JUICE October 2016 - Morrissey | Issue #217

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OCTOBER 2016 ISSUE #217

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the toil & trouble issue

morrissey MAN ON A MISSION

OCTOBER2016EVENTS

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1ST / SATURDAY

15TH / SATURDAY

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WEIRD & WONDERFUL : LIGHT IT UP!

DJ TENZIN EDM

21ST / FRIDAY

EVERY WEDNESDAY

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> feat. DJ KOFLOW & SOUNDSOFFAI, SHIGGA SHAY & TRY2PLAY

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USA

> feat. AOS Collective

LADIES NIGHT > feat. ECLIPSE

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kls_pfkd_mlob kls_pfkd_mlob

lo`e_oa ol_a ū lo`e_oa elqbi p ũ Ū

tba cof p_q mj ū _j

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YO MONSTERS! Spook Night is just around the corner and if you’re still undecided on what to dress up as, where to go for thrills and spills, and what to do with your fellow ‘ghouls’, we’ve got all the bases covered. All you need is a strong heart – and stomach – to gear up for the trouble ahead.

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Might we also tempt you – along the way – with eerie tunes to soundtrack your night (page 14), Halloween customs to get acquainted with (page 70), and horror games to play on the smartphone (page 72) in case you’re anti-social like that.

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CONTENTS MORRISSEY

12 004

As the world’s most infamous mononym, Morrissey has always been more than everything he’s done. He’s more than his sworn-for music catalogue, whether as the frontman of indie deities The Smiths, or as a solo firebrand; more than his critique of countless personalities and institutions; and, most certainly, more than his brief modeling stint with Supreme. Before he returns to our shores for another shakedown of our senses, let’s celebrate the man who is both myth and legend.

Image courtesy of Aloysius Lim / LAMC Productions.

EVIL EARWORMS

Te n o f t h e m o s t h a i r - r a i s i n g l y f r i g h t e n i n g s o n g s .

24

bon iver

22, A Million is a nocturnal affair meant for heightened contemplation before sleep steals you away.

BEHIND THE COSTUME Eight musos who wear their hearts on their sleeves – literally.

41

52

shi chang A kind of perverse obsession w i t h t h e c r e e p y.

dark as day The witching hour cometh.

OUT FOR BLOOD Channel your inner Carrie White.

70

stranger things

38

42

halloween hacks Common makeup and household items for your Spook Night shenanigans.

14

62

Eight of the weirdest Halloween traditions.

eerie app-aritions Mobile games that’ll make you jump in fear.

72

OCTOBER 2016

social

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SNAP OF THE MONTH C O N G RAT U L AT IO N S @ SMELLYPI SANG! FOR H AVIN G YO U R CO ORDI NATI ON ON POI NT, HERE’S SOMETHI NG THAT MIGHT MEND YO U R BR OKEN HEART.

THIS MONTH’S SNAP OF THE MONTH WINS A PAIR OF EVERLAST COURT CLASSIC SNEAKERS WORTH $79.90, COURTESY OF EVERLAST.

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obsessions

the black list FANCY THINGS THAT SPEAK TO OUR DARK SIDE THIS MONTH.

SKULL CANDY

body shaming LET’S GET SLASHY

INKED ODDITIES 008

how’s that for fancy?

Jack-o’-lanterns will rot and scary costumes will return to lie in closets for another year – but the artistic wares of Quyen Dinh don’t succumb to an expiration date.

Resurrecting pop culture’s greatest Halloween heroes with a signature ‘tattoo art’ style, the L .A .-based ink fanatic gives the macabre a bold, colourful and traditional tattooinspired makeover as Parlor Tattoo Prints. Available on heavyweight card stock prints or high quality cotton tees, ghastly icons of yesteryear like Elvira and Morticia and Gomez Addams are as enduring as today ’s morbid muses – from a bloodied Dexter Morgan to an Eggo-crazed Eleven. Whether worn on your chest or hanging on the wall, these characters will stick around long after All Hallow’s Eve. I call dibs on the Justin tee!

crystalheadvodka.com

parlortattooprints.bigcartel.com

Over the years, I’ve amassed quite a collection of uniquely designed bottles (hoarder alert) and this month, I’m adding to my stash this gorgeous must-have from Crystal H e a d Vo d k a . A j a z z e d - u p take on its iconic skullshaped flacon, Aurora is inspired by the Northern Lights to exude an aura of b e a u t y a n d m y s t e r y. W i t h i n the iridescent bottle lies vodka that’s crafted from quality English wheat and pristine Canadian water, distilled up to seven times and filtered through layers of Herkimer diamonds –

So this Hallow’s Eve, I’m dressing up as Septa Unella from Game Of Thrones – more affectionately known as Shame Nun – for two reasons. Firstly, it’s the easiest costume I could pull together, and secondly, she is everyone’s favourite love-to-hate character. While Unella’s look is in the region of “IDGAF about looking remotely good”, I’m going to indulge in a charming scent – the Black Saffron EDP from Byredo – to keep things elevated. Its richness comes from a mix of juniper berries and woody vetiver, with a permeating burst of citrusy pomelo notes at the end. If there’s ever a bigger shame than not being dressed up in a great costume, it’s the awkwardness of having BO underneath the threads you have on. $191 (50ml), available at Escentials, #03-02/05 Paragon.

Halloween is one of those things that appeals to me more in theory than in actual practice. I cannot, no matter the stage of inebriation or lucidity, see myself getting psyched about putting all that effort into getting a costume and then heading out to party. This year, I’m to going to honour the proceedings by watching Halloween, the 1978 John Carpenter masterpiece about a prolifically murderous masked lunatic we know – and love – as Michael Myers. Its status as a cultural milestone has been widely raved about but the value it possesses in that regard is not the main reason why I like it. Its chief draw for me is that it’s a reminder that for all our costume-drenched Insta-thirst, real freaks do walk the earth. Let’s stay alive, people. $28, available at amazon.com.

@bigocean

SINGAPORE

SERVIN’ UP THE FRESHEST CONTENT

OUR EXCLUSIVE WEB HIGHLIGHTS THIS MONTH PRINCES OF DARKNESS

MUSICIANS WHO WERE CRUCIFIED BY THE PUBLIC FOR THEIR EXPLOITS IN ROCK & ROLL.

HAPPINESS IN HORROR

THESE UPBEAT DITTIES WILL MAKE YOU SING ALONG TO HORRIFYING HIDDEN MEANINGS.

HALLOWEEN HEDONISM

GATHER YOUR GHOULS FOR THIS YEAR’S LIST OF HALLOWEEN PARTIES – YOU’RE IN FOR A FRIGHT IF YOU MISS THEM.

10 ESSENTIAL ALBUMS NOT ON SPOTIFY ESSENTIAL ALBUMS THAT ARE MYSTERIOUSLY MISSING FROM THE STREAMING SERVICE’S LIBRARY.

BUDGET BANSHEES

INDIE HORROR MASTERPIECES THAT ARE SENDING SHIVERS THROUGHOUT THE INTERNET – AND NOW HOLLYWOOD.

PSYCHO TROPIC BY MOJOKO AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE SINGAPORE-BASED ARTIST’S LATEST SOLO EXHIBITION OF CHAOTIC COLLAGES

MAKEUP MAYHEM GET WISE AND DON’T BECOME VICTIM TO THESE FRIGHTFUL BEAUTY FAUX PAS.

SUPERGA X STAR WARS FUTURISTIC LEATHER STOMPERS THAT FEATURE 3-D PRINTING TECHNOLOGY.

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under cover

Text Indran P Images Various Sources

Just like a veil, a mask is a form of concealment. But unlike the former, a mask emanates revelations that radiate beyond the full stop that is a mere shroud. Sydney troubadour Alex Cameron is well aware of this. An attractive gent by conventional standards, he ages himself by putting latex scars, wrinkles and pockmarks on his face. In this act of subterfuge, he creates a character that’s a weather-beaten, world-weary lounge singer with a lifetime of stories to tell. His debut album, Jumping The Shark, displays his commitment to the role in surreal, and fascinatingly visceral ways. Its blues-via-Nick-Cave and swirling electronica are a great foil for Cameron’s chronicles of the freaks, losers and ne’er-do-wells that populate his character’s world.

alexcamerononline.net.au

music

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O BE SE E M T M O D R I CK AR P ER S T EN PAT U H S P F E T O S OR E OT T US BE E N M R IC S – N GE STA S T N Y N A A A R W T D E S N HA S AL W HE T H T O T HE TP U T A R I S SE Y O GUE , EIR OU R L T OMED H O IS A S T T M H U A , F C N C O C A YM M EA SI C OR E T H MONON T HE SU , THO S OR MU M , S F ; N N U E D HAN A N T O T N R H F A M E S WO E BR MOR S , IR LE S S T I T INFA V E RY O Y F S H L T O O O N IN L M N A SO TH A SH A L L TO, IF T CE R T ORLD’S R AS A MOR E D AND, EQUAL D, MOS IE TH S, O N S THE W DONE. HE’S I R A A O M ; .

TI A L T S Y S S E E SS T ION E RY E’S S TH FLU EN U V H T IE S IN I G I T T I T H MOR R I S IN E S F H O AT INDIE D LITIE S AND IN ERY STAGE O V E RY T RE’S M N A LL CULTU A OY/MA T H A N E RON T M A N OF EV N B P T O O IT G A S P S .

