, “Feeling” shuffles along as a lazy afternoon funk number, and “Raxeira” sounds like Wilkinson aping Air on a folk tip.
(Matador Records Limited) Revisiting trip-hop has had the trio of HÆLOS compared to giants, Massive Attack and Portishead. They aren’t in the same league, really, though they try. On “Dust”, the male-female twined voices grow emphatic over a marching rhythm; proto-jungle beats lend “Separate Lives” some clubland euphoria; and a symphonic closer, “Pale”, provides hope that they can climb much higher rungs in the future.
(Odd Future Records) The Odd Future crew is defunct, and some of its ranks are going-gone on to better stuff. But the stoner-member, Domo Genesis, finally blooms in his solo debut. The others may make sterling silver to grab attention, but Genesis’ chiller, downtempo music appeals for being subtler, keeping the beats head-nodding and mellow even while rapping about self doubt on “Questions” and “One Below”.
ATOMIC
BRUTE
MERCY
MIDWEST FARMER’S DAUGHTER
The Thermals
Text Chris Ong Ujine Images Various Sources
Mogwai
HÆLOS
Bibio
Fatima Al Qadiri
Fake Boyfriend
(Rock Action Records) Even if you haven’t watched the BBC 4 documentary on the history of nuclear disasters, Storyville – Atomic: Living in Dread and Promise by Mark Cousins, you can still relate to Mogwai’s soundtrack to the documentary, which speaks volumes about the band’s musical creativity. They leave the guitars behind and build on synthesisers, brass and other orchestral instruments to create filmic moments, of which the closer, “Fat Man”, is the most cinemascopic.
(Hyperdub) Less an electronic album than a sonic art album is Fatima Al Qadiri’s latest salvo. She takes a stance against state power, police brutality and militarisation, and it even shows through the track titles such as “Curfew”, “Battery”, and “Breach”. It’s grime music reconstructed for Qadiri’s personal political stakes – so obvious and heavy; it’s a hard listen precisely because the music ends up as too tooled for this undertaking.
(Sad Cactus) Amateur, messy, sludgy, loud: all the descriptive verbs that light our cake when we shout “Happy!” to a new post-punk grrrl rock discovery. The Fake Boyfriend trio may have just thrown out a debut EP, but we see that they will cause much disturbance in the future (they play instruments that they aren’t schooled in + don’t play nice with journos = success!). Hear them sing and play “Ship” and “Wax” like no one’s listening.
3001: A LACED ODYSSEY
WOLVES OF WANT
HUMAN PERFORMANCE
(Slumberland Records LLC) Punchy, peppy, beat-up but pretty enough to pogo to: Bent Shapes’ sophomore is a bouncy bounty of angular post-punk and punk-pop. Ben Potrykus and pals may write about anxieties, mental issues and other personal-societal concerns, but by dint of the playfully literate wordplay and shimmering guitars, it all gets polished enough for easy consumption.
(Rough Trade Records) We remember the comparisons: Television, Wire, Pavement. And that was just off Parquet Courts’ last album, Sunbathing Animal. Onto their third, and more comparisons come in: Velvet Underground and Talking Heads. “Dust”, “It’s Gonna Happen”, and the title track show how much distance they have closed up on the legendary bands, covering the real life led in NYC, in the breadth of one album.
Flatbush Zombies (Glorious Dead Recordings) Coming at the tail end of Brooklyn’s Beast Coast Movement is the most interesting of the rap collectives out there. And when we say “interesting”, we mean dark, psychotropic/psychedelic takes on hip-hop. Meechy Darko, Zombie Juice and Erick “The Architect” Elliot all have varying rapping styles, but it’s a great mix of contrasts: the raspy with the spitfire, the woozy and hazy vibes with the dank, downer beats.
Bent Shapes
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Parquet Courts
GENESIS
Domo Genesis
Margo Price
(Third Man Records) Sounding like a younger niece of Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn and Emmylou Harris, is Jack White’s prize signing on his Nashville based label Third Man Records, Margo Price. A seasoned gigging vet, she’s been through the wringer – family losing their farm, she losing her child – all encapsulated concisely in the six-minute opener, “Hands Of Time”. One wishes all that followed after could have squared less with country tradition.
GORE
Deftones (Warner Bros.) Wherefore the place of metal in today’s trend-afflicted era? Deftones provides a resounding answer with Gore. As an album after the death of their bassist Chi Cheng in 2013, it is not one about grief. With verve and gusto, they move beyond nu-metal into headier, experimental spaces – paving a future course lined by the sonic texturisations of Frank Delgado, the monstrous riffage of Stephen Carpenter, and Chino Moreno’s willingness to test metal’s songcraft.
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COPELAND LIVE IN SINGAPORE
RITUAL FEAT. DANIEL BORTZ
TUESDAY MAY 3 AT TAB SINGAPORE This will be a gig like no other. For the first time, Copeland fans will decide the setlist – dictating which songs the band plays when it arrives on our shores. All you need to do is post your song requests on the Facebook page of promoter, Snowbird Productions, and if you’re lucky, Copeland will come through for you. “Don’t Slow Down”, anyone? tab.com.sg
SATURDAY MAY 14 AT KYO With the all-seeing powers of the Internet running rampant today, it’s a tall order for a musician to be ‘elusive’ and ‘enigmatic’. But Bavarian legend Daniel Bortz is both those things and so much more. His prolificacy has accounted for much of the techno and downbeat canons’ best work and his club sets have been said to be incredible. Feel very pumped. clubkyo.com
RUNWAY 57 FEAT. NORA EN PURE
MOUSE ON THE KEYS LIVE IN SINGAPORE
THURSDAY MAY 5 AT CÉ LA VI Indie-dance and deep house fans, this night’s for you. This South African beauty’s tastes are as impressive as her chops and her sensual grooves have been proven to be irresistible all over the world. Make the trip to this party destination up high and treat yourselves. sg.celavi.com
VELVET UNDERGROUND X MOONBEATS ASIA PRESENT THE DEEP END WITH MOON BOOTS
REWIND FEAT. TERRENCE PARKER
FRIDAY MAY 20 AT KYO Bow down. For one night, we’ll be in the midst of Terrence Parker, the almighty Detroit house producer, DJ and icon. Since he started in the mid-’80s, Parker has spread the good word of house all over the world, letting his turntablist approach to the sound do the preaching. Bless up, in the name of house. clubkyo.com
FRIDAY MAY 6 AT THE VELVET UNDERGROUND If you’re wearing moon boots, there’s a very high chance you’re gonna be bouncing through space. But even if you can’t get a seat on a rocket ship, you can still get beamed into the stratosphere of good vibes by this producer’s quirky, R&Baccented take on nu disco. All aboard! zoukclub.com.sg
ZOUK SOUNDSYSTEM PRESENTS SUNNERY JAMES & RYAN MARCIANO
SATURDAY MAY 21 AT ZOUK It’s not hollow self-praise when this Dutch twosome describes itself as “the world’s most energetic house duo”. Besides their frenetic showmanship, the turbo-charged EDM-house hybrid they unleash teems with diverse influences and mythic drops. This is what taking over the world sounds like. Don’t bother resisting. aliwalartscentre.sg
FORWARD FEAT. NICOLAS MASSEYEFF
SATURDAY MAY 7 AT KYO Nicolas Masseyeff had his first kiss with electronic music at the French Riviera in 1989. Since that encounter, he’s emerged as one of the most progressive figures in the scene. Minimalism, jazz, new wave, techno and house, are all marshalled into a singular experience in his tracks. Cue “Mugen” and “Flagrance” for a taste of his next-levelism. clubkyo.com
TRANSFIX PRESENTS SOLARSTONE
THE GATHERING WITH FLYING LOTUS
WEDNESDAY MAY 11 AT VELVET UNDERGROUND – DANCE Richard Mowatt is the exponent of a sound and movement known as Pure Trance. That means he has stood for the founding principles of classic trance and hasn’t compromised even once during his almost 30 years of activity. To take in organic, uplifting and transportive trance that’s untrammelled by current fads, rally the troops and save the date. zoukclub.com.sg
THURSDAY MAY 26 AT THE COLISEUM At long last! Californian beatmaker, jazz-voyager and shaman FlyLo has finally answered our prayers and promises to descend on our little red dot near the close of the month. He’ll be bringing with him the full live show of his sublime 2015 afterlifeinquiring album You’re Dead, so expect spectrum-defying visuals and an alt-jazz odyssey. rwsentosa.com
music
Text Indran P Images Various Sources
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FRIDAY MAY 20 AT THE ESPLANADE RECITAL STUDIO After selling out two back-to-back shows at 2013’s Mosaic Music Festival, the Japanese jazz-funk-post-rock-and-electronica-fusing trio makes a return for another assuredly virtuosic performance. And this time, they’re packing their 2015 album, The Flowers of Romance. Don’t miss out on this added firepower. esplanade.com
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Text Aaron Kok Images Kit Neale
On the surface, Kit Neale’s Spring/Summer 2016 collection might seem like a hodgepodge of chaotic references, trash-chic clothing and random scribbles. But just like the hectic emoticons peppered into a text message, Neale’s collection explores the joy of self-expression through the use of mismatched imagery and explosive colour. If an emoji can speak volumes about your mood, Neale’s clothing will do the same about your personal style. Between the cartoon heads, dancing monkeys and animated pigs plastered across jumpers, loose-fitted trousers and silky tees, the lineup is gleefully jumbled, funny and irreverent – much like the string of disparate emojis we use in virtual conversations.
kitneale.com
fashion
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E R U T VEN E L Y T S INTO HE GREAT RUSTED T N O E K T TA S WITH A OUTDOOR PERRY SHOES. PAIR OF S
As the mid-year mark draws closer, most of us would have begun planning for a well-deserved break. Whether you are conquering the mountains or slicking through a far-flung city, an adventure awaits; and no explorer can do it without a pair of Sperry shoes. Since the brand first launched in 1935, it has consistently pushed boundaries with its dedication to providing the most comfortable and durable soles in the market. Today, the spirit of Paul Sperry’s innovation lives on in the countless iterations of the classic Sperry shoe – counting celebrity fans like Pharrell Williams and Blake Lively, as well as urban explorers like us. This season, the brand presents an interpretation of its classics to rejuvenate its hallmark designs. Expect topsiders in bold brights such as pigment yellow and coral, as well as pared-down neutrals like
navy, tan and white. Other casual options include plimsolls – with a toggle-lace front or completely lace-free – and ergonomically-designed sneakers for lads venturing on uneven terrain. The women’s line also includes a bevy of boat shoes and T-bar sandals – featuring leather braiding details – perfect for the seafaring babes who want to look chic while navigating the open seas. While the designs may evolve, the core of every Sperry shoe remains true to the original design. On top of the classic appeal, every pair of Sperry shoes is designed with a super-flexible grooved sole for better grip, while the long-lasting leather delivers comfort like no other.
From $89 to $249, available at all Sperry stores, Stadium @ Takashimaya Shopping Centre, Royal Sporting House, Robinsons and TANGS.
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ADVENTURE-GRAM!
SNAP A PIC OF YOUR NEXT GREAT ADVENTURE AND YOU COULD WALK AWAY WITH A PAIR OF SPERRY SHOES WORTH UP TO $249. TWENTY CONSOLATION PRIZE WINNERS WILL ALSO WIN A $20 SPERRY VOUCHER. A great, big world awaits you with untold adventure and experiences to offer. And with that, you’ll need a trusted pair of shoes to accompany you on your globetrotting journeys ahead. Whether it’s eating seafood fresh from a fisherman’s boat or discovering a part of the city you live in, Odysseys Await the intrepid traveller in you. Got a place that you’ve been dying to visit, or a memory from your hiking trip that you’d like to share? To take part in the contest, here’s what you need to do: Step 1. Upload an Instagram snap of your Odyssey. It can be a memory from one of your adventures, somewhere you’ve never been before but want to, or something cool you wanna try out in future. Step 2. Include the hashtags #MYODYSSEY and #SPERRYSG. Step 3. Include a short caption to describe your Odyssey. Step 4. Don’t forget to set your entries to public. Entries close on 1st June, 2016. Happy snappin’!
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SUMMER STYLIN woven canvas belt, $39
JUSTIN VANDERSTRAATEN, UNDERGRAD
destroyed western denim shirt, $69
@justinvanderstraaten
printed short sleeve shirt, $69
applique graphic t-shirt, $39
chambray baseball hat, $29
Cotton t-shirt, $39 Flex Active distressed denim jeans, $99 Canvas slip-on sneakers, $39 Wayfarers, $29
twill flat front shorts, $59
What are you busy with when you’re not working? I enjoy going on photo walks, actually. Otherwise, you can find me at a Starbucks joint with some java and a book as I watch the world go by. What do you love about American Eagle Outfitters? I like how versatile the clothes are and how easy they can be matched with the rest of my wardrobe. What’s your one must-have item from American Eagle Outfitters? I’d say a well-fitted pair of jeans that I can wear everywhere.
printed flip flops, $29
skinny fit chinos, $79
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VANESSA VANDERSTRAATEN, FLY ENTERTAINMENT ARTISTE
PHOTOGRAPHY FRANZ NAVARRETE PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT KAMAL TUNG STYLING AARON KOK STYLING ASSISTANT JUN SHENG NG MAKEUP WEE MING USING SHU UEMURA HAIR ALIKA TATAKORN USING REDKEN PROFESSIONAL
WE CATCH UP WITH THE COOLEST SIBLINGS IN SINGAPORE, JUSTIN AND VANESSA VANDERSTRAATEN, TO UNCOVER WHAT THEY’VE BEEN UP TO, AND WHAT THEY LOVE ABOUT AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS.