IN R T A E P E F G, IP EM SP NG S A S T HE , I S L ON OW N ATE WH NTLE S N A MO H SUPR C E U N T I I E O U S C B T W U R F S T M O A IN UE O D P OP H A K ED S T U NF S SE Y H ING ST CR I T I Q LY, GOO T HER S IT S MO MOR R I R O MODEL , D A N F R L N A E IE U A E R R C D. CS TI FO C AR HI S B L EG E N T CR I T I IC, PAR HOR E S PLE X , D S N S M N U A R O A H M C U C H , P O N Y O E YT W E SA RN S TO OTH M OV ER P OS T TR E RE T U , IT S M C A STS HO I S B H S E W E E H C N R R A W O F FO A DO E T HE M E R . BE T H E SH EBR AT A ND E V L E R O N CE .

C E V ’S E S, LE T E FOR SE N SE WILL B OF OUR music

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MAKING OF THE MOZ Morrissey is 57 years old this year. In his wake lie four decades of normbreaking, questions-asking, perception-reconfiguring music, and a whole lot else. His beyond-trenchant wit, emotional depth and authenticity have come to be the hallmarks by which he’s most widely known and all were showcased in his self-written Penguin Classics autobiographical tell-all, Autobiography. Published in 2013, the 450-page tome goes a long way in establishing how Morrissey became Morrissey.

referred to only by his surname, decided on the band’s name and the rest is, as they say, history.

Despite being initially rejected by British music recording giant, EMI, The Smiths would enjoy incredible albeit contentious success with indie label Rough Trade. In their four studio albums, we see the evolution of Morrissey’s attempts to distill difficult, multi-faceted emotions into sound, with the resulting imprint proving to be one of the single most foundational tracts of non-manufactured pop and rock music. And while this partnership would later sour, in Autobiography, Morrissey remembers it quite fondly as a revelation: “bomb-burst drumming, explosive chords, combative basslines, and over it all, I am as free as a hawk to paint the canvas as I wish. It is a gift from Jesus”. To this day, many fans of both The Smiths and Morrissey share this feeling. You can’t be one if you’re not the other.

Born to Irish migrants in Manchester, a city he’s not especially fond of, Morrissey had a childhood that can be described as ‘Dickensian’. “Each day is Kafkaesque in its nightmare”, he writes, “and the school offers nothing at all except a lifelong awareness of hate as general truth”.

Devastating. But, in his eyes, that was the world he was born into. He also details some of the abuse he suffered at hands of his teachers, most notably, his PE teacher Miss Dudley, who did nothing as he was pushed into a swimming pool by a classmate: “Miss Dudley made no effort to understand the secret agony of a troubled child, and I was lifted up and thrown into the water in an act that, these days, would count as extreme physical and psychological assault”.

AGENT PROVOCATEUR Every day, we wake up to a glut of self-replicating digital information, most of which seems precision-engineered to tell us how to live our lives. But as he has since the very beginning, Morrissey consistently circumnavigated the media juggernaut. Outside of The Smiths, he stands atop a body of work 10 solo albums deep. Within its fold are reminders as to why he belongs to a rare class of figures whose reputation as messengers has changed them into their own self-made mediums.

His debut solo record, 1988’s Viva Hate, earned him a visit by British

But there’s joy, yet – we learn that he was quite a TV buff, enjoying shows like Stingray and the electronic marionette puppet science-fiction series, Thunderbirds. Of the latter, he has this to say, “they are, of course, animated puppets, yet they are as real as I am”.

MORRISSEY

Text Indran P Image Aloysius Lim / LAMC Productions

Tellingly, and to the pop world’s gain, it was music that was Morrissey’s greatest salvation. Here’s how he describes his first brush with David Bowie: “the vision is profound – a sanity heralding the coming consciousness from someone who – at last! – transcends our gloomy coal-fire existence”. If Bowie lifted the veil of childhood innocence from his wide, transfixed eyes, punk fountainheads Iggy Pop and Lou Reed – whom he compared to literary icons Goethe and André Gide – shaped his consciousness with their transgressive verve and unignorable impact. Gradually, the influence of these elders and his own epiphanic relationship with songwriting led him to all that he’d later become.

national security agency Special Branch because of the closing song “Margaret On The Guillotine”, a perceived threat to then-Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. But because it’s Morrissey, the encounter ended amicably, with him signing autographs for Special Branch’s black hats. This anecdote is perfectly illustrative of his irreducible place in the popular consciousness: you may disagree with him, but the manner in which he gets his point across is spellbinding – in all the right and wrong ways.

Morrissey’s last long-form transmission was his 2014 album, World Peace Is None of Your Business. Propulsive, intelligent, indignant, and suffused with a slightly comedic dignity that makes it a grandiose and complex opus, it consolidates his international reputation as a tireless romantic whose openhearted concerns just as deeply encompass a love for humanity and justice. Consider the final salvo of the sevenminute “I’m Not A Man”: “I’m not a man / I’d never kill or eat an animal / And I never would destroy this planet I’m on / Well, what do you think I am? / A man?”.

THE FAB FOUR Before The Smiths became a full-time prospect, Morrissey cashed cheques as a civil-service clerk, hospital porter, record-store salesman, and a music journalist. In the capacity of the latter, he wrote The New York Dolls, a book about his favourite band and James Dean Is Not Dead, a short volume about the dashing silver screen idol, affirming not just his interests but the angle at which he’d come for popular culture’s jugular.

That’s Morrissey for you – soul-bearingly honest, unabashedly pining, and above all, consummately uncompromising.

The Smiths was where Morrissey unleashed his artistic birth cry. After their meeting at a Patti Smith concert in 1978, a teenage Johnny Marr reached out to Morrissey about the prospect of starting a band. After a few false starts, bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce completed the lineup. Morrissey, who by this time, insisted on being

Catch Morrissey live at Marina Barrage on October 15. facebook.com/morrissey

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evil earworms

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“BUTTERFLY KNIFE” EMA A butterfly knife is a folding pocket knife, that, because of its potential use as a weapon, has been outlawed in many countries throughout the world. So, when uncompromising altgawdess EMA sings that, “Only God can make it right / In the desert underneath the light / It’s 20 kisses with a butterfly knife”, there is reason for alarm. Over a loop of buzzsaw guitar-feedback and echoing vocals, EMA sings from the perspective of a ghost haunting her victim in “the moonlight”, leading to the climax where the song’s subject thinks the only way to get her out of her head is with, yes, a butterfly knife.

“FRANKIE TEARDROP” SUICIDE According to frontman Alan Vega, “Frankie Teardrop” was inspired by a real-life incident he read about in the newspaper about a factory worker’s descent into madness and his eventual murder of his wife and child.

This is 10 minutes of unfiltered terror as Vega describes the action like an all-seeing narrator: “Frankie is so desperate / He’s gonna kill his wife and kids”; “Frankie put the gun to his head …

Frankie’s dead”. With its bed of buzzing synths and interspersed with Vega’s sudden screams, this 1977 ‘song’ is a lesson in how to freak out an audience without frills.

“DADDY” KORN

“HAMBURGER LADY” THROBBING GRISTLE

“DEAD SKIN MASK” SLAYER

Sigmund Freud has gone to great lengths to prove that culture’s fascination for that which is unnatural is one of its worst kept secrets.

And nu metal godheads Korn reflect that here on multiple levels. Any song that starts with a grown man plaintively wailing, “Mother, forgive me”, isn’t going to end well. As the eerie guitars and pulsing bass kick in, we’re privy to a narrative of child rape perpetrated

by Daddy and witnessed

by Mummy. Thankfully, frontman Jon Davis has since cleared the air and clarified that his own parents are innocent and that the song’s about an abusive neighbour.

Industrial rock has caused a lot of sharp ringing in our ears, but we have to hand it to its first discoverers for making us tremble as well. In this context, “Hamburger Lady” sounds like it depicts the sadistic exploits of a deranged burger-making woman. But that’s not what it’s about. Intrigued by a letter describing the horror a woman who was burnt from the waist up underwent, frontman Genesis P-Orridge told her story in wax. But the droning synths and oppressively compressed textures make it more plausible that it was made to soundtrack the flight from the kitchen of said Hamburger Lady.

Here’s a bit of serial killer trivia for you. In the ’50s, one Ed Gein was found guilty of crimes including, but not limited to, making leggings out of human leg skin, crafting bowls out of human skulls, making face masks out of actual human faces and, of course, murder.

Naturally, he was a source of inspiration to one of the most esteemed heavy metal bands of all time. This is Slayer’s tribute, written from Gein’s POV. But we have to give credit to the self-awareness of the line, “In the depths of a mind insane / Fantasy and reality are the same”.

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MUSIC’S FEEL-GOOD POWERS ARE SO UNIVERSALLY SPOKEN FOR THAT ITS DARKER, MORE UNSETTLING FLIPSIDE HAS LONG BEEN OVERSHADOWED. BUT SINCE THIS MONTH BELONGS TO THE CREEPS AND GHOULS, HERE ARE 10 OF THE MOST HAIR-RAISINGLY FRIGHTENING SONGS.

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Text Indran P Images Various Sources

“WILD WOMAN WITH STEAK KNIVES (THE HOMICIDAL LOVE SONG FOR SOLO SCREAM)” DIAMANDA GALAS Take your cues from the title – this one’s full-on freaky.

While Galas’ outsider appeal and left-field genius are widely acknowledged, it’s pieces like this that give her work its harrowing reputation.