@vanessavands
What are you working on at the moment? Besides hosting gigs and auditioning for new projects, I also volunteer with the Cat Welfare Society to help them with their social media. What’s your one must-have item from AEO? The convertible bucket bag is awesome! It’s convenient and efficient, which is perfect for busy girls like me.
textured kimono cardigan. $109
Define what it means to “Live your life”. Be brave enough to chase your dreams, stand for your convictions, and love yourself unconditionally.
cropped artist jeans, $79
Lace bralette, $49 Cotton tank top, $39 Lace embellished denim shorts, $79 Suede bucket bag, $69 Metal aviators, $29 Braided leather sandals, $49
hi-rise shorts, $69
slit front tank top, $39
FUN IN THE SUN lace-up rib knit top, $39
layered coin drop necklace, $29
jegging crop, $79
printed maxi wrap skirt, $69
Sun-seekers, this one’s for you. Taking its cue from fantasy adventures, American Eagle Outfitters presents a Summer 2016 collection that goes big on breezy separates and rugged denim. Crochet, lace and ruffles call to mind nomadic influences, while the plethora of vibrant prints and tie-dye patterns will keep you lookin’ fly at a beach festival. The fellas can indulge in tribal-inspired gear that sport ikat and Baja prints, all of which employ vegetable-based dyes for a more eco-sustainable approach. Contrasting the softer details are military-inspired pieces – throw-over shirts, dusty neutrals and rip-andrepair denim all come together to provide you with a utilitarian wardrobe. Speaking of denim, the collection brings back crowd favourites – like tomgirl jeans and jeggings, available in a variety of light washes and white. If you’re looking for a little more spunk, then
the coloured shorts will suit. Also new to the collection is a series of denim shorts, which feature embroidered details to add a touch of ethnic chic. Top off with some sunscreen, and you’re all set to ride some waves this summer.
The Summer 2016 collection is available at American Eagle Outfitters, #B1-06/07 VivoCity and #01-375/376/377 Suntec City, West Wing. For the latest brand news and updates, follow American Eagle Outfitters on Instagram at @americaneaglesg or visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/ AmericanEagleSingapore.
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meme and you THE INTERNET IS A WEIRD AND WONDERFUL PLACE, AND ONE OF THE GREATEST TRENDS TO EMERGE FROM CYBER CULTURE IS THE PRACTICE OF MEMES. HUMOUROUS, CUTTING AND OFTEN POINTEDLY ACCURATE, MIX THAT WITH THE OFT-CONFUSING WORLD OF FASHION AND OUT COMES A VERITABLE SELECTION OF FASHION MEMES. HERE ARE EIGHT OF THE BEST AND WORST TO KNOW AND LAUGH AT.
THE RULE OF WEDNESDAYS
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Anyone who’s watched the teen cult-hit Mean Girls will know this one well. Amidst the barrage of quotable quotes about butter and car commercials in Japan, a famous line simply goes, “On Wednesdays, we wear pink”. This iconic quote has now been spun into everything possible, becoming Instagram hashtags for pink #OOTDs and fan-worthy slogan tees. As if that’s not enough, it has also been fittingly applied to a roll call of other movies such as Les Misérables and Harry Potter. If the ’40s had Casablanca’s “here’s looking at you, kid”, this is the one-liner of the ’00s.
BAGS OF BREADSTICKS
Remember a period of time when all you could see on your timeline were posts about breadsticks stuffed into bags? This meme kicked off with a Tumblr post about a user at Olive Garden – an Italian restaurant chain in America that hands out complimentary breadsticks – leaving mid-date after finding out that she was dating a cat-lover. Since then, it’s exploded into a meme where people claim to shove breadsticks into their purses while on a bad date. While none of these posts are verified to have actually happened, what is known is that Olive Garden is enjoying the attention, even egging customers to actually shove breadsticks into their purses.
RI-DRESSING THE FROCK
Fashion’s bravest R&B singer has been meme-fied more than once (have you seen the memes that followed her omelettelooking Met Gala dress?), but the frothy pink number that Rihanna wore to the Grammys 2015 red carpet takes the cake for her shining moment in the meme spotlight. From being compared to bath loofahs to Pac-Man ghosts to the candy-like mane of Nicki Minaj, the Internet left no reference untouched when they reacted to Miss Fenty’s poufy gown. Well that’s fashion for you – sometimes you win, and sometimes you get associated with a bottle of cough syrup.
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GAGA COMES CLEAN
She’s worn meat; she’s birthed herself on stage – you’d think you’ve seen it all when it comes to Lady Gaga. Then, at last year’s Oscars, she gave everyone a run for their meme-money when she donned a pair of oversized scarlet rubber gloves, which ignited a torrent of cleaning-related memes. Thankfully, she shed her scrubbers for her performance that night, but that didn’t stop the Twittersphere from having a field day with her dishwashing-appropriate look – Photoshop-ing everything from dishes and buckets to rivalling musicians into the image.
DANIEL DOES GOOD
It’s unclear what or how two boys who made a series of ‘Damn Daniel’ Snapchats struck meme gold, but when Daniel and his brofriend Josh began documenting Daniel’s collection of Vans (and matching street gear to boot), the Internet went wild. Sure, the camps are split down the middle – with people who love or love to hate it on either side of the argument – but when the boys were given a lifetime supply of Vans, they decided that their new kicks would be better off being donated to a children’s hospital. Damn Daniel, back at it again with the altruism.
REMEMBER THAT DRESS?
Of all the frocks featured in this story, the most memorable (and probably rage-inducing) dress has to be the Gold/Blue dress. It’s caused such mass hysteria that it even has its own Wikipedia page. Cue flashback memories of your friends and you huddled over your phone, actively debating on whether the dress is black and blue, or gold and white. While its emergence online paved the way for the scientific community to shed some light on the mechanics of visual illusions, it’s safe to say that this is one dress that perhaps should not be taken out of the closet anytime soon. (P.S. We’re team #BlackAndBlue.)
FOOTWEAR FRENZY
Not all shoes are made equal. With that in mind, a teenager named Young Busco posted an Instagram video of a police officer arresting a drunken woman. While all that sounds like an innocent ’gram, it was Busco’s now-infamous “WHAT ARE THOOOOOSE” line that found its meme-worthy fame. Apart from the videos circulating on Vine and YouTube, the meme hit fever pitch when a 17-year-old kid stood up at Michael Jordan’s basketball camp and yelled out the tagline to thunderous applause. Talk about a slam-dunk of a meme.
Text Aaron Kok Images Various Sources
IGNORANCE IS BLISS
The classic trope of fashion being filled with airheads is an age-old adage, only further propagated by stereotypical screen roles that if a character is obsessed with fashion, there’s nothing else going on in her head. Riding on this, the Unknowledgeable Fashionista meme was born – and frankly, we love its scathing sarcasm too much to mind. Banking on every cliched basic-b*itch hyperbole, meme-makers must actually possess enough fashion knowledge to be able to fluently mock lesser-known designers and cult-fashion analogies with aplomb.
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MARCHING FORWARD With that in mind, STAR 360’s Spring/ Summer 2016 drop checks all the right boxes. It has a little bit of everything – from evergreen classics to seasonal must-haves – so you can spoil yourself with stylish new steppers.
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EXCLUSIVE LABELS This season sees Patrick Shoes, Spingle and Polo Ralph Lauren delve into the past for a modern-leaning collection. Hailing from France, Patrick Shoes pays homage to its Franco-centric history with a palette that’s as patriotic as it is classic. This is most prominent in the use of red-white-and-blue laces, which are threaded through a timelessly stylish pair of tennis sneakers. At Spingle, the designs take you to London with a selection of English prints. While these plaids and tartans may come off as a tad gentrified for a streetwear shoe label, the shoe silhouettes retain a sense of youthfulness, and provide comfort with the use of ergonomic design and choice materials. Polo Ralph Lauren’s men’s line looks back to the designer’s American roots. What comes out of this is a revisitation to the practicality and rugged style that have become synonymous with American sportswear over the decades. Case in point: a pair of casual sneakers in a classic blue chambray. With its cushioned soles and versatility, this pair
will outlast any trend that the sneaker market throws out. BELIEVE THE HYPE More than just exclusively stocked labels, STAR 360 also offers a who’s who list of brands that will get sneakerheads excited. A key brand in the performance – wear and streetwear scene, no other label is getting more attention this season than Adidas Originals. While the Stan Smiths and NMDs are trending at the moment, there’s something easy about the Los Angeles model that catches our attention. Its modest designs are available in an assortment of different colourways, so you can always find one to suit your every whim. Sometimes, it doesn’t hurt to own a pair of shoes that are out of the norm. While most sneaker fans are drawn to the minimalist look that’s arrested the industry unanimously, having a pair of kicks in a bold print can give you that extra push to stand out from the crowd. Onitsuka Tiger’s Spring/Summer 2016 collection fulfils just that. The Serrano pack features a range of explosive prints that resemble acid-washed denim. Bleached spots and pops of colour bloom across the entire shoe, making it the perfect statement-maker every style maestro should sport.
spm 226 navy, $239, spingle
hugh ne chambray blue, $110, polo ralph lauren
serrano print pack, $149, onitsuka tiger
But if maximalism is not your cup of tea, opt for the polka-dotted Gel Lyte V shoes from ASICS Tiger. The deep indigo colour gives this shoe a universal appeal, while the contrasting white dots enhance its look with an offbeat quirk. In fact, while we love all the shoes mentioned so far, this is the pair that we’ve got our eye (and money) on.
los angeles in black camo, $129, adidas originals
starthreesixty.com
STAR 360 SPRING/ SUMMER 2016 gel lyte v, $189, asics tiger
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Text Aaron Kok Images Star 360
One can never have too many shoes in a lifetime. Once a symbol of practicality and comfort, the appeal of the sneaker has now been elevated to the iconography of all things street. Wearing a pair of classics? You kick it ol’ school. Got the sneaker with the most hype? Add a gold star to your style cred. Sporting some minimalist kicks? You must be one who appreciates design and form.
quebec, $199, patrick shoes
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Text Jun Sheng Ng Images TZUJI
TZUJI SPRING/SUMMER 2016
LOUD AND PROUD But the motif of travel is simply a fracture that leads you into TZUJI’s deeper exploration and playful spirit of fluidity. Shirts outfitted with glitchy QR codes and barcodes emanate a kind of hypnotic and trance-like effect, while riotous paint splatters burst forth on slouchy-fitted separates. Comic strips that feature a cheeky robot DJ rejecting song requests are blown up and plastered over leggings and oversized tees, while shades of neon green and pink toe the border between tacky and trash chic. Here, gender lines don’t matter so much. What’s more important is the joy and thrill that the pieces bring out.
While being a relatively young label, TZUJI isn’t encumbered by the bumblings of young upstart designers who have yet to form a developed identity. On the contrary, it is soaked and saturated in the rich cultural fabric of founder Larry Tee’s own eclectic history – the man who emerged as one of the forerunners of the ’90s club scene; who launched the career of drag Madonna RuPaul; and who coined and crystallised the entire electroclash genre. Already adorned on the shoulders of Missy Elliot, Riri, and J Law, TZUJI drops a fourth collection of hip and electric clothing this season, cheekily titled ‘TRAVELISTA’ – a term Tee’s given himself as he travels the globe setting alight the various club and music scenes. An immediate standout in the collection is the explosively bright yellow outfit, plastered with the scripts and languages of different countries and cities. This jumble of scribbles is ciphered in different fonts and sizes, with sleeves buzzing of lightning bolt prints, and a pair of dazzling golden headphones shining from the centre. It is a street homage to the temple of music – paying obligation to its power and capacity to break down the boundaries that separate us.
However, the most irrepressible pieces of the collection are the eye-catching and headturning reversible jackets that reprise the iconic rainbow colours embraced by TZUJI. Albeit this time round, they are iterated in camo patterns and recurring lightning decals. The rainbow-dipped shades boldly proclaim an easygoing and unabashed solidarity with alternate expressions of gender and sexuality, while the reversible feature offers wearers ease and practicality – seemingly alluding to the flexible doubling of identity expressions. After all, it was Larry Tee who co-wrote RuPaul’s anthem of gender empowerment, and the name TZUJI is Tee’s own interpretation of the word ‘zhooshy’ – a popular term meaning ‘showy’ in Polari (for the uninformed, Polari is a secret language adopted by the society’s outliers, invented to evade persecution). An old but neglected truth of fashion is that it should arise from the street up, and not endlessly abstracted by the affluent echelons that are detached from the rich mines of street culture. While it may be easy to trivialise the overt glitz and glam of TZUJI’s collection, it is this ineffable and effortlessly casual sense of fashion that testifies to Tee’s authenticity in locating the pulse of today’s ever-growing chameleon of urban subcultures.
tzuji.com
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UMIYAMA TAKESHI
Quirkiest Frames Owned Definitely this yellow piece from our Butterfly Effect collection. I like that it’s bold and turns heads whenever I wear it.
plastic glasses, $198, owndays
HAVING MADE A NAME BACK HOME IN JAPAN AS THE GO-TO PLACE FOR AFFORDABLE, DURABLE AND STYLISH EYEWEAR OPTIONS, OWNDAYS IS STIRRING UP WAVES LOCALLY BY BRINGING A WIDE RANGE OF EXCLUSIVE BRANDS AND A LINEUP OF STORES TO TOWN. LIKE FASHION, OWNDAYS BELIEVES THAT FRAMES CAN BE FUN AND TAILORED TO YOUR MOOD – AND NO ONE WILL AGREE MORE THAN UMIYAMA TAKESHI, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE BRAND. THIS MONTH, WE CHECK OUT HIS LIST OF MUST-HAVES AND MUST-DOS. owndays.sg
Best Holiday Spot Casablanca, Morocco. It is the farthest place that I have visited actually, and I do miss that place.
Most Daring Fashion Moment I have a tight-fitting yellow leather biker jacket, which I bought a decade ago. I bought it on impulse and I still haven’t found the courage nor the right occasion to wear it.
Favourite Brunch Spot Jewel Cafe at Rangoon Road. They’ve got big windows that allow the sunlight to shine in, and I used to live next door so it was very convenient as well.
Favourite Kicks My New Balance 996s. It’s very comfortable and versatile. I travel frequently so this pair goes around the world with me.
suede 996 sneakers, poa, new balance
Favourite Fashion Designer Jean Touitou of A.P.C. His basic, minimalist designs suit me well.
Favourite Chocolate I love Kit Kats and M&Ms. My office staff never fails to replenish the supplies of these chocolates in the office pantry, and I just can’t stop munching on ’em.
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Must-have Scent Blue Jeans cologne from Versace. It has a refreshing citrus note, and I’ve been using it since high school. blue jeans edt, $26.40 (75ml), versace at lazada.sg
Text Aaron Kok Interview courtesy of OWNDAYS Product images Various Sources
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Most Inspiring Movie I love The Martian, starring Matt Damon. The determination and courage shown by Mark Watney is a spirit that resonates with me. I can identify with the same spirit of perseverance when I brought OWNDAYS out of Japan and into Singapore.