“Wild Woman” hails from her debut album, The Litanies Of Satan, and at 12 minutes, is a protracted view of stark, raging schizophrenia. Sung, screamed and wailed in French and English, the song is a spellbinding masterclass in vocal manipulation. Galas unravels from the first second onwards, dooming herself “to a death of no importance / to the amputation of all seeking hands”. This is what the darkest recesses of the avant-garde sound like.

“KIM” EMINEM

“VORKUTA” GULAGGH

“MR. KRINKLE” PRIMUS

Em’s one of the most powerfully evocative storytellers alive, and one of the most unsettling.

Though his feats of notoriety have piled up over the years, “Kim” remains his most controversial move. Here, he enacts a revenge fantasy where he murders his then-wife, Kim, and subsequently buries her. “Now bleed, b*tch, bleed! Bleed, b*tch, bleed! Bleed!”, goes a particularly worrying line in a song whose tone is irredeemably bleak and violent. Though, it’s obvious that he was more working out his conflicted feelings for his wife than actually wanting to end her life, the song’s popularity made appreciating that difference impossible.

What’s more frightening than singing a scary song by yourself? Have patients from an asylum sing it, of course. That’s what this Dutch and Belgian black metal band discovered.

This song, from their eponymous album, features the shrieks of 30 children from a mental hospital, as well as that of rape victims and prostitutes. Around this cacophony of legitimately blood-curdling voices, the band deliberately plays classical music atonally.

This actually happened!

We know that it took the band over a year to secure the permit that allowed them access to the patients, which makes us wonder why the authorities let this pass.

Primus is a dazzlingly virtuosic band that also has the rare gift of being extremely funny. Case in point: “Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver”. So, when this one entered the ether, we were all shell-shocked and horrified. Though lyrically composed of gibberish (“I flip on my tele and I watch the waters die / C’mon Mr. Krinkle tell me why), “Mr. Krinkle” is absolutely ghastly.

Feeding the ’80s horrormovie sense of dread are expressionistic stabs of bass, ghostly guitar lines and drum-jabs that recur in maddening pattern of anxiety; the anxiety you feel when you know you’re going to witness a dismemberment.

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“HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES” ROB ZOMBIE The whole lost-teenagerswho-stumble-upon-thewrong-house-in-the-woods boilerplate has all but lost its shock factor. But in 2003, boogeyman extraordinaire Rob Zombie signed off on his directorial debut and made the mode legit again. In its mood and setting, House Of 1000 Corpses is vomitinducingly scary. Once again, teenagers get lost in the impregnable outdoors and end up at a sketchy residence.

But this time, instead of a single crazed nutjob, they’re greeted by a family of perverse cannibals. The aural equivalent fuses grating blues and atmospheric diegetic sound, to drive home the fact that, “This is the house / Built on sin / This is the house / Nobody lives”.

MAYDAY PARADE

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IF THIS WERE A PERFORMANCE REVIEW OF THE 10-YEAR HISTORY OF FLORIDIAN QUINTET, MAYDAY PARADE, THE KEY TAKEAWAY WOULD BE THAT IT EFFECTIVELY AND INGENIOUSLY BROUGHT THE DISPARATE AND MILITANTLY OPPOSED WORLDS OF PUNK AND ROCK & ROLL TOGETHER. THROUGHOUT THEIR FIVE-ALBUM-DEEP CATALOGUE – WHICH INCLUDES LAST YEAR’S BLACK LINES – THEIR IDIOM HAS BEEN ONE OF SPEED, INTENSITY AND MELODY WITH A SAVVY MELDING OF FIST-UP STOMPERS AND ACHING-HEART BALLADRY THAT ISN’T WITHOUT A DISTINCTLY POIGNANT FORCE. BEFORE YOU RECEIVE THE SUBLIME TIDINGS FROM THE RETURNING HEROES, READ WHAT BASSIST JEREMY LENZO HAS TO SAY ABOUT THEIR JOURNEY. It’s known that you wanted to keep the writing done internally.

Why? We wanted to keep the writing internally because this album was supposed to be about the change within our band. Opening that up to other people’s input wouldn’t have allowed us to make the album we wanted. We didn’t want to make compromises or change things that the band didn’t want to change.

What was it like working with Mike Sapone on the production?

It was great working with Mike Sapone; we have always loved the albums he has done, and really loved what he did with our album. He is great at finding different sounds, and has a lot of unique ideas.

How would you say recording in a converted church affected your sound?

I don’t think the fact it was a church effected the sound too much, but because the church has such high ceilings, it allowed for a lot more natural reverb and room sound, which we were able to use for certain parts.

The lead single, “Keep In Mind, Transmogrification Is A New Technology” is incredible. What inspired its very interesting title?

The title is a line from a Calvin And Hobbes comic. Derek [frontman] is a big Calvin And Hobbes fan, and I think he just liked the way the title sounded with this song.

This year marked the 10th anniversary of Mayday Parade’s existence as a band. How does it feel to be doing it this long?

I don’t think any of us thought we would be doing this for 10 years

when we started the band. We are humbled and grateful to still be here and doing this, and so appreciative of everyone who still comes out to our shows.

What do you think has been the key to your success in being able to work so well together?

The key to us being around this long, and working well together, is that fact that we are all friends. You have to be able to remember that you started this band with your friends because you all had the same goal.

If you lose sight of that goal, or forget that the people around you are your friends, and not just business partners, that’s where things can start to fall apart.

What’s the biggest misconception about Mayday Parade?

I don’t think there are any misconceptions about our band. We have been very open with who we are and what we care about.

If you could turn back the clock, what would you tell your younger selves?

If I could turn back time, I would tell my younger self to hold on, because it’s going to be a hell of a ride.

Lastly, what are you most excited for about playing in Singapore in October?

We have always loved Singapore, and what I’m personally looking forward to is some good Singaporean food! I love me some good food.

Catch Mayday Parade Live at Luxi, St. James Power Station on October 16. maydayparade.com music

Text Indran P Image Fearless Records Interview Courtesy Of Upsurge Productions

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WHEN PUNK GOES ROCK

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THAT SOUTHEAST ASIA HAS A FIRM FOOTHOLD IN THE DANCE WORLD IS NO LONGER A MOOT POINT – AND NAKADIA IS ONE OF THE FOREMOST EMBODIMENTS OF THIS. FROM GROWING UP IN AN IMPOVERISHED VILLAGE IN THAILAND TO BEING EMBRACED BY THE ELITES OF BERLIN’S DANCE SCENE – SVEN VÄTH’S A HUGE FAN – HER UNDENIABLE IMPACT ON THE SHROUDED, ARCANE WORLD OF TECHNO IS CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION FOR ALL OF US WHO CALL THIS REGION HOME. SELF-TAUGHT AND SELF-MADE, SHE’S AS UNCOMPROMISING AS HER HEADILY INTOXICATING MIXES. BEFORE SHE GIFTS US WITH HER PRESENCE AND SOUNDS, SHE SPEAKS HER MIND HERE.

NAKADIA

Back home At the moment, the club scene in Thailand is booming like never before. People are crazy about festivals and the clubs are full. This goes for both the EDM and the underground scene, although the latter is still very small. When I started DJing, there was no scene at all. People went to clubs, but nobody cared about the music or the artistes.

know and like (commercial) and the ones that have their own style and inspire people go to parties to listen to their music (underground).

EDM is just the commercial music of today. In the modern underground, there are so many amazing artistes that I love, such as Tale Of Us, Stephan Bodzin and Dixon. For the harder sounds, Matador is one of my favorites.

Berlin calling Berlin made me the DJ that I am today. As we say, “In Berlin, you don’t love techno, you live techno”. There’s just so much inspiration everywhere you go. The area where I live now is surrounded not only by clubs and bars, but also by the biggest companies in the business, such as Beatport, Native Instruments, and agencies like Artists Alive. As soon as you leave the house, you meet musicians from all over the world. When I visited Berlin for the first time in 2003, I knew immediately that I wanted to live in the city.

Times have changed I was lucky to have had my start back in the vinyl days. Back then, the focus was much more on quality. It wasn’t so easy to be a DJ. You had to put in a lot of effort to achieve your dream. Today, it’s all very easy and with that, the quality has gone down. Anyone can be a DJ today. It’s become more about who you know than about the quality of your music. Some of the biggest names today are the worst DJs and nobody can explain why they’re so successful. Ten years ago, that was impossible.

The wisdom of Papa Sven I have a similar approach to music as Sven Väth.

He absolutely loves the music he plays, which is why he loves to play long sets and even starts the night himself without an opening DJ. I love to do that, too. If you play all night, you can create your own story and bring people on a journey. Besides the music, Sven also taught me how to stay fit and healthy. He really is the biggest inspiration to me in every way.

Real talk The biggest problem for females DJs is that so many doubters and haters just don’t understand that a girl can be as good as a man, or even better. DJing has nothing to do with gender.

But so many people out there just don’t want to believe it. It has changed a bit over the years and in some areas, it’s even ‘in’ to book female DJs, but that’s just as wrong. Forget gender – book DJs for their music and nothing else. This is what I am fighting for.

Worlds apart For the past 25 years, we’ve had two different kinds of DJs: the ones that play music people

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Catch Nakadia at Headquarters on October 7.