Current Read Money: The Unauthorised Biography by Felix Martin. The ideas discussed in the book can be quite difficult to understand. I read it because it works like a sleeping pill!
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Tell us how this collaboration between Fred Perry and yourself came about. Well, it came together when I got a call from Fred Perry’s design team. I was pretty stunned, given Fred Perry’s renown. At that time, I was curating an art show for the Amy Winehouse Foundation that featured contemporary and urban graffiti artists. When I was approached, my answer was a resounding “YES”!
WHEN HENRY
Coming into this collaboration, how did Amy inspire you and your artwork? She was a friend and has come into my shop many times over the years. I would talk to her and she would just hang out. I loved her – she was a sweet girl, and I got to know the real person behind the name. I felt like I owed it to her to make something that she would like and wear. What attracted you to the business of body art? I wanted to be an artist, but I soon learnt that art school doesn’t actually show you how to make money when you’re an artist. Starting out as a tattoo artist in 1995 is vastly different from how it is today. It helped me get off my a** and do some work, and really hone my drawing skills as well as people skills. There are a lot of tattooists now, and I think that tattoo shops are the new record shops. Kids aren’t buying records as much, but it’s still very cool to get a tattoo. What’s been the most satisfying thing in your career as a tattoo artist thus far? I’d say it’s the journey and the release I experience when I look at something and say, “Wow, okay, it’s finished”. I still suffer from doubt, but I am only human and a working artist. Also, when someone says that they like what I do, that’s encouraging. It really isn’t about the money, but it helps.
Text Aaron Kok Portrait images Henry Hate Product images & interview courtesy of Fred Perry
Where do you find inspiration for your artwork? Everywhere – from the street, from social media and/or music. Inspiration really is all around. Sometimes, it even comes to me in my dreams. Is there a particular tattoo you’ve done that you’re most proud of? That’s like asking me to pick my favourite kid. I’ll say this: when I met Amy, things certainly changed for me. She gave me an opportunity and I am truly grateful for the day she walked into my shop, 10 minutes before I was supposed to close for the day. It was fate, really.
MET AMY
HENRY HATE X FRED PERRY
BEING IN THE INNER CIRCLE OPENS ONE UP TO MANY THINGS THAT ARE OFF LIMITS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC; MORE SO WHEN SAID CIRCLE BELONGS TO SOMEONE AS FAMOUS AS AMY WINEHOUSE. THE LATE SONGBIRD WAS HEAVILY INKED AND KNOWN FOR POURING HER HEART OUT INTO HER SONGS, SO IT’S NO SURPRISE THAT SHE MAINTAINED A TIGHT FRIENDSHIP WITH HER TATTOO ARTIST, HENRY HATE. AFTER ALL, HE IS THE ONE WHO ENABLES PEOPLE TO LITERALLY WEAR THEIR HEARTS ON THEIR SLEEVES. TEAMING UP WITH FRED PERRY FOR AN EXCLUSIVE ART COLLABORATION FEATURED IN THE AMY WINEHOUSE COLLECTION, WE DIG DEEPER TO FIND OUT WHAT HATE LOVES ABOUT BEING A TATTOO ARTIST AND THE ONE THING THAT GETS HIM SNIFFLING.
If you could tattoo anyone, dead or alive, who’d it be? Dolly Parton, PJ Harvey, Grace Jones…the Dalai Lama would be cool too. Nick Cave, Johnny Cash, Etta James, Kurt Cobain and a young Terry Hall. Lastly, tell us something no one knows about you. I cry when I watch the film The Elephant Man. There’s a particular scene where I bawl like a little kid with a skinned knee. It’s such an amazing film.
From $159 to $209, available at Fred Perry. henryhate.com fashion
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KNIT WIT
STEP INTO COMFORT WITH CONVERSE’S NEW LINE OF CHUCK II SNEAKERS IN LIGHTWEIGHT KNIT MATERIAL.
Think of the most comfortable clothing you own, and the ubiquitous, humble T-shirt comes to mind. It’s the perfect attire for any occasion – whether you’re dressing it up with a leather jacket or going down the casual route with shorts and espadrilles. Just like the classic appeal of the T-shirt, the new Chuck Taylor All Star II Knit Collection pledges to give you sartorial comfort in the form of the brand’s hallmark sneaker. With the classic design traits of the Chuck II, the brand pushes forward and takes strides in innovating a shoe that affords wearers ease and longevity – much like a classic white tee. Designed for the creative pack, the Chuck II Knit celebrates everything Converse stands for. Employing a woven textured surface and combining that with a knit that is practically weightless, each sneaker is soled with a Nike Lunarlon sock liner. Hence, when you slip on a pair, you’re assured to last the whole day in them, thanks to the bolstered support for your peds. Not one to skimp on the details that define Chuck Taylors as fashion classics, each pair of sneakers features a fully embroidered All Star ankle patch, high
foxing and monochromatic eyelets. A non-slip padded tongue and an ultra-soft micro-suede lining complete the kicks. On the palette front, the lively atmosphere of music festivals inspires the colours, culminating in an arresting set of five hues to suit your mood. The monochromatic dresser will be glad to know that these sneakers are available in classic white and black. However, if you’re looking for an electric shot of colour, Volt Green pairs perfectly with a rave-inspired look. Denimheads will want to cop them in indigo, which is reminiscent of well-worn jeans – but for the truly and fashionably brave, a vibrant shade of red is on hand to keep things lively. Overlapping multi-dimensional comfort and versatility with a price that’s easy on the pocket, these kicks are guaranteed to fly off the shelves, so make tracks to the nearest Converse retail store, stat.
$109.90 to $119.90, available at all Converse retail stores. converse.com.sg
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boys in boots
LET THE BOYS OF SHOW YOU HOW TO WEAR CATERPILLAR’S SPRING/ SUMMER 2016 COLLECTION.
Show off your tan kicks by matching them to the colour of your T-shirt, while keeping the rest of the outfit monochromatic. To add visual interest to your look, opt for a jacket that’s textured.
colorado leather boots, $199
colorado suede and textile boot, $199
Accentuate your hardy denim with a boot that boasts a sturdy make. You can never go wrong by pairing leather with distressed jeans.
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When wearing a tribal pattern, keep the rest of the look simple to avoid clashing your prints. Teamed with a military jacket and an armygreen jumper, your look will never go out of style.
davis leather boots, $179
colorado tribal canvas boots, $169
The seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hottest item, the MA-1 jacket, pays homage to the era of the punks. Juxtapose their defiant style with a classic pair of boots for a timeless appeal.
Every fella loves a good pair of boots. Since its first appearance as part of a utilitarian uniform, boots have gone on to achieve a universal appeal within the menswear scene. Thanks to their rugged aesthetic and versatility, these stompers are here to stay. With Caterpillarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s line of boots, the level of comfort afforded to its wearer is bar none, thanks to its EASE technology. Shod with a pillowy, soft base that cushions your steps, EASE boasts a lightweight and shock-absorbent sole to ensure that you can last the whole day on your feet without feeling tired. Plus, with its enhanced durability, you can look forward to your boots ageing well with wear.
Available at Stadium @ Takashimaya S.C and all Royal Sporting House stores, excluding factory outlet stores. catfootwear.com
ON SERGE COTTON SHIRT 21MEN COTTON JOGGERS UNIQLO COTTON JACKET H&M SUEDE SHOES VANS ON FAMKE POLYESTER DRESS MAJE LEATHER PLATFORM HEELS CHARLES & KEITH CRYSTAL BEADED EARRINGS BIMBA Y LOLA RINGS TOPSHOP MARBLE RING CHARLES & KEITH
LAUGH OUT LOUD
THROW ON THIS SEASON’S BEST JACKETS AND FUN FROCKS FOR A FEEL-GOOD TIME.
PHOTOGRAPHY NICKY LOH PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT YANN CLOITRE STYLING AARON KOK STYLING ASSISTANT JUN SHENG NG MAKEUP LYIA USING M.A.C COSMETICS HAIR ALIKA TATAKORN USING REDKEN PROFESSIONAL MODELS FAMKE H AND SERGE K / AVE
LAYERED T-SHIRT 21MEN DENIM JEANS AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS SILK EMBROIDERED JACKET H&M ACETATE SUNGLASSES PRADA
SILK DRESS H&M PU SHOES PEDDER RED EMBELLISHED BELT (WORN AS CHOKER) SUPERSPACE METAL RINGS TOPSHOP
COTTON SHIRTDRESS LAZY OAF AT ACTUALLY ACETATE NECKLACE BIMBA Y LOLA GOLD BRACELET CHARLES & KEITH METAL RINGS TOPSHOP
LEFT COTTON T-SHIRT H&M STRETCH COTTON CHINOS TOPMAN SUEDE JACKET SANDRO SUEDE EMBOSSED SHOES VANS RIGHT COTTON T-SHIRT ZARA COTTON CHINOS ZHAHUODIAN SUEDE JACKET SANDRO DISTRESSED SUEDE SHOES VANS
VISIT YOUTUBE.COM/JUICESG FOR A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT THIS SHOOT.
wardrobe trend
craig green
TANGERINE THREADS
gucci
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robert geller
cotton poplin shirt, $245, acne at club 21b
AS MAY USHERS IN WARMER DAYS, THE TIME IS RIPE TO ROCK A WARDROBE WITH VARYING DEGREES OF ORANGE. GO BRIGHT WITH MARIGOLDS AND HONEYED SHADES OF AMBER, OR COME BACK DOWN TO EARTH WITH DUSTY TERRACOTTA AND GINGER – MIXED IN WITH NEUTRALS LIKE WHITE AND BEIGE FOR A PERFECT BALANCE. START WITH A CLASSIC BUTTON-DOWN SHIRT, LIKE THIS PIECE FROM ACNE, AND YOU’RE ON YOUR WAY TO BRIGHTER DAYS.
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cotton tank top, $520, rick owens drkshdw at farfetch.com
linen-blend shirt, $187, our legacy at mrporter.com
slub cotton pullover, $40, river island at riverisland.com
cotton-linen blend jacket, poa, junya watanabe x commes des garcons at club 21 menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
plastic sunglasses, $49.90, zara
cotton t-shirt, $59.90, stussy
polyester jacket, $89, hideout at hideoutstore.com
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silver plated bangle, $69, mister hexagon at asos.com
Text & Coordination Aaron Kok Images Various Sources
braided leather belt, $49.90, mango
organic cotton trousers, poa, paul smith denim jeans, poa, 7 for all mankind
leather jack purcell sneakers, $154.90, converse
nylon backpack, poa, herschel supply co. at bratpack
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canvas trainers, $93.90, topman
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proenza schouler
LATIN CLASS
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marques’almeida
gucci
polyester cut-out top, $65, topshop
A HANDFUL OF RUFFLES PLUS A TOUCH OF CRIMSON AND YOU’RE ALL SET FOR A SPANISH VOYAGE. AS DESIGNERS LOOK TO THE SPANIARDS FOR STYLE INSPO, EMULATE THE SPIRIT OF LA FURIA ROJA AND CHANNEL THIS ‘RED FURY’ WITH ROMANTIC PIECES – FEATURING A VARIETY OF FLOUNCES AND OFF-SHOULDER PIECES IN VIVID SHADES OF RED AND ORANGE. THIS FIGURE-HUGGING TOP FROM TOPSHOP WILL GET YOU FLAMENCO-TAPPING THROUGH THE SEASON.
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fabric and lace choker, $15, asos at asos.com
polyester top, poa, forever 21 polyester blend top, $20, river island at riverisland.com
tulle top with ruffles, $410, nicopanda at club21b polyester top with ruffles, $69.90, mango
asymmetric ruffled top, $55.90, zara
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silk crepe pleated skirt, $450, no.21 at matchesfashion.com neoprene skirt, $275, opening ceremony at theoutnet.com
cotton poplin skirt, $918, isa arfen
Text & Coordination Aaron Kok Images Various Sources
gold-plated bracelet, poa, aeropostale
enamel bracelet, $13, charming charlie at charmingcharlie.com
baggy polyester trousers with belt, $39.90, mango
lace choker, $40, love rocks at asos.com
leather and lace flats, poa, kurt geiger viscose trousers, poa, issa at issalondon.com
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canvas espadrilles, $40, art of soule at artofsoule.com
cotton espadrilles, $19.90, h&m patchwork suede espadrilles, $237, paloma barcelo at palomabarcelo.com
canvas espadrilles, $98, soludos at robinsons
pu espadrilles, $59.90, zara
WALKING ON SUNSHINE
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canvas espadrilles, poa, saint laurent canvas espadrilles, $22, asos at asos.com
cotton espadrilles, $39.90, superdry
canvas espadrilles, poa, paul smith
cotton espadrilles, $112, castaner at farfetch.com
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Text & Coordination Aaron Kok Images Various Sources
STEP INTO A PAIR OF PRINTED ESPADRILLES FOR ALL YOUR SUNNY ESCAPADES.
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10k gold earrings, $286, zales at zales.com
cotton t-shirt, $110, t by alexander wang at alexander wang
SAILOR HARRY
cotton skirt with lace-up sides, $215, house of holland at matchesfashion.com
Text & Coordination Aaron Kok Images Various Sources
cotton t-shirt, $325, max mara
embellished leather and cork sliders, poa, sophia webster at pedder on scotts
organic cotton pullover, $150, chinti and parker at net-a-porter.com
twill shorts, poa, etoile isabel marant at club 21
SALUTE TO DEBBIE HARRY’S ICONIC SAILOR GET-UP WITH AN ENSEMBLE THAT’S ALL ABOUT SEAFARING CHIC.
cotton shorts, poa, petit bateau at petit-bateau.sg
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canvas tote bag, poa, tommy hilfiger
canvas boat shoes, $159, sperry
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report
Fifty years on, Vans is still deeply woven into sub-cultural groups, born from the skateboarding scene. The Vans we know (and love) today has grown into more than just a brand – it’s become an identity that unites a tribe of fans who believe in creative expression and the freedom of action, be it through sports, arts, music, or fashion. AN INTERNATIONAL GATHERING Recently in March, the brand sounded the call to action for fans across the globe with the House Of Vans campaign that took place in 10 international locations. From New York to London, Hong Kong to Kuala Lumpur, Vans-heads congregated to take part in fringe activities, get up-close with their favourite bands and party with fellow Vans-wearing sneaker heads. Ultimately, the House Of Vans campaign enabled and supported local creatives with a platform that would help them reach out to like-minded youths and audiences. Held at Slate @ The Row, the Kuala Lumpur edition of House Of Vans began with an afternoon of
HOME workshops that saw registration slots booked out months in advance. The 3-D paper shoes station allowed workshop participants to take creative reign over their own pair of Vans. Think of it as an enhanced way of the times you took a Sharpie and began doodling onto the canvas upper of your shoes. Working with the provided tools and a template of a Vans skate sneaker, participants had the chance to visualise how their design would look, when the shoe was cut out and assembled into a 3-D miniature model of an actual pair of kicks. Two of the best entries were also awarded complimentary pairs of Sk8-Hi sneakers, but seeing their hand-drawn soles come to life was the most satisfying. On top of creating custom
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sneaker artwork, House Of Vans-goers were also treated to free silk-screening sessions. Run by Malaysian creative outlet, Dirty Donuts, the silk-screening station drew the second largest line of participants, all eager to get the brand’s artwork tagged onto their apparel. The largest turnout was arguably at the skateboarding competition held at the outdoor yard at the back of the venue. Under the scorching sun, competitors turned up with their supporters in droves to take on a series of obstacles, while simultaneously flippin’ tricks to impress the judges. The winners took home varying amounts of prize money, as well as the honour of being named as House Of Vans’ best skateboarders.