Text Indran P Images Nakadia Interview Courtesy Of The Council

TECHNO

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“LOOK AT ME NOW, I’M DOING BETTER THAN YOU EVER HAVE”, COOS SAM RUI ON THE HOOK OF HER NEW SINGLE, “BETTER”. LATER, NEAR THE SONG’S END, SHE GOES FOR THE CLINCHER WITH “BABY, WE BOTH KNOW I WON”. WHILE MOST POST-BREAKUP MISSIVES COME OFF SOUNDING LIKE SALTY, TAYLOR SWIFT-IAN MEANS OF FEED-CLOGGING ATTENTION-GRABS, RUI’S IS A MOVINGLY BEAUTIFUL NARRATIVE – AND IT SOUNDS POSITIVELY TRIUMPHANT. TRADING IN HER ACOUSTIC GUITAR FOR THE HEADY THUD AND SENSUAL PULSE OF HER ADOPTED NEO-R&B MODE, THE 20-YEAR-OLD CHANTEUSE-SONGWRITER HAS STAKED HER CLAIM ON NEW ARTISTIC TERRAIN AND ON THE FIRMAMENT OF MODERN MADE-INSINGAPORE MUSIC. HERE, SHE WAXES LYRICAL – SO LISTEN UP. Both your originals and covers are intensely personal. Would you say you write primarily for catharsis?

I’d say I write to vent. I was at low point a while back and I just had to sing. Listening to music does one thing, but when you make your own, you can tailor the music and lyrics to how you feel. You can curate an experience for yourself. It’s a whole other level of fulfilment.

When did you realise that you could sing?

My parents were in their church choir when I was younger so there was always singing around me but I never thought I was particularly good at it. It wasn’t till I was 15 that my friend signed me up to sing – against my will – at the annual fundraiser, the CHIJ Fiesta, in my school. Soon after, I recorded a cover of Bruno Mars’ “Grenade” – which I’ve since taken down – and it was after that point that I wanted to sing more.

“Better” plays like a coming-of-age narrative. Would you say it marks a turning point in your life?

Yes, in the span of time that this song was written and released, I’d say I’m a completely different person. This song means the most to me. It was how I responded to a breakup and I wrote it as a form of empowerment for myself but I didn’t want it to be a one-dimensional power song.

What can you tell us about your upcoming EP? It’s coming out early next year and I feel like the time for it is right.

Every song on it is from a real story – like a diary. Every song on it is genuine. I hope that the people who listen to it realise that, even though it’s a new sound, it’s still me opening up about myself.

soundcloud.com/samantharui How do you pick what to cover and do you have a set approach henceforth?

When I listen to something that I like, I get a bit ‘psycho’ about it. I’ll listen to nothing but that song for a good few months. My current favourite is dvsn’s “Hallucinations”. I listened to it for a good three months. If I feel that way about a song, I have to cover it at some point; I’ll have to get it out of my system so I can move on and find a new song.

That’s my approach to songs that I really love.

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Text Indran P Image Force Field PR Interview Courtesy Of Songs For Children

Take us through your transition into a more electronic aesthetic.

I’ve always liked that dark, r&b sound but I never thought I could pull it off. Growing up listening to Usher, Chris Brown and Nelly Furtado, I never thought I’d be able to make music like that, until I met my producer Grosse back in 2014. He asked if I wanted to try something new and I gave it a shot. I really respect black music so I didn’t want to sound like a pretender but, with him, I felt I could make something that I’d be proud of.

The fact that I’m a very different person now also has a lot to do with it.

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WEAVER PERK PIETREK

ABILITY IS ONE THING BUT HAVING A PATH-LIGHTING VISION IS A WHOLE OTHER. LOCAL DJ-PRODUCER PERK PIETREK HAS BOTH IN SPADES. THOUGH JUST 22, HIS RESUME BOASTS RELEASES ON CULT LABELS SUCH AS TOP BILLIN, SWEAT IT OUT AND MAIN COURSE. THEN, THERE’S THE AWESOME STORY OF HOW HE WON OVER EDM-HOP KINGS FAR EAST MOVEMENT WITH A SINGLE REMIX. BUT HIS IS NOT THE TALE OF A RISE TO MERE TASTEMAKING HEIGHTS. RATHER, PERK STANDS AS A TESTIMONY TO WHY NEXT-LEVEL GENREDEFYING DANCE MUSIC WILL ALWAYS HAVE ITS ADORERS. BEFORE HE DROPS HIS UPCOMING EP, I BELIEVE, THE YOUNG GUN SHOOTS THE BREEZE WITH US.

Of names and titles Perk Pietrek was actually inspired by my real name, Pietrek. Perk came from simply removing the alternate letters of Pietrek. My initial name was actually Patrick. That was the name given by my parents when I was born but they had my name changed to Pietrek after consulting a renowned fengshui master. It’s funny, though, because if my parents didn’t change my name, I might have come up with Park Patrick instead, which does sound quite ridiculous.

When the decks call I feel like it has been part of me to constantly find ways to be part of music and share it. Since young, I’ve always been messing with different musical instruments. At 11, I set up my own online radio show where my friends would tune in after school.

Getting into production pushed my boundaries further. I started becoming very open to playing all sorts of music because, as a producer, I don’t want to be bound by genres.

Unveiling I Believe It has been such a ride with this one. The EP, will be coming up on Australia’s Vicious Recordings’ sub label, Be Rich Records, and I’m really glad it’s all happening because I’ve been wanting to put music out with them for quite a while. It’s going to be a three-track EP and contains collaborations with offshore musicians from the U.S., Australia and Italy.

All of these collaborations happened over the net, so we were sending ideas, track notes and audio clips back and forth.

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The non-linear approach I feel like the songs I write nowadays go in line with what I’m feeling at the moment, which is a great thing. There are a lot of agendas in the music I’m making. I want to be able to produce a song that can give people a glimpse of my style, while making them dance and, of course, deliver a message at the same time. So, to be able to adapt well is something I’ve been trying to do.

The Far East Movement connection I was struggling with a period of creative block and didn’t manage to get much music done. But that didn’t stop me from trying. So, I kept working on remixes and tried to get myself back up to speed. When I sent over one of those remixes to Far East Movement, they hit me back asking for a VIP version of my track “Sleep Is Over”, and we’ve been talking ever since. When I shot the track “Busy Gyal” over to them, they got back pretty much instantly, wanting to sign me to the label with this single.

Starting from the top I’m truly grateful that I got my start at Top Billin.

Everything I was doing was really DIY at that point in time. Top Billin got me into their compilation for best club tracks of the year. I felt like being on Top Billin paved a way for me to eventually be signed to Main Course, a U.S. label that Diplo has said is one of the most exciting labels to look out for.

soundcloud.com/perkpietrek

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SERVED FOR THE STARS HEINEKEN EXTRA COLD PAIRS ITS PREMIUM LAGER WITH A PREMIUM SERVING RITUAL

When it’s time to knock off work and round up your friends for a beer at the bar, there are three things that can happen with the first pint that’ll quickly turn a memorable experience into a forgettable one: it’s warm, there’s too much or too little foam, and the glass is dirty. If you’re as proud of your recipe and heritage as Heineken is, you’ll stop at nothing to have your premium lager paired with premium service – and that’s exactly what the Amsterdam-born brewer’s done with its sub-zero draught beer, Heineken Extra Cold.

Served at temperatures that between -3 deg C and +1 deg C, Heineken’s rich, fullbodied lager cuts through the heat with a smooth, icy blast of subtle fruity notes and refreshing clarity. But an ice-cold beer alone doesn’t make for a premium experience.

Channelling the iconic red star’s five points, every glass of Heineken Extra Cold is served according to five crucial steps that make up the Heineken Star Serve Ritual.

FREEZE

Chilled to -18 deg C, the special Heineken Extra Cold pint glasses maintain the crisp taste of the perfect pour, while keeping the beer at refreshing sub-zero temperatures after leaving the icy column of the tap.

POUR

The golden yellow lager is poured into the glass held at a 45-degree angle to ensure that the glass is crowned by just the right amount of foam.

SKIM

A skimmer is passed over the rising foam at a 45-degree angle, resulting in surface tension that creates a perfect concave head.

CHECK

As icy crystals dance in the bottom of the glass, the server checks to see that the foam level is just right. Nothing short of perfection.

SERVE

Finally, the glass arrives in your hands – served on a coaster to keep your trousers dry – and with the Heineken logo facing you to showcase the brand’s pride and commitment to quality.

Now that your taste buds are all worked up, where do you go to enjoy a tall pint of Heineken Extra Cold? Simply look for the Heineken Extra Cold signs at participating outlets around the island. Once inside, you’ll know that you can expect a premium experience when you see the ‘Star Serve Bar’ plaque at the bar. As said by Heineken’s very own Global Draught Master, Erik Tackenkamp, getting the first beer right will make or break the decision to #FreezeTheMoment and return to the bar for that second pint, rather than seeking the next stop to hop to. And with the painstakingly developed Heineken Star Serve Ritual, you can rest assured and expect only premium quality, from the first to the very last round.

To stay up to date on Heineken’s latest happenings, visit heineken.com/sg.

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THERE’S NOTHING LIKE PERCUSSION TO ELEVATE SPIRITS AND INSPIRE BODIES TO MOVE. AND IT’S BEEN THE MISSION OF THE RECENTLY CONCLUDED SINGAPORE DRUM FEST TO AFFIRM AND CELEBRATE THE OLDEST AND MOST TIME-HONOURED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. BESIDES ITS BEYOND-STELLAR LINEUP OF HITTERS, THE FESTIVAL ALSO FEATURED A COMPETITION, DRUM OFF SINGAPORE, WHICH WAS WON BY ANSON KOH. HERE, THE VICTOR REFLECTS ON HIS BIG WIN AND HIS LOVE FOR THE KIT. How does it feel to win Drum Off Singapore?

Well, I’m really thankful and happy. It was a great experience for me. Even though I’m quite used to performing on stage, playing at the competition was something totally new. The nerves I felt there were completely different from how I feel when I play gigs.

Take us through the mechanics of the competition.

There are different structures to follow in every round. For the qualifying round, you need to play a five-minute solo. In the semifinals, you have to play a five-minute solo with another instrumentalist. I played with my good friend, Nick Lee, who’s a bassist. In the finals, you have to play in a full band setup with three other musicians and produce a two-minute piece below 75 BPM, another two-minute one above 120 BPM, a five-minute solo and finally, you have to end with the band. Throughout all these rounds, we had to compose pieces that flowed.

And what made you want to learn the drums in the first place?

It was quite a natural choice for me, really.

Before I was born, my elder brother, Jenson, was already drumming. He’s 12 years older than me and when I was as young as three, he was teaching me how to play. The drums were always there and it just happened that it was easy for me to fall in love with them.

What kind of music do you listen to? Do you look out specifically for music with an emphasis on the drums?

I’d say I listen to all kinds of music, whether

KING OF THE B E AT

or not drums are a big factor. Right now, I’m listening to a lot of hip-hop and rap, especially Brotherly, J. Cole and Immortal Technique. It’s so intriguing how some drummers are able to re-create the synthesised or electronic beats in a hip-hop song in a live setting. Accomplishing that is a whole new skill level and school of thought from regular playing. To be honest, I actually don’t listen to a lot of the heavier stuff. Metal just isn’t what I’m into right now.

Lastly, what advice do you have for aspiring drummers out there?

Having a strong foundation is the most important thing. If the drums are your calling, make sure you get your basics right; get your groove nice and tight before you move on to anything else. This influences how your music will sound and, ultimately, it’s what gets you jobs. It’ll open up your playing a lot more as opposed to being showy and theatrical. And be honest with yourself – this eliminates self-doubt and helps you progress in your craft.

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What made you want to take part in the competition?

I participated once when I was 16. I went

through to the qualifying round but because I had a gig in Indonesia, I couldn’t go ahead with the rest of it. This time around, when I found out the festival was happening, I wanted to give it a shot and see how far I could go. Also, I thought it’d be a nice change from playing in nightclubs, which is what I used to do. I felt that playing in that environment had stagnated my playing and caused my skills to worsen, especially since all I had to do was play covers most of the time. So, I also took the competition as a means to push myself further.

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EXTREME MEASURES

ABOVE AND BEYOND THESE SINGERSONGWRITERS MINE PAIN AND SURFACE WITH GOLD NICK DRAKE

The thrall of this English singersongwriter is such that more than 40 years after his passing, he’s still being mourned. His crushing missive, “Day Is Done” is regarded as one of the most devastating songs of all time.

BRIGHT EYES

The limited scope of the emo tag hasn’t done justice to Conor Oberst at all. The multi-instrumentalist stands atop of a dizzyingly rich body of work. If you’ve wept/ screamed/jumped along to Fevers And Mirrors, you know what we’re on about.

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IAN SWEET

Text Indran P Images Various Sources

Don’t be misled by Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance”.

There’s nothing healthy about a lustful desire for drama and abuse. Beneath the glammed-up vision of pining and self-sabotage is a sickness that is very real.

Ian Sweet’s Jilian Medford will testify as much. Unlike Gaga, she never sought out the horrors attendant to a toxic relationship. Yet, she was emotionally ravaged and torn apart by an unfeeling lover. But if time heals all wounds, music is the pain-lifting medicine – and right now, she’s writing some of contemporary indie rock’s most emotionally liberating songs.

Before Ian Sweet came to be, there was just IAN, Medford’s solo guise named after her high school skater moniker. As IAN, Medford wrote and recorded songs straight from her guitar to her laptop, while studying at the Berklee College Of Music in Boston.

As 2014’s Have You Ever Loved Anything This Much EP shows, Medford’s aesthetic was DIY to the bone but vulnerable at its core. In retrospect, IAN was a diamond in the rough – when drummer Tim Cheney and bassist

Damien Scalise joined the fold, the thrust became harder and edgier, and the hooks crystalline.

Throughout 2015 and much of 2016, the band worked on marshalling its sound around Medford’s need for emotional disclosure. And its debut album, Shapeshifter, is a breathtakingly nuanced work. While it’s understandably a forum for Medford to exorcise the hurt and anguish she’s had to endure, it stunningly affirms the art that underpins the proceedings. Lead single “Slime Time Live” reframes the eponymous Nickelodeon game show to underscore the pummelling effects of depression. On “#23”, she uses her hero Michael Jordan as a foil for her own triumph over adversity, while the music, in its totality, is shimmering, dark, eerie, and beautiful, all at once.

So, if you feel a hankering for “Bad Romance”, cue Shapeshifter instead.

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In Chan Marshall’s hands, down-on-yourknees music has been filtered through acoustic, electronic and rock modes in beautifully unpredictable ways. Chronicling her trauma after undergoing an abortion, “Nude As The News”, offers one of the best light-after-darkness views.

ELLIOTT SMITH

“I don’t have you with me but / I keep a good attitude / Do you miss me, Miss Misery / Like you say you do?” – with these words, Elliott Smith announced himself to the world. And shortly after, took himself out of it.

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THE WITCHING HOUR BON IVER “The darker the night, the brighter the stars / The deeper the grief, the closer is God!” – these words belong to Fyodor Dostoyevsky, but they aptly preface what Bon Iver has given the world. Five years after its self-titled sophomore, the Justin Vernon-helmed band has released 22, A Million, an infinitely explorable album that reckons with all of Vernon’s skyward concerns – God, the stars and what it means to live under a sky itself.

Of course, such feats have been attempted before, but never in recent memory has the end product been this bafflingly beautiful, surreal and powerful all at once.

22, A Million makes a strange first impression, to say the least. Its cover depicts an array of seemingly unrelated objects, geometric shapes and crucifixes. Then, there’s the tracklist. There is no song with what you might call a conventional title. Instead, there are names such as, the opener, “22 (OVER S∞∞N)”, “10 d E A T h b R E a s T ⊠ ⊠” and “____45_____”. And since the songs themselves resist easy interpretation, unpacking them for clues as to their naming is pointless. Let’s go with what we do know.

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In a recent press conference, Vernon stated that he wanted leave behind the “sad nature” of his older material and “bash things apart a little bit and break through some stuff”, with the qualifier that he only thought it was worth releasing because it was “radical”. That, the album certainly is. Bathed in starlight, it’s a nocturnal affair meant for those moments of heightened contemplation before sleep steals you away. Entire canons are collapsed in the space of a single song. At one point, he croons, “And then I draw an ear on you / So I can speak into the silence”, outlining just how he’ll get to you.

Just close your eyes and listen.

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MONUMENTAL WHISPERS

DEYARMOND EDISON (2004) Before Bon Iver, there was DeYarmond Edison – also a Vernon-fronted enterprise that was christened after his two middle names. Their debut album is a lowkey indie classic, with its share of warm-lit alt-country highlights like “Leave Me Wishing More”.

UNMAP (2009) Way back in 2005, Vernon locked arms with members of the Wisconsin collective, Collections Of Colonies Of Bees for a project known as Volcano Choir. Under that moniker, the band released its debut album Unmap and gave postrock a whole different twinkle.

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RELAYTED (2010) If you’ve picked up on an ’80s soft rock influence in Vernon’s music over the years, you have discerning ears. Inspired by the mode of The Carpenters, Air Supply et al, he formed an indie-minded soft rock project called Gayngs and released this gem.

IF I WAS (2015) If you caught Bon Iver at their recent Singapore show, you’d have noticed the trio of sisters who provided soul-stirring backing vocals. They go by the name of The Staves and Vernon donned his producer hat and signed off on their gorgeous folk-leaning sophomore album.

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JUSTIN VERNON’S GENIUS EXTENDS BEYOND BON IVER

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L A V I N A CAR R E H T O O N LIKE Normally, a club is where you’ll get sized up by the bouncer at the door, granted entry and where you’ll get to enjoy music and tipples with other similarly dressed people. Likewise, at a conventional carnival, you’ll get a day-long slew of activities and stalls, all suffused thematically in the spirit of festive fun and camp. But CARNEVIL, 1-Altitude’s spine-chilling, fantastically frightening and dead-licious Halloween shindig, is no ordinary club night or carnival.

Inside, you can expect to get stunned, thrilled, but most of all, freaked out, all at once. And if you’re committed to the cause and costumed appropriately, the Ringmaster will strike off your cover charge into 1-Altitude and Altimate – he’ll even award the best dressed a prize for their effort.

Unlike the regular suited-up/polo tee-wearing bouncers that preside over the portal into the club, the Ringmaster Of Terror will screen you before he deems you worthy of CARNEVIL. Angel-faced but with an evil gleam in his eyes, he’ll beckon innocent guests inside – where they’ll be trapped.

Both establishments will be refashioned into a single circus of horrors, where ghouls and clowns roam amongst the (un)suspecting revellers. A bespoke cocktail, The Creepy Carnevil, be available on this one inauspicious night. As for sonics, crowd favourites DJs Jack T and Leonard T will be soundtracking the proceedings with their hard-driving brand of party-trashing arsenal.

That 1-Altitude is perched 282m above sea level – making it Singapore’s highest al fresco bar – and offers majestic 360-degree views of Singapore, grants it a natural advantage when it comes to being decked out in scary trappings.