HOUSE OF VANS
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The year was 1966, and the first Vans store had just opened for business. It was a small shop – humble in size and appearance – but the family had lofty dreams for the brand. Based in Anaheim, California, brothers Jim and Paul Van Doren sold 12 pairs of shoes that very morning, thus giving rise to a growing group of loyal followers.
HOME SWEET
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ART FOR OUR HEARTS Apart from all the free swag that visitors could cop at the event, there was also an homage to Vans and the culture of skateboarding on the second floor. An exhibition of iconic shoes was put up on display, accompanied by stories that gave viewers a better understanding of the shoes they were wearing. The classic checkerboard slip-ons worn by Sean Penn in Fast Times At Ridgemont High stood proudly next to the Old Skool with its unmistakeable leather stripe, while the Sk8-Hi sat next to the Authentic Pro – the shoe that started it all. Fans were also encouraged to leave birthday greetings to the brand, which they could peg onto a wall, but it was the artwork surrounding this wall that proved to be the most eye-catching. Collaborating with four local artists, eight skateboards hung proudly around the venue, showcasing the unique vision and defining aesthetics that each artist had in their work.
killeur calculateur ray barbee
SOUNDS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT Come nightfall, the venue was given a complete overhaul, turning the space into a concert venue. The Fridays led the night with their manic brand of indie-pop, followed by a lineup that included Misgive with their all-girl punk rock sound, and Killeur Calculateur with their galloping beats and punk-influenced melodies. After being well-entertained by the local acts, legendary skater Ray Barbee & The Mattson 2 continued through the night with their easy brand of jazz-rock. Delivering big on the smooth tunes that oozed funk, the band lulled the audience away on an exploration of modern jazz with laid-back harmonies. Finally, DJ Juan Love (you’ll know him as the prolific skater John Cardiel) wrapped up with a set that had concertgoers bopping to reggae tunes throughout the night. If the House Of Vans in Kuala Lumpur is anything to go by, Singapore is in for a treat when we get our own edition later this year. Expect to be in the good company of like-minded and creative individuals who aren’t just wearing Vans – they are Vans.
vans.com the fridays
john cardiel
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FASHION AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
Sass and Bide Appealing to the rock chick at heart, Sass & Bide offers a collection that features romantic details with a touch of edge in the form of macramé and plenty of leather. Fella Sporty lasses can show off their bodacious beach bods with the help of Fella’s sleekly designed swimwear. Beach waves and golden tan optional.
As Singapore’s first online store for luxury Australian labels, TheWellDressedSociety.com certainly delivers on the chic factor – especially with these labels.
Camilla and Marc For the go-getting woman who doesn’t skimp on well-fabricated clothes, Camilla and Marc’s line of sleek separates and luxe evening pieces will tantalise.
sugoi style! The Japanese clearly know their way around designing hyper cool streetwear; look to these two releases for proof.
KAWS X UNIQLO From one end of the world to the other, the artwork
G KERO X VEJA 062
Teaming up with French artist Margueritte Bartherotte’s fashion label, G.Kero, the ever-popular Esplar sneakers from Veja gets a sprightly update that draws inspiration from the colourful landscape of Rio de Janeiro. The playful parrot print is applied to an upper cut from white leather, and given a back tab in fiery red. Time for some fancy footwork.
of KAWS is well-known throughout, thanks to his iconic cartoon-esque illustrations with a generous lashing of wit. Bringing his prolific body of work into a collaborative collection with Uniqlo’s UT line, you can now wear a KAWS-tagged tee sans exorbitant price tags. Comprising 12 designs, the line aims to capture a snapshot of KAWS’ most renowned illustrations – including his famed soft skull character with crossbones and crossed eyes.
$19.90, available at all Uniqlo stores.
$225, available at Rue Madame, #03-13C, Ngee Ann City.
TO B. WITH YOU
AAPE BY A BATHING APE Ain’t no monkeyin’ around with AAPE here. The brand’s Spring/Summer 2016 collection sees ‘BLACK CITY’ take its cue from the style of health goths – where streetwear is given a monochromatic makeover – while ‘DESERT ARMY’ conveys its military leanings with sandy colours, radar
Lovers of agnès b.’s classically French fashion now have one more thing to look forward to with the launch of To B.. Bringing its signature sense of effervescent feminity and girlish youth to our shores, expect a neat selection of soft dresses, poufy skirts and yards of ribbons everywhere. Playing off of the house patterns of its parent brand, stripes and polka dots are seen on ’60s-inspired mod dresses and tote bags, flared denim skirts and preppy sweaters. Complete your look with the accessories, bow-topped wedges and tote bags, made from utilitarian nylon fabric that will transcend seasonal trends. $115 to $1,295, available at agnès b. Ngee Ann City. fashion
signs and military-inspired typography. Lastly, pay homage to the Land Of The Free with ‘AAPE SPORT’, where sporty gear reminiscent of a ’90s music video gets a patriotic makeover in red, white and blue.
$79.90 to $259, available i.t, #01-18 & #B1-13 orchardgateway.
Spring Summer 2016
Garageman Shoes Style # 9201 & # 9202 Once worn by garage man or â&#x20AC;&#x153;auto-mechanicsâ&#x20AC;? in the 1950s of America, these shoes are handcrafted from Chaparral leather for a polished look and feel, with all-round Goodyear welted construction on Neoprene cushion outsoles, boasting durability and style that lasts a lifetime.
Connect with us: Like us on Red Wing Shoes Singapore
Follow us on redwingshoesingapore
www.redwingshoes.sg
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GIVENCHY From humble sweatshirts to the slip-on sneaker, Givenchy has always found new ways to breathe life and hype into the simplest designs, season after season – transforming them from regular pieces into sartorial must-haves. For Spring/Summer 2016, creative director Ricardo Tisci returns with a new line of sunglasses to keep you looking stylish. Starting with a classic black wayfarer design, Tisci has perforated its rim with a neat line of tiny gold studs to give it an instant edge. Complementing the subtly edgy aesthetic is a triangular insert found at the ends of each arm – a nod to the brand’s Antigona bag. Pair with a loose tee and ripped jeans, and you’ll nail the rocker look effortlessly.
ALENA AKHMADULLINA Russian designer Alena Akhmadullina breathes all the potentialities of fantasy and fairytale into her threads – stitching both the wonder and weight of folklore, and tradition into her intricate collections. Here, we take a closer look at the weave.
$620, available at Givenchy, #01-41/42 Paragon.
GO FOR GOLD
SHORT AND GNARLY
Hi Alena, when did you fall in love with fashion? It’s hard to say when I entered the world of fashion because I feel like I’ve always lived it! I’m sure you’ve heard this many times before, the interest always develops in a mother’s wardrobe. So, for me, my love affair with fashion has always existed. For your Spring/Summer 2016 collection, what was the inspiration behind the oceanic themes and motifs? The collection is inspired by the Russian fairytale of Sadko, specifically through the depiction of powerful waves and the mysteries of the sea. Waves make such a great impact because they epitomise movement and force so I liked the idea of interpreting them using different techniques. I loved working them into the denim as well, which I felt added more dimension and texture to the collection. Slavic fairytale seem to play a central theme in your other collections as well. Do we detect a pattern? The funny thing is that Central Asian folklore is what we grew up with so the concept seems foreign to an audience outside of Russia, but this is what shaped my upbringing. I love exploring Russian fairytales because that inspires me endlessly, and it adds a new perspective because its unfamiliar to foreigners. My vision is to incorporate a little bit of fantasy into the everyday, no matter what the cultural origin may be. Where do you find your inspiration? I will never tire of museums, and I try to visit every museum I can – you’ll never know where you can find inspiration! And it’s important to always have that sense of wonder – not just as a designer, but also for your own personal wellbeing. To be inspired and to constantly seek inspiration makes us better people, because we come to understand each other and ourselves better.
Summer calls for an epic beach escapade, and if you’re planning for a sun-drenched vacay, be sure to pack a pair of Layback boardshorts from Billabong. Gone are the days of boardshorts that flap around your knee. The redesigned line of shorts offers a tailored fit with a shorter length, made from an improved micro-repellent fabric. Each pair promises to remain lighter and drier, thereby eliminating the discomfort of soaked shorts clinging to your skin. The unique cotton blend also gives you higher breathability for added comfort and ease. Pick your fave out of a selection of four designs, and you’ll be ready to ride some waves. $59.90 to $79.90, available at Billabong.
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Text Aaron Kok Images Various Sources
alenaakhmadullina.com Text Jun Sheng Ng Image Alena Akhmadullina
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Some things only get better with age. In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Vans is rolling out a special edition Gold pack to celebrate its greatest hits. Expect the iconic checkerboard pattern making an appearance alongside legendary surfer Duke Kahanamoku’s groovy floral motif, of which both are given a newly-glinted flash of gold. Similarly, the side stripes of Vans’ Sk8-Hi sneakers are also washed in metallic gold, while the iconic Authentic style boasts a gold back-tab and inner lining. To match your shiny new digs, the line of clothing apparel and accessories features a subtler approach, where gold accents come in the form of zippers and logo patches. $20 to $70, available at Vans.
Text Jazmin Kelly Six Images Various Sources
blue is the warmest colour Sure, the weather is steamin’ up, but we’re keeping our cool with summer’s hottest shade: blue. No longer an exclusive of the garish ’80s, blue is back in a big way – with everything from cyan, cobalt, aquamarine, and navy basking in the spotlight across runways. To conquer this intimidating non-neutral, get acquainted with a simple flick of liner to elevate the cat eye, or draw a bold band across the lower lid. A touch of indigo in the inner corner adds a dose of edge but for a sultry finish that’s electric, accent smoky eyes with smudgy, shimmery navy for that TDF look.
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THIS OR THAT
PERHAPS IT’S TRUE THAT A WOMAN’S QUEST FOR BEAUTY KNOWS NO BOUNDS. OVER THE YEARS, WE’VE SEEN OUR FAIR SHARE OF WEIRD THINGS PEOPLE – CELEBRITIES INCLUDED – DO TO LOOK GOOD, LIKE SMEARING BIRD POOP AND BLOOD ON THEIR FACES AND BULL SEMEN ON THEIR HAIR, AND USING LEECHES FOR A BLOOD DETOX. BUT IF YOU’RE NOT ONE TO GO THE EXTREME ROUTE, HERE ARE SIX OTHER BEAUTY HACKS THAT ARE LESS OUT-THERE, AND THEIR ORTHODOX COUNTERPARTS.
RED LIPPIE FOR BRIGHTER EYES
WHITE CRAFT GLUE FOR NEAT MANICURES
Whether you’re giving this a shot because you prefer going the au naturel route or simply refuse to line the pockets of your dentist, consider this a warning: things will get messy. Said to remove toxins from the mouth and whiten teeth colour, dissolve activated charcoal pills (yes, the one you take when having the runs) into a paste, brush on, and rinse.
Maybe you ran out of regular concealer, or simply have too many red lipsticks lying around. Either way, you can hide all evidence of ’em sleepless nights with this nifty trick. Simply smear the product around your eye contours and blend. The red pigment effectively neutralises bluish dark circles and veins, erasing all signs of fatigue instantly.
For the bulk of us who are not ambidextrously gifted, painting the digits on our master hand is always a pain. One neat trick is to brush craft glue on the cuticles before starting your paint job. It dries very quickly, creating a barrier to keep the nail polish where it’s supposed to be: on your nails. When done, simply rip the dried glue off and flaunt those beautiful talons.
Or Try This! Colgate Total Charcoal Deep Clean Toothpaste $5.30 (150g), available at personal care stores and leading supermarkets.
Or Try This! NYX Above & Beyond Full Coverage Concealer US$5 (7g), available at nyxcosmetics.com.
BEER RINSE FOR HEALTHIER HAIR Sure we prefer downing our lager the traditional way but there’s no harm treating your tresses to the same liquid gold. After conditioning, let a glass of beer sit until it loses its fizz, then pour it over your mane to rinse. Antioxidants in the yeast and hops can strengthen the hair shaft, while proteins and B vitamins help to soften and add volume.
Or Try This! Lush Cynthia Sylvia Stout Beer Shampoo $54 (500g), available at Lush.
CAT LITTER FOR SMOOTHER SKIN Okay wait, before you accuse us of being gross, let us clarify that it’s unused, organic cat litter we’re talking about. How does this work you ask? Well, organic cat litter is made from bentonite clay and we all know clay to be an efficient grime killer. Besides pulling out clogged dirt and sebum from pores, the paste also exfoliates to unveil smoother, softer skin.
Or Try This! Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque $45 (142g), available at Kiehl’s from June.
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Or Try This! Nails Inc Paint Can in Hoxton Market POA, available at Sephora.
USED TEA BAG FOR SMOOTHER LIPS You might know used tea bags to be the remedy for tired, puffy eyes but this household fave works for ’em puckers too. To put parched and chapped lips behind, press a moistened tea bag against them and leave on for a minute. The antioxidant properties in the tea leaves will help repair damaged skin for a softer, smoother pout.