At Altimate, things will be just as full-on.

Turntablist extraordinaire and electro-hop impresario DJ Rattle and electro-house icon DJ Lorri will be shaking your costumed frame as the skies darken. There’ll also be a showcase, aptly

CARNEVIL AT 1-ALTITUDE

dubbed Freak-Out, where the club’s state-ofthe-art, high-tech visuals and sound effects will be displayed throughout explosive 10-minute dance routines and roving characters and personalities. On the higher end of the spectrum, VIP customers, rest assured that you’ll be amply taken care of – from bookings to individual and customised celebration requests, your needs will be met with a (crooked) smile.

This Halloween, ditch your regular routine and give yourself to the CARNEVIL. With its incredibly detailed – and spine-tingling – concept, nextlevel audio-visual treats and limb-animating beats that are sure to raise the undead amongst us, CARNEVIL is the ultimate destination for a delightfully demented night out. Rally the creeps and get your party on.

CARNEVIL happens on October 29 at 1-Altitude and Altimate. For more info, visit facebook. com/1altitude and facebook.com/altimate.sg.

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SWEET SIXTEEN

RAVERS, STAND AT ATTENTION. IT’S ZOUKOUT’S SWEET 16TH THIS YEAR, WHICH MEANS YOUR FAVOURITE DUSK-TO-DAWN PARTY JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT BIGGER. CURATED AROUND ITS MOTTO, “ONE WORLD, ONE MUSIC, ONE TRIBE, ONE DANCE”, THIS YEAR’S EDITION OF THE TWO-DAY FESTIVAL PROMISES A SPECTRUM-DEFYING SELECTION OF DANCE-READY ACTS. WHETHER YOU LIKE YOUR EDM FROM THE PINNACLE OF TOP 40 HEIGHTS OR PREFER THE MORE SHROUDED REGIONS OF THE UNDERGROUND, ZOUKOUT 2016 WILL FULFILL YOUR WISHES WITH BOX-TICKING SPLENDOUR. BELOW, MEET ITS STAR PLAYERS.

DAY ONE

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FRITZ KALKBRENNER

GTA

HARDWELL

Growing up in the Lichtenberg district of Berlin, Fritz Kalkbrenner was intrigued by the techno scene and decided to start making music himself. With his release of Forms & Shapes, he landed major collaborations with artistes such as Alexander Kowalski and DJ Zky, and took his chops to new levels of complexity and fame. His chart-topping debut album, Here Today Gone Together, is a masterclass in mind-bending, bodyliberating grooves. Count yourselves lucky that this titan has elected to entertain you.

Mejia and Toth’s performances are musical joyrides from trap and hip-hop, to booming electro and unexpected detours through rock and r&b. With their very first collaboration, GTA clinched the opportunity to have a release on Afrojack’s Wall Recordings. Since then, the duo has grown consistently with releases on labels such as Diplo’s Mad Decent, A-Trak’s Fool’s Gold Records, and Tiësto’s Musical Freedom. Rooted in electronic rock, urban and Latin music equally, GTA’s sound is best described by their simple mission statement: “Death to genres.”

Robbert van de Corput is a bona fide king of contemporary dance music. Thanks to him, EDM has downright colonised the mainstream pop sphere and ushered strobing, kinetic sounds into its lexicon. He’s done remixes for heavy-hitters such as Armin van Buuren, Tiësto, Laidback Luke, and Steve Angello, and slayed the charts with his own juddering tracks like “Spaceman” and “Apollo”. And at Siloso Beach, with the wind in your hair, his sounds will boom especially loud.

HOT SINCE 82

LOST FREQUENCIES

TIGA

Daley Padley set foot into a club at the age of 14 and decided that he had found his life’s calling.

His formal DJ education started at 17, playing 12- to 13-hour sets each Sunday at a club in his hometown of Barnsley, where his residency eventually became the choice after-party destination for clubbers. Renowned for his dynamic sets – which are often likened to house and techno odysseys – he’ll be sure to take you jiving through the night.

Belgian house wunderkind Felix de Laet began creating remixes as soon as he got his first laptop. Since then, his twin volley of singles, “Are You With Me” and “Reality” have made their rounds worldwide, spreading the gospel of deep house. It’s no surprise that trance gawd Armin van Buuren saw the potential in him and welcomed him to his label, Armada Music. Will he put you in a state of trance? You bet.

The xx, LCD Soundsystem, The Kills, Scissor Sisters, Peaches, and Moby are just some of the movers and shakers that swear by the powers of this French-Canadian DJ-producer. Building bridges across the worlds of house, garage, electro, electronica and hip-hop, he stands atop a towering body of work that contains ample testimonies of his golden touch. And ahead of his ZoukOut stint, he released his third album No Fantasy Required just this year – study up.

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DAY TWO

ALAN WALKER

KSHMR

MARTIN GARRIX

Nineteen-year-old Alan Walker produced his smash hit “Faded” the same way he’s been producing music since age 14 – in his bedroom at his parent’s home in Bergen, Norway. Inspired by DJ Ness, the EDM crown prince honed his skills and perfected them over his tally of 40 productions.

With YouTube tutorials as his only guide, he’s since developed his own take on big-room sounds, one where prog house flies at you with bassy power.

KSHMR is the solo guise of Niles Hollowell-Dhar, formerly one-half of the hip-hop production team The Cataracs. Since the dissolution of the latter, the American-Indian producer has emerged as a solo sensation, helped in no small part by his big room herald, “Secrets”. That he was instrumental in the creating bouncers such as Far East Movement’s “Like a G6” and Robin Thicke’s “Pressure” should clue you in on his floor-ready ways.

As he’s one of the undisputed elites of the commercial dance world, the very presence of Martin Garrix in the lineup of ZoukOut 2016 is an assurance that it’s an incredibly high-stakes affair. If you’ve lost – and found – yourself to the heady pound of his future bass-accented EDM detonations before, you know that there’s never a lull when he’s on. He’s accomplished so much since his first coup “Animals” and he’s sure to remind you of that once he gets on.

Text Indran P and Izza Sofia Images Various Sources

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RAC

SNAKEHIPS

TOKIMONSTA

RAC, short for the Remix Artist Collective, is the solo indie-electronic outlet of André Allen Anjos, a Portuguese producer and multi-instrumentalist now based in America. Take his 2012 Grammy for “Best Remixed Recording” as indicative of his indie-leaning gifts. Since his style favours expansive arrangements over clubby sensibilities, his inclusion on the lineup is most interesting. In the meantime, we’re expecting nothing short of a left-field head trip.

The marriage of electronica and r&b has undoubtedly impacted the vibrations of the dance world in undeniable ways. And U.K. producers Oliver Lee and James Carter have located within this development a truly tantalising sweet spot.

As evinced in their remixing of The Weeknd’s “Wanderlust” and Banks’ “Warm Water”, they have a handle on a sensibility that’s icy but earthy, dense but kinetic. It’s obvious: they’re out to pleasure you.

Born and raised in the South Bay area of Los Angeles, the Korean-American DJ-producer has come to use her background in classical music and her love for hip-hop to create vast textural soundscapes populated by live instruments, percussion, digital manipulation, and noise. There’s a reason why the ever-brilliant Flying Lotus has given her his stamp of approval and it has to do with how compelling she is as an aural storyteller.

WIWEK

ZEDD

How great is it that moombahton and jungle terror will be amongst ZoukOut’s universe of sounds? And how great is it that a true pioneer has been enlisted to make this happen? Long a champion of aggressive percussion and tribal melodies, Wiwek resides in a unique and esteemed place in the ecosystem of dance music. Bangers like “Bomber Squad” and “Angry Birdz” are reasons why Skrillex himself is smitten.

We can’t talk about Zedd without bringing up “Clarity”, his 2012 single that – more than any single track – has come to define the parameters of what constitutes an EDM banger, in the purest sense of the term. Filled with youthful longing, Technicolour sounds and cavernous drops, it provided a rave template worthy of emulation. But that’s not the only hit in his bag – make sure you’re ready when he’s hurling the rest at you.

Zoukout 2016 happens from December 9 to 10 at Siloso Beach, Sentosa.

For tickets and more information, visit zoukout.com. music

boombox

“BACKSLANG” CHIMPO I’m bad at catching lyrics, but this song is in backslang, though. I still have no idea what he’s saying, but it just works.

DURIO

“I’M A CREATOR FEAT SKITTLES” DUB PHIZIX Dub Phizix is the don and creator of many big tunes. This track, as well as another called “Marka”, have gotten me hooked.

“STEP ON DEM FEAT. BLACKOUT JA” URBAN KNIGHTS With its rasta vocal on top of dancehall-infused U.K. bass beats, it’s just my kind of jam.

WHO IS RICHIE BRAINS? RICHIE BRAINS This album is the ‘baby’ of some of the biggest names in U.K. drum & bass right now. Just check it out.

“OUTRAGE OF MODESTY (FZPZ REMIX)” O$P$ Local talents – ’nuff said.

“NEIGHBORHOOD” ZED BIAS This is a U.K. garage classic!

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“FATTY BOOM BOOM” DIE ANTWOORD I’m not hating on Gaga but this tune is big and catchy as eff.

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“MASTERPLAN FEAT FOX” MY NU LENG This is something different from their usual 4/4 garage beats. It’s complemented by vocals by the big man, Fox. It’s magical.

“WILE OUT FEATT MS DYNAMITE” DJ ZINC I might have overplayed this in my sets but this track is my hype song.

Text Indran P Images Various Sources

“DO IT AGAIN” THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS On the hook, they sound as if they’re singing ‘Durian’, which is kind of how I got my DJ moniker. There are so many good memories with this one.

ANY PARTY OVER WHICH THE ATTAGIRL! BANNER FLIES IS A GUARANTEE OF FRESH AND INFECTIOUSLY LIMB-UNLOCKING SOUNDS UNSPOOLED BY AN ALL-GIRL CAST WITH MONUMENTAL CHOPS. AS DURIO, SERENE ONG IS ONE OF THE FORCES RESPONSIBLE FOR GIFTING THE LOCAL UNDERGROUND WITH THIS EXPECTATION; WHEN SHE OR HER SQUAD TAKE OVER THE DECKS, IT’S A POWERFULLY KINETIC ONSLAUGHT OF MYRIAD BEATS. LED BY HER CURIOSITY FOR THE WHEELS OF STEEL TO THE 2012 EDITION OF THE FFF DJ BOOTCAMP – WHERE BESIDES A PATH-LIGHTING EXPOSURE TO DANCE MUSIC’S MORE ENCHANTING REALMS – SHE FOUND KINDRED SPIRITS IN A/K/A AND JAYDAH, ALIGNED HER PASSION WITH HER MISSION AND TOOK BOTH TO THE NEXT LEVEL. SINCE THEN, SHE’S ADOPTED BASS AS HER WEAPON AND BELOW, SHE LIFTS THE CURTAIN ON SOME OF HER CHOICE CUTS.

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Despite the continual proclamations of contrarians and naysayers, the music industry is in very good health. Worth more than US$130 billion globally, it’s an ever-evolving endeavour with concerns that encompass creative output, distribution, advertising, and marketing, to name just some of the pillars that sustain and power it.

Zeroing in on this intersection of art and commerce, All That Matters, Asia’s largest entertainment business B2B2Fan festival and conference series, returned to our shores and presided at the MasterCard Theatres and ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands from September 12 to 15. Over this three-day period, a global lineup of industry leaders and experts chimed in on the issues concerning music – the most universal of art forms – for the music track of the series, Music Matters.

Here’s a snapshot of the insights we gleaned.

The first speaker of the conference was Denis Handlin, an upper echelon executive from Sony Music Entertainment. In his keynote address, Handlin, one of the world’s most respected and successful figures in the music industry, stressed that working with/for music has to be “a joy, not a job”. He also maintained that despite shifts in formats and consumer/ listener habits, “creative brilliance” will always ensure that demand for music will be strong.

A spirited two-song performance by Australian sister-duo The Veronicas followed before Dave Jordan, chairman and CEO of Format

Entertainment, took the stage. He gave us an in-depth look into how music supervision – the practice of picking music for film soundtracks – works and fed us this mindboggling bit of trivia: Marvel spends close to half a billion dollars to make and market each of its blockbusters.

Paras Sharma, senior vice president of MTV and Comedy Central Asia, went up next and took us through how MTV has been able to thrive in today’s music entertainment climate. His motto: “Fans are the centre of everything we do”. After this, we trotted over to the Music Matters Academy held at the ArtScience museum. Featuring a panel of local and international musicians, including Charlie Lim and Swiss singersongwriter Bastian Barker and moderated

by Vanessa Fernandez, this segment was dedicated to the artistes demystifying life on the road. Ending the day was a double volley of keynotes on tapping into the burgeoning music market in China – but not before the stunning Kiwi chanteuse Aaradhna wowed us with her vocal magic.

Likewise, the conferences on day two and three did not disappoint. One of the star players was Adam Wilkes, president of AEG Live Asia, who held us in his thrall as he detailed all that went into putting together the Rolling Stones’ historic free concert in Havana, Cuba, earlier in March. Also notable was the address delivered by Netflix’s Andy

Lykens, who explained how the company used music in its marketing and branding efforts. Next, executives from Warner and Disney sat down to hash it out over labels that can cross-market their artiste’s repertoires through collaborations with likeminded brands.

This was expounded on by Ali-Nawaz Khan, Unilever’s brand development manager, who cited the conglomerate’s tie-ins with music publishing houses to market its products.

Closing off on day three, Music Matters unfurled some of its best speakers. Justin Sweeting, the force behind Clockenflap, and Maggie Collins, executive programmer of Bigsound, shared tips on how emerging acts could get on festival lineups; Nick Findlay, assistant music director of esteemed indie radio station Triple J, beamed that Australia is now more open than ever for music-related ventures, both creative and commercial, while Sam Toles, head of global content and distribution for Vimeo, sent out a clarion call to all intrepid content creators out there and assured them that Vimeo will fund projects that are of high craft and quality.

There are few enterprises as focused on music in such a comprehensively and illuminatingly 360-degree manner as Music Matters. If you want to be in the midst of future-shapers and zeitgeist-makers, sign up for next year’s edition and reap the rewards.

allthatmatters.asia

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BEHIND THE MUSIC Text Indran P Images Branded Asia

MUSIC MATTERS 2016

the veronicas music

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JAGWAR MA

These returning Laneway heroes have a new one poised to drop.

Three years after their 2013 birth cry, Howlin’, the trio of Jono Ma, Gabriel Winterfield and Jack Freeman will lift the curtain on Every Now & Then later this month. In the time since their first alt-dance statement piece, Jagwar Ma have become a key festival concern and Noel Gallagher’s favourite new band – that’s a lot to live up to. But first listen “OB1” has already put them in good stead.

Featuring drumming from Warpaint’s Stella Mozgawa, the track is a psychedelic epiphany that transpires during a retro-futuristic rave. As DJ Khaled says, “Another one!”

HAIL TO THE KING

In a move that’s both totally apt and weirdly unseemly, Michael Hadreas AKA Perfume Genius provided the soundtrack to a perfume commercial. If you’ve seen the video for Prada’s latest La Femme et L’Homme campaign, you’d have noticed Hadreas’ devastating vocals riding over a simultaneously icy and scorchedearth beat, to say nothing of the skinny models squinting at the camera. But it gets better: the song in question is Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling In Love”.

It’s sublimely beautiful and political – in Hadreas’ hands, the deeply masculine ballad becomes reinscribed with a new purpose and meaning.

jagwarma.com

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REST IN SYNTH It’s a sad day for modern music as we mourn the recent passing (from cancer) of Don Buchla, the inventor of the synthesiser in its most elementary form. He built his first modular synthesiser, the Buchla 100, in 1963 and began selling the models in 1966. Besides being an entirely new instrument at that time, the synthesiser also represented a whole new approach and philosophy to making music. It’s only with Buchla’s early synths as building blocks that we’re able to boast about the digi-glut of sounds we enjoy today.

Bow your heads for a true visionary.

JUSTICE. RANDY. WOMAN. These are the three words that you need to have handle on if you care about contagiously dancey electro music. After a five-year lull following their sophomore album, Audio, Video, Disco, Parisian production duo Justice is back with a new full-length titled, Woman.

If its latest single, the almost-seven-minute funk-out that is “Randy” suggests, it’ll eschew the prog rock influence of its predecessor and concern itself with bringing funk to the rave.

In its sheer largesse, “Randy” folds entire canons of dance music on each other, including garage and techno, making for a frisson that’s joyous, alluring and excitingly unpredictable. justice.church

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SAVE THE TEMPLE The venues in which cutting-edge dance music is played and where dance music experiences are created are as important as dance music itself. That’s why the recent news of the impending closure of London nightlife institution, Fabric, is absolutely shocking. Its rooms have been the bastions where legends such as Carl Craig and Ricardo Villalobos have made history. But due to two drug-related deaths last month, local authorities have ordered the club to close. Now, the club has launched an online donation drive to appeal the revocation of its license. We sincerely hope it pays off.

TWO OF A GREAT KIND

Mica Levi, fountainhead of instrumental dazzlers Micachu And The Shapes and Radiohead collaborator, Oliver Coates, have announced a collaborative album due out soon. Remain Calm is what they’ve chosen to christen it and just as well. Lead single “Barok Mains” plays like a perfect meeting of minds: over Levi’s atonal coos, a lightly droning ambient soundscape maps out a landscape animated by Coates’ cello. The closest and most recent reference point to it would have to be Radiohead’s A Moon Shaped Pool, on which Coates lent his talents. Expect brilliance. slipimprint.co.uk

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RESPECT THE NAME! Why don’t fashion brands ever learn? Recently, Against Me! frontwoman Laura Jane Grace called out Topshop for selling a leather jacket. “Hey Topshop, you’re selling a $700 leather jacket with my band’s name on it, and you have no permission.

Not cool,” went an indignant tweet. She also explained that the Against Me! name is a trademark she legally owns, which means that anyone else appropriating it is sure to land in some trouble. For their part, though, Topshop has removed the jacket from sale from its online stores.

FOR GAIA Leonardo DiCaprio can do anything.

And one thing he’s intently focused on now is fighting climate change.

His efforts on that end will be chronicled in the National Geographic documentary Before The Flood, which will air at the end of the month.

Soundtracking it will be, what we’re proud to say, a powerful ensemble: Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor and his partner Atticus Ross, Scottish post-rock titans Mogwai, and Argentine composer Gustavo Santolalla (of Brokeback Mountain fame).

THE BIG REVEAL Frank Ocean’s recent sophomore gift, blond, is 2016’s latest album event spectacle. But its onlineonly surprise-drop mode has made examining its origins and backstory impossible, until now.