Or Try This! Balm Kitchen Regular Lip Balm in Green Tea $8 (4g), available at balmkitchen.com.
Text Jazmin Kelly Six Images Various Sources
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ACTIVATED CHARCOAL FOR WHITER CHOMPERS
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SO FA N C Y !
CHARLI XCX FOR MAKE UP FOR EVER
Hey Charli! Why did you embark on a partnership with Make Up For Ever? I love the creative energy of the brand. The team creates products that allow me to experiment and be free. When I wear makeup I can feel sexy, demure, classic, futuristic...so many different things. Make Up For Ever understands that it’s about more than just looking good. The brand is vibrant, energetic and diverse. I can play with the products to suit my mood and that’s what I love the most. I am always very wild on stage. I like to move around and feel free, so I need long-lasting products. That’s why the Aqua XL is perfect for me. For you, what does makeup represent? Makeup is another mean of expression for me. It allows me to show my personality and how I feel that day. I usually match my clothes to my makeup and not the other way around. It can change how I feel straight away when I put makeup on. In that sense I think it’s very powerful.
Tell us more about your beauty routine. I like to keep it simple when I go out. I like to leave my skin fresh and makeup-free, and focus on either the lip or the eyes. On stage, sometimes I’ll go on with no foundation and just a lip or eye colour. Other times I will go the full way with glitter and everything. It really depends on how I’m feeling. Who are your beauty icons? Right now, Pamela Anderson, Vivienne Westwood and Marilyn Manson. They are all powerful in their own unique ways.
Tell us more about the Aqua XL collection. What are your favourite colours? I’m going through a blue phase at the moment. I like my eyes to be electric and blue does that for me. I also like classic black and brown for when I feel like going for a softer look. When do you use the Aqua XL eye pencils? To be honest, it’s great for both on- and off-stage. The wilder colors I will use for stage generally but there are also other subtle colors that I use in my everyday. However, even these colors have a different twist to them whether it’s a shimmer or a little glow. I like that.
Any special application tips to share? The Aqua XL eye pencils are easy to apply – in the way that you would apply a normal eyeliner. It’s easy to create different shapes too. Sometimes I’ll blend colours if I’m feeling adventurous to get something totally unique.
Anything new in the music department? I hope to release an EP later this year. I’m inspired by classic beauty at the moment, and sex appeal. I think this has translated into my music. It’s sexy but fierce at the same time. It makes me want to dance!
$36 each, the Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Eye Pencil Collection is available at Sephora from May 12. makeupforever.com/sg
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Text Jazmin Kelly Six Images Make Up For Ever
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FOR A BRAND AS VIBRANT AS MAKE UP FOR EVER, A SPRITED COLLAB HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING. THIS SEASON, OUR PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE AQUA XL EYE PENCIL, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FANCY CHARLI XCX. DITCHING HER SIGNATURE KOHL LINER FOR SPRIGHTLY FESTIVAL HUES, THE 23-YEAR-OLD POP-PUNK PRIESTESS FRONTS THE ENERGETIC 20-PIECE EYE COLOUR CAMPAIGN, FEATURING A SWEAT- AND WATERPROOF FORMULA THAT IS HIGHLY PIGMENTED, SMOOTH, AND LONG-LASTING. HERE, SHE SPILLS MORE ON THE COLLABORATION, HER BEAUTY ROUTINE, AND NEW MUSIC IN THE WORKS.
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lip color in 906 bite it, poa, 3ce at sephora
studded kiss lipstick in plan 9, $32, kat von d at sephora lip tar in technopagan, us$16, obsessive compulsive cosmetics at occmakeup.com
rouge artist intense in 50 black satin, $38, make up for ever at sephora
butter lipstick in thunderstorm, poa, nyx cosmetics at sephora
brooke candy lipstick in witching hour, $34, m.a.c cosmetics
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Text & Coordination Jazmin Kelly Six Images Kat Von D and Various Sources
glamore lipstick in vendetta, $39, illamasqua
KAT ON THE LOOSE lethal lipstick in hell’s bells, us$15.50, manic panic at manicpanic.com
SUMMER IS ALMOST HERE AND WITH FESTIVAL SEASON KNOCKING AT THE DOOR, IT’S HIGH TIME YOU DITCHED THE SAME-OLD-SAME-OLD FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE WILDER AND LESS PREDICTABLE. FOR A POWER POUT THAT IS EYE-CATCHING AND FIERCE, TAKE YOUR CUE FROM HOLLYWOOD’S FIRST LADY OF INK, THE SASSY KAT VON D.
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ultra matte lipstick in dr. m, us$6, colourpop at colourpop.com
rouge cream lipstick in r24 bewitch me, $22, sephora
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becky with the good hair We won’t want to be the other woman but we sure as hell want her awesome mane. Achieve it with these two releases.
L’ORÉAL PARIS ELSEVE HYALURON MOISTURE 72H
base notes For makeup to go on smoothly and last the day, a good base is a must. Before slathering on your foundation, prep skin with the ORBIS Skin Active Serum – an intricate combination of a pore perfecting serum and a pre-lotion beauty booster. Formulated with extracts of bilberry leaf, gromwell root, licorice root, and seaweed carrageenan, the quick-absorbing liquid smooths out bumpy texture and gives skin a silky touch. The result is a complexion that’s bright and gleaming with a healthy glow. $45 (25ml), available at ORBIS counters.
We’re stuck with a troubling dilemma. With the humid weather, our sebaceous glands are more active, causing oily hair. Yet, if we shampoo too often, we risk stripping away the natural moisture on our scalp. Targeting this issue, the brand offers the perfect solution for those plagued with oily scalp but dry hair. Combining salicylic and hyaluronic acids, this new collection effectively removes excess grease and dirt while instantly moisturising hair.
$9.90 to $15.90, available at leading supermarkets.
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JOHN FRIEDA FRIZZ EASE 10 DAY TAMER PRE-WASH TREATMENT A new addition to its transformative Frizz Ease
GOOD NIGHT, SLEEP TIGHT Getting a good eight hours of sleep is a luxury for us busy urbanites; though we all know its importance. For the less privileged, The Body Shop is offering help in the form of its Oils Of Life Intensely Revitalising Sleeping Cream. By blending skin-loving essential oils with precious seed oils like black cumin, roseship, and camellia, the formula renews and rejuvenates tired skin to give it a well-rested glow – even as you continue to wage the good fight for adequate rest. $59.90, available at The Body Shop.
Collection, the renowned house of John Frieda unveils its latest treatment – a game-changing weapon that tames frizzy strands. Without the help of heated styling tools that can damage our locks, this formula transforms the texture of dry frizzy hair through a blend of nourishing and protective ingredients – delivering smooth, silky tresses without compromising on care.
$21.90, available at leading personal care stores.
CORRECT THAT COLOUR To ensure a balanced canvas for makeup application, it’s important to correct all unevenness from the get-go so colours can shine through. In a bid to create flawless-looking miens, ZA offers two multi-functional Colour Match Shield CC Creams to fight dullness and redness on skin. The formulas work by neutralising and concealing uneven skin tones with bursts of embedded colour pigments – giving skin a bright and healthy glow. To complete your base look, finish with the Cream-to-Powder CC Stick – that keeps your complexion looking clean, poreless and matte for up to 12 hours. $16.90 (CC Stick) and $18.90 (CC Cream), available at leading personal care stores.
KULT BEAUTY Ask and you shall receive. Fans of Chosungah 22 who have been pining for its entry to our shores, you have Sasa Singapore to thank – the brand is finally here! A big hit back home and in the U.S., the brand brings with it fun and eye-catching products that make dolling up more enjoyable. Expect a host of beauty must-haves and fun picks, including C&T Blend Fresh Mix and Real Cheek Smoother – which boast a simple and easy no-fuss sponge applicator – and the everpopular velvety Bounce Up Pact Powder Foundation. Available at Sasa.
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GLAM PONY
Fans of the brand will swear by its fabulous range of masks, which work effectively to rid skin of grime and help the complexion look supple and youthful. Adding to its line of highly sought-after skin salves, Glamglow rolls out the Gravitymud Firming Treatment that promises to work many wonders. On application, the unique formula goes from white to chrome, as the ingredients synergise to firm, lift and tone skin. As you peel the mask off, expect to see a luscious radiance emanating from a complexion that feels firmer and looks lifted. $92 (70g), available at escentials.
An essential cult favourite of women and makeup artists everywhere, the Touche Eclat is a nifty skin-saver for when restful nights elude us. Now available in an even more covetable format, the brightening wonder comes dressed in a sleek gold body with fun statements: “All lights on me”, “No need to sleep”, and “I am not a morning person”. Making makeup time and our IG feeds that much more interesting.
WE WANT CANDY Fashion’s eccentric lady of style, Brooke Candy, is back at it with her second tie-up with M.A.C. This time, the collection pulls no punches in capturing her fierce punk and transgressive bad-girl aesthetic, with shades of rich purple and bright cherry red as bold lip painters. Eyes are pearly in either black or white, while nails get coated in a nude or purple. A stunning range that embodies her lascivious verve and roaring anthem of glam-empowerment. From $26 to $48, available at select M.A.C counters.
$59, available at YSL Beaute.
THORNY ISSUE For those who love their skincare light and refreshing, Fresh has always been the go-to brand – its wildly-popular Rose Face Mask is an essential treat that pampers and hydrates parched, tired skin. To offer even more of that Rose goodness, it is rolling out two new additions to the family: The Deep Hydration Face Serum and Deep Hydration Face Cream. Promising to improve skin texture and hydration levels, the former is a lightweight serum made from hyaluronic acid, angelica leaf extract, and essential rosewater and rose oils, while the latter is a rich gel-cream mosturiser that revitalises skin for a plumper, silkier look. $70 (cream) and $88 (serum), available at Fresh.
AWESOME BLOSSOM
SENSITIVE SITUATION Text Jun Sheng Ng Images Various Sources
YSL TOUCHE ECLAT SLOGAN EDITION
Every year, Jo Malone London tempts us with a covetable collection that warrants a splurge. This season, our money goes to the limited edition Nashi Blossom fragrance. By harnessing the wonders of both the flower and fruit of the Nashi tree (a pear tree that grows in East Asia), the scent is equal parts saccharine and crisp, grounded by a base of voluptuous rose and soft white musk. What makes it extra special is the polka-dotted glass flacon, which gives the perfume a modern and artsy look. $105 (30ml) and $210 (100ml), available at Jo Malone London for a limited time.
For those of us with fussy skin that’s hard to please, finding the right skincare product can be a pain. After having undergone over 117 iterations, Chanel has painstakingly concocted just the right formula to aid sensitive skin types. Meet the La Solution 10, a simple 10-ingredient formula that’s rigorously curated and chosen for their polyfunctionality. Promising to soothe, de-stress and defend needy skin, it offers a comforting salve – loaded with precious Silver Needle white tea – to calm and nourish. $125 (30ml), available at Chanel Beauty.
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TWO IN ONE
mane man
With the mercury on a steady rise, it’s tempting to want to stay indoors these days with the AC on high. Yet, too much time in that dry air can cause your skin to suffer. Keep your mug adequately moisturised with the Laneige Homme Dual Action Power Fitting Cream – a two-in-one hybrid that not only hydrates and revitalises skin, but also restores elasticity. Formulated to provide all-day rejuvenation, the cream is cooling to the touch and delivers a citrusy woody fragrance to uplift and calm. $57 (50ml), available at Laneige.
Espousing a philosophy of favouring quality botanicals and essential oils over harsh chemicals, the all-natural haircare brand, Original & Mineral, is releasing yet another stellar product – a pliable lightweight fibre named C-Paste. Blending coconut oil, natural waxes and actives, the paste delivers flexible texturising, allowing you to adjust your ’do as you see fit, as well as plenty of hydration and a natural shine. $44 (100g), available at Sephora.
AESOP HERBAL DEODORANT
In this dreadful weather, a good deodorant is an absolute must. But we’re also aware of the side-effects that regular aluminium-based products contribute to. Which is why we’re casting our votes to Aesop’s latest offering. With an eye for design and a deep focus on quality, the Australian body care brand’s latest release is an aluminium-free, botanically-formulated herbal deodorant. Made with a blend of 11 essential oils and a special formulation of zinc ricinoleate, it aids in preventing and masking unpleasant smells while offering a subtle and refreshing vetiver scent. $47 (50ml), available at Aesop.
COCKTAIL HOUR
PORE OVER THIs
To keep your skin looking fresh and flawless, Innisfree introduces the all-new Whitening Pore Sleeping Pack – a fresh Jeju organic tangerine peel essence-infused sleeping mask that helps to accelerate cell turnover process as you rest through the night. Taking six different types of citrus flavonoids from freshly-squeezed organic tangerine peels, it is loaded with bursts of vitamins C and E, and brightening capabilities to provide intensive melanin care, deep hydration, and skin regeneration. $35.90 (100ml), available at Innisfree.
Who says facials are a women-only treat? We Need a Hero, our very own homegrown head-to-toe grooming specialist curated for the modern man, is launching its first men’s facial service, providing an all-round grooming experience for the stylish lad. Drawing on the extract of the Siberian ginseng to energise, exfoliate, cleanse, and supercharge your skin, this Ginseng & Tonic Facial is a fuss-free indulgence that will relax and recharge your mien. $85 (35 minutes), at 57 Eng Hoon Street, #01-86.
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Text Jun Sheng Ng Images Various Sources
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CLEAN & GO Busy urbanites are always rushing from one place to another – from the office to the gym to evening drinks with the bros. With this in mind, LAB Series rolls out a multi-tasking cleanser that’s made to suit your hectic schedule. With a laser-focused vision towards efficacy, the PRO LS All-In-One Shower Gel is a multi-functional formula that takes on the role of four products at once – a shampoo, a shaving gel, a facial cleanser, and a body wash. It caters to all your cleansing needs without compromising on either task – an ideal catch-all solution for the modern man. $33 (200ml) available at LAB Series counters.
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put a pun in your bun Though the Burger Of The Day board that recurred in Bob’s Burgers was little more than a running gag throughout the animated series, you’d be surprised to know that those burgers are very real – at least now, thanks to an enthusiastic viewer who sought to create each puntastic daily special IRL. Written by the show’s creator, Loren Bouchard, and featuring recipes by the aforementioned mega-fan, Cole Bowden, Bob’s Burgers Burger Book lets you cook up 75 of Bob’s finest chalkboard creations. Featuring culinary masterpieces like the ‘Bleu Is The Warmest Cheese Burger’ and the ‘Texas Chainsaw Massa-Curd Burger’, this cook book’s bound to animate your burger-making abilities.
Text Trent Davis Images Universe
US$19.95, available at amazon.com.
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more dimensions than one THE SIMPSONS
Long after humans have been wiped off the earth, aliens could simply dig up The Simpsons tapes to get a good picture of how our society ran. Going 27 years strong on studying our social fabric, the series’ golden years featured gags that repeatedly went over our young lil’ heads, slipping in overtly mature references while scarily predicting a number of real-world events. Examples include Siegfried and Roy’s tiger attack, Burger King’s horsemeat scandal, the Syrian civil war, and Trump becoming president (we’re hoping the last one is more joke than prophecy).
KING OF THE HILL
Way before Duck Dynasty emerged to glamorise the lifestyles of the deep South, Mike Judge’s animated comedy honed in on the redneck microcosm through the Hill family. While it may have been a snoozefest to kids longing for obvious blows to the funny bone, the show’s lack of excitement and deadpan humour hinted at the uneventfulness of Texan suburbia, where the main protagonist’s sole interest was in selling “propane and propane accessories”, while taking digs at conservative values and commenting on immigration and Native American communities. 074
DARIA
We guarantee that if you watch Daria now, you’ll undoubtedly cringe at the similarities between its characters and your former teenage self. Channelling the adolescent cynicism that informed the ’90s – through Daria Morgendorffer’s expressionless quips and sense of alienation to the idiots surrounding her – the show eerily forecasted the kinds of shameless stories we’d see on VICE decades later. It also liberally parodied the grunge era through the fictional band Mystik Spiral, who gave us the following gem: “I’m glad you’re happy watching my pain / Burning crop circles on my soul’s waves of grain”.
THE REN & STIMPY SHOW
This cat-and-dog duo was based on a premise similar to many kids’ cartoons of its time: pair up a cat and a dog and witness an unlikely friendship form (CatDog anyone?). The difference with The Ren & Stimpy Show came in Ren’s blatant emotional instability, Stimpy’s unfortunate dimwittedness, and everyone else being barking mad. In addition to controversy around the rampant nudity, dirty jokes, and downright disgusting graphics, characters like Powdered Toast Man (“Quick, man, cling tenaciously to my buttocks!”) are a riot now, but far beyond a tot’s comprehension.
SEALAB 2021
Spoofing the Hanna-Barbera series Sealab 2020 by simply dubbing the show’s original footage, Adam Reed’s (the man behind Archer) animation turned an innocent story of ocean explorers in their underwater lab into an off-kilter comedy centred on a doomed aquatic colony with contrary personalities. Driven almost entirely by acerbic dialogue, each episode constituted 11 minutes of madness – some cleverly weaving in dialogue from film classics like Apocalypse Now, others straddling the line between being silly and ingenious in a bid to test the patience of its viewer.
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LIKE MODERN-DAY COMIC BOOK FANATICISM, ANIMATED TV HAS ONLY BEEN TAKEN SERIOUSLY IN RECENT YEARS, WITH SERIES LIKE ARCHER AND FAMILY GUY, AFTER YEARS OF BEING MISLABELLED AS KIDS’ CARTOONS. AS WE REDISCOVER THE SHOWS THAT DEFINED OUR CHILDHOODS, WE FIND THAT THESE ANIMATED SERIES WERE NOT ONLY FAR AHEAD OF THEIR TIME, BUT ALSO FAR FUNNIER THAN WE EVER REMEMBERED THEM TO BE.
S P O N G E B O B S Q U A R E PA N T S
The Nickelodeon hit remains a favourite amongst tykes, but even adults can’t resist chiming in with an “Aye aye, Captain!”. Perfectly disguising its adultleaning humour through the charming critters of Bikini Bottom – seriously, the amount of innuendo is ridiculous – there’s no mistake in its references to prison sex, self-gratification, and sidesplitting elderly abuse. But dig a little deeper into the fan theories behind the premise and it becomes even more interesting, revealing that Bikini Bottom may be the site of a historic nuclear bomb test, or that each character represents one of the Seven Deadly Sins.
S PA C E G H O S T C O A S T T O C O A S T
One can’t help but think that Eric Andre took a generous amount of inspiration from Space Ghost when conceiving his now infamous show. Once again borrowing the characters of a forgotten Hanna-Barbera animation, Space Ghost Coast To Coast followed the masked superhero’s years after retirement as a talk show host, together with his former villains. Hysterically parodying popular late night shows hosted by the likes of David Letterman and Conan O’Brien, the masked misfit gratuitously trolled the unsuspecting, and often confused, who’s who of music, TV and cinema. 075
THE TICK
Not unlike the present day, The Tick came at a time when superheroes dominated morning cartoon shows, but was decidedly different for making a mockery of the genre. Following The Tick, a seemingly invincible, superhuman guardian, and his moth-costume-clad accountant sidekick, Arthur, the show’s complex dialogue alone made it obvious it wasn’t meant for kids. And, unlike the sombre lessons of superhero morality tales, the show’s humour rested largely on The Tick’s nuggets of wisdom on justice: “May Evil beware, and may Good dress warmly and eat plenty of fresh vegetables”.
D R K AT Z , P R O F E S S I O N A L T H E R A P I S T
Text Trent Davis Images Various Sources
The medical series wasn’t only original for its mature themes directed at an adult audience and iconic ‘squigglevision’ animation style, but also for being one of the few cartoons to have its main character and supporting cast voiced by stand-up comedians. Centred around Dr. Katz’s psychiatry office, the show didn’t follow a scripted format typical of most cartoons, but rather presented the opportunity for stand-up comics to tell personal stories in cartoon form without an audience to bounce off of, putting a very different spin on the routines of guests like Ray Romano, Marc Maron and Dave Chappelle.
ROCKO’S MODERN LIFE
Similar to The Ren & Stimpy Show for its disturbing depiction of anthropomorphised animals, the unsettling nature of the show sinks in all the more when viewed with wisdom on your side. Graphically vulgar and frequently perverse – with characters that include lustful leapfrogs and demons with cow udders on their heads – Rocko’s Modern Life warrants a fresh viewing purely to see just how much twisted material you took in as a kid, but also for its ability to humourously portray disorders through its characters, such as the anxious wallaby Rocko, the gluttinous cow Heffer, and the neurotic turtle Filburt.
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MIXED MESSAGES FOR THE P E R S O N A L I S AT I O N PRO You’re bound to know at least one tech-unsavvy fellow who’s still sending SMS texts – but just because they’re behind the times, it doesn’t mean you need to be stuck with your clunky stock SMS app. Beautifying the antiquated messaging system, GO SMS Pro brings the same level of customisability and ease-of-use to SMS that one would find in an Internet-based messaging app, and then some. With a library of themes to suit any personality and a number of convenient features – including SMS scheduling, back-up and restore, delayed delivery to correct mistakes, and intuitive contact orgnisation – the app also supports Internet-based texting with GO Chat. Free, available on Android.
FOR THE SECURITY BUFF
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When world-famous whistleblower, Edward Snowden, puts his stamp of approval on your app, you know you’ve got top-notch security. Touted as the Fort Knox of messaging apps, Signal has quickly become the messaging app of choice for those weary of prying eyes. In addition to end-to-end encrypted texts, calls and media out of reach to even the app’s developers, Signal de-clutters your messages through archiving and personalised notification alerts to chime you in on the right (or wrong) people. And to keep it safe, the app is open source so those in doubt can put its security protocols to the test by auditing its code. Free, available on Android and iOS.
FOR THE V E R S AT I L I T Y VA G A B O N D
Like most of the software on your smart-leaning devices, Telegram is a cloud-based messaging app that seeks to simplify communications through an ecosystem of devices. With the ability to synchronise your chats and media across all of your devices regardless of OS, and store encrypted content on the cloud (or set it to self-destruct if you’re not the sentimental type), Telegram can also cram up to 5000 members into one group chat for community-intensive activities. And if there’s a feature you want that doesn’t exist yet, its open API allows you to build your own tools into the app to make it one of a kind. Free, available on Android and iOS.
FOR THE LO C A L E LO V E R
At first glance, WeChat offers a lot of the same features that other messaging apps utilise. But aside from free texts and calls (both video and group), the cleanly-designed app has a number of nifty bonuses that set it apart from the rest. Not only does it connect you to the people you already know – with ‘Friend Radar’ alerting you to pals in the neighbourhood – it also links you up with those you don’t through its ‘People Nearby’ function. When in the mood for some spontaneous connection, the ‘Shake’ function allows two random users simultaneously shaking their phones to shoot the breeze. Free, available on Android and iOS.
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WITH MOST OF OUR CONVERSATIONS MIGRATING TO THE VIRTUAL SPACE, IT FEELS LIKE THERE’S LITTLE CHOICE BUT TO WORK YOUR THUMBS, OR GO OFF THE GRID COMPLETELY. BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN YOU’RE OUT OF CHOICES WHEN IT COMES TO TEXTING FROM YOUR SMARTPHONE. ON THE CONTRARY, THERE’S A WEALTH OF SPECIALISED APPS ASIDE FROM THE USUAL SUSPECTS TO GET YOUR MESSAGE ACROSS.
FOR THE SQUAD BOSS
Unlike most messaging apps that operate on the notion of texts going from one person to another, GroupMe works on the ethos of ‘the more, the merrier’. Handy for family conversations, work projects, and get-togethers with large headcounts, the group-based messaging system is a no-brainer for cataloguing moments that are meant to be shared across multiple devices. With intuitive features like ‘Photo Gallery View’ and the social media-inspired ‘Like Messages’ function, the app also allows users to mute specific members of groups when they get a little too chatty, and send private messages to lone participants when a little one-on-one is in order. Free, available on Android and iOS.
FOR THE PA R A N O I D ANDROID
With Apple and the FBI making recent headlines, it’s easy to see why anyone using a U.S.-based app would worry about privacy. This is where Sicher offers a solution to ease your fears. A privacy-pushing app with its team based in Germany, the messaging service employs point-to-point 2048-bit encryption to keep your conversations and content to those intended to see it, on top of a message self-destruct timer and passcode login should you second-guess yourself. In addition to its simple interface and airtight security, Sicher also leaves no room for snooping around by removing all message and media content in your push notifications. Free (Google Play) and US$0.99 (iTunes), available on Android and iOS.
Text Trent Davis Images Various Sources
FOR THE UNTETHERED ADVENTURER
In the same way that messaging apps revolutionised communication, FireChat revolutionises messaging apps by taking the Internet out of the equation. Operating on Bluetooth and WiFi Direct, the app not only removes the necessity to remain in range of a mobile tower signal, but also the data charges that go with it. Allowing users to send messages and media across a WiFi mesh network to others within a 70m radius, FireChat users can engage in both public chat rooms and private conversations, opening up ‘social networks’ to the people closest to you, both metaphorically and geographically – all without the world wide web. Free, available on Android and iOS.
FOR THE C A L L C A P TA I N
Rather than dividing social apps and messaging apps into standalone services, hike Messenger unites the two to keep all of your social interactions in one place (doesn’t it just make sense?). With the ability to host up to 500 members and multiple admins within a single group chat, and up to 100 users within a free group call, your friendship circles needn’t look anywhere else to stay in touch. As well as native photo filters, a Facebook-like timeline to post and interact on the latest happenings, and Internet-less Hike Direct media and messaging, users also have the ability to hide sensitive chats with fingerprint ID. Free, available on Android and iOS.
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KAJIKEN Huddling up at a queue-inspiring corner of Japanese ramen joints at Orchid Hotel, Kajiken offers something that distinctly separates it from its soupy neighbours. Specialising in mazesoba, or dry ramen, the cosy, lamp-decorated eatery brings the Taiwanese-influenced dish from Nagoya to set up its first international shop. With each dish working off the same template of a bed of noodles, diners can customise toppings with menu items like melting kakuni pork, crispy and juicy karaage, and potent cod roe. Those willing to try it all could do no wrong by going the straightforward route of the Mazesoba With All Toppings ($15.80), but we swear by the Mazesoba Nagoya Style ($12.80), a bowl loaded with crunchy, chopped spring onions, oozing poached egg and spicy minced pork, packing plenty of kick without overpowering its alluring melody of flavours. #01-07 Orchid Hotel, tel: 9831-0441.
HOT NOODS
Perched high within Suntec City, the new addition to Japanese dining concept, Eat At Seven, offers its signature Chicken Paitan Ramen broth that’s rich, briny and thickened to perfection by simmering fresh chicken and chicken feet for hours. Used as a base for all its ramen dishes, the Special Rich Shoyu Ramen ($16.50) combines thick, springy noodles with tender slices of chicken breast, handmade chicken meatballs, and soft-boiled egg together with the famous broth and a hint of soy sauce. The Black Truffle Ramen ($17.50) takes this formula and adds an aromatic hint of black truffle to put an entirely new (and still delicious) spin on the dish, while the Special Spicy Tsukemen ($14) serves up the same ingredients cold, to be dipped into a piping hot bowl of spicy broth that delivers a delightful burn. #03-313 Suntec City North Wing Tower 1, tel: 6235-3386.
LIKE GIVING IN TO THE TEMPTATION OF THE PUN (IT’S THE ‘ROFL’ ISSUE, AFTER ALL), RAMEN IS SOMETHING MANY OF US FIND HARD TO RESIST. WHILE OUR ISLAND HAS NO SHORTAGE OF EATERIES AT WHICH TO GET YOUR SLURP ON, THESE FOUR NEW RAMEN JOINTS PRESENT UNIQUE WAYS OF MIXING UP THE CELEBRATED JAPANESE DISH.
UMA UMA RAMEN
RAMEN KEISUKE LOBSTER KING Ramen Keisuke’s 10th shop continues the chain’s trend of reinventing ramen with arguably its most ambitious and lavish concept yet. Like the sweet aroma of a freshly steamed lobster tail, Lobster King’s signature broth is both bold and delicate – a surefire winner for any fan of the clawed crustacean. The Lobster Broth Ramen Rich Soup ($14.90) marries a premium French rock lobster bisqueinspired soup base with melt-in-your mouth pork belly, chicken char siew, prawn dumpling and crunchy young bamboo shoots for texture. Varying iterations of the rich soup base include the robust Miso Lobster Broth Ramen ($14.90) and the Spicy Miso Lobster Broth Ramen ($15.90), where Japanese and Sichuan spices come together for a powerful kick in the taste buds. And just for those who’ve worked up a hunger after a night on the bottle, it’s open till 5am. 3C River Valley Road, #01-07 The Cannery, tel: 6255-2928.
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Taking the charm of the izakaya and combining it with a cosmopolitan touch, Uma Uma’s second eatery at Millenia Walk plays all the right notes for an upstyled ramen dining experience. The signature Uma Uma Ramen ($14) serves a hefty portion of thin Hakata ramen noodles in a miso-based broth that strikes the right level of saltiness, topped with tender char siew, spring onion, soft-boiled egg and black fungus. The Bushi Tonkotsu Ramen ($16) differs for its inclusion of thicker, curly Sapporo ramen noodles, and stands out for its refreshing spin on the milky pork-based broth with the addition of lime, bonito flakes and chopped white onions. If you’re not feeling soupy, the Mentaiko Ramen ($14) presents an interesting reinterpretation of mazesoba, where bold cod roe meets char siew bits, spring onions and seaweed with a dash of chilli oil. #02-06 Millenia Walk, tel: 6235-0855.
Text Trent Davis Images Various sources
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MENYA TAKEICHI
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VISION IN ACTION ASUS BRINGS STUNNING 4K CAPABILITIES TO ITS ALL-IN-ONE ENTERTAINMENT HUB – THE ZEN AIO PRO
IN SPIR IN G IN N O VA T IO N Staying true to the brand’s mission to inspire, ASUS has partnered with to put creative control into the hands of the unsung heroes behind the lens. Showcasing our island’s brimming talent in the filmmaking industry, four local filmmakers will be unified under a common theme and tasked to put their creativity to the test with the Zen AiO Pro. Using the remarkable PC to unleash their imagination and edit their films, each short film will inspire viewers to tap into their own creative vision, while highlighting the power of the all-in-one entertainment hub. Stay tuned to our social media channels to catch each short film, and you’ll stand a chance to win a number of attractive ASUS products worth up to $1000.
POW ERF UL PER FOR MA NC E
MAGNIFICENT VISUALS
DESIG NING A MASTE RPIEC E
Forged from a solid block of anodised aluminium and crafted into an elegant unibody shell, its timeless brushed metal finish and signature spun-metal Zen-inspired concentric circles adorn a layer of edge-to-edge glass covering the display for minimalist sophistication. With 6mm diamond-cut chamfers and in Icicle Gold colour all-aluminum body, the Zen AiO Pro shakes off the notion that a PC need not look the part by offering a masterpiece of technology and design.
INT ERA CTI VE ENT ERT AIN ME NT Fitted with the latest Intel® Core™ i7 Never miss another detail with the Zen AiO Pro’s quad-core processor as its driving force, there’s stunning 4K/UHD display that brings clarity plenty of power to go around to ensure that and colour to life. Boasting a 23.8-inch display your needs aren’t held back. With up to 32GB of with a resolution of 3840x2160, ASUS’ latest PC DDR4 memory, 4GB DDR5 video memory and extends beyond the limitations of 1080p video and lightning fast PCIe® SSD storage to maintain muted colours – allowing creatives to explore a smooth and responsive user experience, their expression with unbridled reach. With a there’s no room for compromise when it comes wide colour gamut of 82 per cent NTSC, 85 per to watching videos at their highest resolution, cent Adobe RGB and up to 100 per cent sRGB, playing games at their highest specs, and everyone from graphic designers, filmmakers multi-tasking for demanding projects that and the discerning everyday viewer can enjoy a take up much memory. richer viewing experience.
The Zen AiO Pro with 4K/UHD Display is retailing at $3,198 at all ASUS Brand Stores and Authorised Retailers. The Zen AiO Pro is also available in Full HD version starting from $1,099. For more info, visit asus.com/sg. Powered by Intel® Core™ i7 Processor. Intel Inside®. Extraordinary Performance Outside. Ultrabook, Celeron, Celeron Inside, Core Inside, Intel, Intel Logo, Intel Atom, Intel Atom Inside, Intel Core, Intel Inside, Intel Inside Logo, Intel vPro, Itanium, Itanium Inside, Pentium, Pentium Inside, vPro Inside, Xeon, Xeon Phi, and Xeon Inside are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.
Offering users an interactive, hands-on experience, its 10-point capacitive multi-touch screen offers streamlined functionality and entertainment to tie up with your other touch-screen devices. It is equipped with an Intel® RealSense 3-D camera* that adds precise, futuristic capabilities to the way you interact with your desktop – including facial recognition passwords and motion-controlled games. You can create your own personal cloud for fast, secure and convenient access to all your files, no matter where they are stored. The Zen AiO Pro also sports six integrated speakers to deliver powerful 16-watt stereo audio experience. *Only for 4K/UHD model
hit list
Favourite Local Stand-Up Comic Sharul Channa; she is someone I can always call when I’m feeling sad because she makes me smile.
Most Underrated Bar Manhattan at Regent Singapore. Nobody talks about it, but it’s such a beautiful bar to visit.
Song You’d Strut Your Stuff To I would love to catwalk to “Love Yourself” by Justin Bieber.
Last Film That Made You Laugh I saw The House Bunny last night – I know, it’s a bit late – but it’s so ridiculous that it’s funny. I can’t believe that they put this stuff on TV.
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Dress Of Your Dreams Anything by Alexander McQueen.
Makeup Haven I get my concealer from CosmoProf; it’s a makeup academy that has special effects makeup.
Favourite Shoe Brand Charles & Keith – I have so many shoes from the brand that it’s getting out of control.
LIKE MARILYN, CHER AND MADONNA, KUMAR IS A MONONYM THAT NEEDS LITTLE INTRODUCTION. CONTINUALLY EVOLVING HIS OBSERVATIONAL COMEDY AND COMMENTARY ON THE TABOO, THE LOCAL STAND-UP LEGEND HAS PUT AUDIENCES IN STITCHES FOR OVER 20 YEARS – FROM TV TO THE STAGE – WHILE CONTINUING TO INSPIRE FEAR IN THOSE WHO FALL WITHIN HIS SIGHTS. MOMENTARILY SETTING ASIDE HIS VENOMOUS WIT, WE CATCH UP WITH KUMAR TO FIND OUT THE LITTLE THINGS THAT MAKE HIM TICK. Catch Kumar live on Tuesdays at Canvas and Saturdays at Hard Rock Café.
Someone In Need Of A Roast Donald Trump! He is really opening up a can of worms, and I think Americans should petition to extend Obama’s term. Wanderlust Wish-List I would love to go to Spain for its beautiful language, and Rome for its beautiful architecture. I’m not a beach person!
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Text Trent Davis Images Various Sources
Go-To Grub Because I work in nightlife, my first meal must be something that I know is good. So anything like chicken rice near my house… although I’m not eating rice now.
KUMAR
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HE Y DUDE!
EUGENE SOH
WE ARRIVE AT THE FRONT DOOR OF THE ARTIST’S HOME AS HE GREETS US WEARING A T-SHIRT EMBLAZONED WITH THE WORD “DUDE”. IT’S CLEAR THAT EUGENE “THE DUDE” SOH HAS COME TO OWN HIS PERSONA IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE – FROM THE WAY HE DRESSES AND TALKS, TO HIS PARODIST ARTISTIC EXPRESSION. BLENDING COMEDY WITH FINE ART, SEEN IN WORKS LIKE THE LAST KOPITIAM AND THE CREATION OF AH DAM, SOH’S RENAISSANCE-INSPIRED PHOTOGRAPHS REFLECT AN IDENTITY THAT’S BOTH UNIQUELY SINGAPOREAN AND NOT TO BE TAKEN TOO SERIOUSLY. INVITING US IN FOR A BEER AND A CHAT, WE FIND THAT EVEN AS HIS ART HANGS IN THE NATIONAL MUSEUM, HE’S A DUDE LIKE ANY OTHER. So why did you decide to call yourself “The Dude”? For a while when I was in university, I had ‘eugenesoh.com’ but it didn’t feel like a brand. So I was looking for a new domain, and I’d made a game called Drunk Dude Goes Home where you use your phone to tilt and balance a drunk guy, so I just picked one of those words and ‘dude.sg’ was available, so I was like, “Oh yeah! I’m gonna take that”. I also got ‘penis.sg’, and I was like, “Yeah! What am I going to do with it?”. I was just going to put it up on my project webart.sg because I had too many to play with. Then about two weeks later, the Media Development Authority (MDA) emailed me asking what I was going to do with it, and I told them I was going to put it up on webart.sg to let people play with it – play with my penis [laughs]. They said, “Not good enough”, and they took away my penis! … dot sg. They castrated me.
me following my dreams, without killing people. Can we expect to see more absurdist works like this? I want to go wilder, but my audience won’t allow it, they’re not ready yet. I think, slowly, the government is becoming ready for it, because I’m not in jail for my religious works, so good on the government for being progressive. I hope my most recent show opens up a pathway for other artists; I didn’t screw up this one, so maybe others can start talking about it too. Have you received any criticism for your religiously thematic works? Yeah, actually, Marc Nair’s father in law. His wife’s father is really religious, and he saw the pictures of Marc as Jesus, and he was like, “Dude, cannot! How can you use The Last Supper to make fun of it?”, and I said, “I’m depicting what might happen”. He might come to Singapore; the Bible really doesn’t say that Jesus’ return is going to be so grand.
Text Trent Davis Images Eugene Soh
After The Last Kopitiam went viral, was there pressure to be as funny in the following works? When I did the rest of the series, there wasn’t too much intention to be funny. I just wanted to put it in the Singaporean context. I was thinking of what makes a photo ‘Singaporean’.
Do you want Jesus to come to Singapore? That would be amazing – then I can say, “I called it!” [laughs]. If he came back, I wouldn’t be surprised. These days I’m agnostic, so I know that I don’t know; there’s not enough evidence to prove or disprove anything, whether I exist or if I’m in The Matrix.
One of your works that constantly amuses us is The Human Caterpillar. What inspired that? People hate it! It was inspired by The Human Centipede, because the funniest thing is when you’re growing up, people tell you, “Chase your dreams!” – and then there are movies like The Human Centipede where there’s a doctor innocently following his dreams to connect three people. He’s following his dreams! This is
How do you think God will make you repent if he does exist? Oh, I will be so punished, man. I don’t know whether I’m going to be okay with that. He’s a gangster, I wouldn’t want to worship him anyway!
dude.sg.
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THE HIGH LIFE Divided into ‘Nibbles’ and ‘Bites’, Terra’s menu is a guarantee that no appetiser will be consumed without an accompanying big serve. If you’re getting the Gambas Con Chocolate (sauteed prawns dipped in a luscious spicy chocolate sauce), why wouldn’t you want to top it off with Chorizo Empanadas – which features moreish, tender minced pork and chopped chorizo being enveloped by a delectable pastry – and a generously stuffed, perfectly crisp Seafood Chimichanga?
TERRA
The basement club Kyo was lifestyle and entertainment brand Limited Edition Concepts’ (LEC) first flourish. But while Kyo continues to thrive down below, Terra, LEC’s new opening, spreads its charms perched at Suntec City’s Sky Garden. Some might make the case that elevation is a sure-win, but that’s not always true. It takes more than a sumptuous view for a rooftop bar to feel like an aboveground retreat, the high-up idyll that we want it to be. Yet, Terra’s combination of altitude, ambiance and palette-blessing offerings makes it a positively incredible upraised hideout. There’s a lot to take in here – both indoors and out. As it has with Kyo and its hip-hop venue Refuge, LEC has seen to it that the space in Terra is used in very effective ways. What will immediately arrest your eyes as you enter is the facade of multiple stained wood panels, which, situated at the entrance and running throughout the venue, gifts it with an inviting air. Another particularly striking quality of how space is segmented at Terra is how the indoors is built to be a more intimate and warmly lit realm – ideal for cozy (or important) dinners with bae or close friends – while the considerably huge outdoor plaza feels like the site for louder, more exuberant, party-hardy pursuits. That’s not to say that you’ll feel displaced as you transition from one place to another – the earthy, Latin-inspired decor and judicious placement of plants means you’ll be suffused with good vibes no matter where you are.
Text Indran P Images Terra
LEC founder Godwin Pereira has stated that Terra was conceived to offer a mix of Miami-club atmosphere with Latin American verve. This definitely informs the offerings of its bar and kitchen. Commandeering food-prep is Chef Man (ex-Cochina De Pasion and Lucha Loco) and under his stewardship, you can tuck into small and big plates of bold flavour.
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Incredibly savoury and gratifyingly flavourful, both ‘Nibbles’ and ‘Bites’ work well either as meals to be shared by a pair or as tapas-sized portions for a big group. There’s also a feel-good sensibility behind the menu that’s reflected in perennial favourites getting a scrumptious and eye-catching update – like the Buttermilk Fried Chicken Wings that are accompanied by a spicy sauce made in-house, and the Croquettas De Polo, featuring deep-fried croquettes stuffed with chicken and mozzarella, bathed in bechamel sauce. When it comes to its tipples, Terra is likewise distinctly magnanimous. Its 27m-long earth-toned, terrazzo-panelled bar serves up draught beer and wines as well as bespoke cocktails, which feature South American botanicals like thyme, mint and basil. We relished the ¡Viva Brasil!, a treat of cachaça and homemade rosemary syrup; and the Aloevation, which laces the heady tartness of gin with aloe vera juice and dill. If you like your thrills intense, pair the impeccably christened Beergarita (yes, it’s what you think it is) with the chicken wings for a many-levelled high. The next time you’re in need of nice vantage to get your grub and drink on, look up and head to Terra. It’ll literally raise your spirits.
#03-08 Suntec City Sky Garden, tel: 6336-6009. For more information, hit up terrasingapore.com.
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WHILE “FLUFFY” SERVES AS AN AFFECTIONATE SELF-COINED DESCRIPTOR FOR HIS ROTUND FIGURE, THE NICKNAME ALSO PERFECTLY CAPTURES WHAT GABRIEL IGLESIAS IS ALL ABOUT. CONTRASTING THE OFTEN LEWD AND CRUDE JOKES THAT GRIP THE STAND-UP COMEDY SCENE WITH GOOD-NATURED GAGS AND ROUSING IMPERSONATIONS, THE L.A.-RAISED COMIC HAS ROCKETED FROM OPEN-MIC NIGHTS TO HIS OWN COMEDY CENTRAL STAND-UP SHOWS, AND MOST RECENTLY STARRING ALONGSIDE HOLLYWOOD HUNKS IN MAGIC MIKE XXL. SPEAKING WITH US BEFORE HE HITS UP SINGAPORE NEXT MONTH, WE FIND OUT WHAT’S BEEN KEEPING FLUFFY HUNGRY FOR HILARITY SINCE HIS LAST VISIT. Hey Gabriel! What’s new with Fluffy these days? Life is busy. I just finished filming a pilot, loosely based on my life off the road; I’m working on a children’s book; and I have a weekly radio show on Sirius XM. When I’m home I try to find the time to play with my three dogs.
We’ve read that you’d taken up a yoga programme developed by Diamond Dallas Page to better manage your health. What’s it like to get in shape with an ex-wrestler yogi? It’s great! I’m a huge WWE fan and I never thought I would see myself doing yoga. Learning from someone you’re a fan of makes it that much easier to get into. Have you ever thought about getting in the wrestling ring as a form of exercise? I am a lover, not a fighter, so I stay out of the wrestling ring. Your career is pinned on making audiences laugh, but who makes you laugh uncontrollably? I love comics like Eddie Murphy, Robin Williams and Jim Jeffries. Other than the death penalty, what else left an impression on you the last time you visited Singapore? The Singapore Zoo. It’s the best zoo I have ever been to! What can we expect to see in your new TV show? There were so many great things I got to eat. One of my favorite things was Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, because I love pizza and I got to eat a lot of cheese. Cheese is my favorite food group.
Gabriel Iglesias whips up the laughter on June 6 at The Star Theatre.
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Text Trent Davis Image Gabriel Iglesias
Plenty of notable comedians have found themselves in hot water for jokes that didn’t go down well, but you’ve managed to steer clear of the crossfire. How do you keep your stand-up routine funny without being offensive? I avoid these three polarising topics: religion, politics and sports. Bringing up those topics in my stories would be the quickest way to divide a crowd. I keep my set focused on things people can relate to: parenting, friendships, pets, etc.
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What made you decide on the Hawaiian shirt being your look? The Hawaiian shirt is comfortable and looks good on me. A guy in a Hawaiian shirt says, “I’m here to party. I don’t want to cause any trouble”.
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HIP HAWKERS
art in focus Discover new perspectives at these photography exhibitions this month.
WOMEN: New Portraits From her iconic shot of Caitlyn Jenner for the cover of
Vanity Fair and minimal black-and-white portraits of Patti Smith and Michelle Obama, to the beautiful framing of ballet dancer Misty Copeland standing en pointe. WOMEN: New Portraits
Comparable to Bangkok’s sprawling Artbox, Timbre+ refreshes Singapore’s hawker heritage with an ‘in with the new’ attitude while respecting traditional tastes. Bestowing the hawker centre as we know it with a modern, gritty aesthetic, the gastropark not only seeks to tantalise your taste buds, but also satiate the rest of your senses with live music performances and street art to take in with the grub. From Garçons’ casually epicurean French fare and Food Anatomy’s cubic delights, to Dusk by Slake’s decadent local fusion and The World Is Flat by Tanuki Raw’s reimagined pizza pies, the locale ushers in a new wave of young culinary creatives that are lining up queues by the minute. 73A Ayer Rajah Crescent, JTC LaunchPad @ one north. For more info, visit timbreplus.sg.
sees Annie Leibovitz, the world’s pre-eminent lady of portraits, update her original collection of female photographs published over 15 years ago with her partner, the late essayist Susan Sontag. Part of a 10-city tour around the world, the collection will make its next stop in Singapore.
Free admission, until May 22 at Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. For more info, visit ubs.com/annieleibovitz.
BIG BANG DATA Perhaps we don’t truly know the scale of the Internet revolution.
SOUND & COLOUR
Premiering in Asia for the first time, this exhibition is a large-scale immersive art installation
There’s no reason why colour coordination doesn’t come into play when getting ready for the gym. To match the electric hues of your active attire, Beats has switched up the shades on its Active Collection to get you looking slicker than the average. For fitness enthusiasts who enjoy working up a sweat, look no further than the Tour2 ear buds. Retaining the same renowned audio quality and optional wingtips for additional comfort, the sweat- and water-resistant music-makers now come in eye-catching Shock Yellow, Siren Red and Flash Blue to energise your aesthetic while delivering the tunage all day long. $199, available at authorised retailers.
that gives us an overwhelming physical representation of the data explosion. This includes mounds upon mounds of photographs printed from images uploaded to Flickr over a 24-hour period, and a specially curated selection of artworks from its first edition in Barcelona, which intricately explores our relationship with data and the many transformations happening now in our digital age.
Free admission, May 21 to July 31 at ArtScience Museum. For more info, visit marinabaysands.com/museum.
PRETTY IN PINK
JEWELS FROM JAPAN
While your love for SMAP and exclusive diet of sushi may earn sideways glances in your day-to-day, Super Japan Matsuri is set to bring a cultural whirlwind of delights from The Land Of The Rising Sun to our island for your shameless pleasure. Held over three days, Japanophiles will get a taste of traditional festival (matsuri) culture, complete with old-fashioned games and mouthwatering festival food like takoyaki and okonomiyaki hot off the grill. With free game coupons awarded to those who dress the part (May 21 is cosplay night for the anime-obsessed), so don your kimono and bow down to the festivities. Free admission, May 20 to 22 at The Esplanade. navigate
Things have gotten a little rosier for those of you who can’t resist getting your gadgets in sync. To match up with the blossoming iPhone and Apple Watch, Apple has answered the call and applied an alluring rose gold paint job on the inimitable MacBook. But there’s much more going on beneath the surface. In addition to updating the hardware with a 1.3GHz Intel Core M processor (with Turbo speeds of up to 3.1GHz), 25 per cent faster graphics performance, speeding up flash storage and wireless connectivity, and adding an additional hour of battery life, the new MacBook is the thinnest and lightest made to date. From $1,788, available at Apple stores and at apple.com/sg.
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flash
ART FOR EVERYONE The bright pulsating blue neon letters in LUMAS’ new gallery at Paragon boldly proclaims “The Liberation Of Art”, and that is indeed an apt description of LUMAS’ vision. Art often comes with hefty price tags, but it shouldn’t be this way; art should be accessible to the layperson at a fair price. By coordinating higher print runs and other strategies, the gallery offers quality artwork at an affordable price without any compromise on craftsmanship or originality. With a diverse selection of works by over 200 established artists and photographers, get your very own piece of museum-grade art without breaking the bank. #04-47 Paragon Shopping Centre, tel: 6834-9535.
PICK UP THE TAB Samsung may have recently swept you up for its smartphones, but this time it’s the tablet that steals the limelight. Powered by Windows 10 and supporting LTE Category 6 for lightning quick network speeds when WiFi eludes you, the Galaxy TabPro S is both beauty and beast. A two-in-one tablet equipped with an Intel Core M processor for quick response and seamless multitasking, the premium keyboard-wielding device is the first Windows slate to sport a 12-inch Super AMOLED display. Benefiting from low power consumption to keep noise to a minimum and sustain efficiency, its 10.5-hour battery life ensures there’s enough power for plenty of play after you whiz through the work. $1,698, available at Samsung Experience Stores and authorised retailers.
ALL HANDS ON DECK
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LG has changed the game by bringing it back to basics. Rather than cramming everything they can into one device, the highly anticipated G5 modular smartphone allows users to customise the experience through a number of expandable accessories. While it has a number of attractive features from the get-go – a quad-HD display, 135-degree wide angle lens camera, curved display and aluminium unibody housing – the G5 gets interesting when it comes to its slide-out battery pack. The smartphone’s base effortlessly detaches and can be replaced with companion devices, or ‘LG Friends’, to enhance user experience – including a feature-rich camera module and a B&O Play portable Hi-Fi that’s ideal for anyone looking to get more out their smartphone.
IMAGE IMPROVED
$988, available at authorised retailers.
HAIR OF THE DOG While the Guinness name is one that’s unmistakable to anyone sweet on stout, the black-bottled Foreign Extra Stout was known by an entirely different name when it first hit our shores: “Ang Ji Gao”, or the Red-Tongued Dog, for its country-specific stamp on the neck. Still heard in drinking circles today, Guinness celebrates its 150-year heritage in Singapore with a limited edition design by local artist, Ben Qwek, gilding the Irish favourite’s cans and bottles. Make sure to keep your bottle caps and look under the tabs of your cans after enjoying the art-adorned brew, as there are plenty of prizes to be won. For more info, visit facebook.com/guinness.sg.
We can all name a perfectionist who can’t resist the temptation of revisiting a finished product to make it even better (Yeezus was fine, Kanye), and Sony has shown that it belongs to this camp of creative minds with the Cyber-shot RX10 III. Expanding on the praised bridge camera, the electronics giant is at it again to create an even better imaging experience for photographers and videographers alike. Featuring a newly-developed and extended 25-times super-telephoto zoom lens, the camera sports a focal range of 24-600mm for the perfect shot from lengthy distances, and a silent shutter to keep mid-video snaps discrete. POA. For more info, visit sony.com.sg. navigate
Text Trent Davis Images Various Sources
LG G5 SMARTPHONE
Bustling with life and colourful activities since its opening, independent communal art space DECK is getting in on the popular marketplace events that have been popping up around our island. Hosting its very first art market, OPEN DECK, the two-day event will become a hunting ground for affordable arts and crafts, scrumptious food and exciting workshops, lovingly brought together by the artists behind the wares for sale. And as with all of the container-built creative space’s free events, the fun-filled afternoon will be open to anyone looking to dig up one-of-a-kind treasures made in our very backyard. May 21 to 22 at DECK, 120A Prinsep Street. For more info, visit deck.sg.
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V10 SERIES WITH GREY GOOSE FEAT. DJ YELLA (N.W.A.) AT CÉ LA VI IT’S A RAP
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SMACK MY BEACH UP SUNDAYS AT TANJONG BEACH CLUB LIFE IS BEACHY
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RAYVOLUTION @ ATTICA THE LOST WEEKEND
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SHO’STOMPER UTOPIA (EPISODE 1) AT ALTIMATE STOMPING GROUND
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EGG-XOTIC SUMMER AT W SINGAPORE SENTOSA COVE WHERE MY BEACH AT?
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FORWARD FEAT. JAMES WHAT @ K YO DANCE PARTY
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ZOUK X UOB CARDS PRESENT MAMBO JAMBO AT ZOUK RETROLICIOUS
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1ST ANNIVERSARY AT REFUGE HAPPY BORN DAY!
S H O P AT T H E S E S T O C K I S T S ACTUALLY #03-18 ORCHARDGATEWAY
KURT GEIGER #B2-117 MARINA BAY SANDS
SPERRY #03-111 MARINA SQUARE
ALEXANDER WANG #02-03/04 HILTON SHOPPING GALLERY
MANGO #02-23/24 313@SOMERSET
STUSSY #03-03 ORCHARDGATEWAY
BRATPACK #02-10 ORCHARD CINELEISURE
MAX MARA #B1-131 MARINA BAY SANDS
SUPERDRY #01-184 VIVOCITY
CLUB 21 #01-07 FOUR SEASONS HOTEL
MAISON MARGIELA #01-08 ION ORCHARD
SUPERSPACE #02-18 ORCHARDGATEWAY
CLUB 21B #01-07 TO 09 FORUM THE SHOPPING MALL
ON PEDDER #02-12 NGEE ANN CITY
TOMMY HILFIGER #B1-27 ION ORCHARD
CONVERSE #02-59 VIVOCITY
PAUL SMITH #01-08 MANDARIN GALLERY
TOPSHOP/ TOPMAN #01-05/06 KNIGHTSBRIDGE
7 FOR ALL MANKIND #B1-07 ION ORCHARD
PROENZA SCHOULER #01-17A MARINA BAY SANDS
UNIQLO #03-27/34 313@SOMERSET
FOREVER 21 #01-10 TO 13 313@SOMERSET
ROBINSONS 260 ORCHARD ROAD
ZARA LIAT TOWERS
H&M ORCHARD BUILDING
SAINT LAURENT #01-25 ION ORCHARD
singa speaking final word
SINGAPOREANS LOVE TO ABBREVIATE, THAT’S AN OPEN SECRET. BUT WHILE THE LOLS AND THE IDKS ARE UNIVERSALLY KNOWN, HERE ARE 10 CHAT-SPEAK ACRONYMS TO GET YOU TALKIN’ LIKE A LOCAL.
Usage: He was sort of ugly; not ugly-ugly, but like ugly in a YUBISDY type of way, ya know?
Definition: Now Wait A Minute, B*tch
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Usage: NWAMB, don’t go trippin’ on me with that hater talk. Hear?
YUBISDY
NWAMB
Definition: Instagram Hottie Usage: Seng is an IGH – he only looks good in photos thanks to Meituxiuxiu.
IGH
Definition: Pretend Gay Only Usage: Eugene is very PGO. He’s actually straight, but he pretends to be flamboyant so the ladies are at ease around him. Definition: Why You So Like That One Usage: There’s an empty space there, and yet you choose to squeeze with me. WYSLTO!
PGO
ACBCSNC HTIH
cpm
Usage: Jolin’s so basic. Have you seen her around a good looking guy? She very ACBCSNC leh.
Definition: Hipster Till It Hurts Usage: This cafe really HTIH. They don’t believe in furniture, so you have to sit on the floor to eat.
EFAW
WYSLTO
Definition: Act Cute Buay Cute Still Not Cute
Definition: Everything Free Also Want Usage: Do you find Molly to be an EFAW person? Milk powder, chest hair waxing…as long as it’s free, she’ll take.
ABO
Definition: Act Busy Only Usage: Candy is very ABO. She walks about looking flustered and says she can’t finish her assignment on time, but all she does is shop online.
Definition: Cheapo Max Usage: Karen very CPM one, so forget about her ever tipping a waiter. Text Aaron Kok
Definition: You’re Ugly But I’d Still Date You
FIND
HERE BARS & CLUBS
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ARTS, DESIGN & MUSIC
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