Thanks to information from the American Society Of Composers, Authors And Publishers, we now know whom Ocean worked with and who he sampled on this astonishing album. Behold: The Beatles, Kendrick Lamar, Elliott Smith, Pharrell Williams, Jamie xx, Rostam Batmanglij, James Blake, Gang Of Four, Todd Rundgren, Tyler, the Creator, Om’Mas Keith, and SebastiAn. How he marshalled the creative power of this all-star team into a consistent, singular vision is one of blond’s main charms. boysdontcry.co

the new new

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It’s time to shake up your playlists with these all-new cuts from three ear candy purveyors. Out with the old.

Text Indran P Images Various Sources

“DON’T” TOBIAS JESSO JR.

“TRANSCENDLESS SUMMER” PETER SILBERMAN

“COMPANY” TINASHE

Last year, one of our favourite post-James

What we’ve come to expect from The Antlers is a

Something’s definitely up with the electro&b

Blake indie crooners, Tobias Jesso Jr.,

devastating hybrid of hushed, majestic sounds and

siren – Joyride, the long-awaited follow-

released his stunning debut album, Goon.

gut-wrenching storytelling and its frontman Peter

up to her 2014 debut, Aquarius, keeps

Later that year, he caused a collective

Silberman has to be honoured for enriching the lexicon

getting delayed. Label issues? Plain old perfectionism? Cold feet? You can guess all

jaw-drop when he announced that he had

of post-rock in completely unexpected ways. But in his

co-written Adele’s “When We Were Young”.

new EP, Transcendless Summer, he goes even further

you want. But while you’re at it, bump this

Silence followed that move until now – the

from the shore. Recorded in the span of one afternoon

new scorcher at full volume. It’s a thoroughly modern, codeine-drip palette of bass-buoyed

straight-to-YouTube demo of “Don’t” is an

and composed of a 20-minute ambient instrumental,

achingly beautiful call from the depths. Over a

the project proffers a dreamy, starlit experience. Even

sounds that affirm the urgency of Tinashe’s

conciliatory piano melody, Jesso pleads with

its stretches of droning white-noisey synths take on

need for a booty call. Enthusiastic feminists

his beloved to not give up on them. As in Goon,

dynamically textured contours, and when keyboard

might get carried away with its import but

his bleeding-heart candour and evocative

plinks and mercury-quick guitar notes spill into the

leave ’em be. It’s just a dashing song that

artistry make you root for him – instantly.

sonic frame, the overall effect is dazzling.

celebrates the thrills of a short-term high.

tobiasjessojr.com

antlersmusic.com

tinashenow.com

music

sounds

OF (UN) SOUND MIND

BY INDRAN P

GET YOUR FREAK ON (WITH CAUTION)

’Tis the season of spooks and thrills, brought about chiefly by dressing up and attending booze-drenched parties – cool, I’m with that. But what’s really interesting about this phenomenon is that, for us normals, it’s only a night-long affair filled with fanfare and fuss, whereas the more buzzing names in the musicverse get to be freaks every day.

We don’t question this; we simply grant them the proverbial artistic license and either curse or celebrate them in their endeavours. One thing’s for certain, though – being ‘weird’ requires great savvy and skill.

There are those who enduringly thrive and revel in it, and those who fail and get said license revoked.

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Pop culture is a celebration of the herd. This means that if you’re a star, and part of your appeal is some cultivated sense of being weirder-thanthou, you cannot exceed – what I call “The Line” – drawn (figuratively) by your audience. Take Lady Gaga, for example. When she was making hits, her headline-clogging antics were perceived as an extension of her hitmaking prowess. Mainstream audiences even looked past rumours that she was a hermaphrodite. But she got cocky and forgot one of music-/show-business’ cardinal principles: the public is merciless.

We became desensitised to her antics and, soon enough, we got bored. When Gaga announced that her 2013 album, Artpop, would be a conceptual exploration of the “reverse Warholian” phenomenon in pop culture, we just yawned. It’s no surprise that her next project was a collaborative covers album with Tony Bennett. Yikes.

Another icon who’s suffered quite brutally from trying to ‘express herself’ is Gaga’s progenitor, Madonna. If you caught her live at her recent local appearance, you’d know how far she stumbled over The Line. She used to be so great at inhabiting and animating disparate identities while we watched, starstruck. Now, she’s breaking the fourth wall in pathetically desperate ways.

BLOND

Frank Ocean (Boys Don’t Cry)

Aside from the whole Spotify burial controversy, is Frank Ocean’s newest blond any good? Contrary to all the fuss, it’s a quiet affair, one that speaks volumes of Ocean’s personality, emotions and his seeming aversion to all things “hyphy”. But where would a listener insert oneself in this controlled stream-of-consciousness soundscape – possibly the first in recent modern r&b that leaves beats and commercial-facing work behind – even if “Nikes” was front-loaded on this? Just listen to Ocean sing about same-sex feelings on “Self Control” and “Good Guy”, about growing up and not just older, about isolation, about looking back. Ocean is an artiste sorting himself out, filtering out the outside noise to settle the outsider in him; minimalist r&b is just his canvas.

That’s the other thing about the public: we don’t like having our collective intelligence insulted. If you insist that you’re a certain type of person, you better be that person all the way, or risk our judgmental wrath. Look at what happened to Jack White. In The White Stripes, he was a freeze-dried garage rocker from Detroit. Now, solo, he’s trying to convince us that he’s a virtuosic Southern gentleman. When the public has to ask, “What are you?”, it’s normally not a good sign. Don’t ever let us call your bluff.

And what about those who’ve succeeded in keeping us enthralled by their tics and quirks, in and out of costume and character? This special class of beings has played it well. You know them, the usual suspects: David Bowie, Prince, Kanye West, Thom Yorke, Sun Ra, and Daft Punk, to name some of the more ubiquitous – and, therefore, illustrative – few.

What they have in common, and what’s defined their singular status in popular consciousness – not just as artistes, but as personalities – is that they found fame on no one else’s terms but their own. They supplied the metric by which the people deemed them worthy of their love and/ or hate. And hate is as important as love in this relationship. For if you hate the megalomaniacal douchebag that West is, it’s proof that he’s convinced you that he is one. It’s the same reason why David Bowie can be Ziggy Stardust – the Stardust-ian character didn’t exist until he brought it to life. That’s what separates him and his class from the likes of Sam Smith.

So, to all those who want to get in on the quirk economy, tread lightly.

And the rest of us who’re happy being ourselves – whatever that means – break out the popcorn and enjoy.

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MY WOMAN Angel Olsen (Jagjaguwar)

Angel Olsen is no woman, except her own. If critics and fans have painted her into a corner as an affecting, loner-singersongwriter (or female Bonnie Prince Billy as some so dared say), Olsen has decidedly shaken off such pegs with her third album.

She’s let loose her inner riot grrrl and country music queen, but dolled up in ’60s and ’70s girl-group vibes (and even a silver-glitter wig in the music vids), singing boldly about love. Olsen dons the guise of a sylph in the ambient opener “Intern”, only to channel assertive sass in the Kate Nash-y “Shut Up Kiss Me”. But it’s only when Olsen burns slow as she does in the seven-minute songs “Sister” and “Woman” that we really bask in the light of this woman’s minor glories.

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PICKS OF THE MONTH GUIDANCE

MANGY LOVE

PRIMA DONNA (EP)

NEXUS (EP)

(Sargent House) Imagine Russian Circles as Tool meets Mogwai or Godspeed You! Black Emperor jamming with Explosions In The Sky. These three Chicagoans know how to slap on the jagged, sludginess and Atlas-carrying-the-world heftiness that only metal, post-hardcore, Krautrock and noise rock can bring to post-rock instrumentals. Flow through the folksy opener “Asa”; get swamped under by the heavy closer “Lisboa”.

(ANTI-) Cass McCombs is a kindly miserablist, dishing out mordant humour and socio-political observations in the dressage of AOR folk-rock, placid song arrangements and a soothing bohobusker voice. It’s a shuffle of pleasant genre tosses (like Elliott Smith x Father John Misty experiments); tropicalia, reggae and jazz are lightly flicked onto “Run Sister Run” and “Laughter Is The Best Medicine”.

(Def Jam Recordings) Don’t give up on the rap game yet; Vince Staples is back to splinter and thrill.

He surprise-snipes: “Let It Shine” ends with (literally) a bang. He puffs up: “War Ready” is both rallying call and protest chant. He stealth-kills: “Big Time” rolls out with skeletal streaks of jungle beats and IDM clicks (thanks to James Blake).

And Staples’ spitting strikes, lasering and hot; other rappers can only scatter in his blitz.

(UNO NYC) Starved of cleverer glitch, grime and dubstep (shoo Skrillex)? Caleb Halter’s EP should sate some of that hunger.

The man known as Feral doesn’t settle for the obvious motor-bass rumbles but fattens the middle; “WASP” hovers on a grid of thuds and synth stabs and “We Feel You” suspends itself with shards of glistening synths, all without resorting to low-bro-balling bass drops just to pack the floor/field/beach.

ONE DAY ALL OF THIS WON’T MATTER ANYMORE

SREMMLIFE 2

ROOSEVELT

(Eardrumma/Interscope Records) Hate them or love them, you can’t have ignored them; the Mississippi bro-duo of Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi divided people with their upbeat rap and all-over-the-place juvie singing and rapping. They’re back to prove they’re no flash-in-the-pan by being less partiedup, and more adventurous; take ‘em or leave ‘em but you can’t deny they do try on “Black Beatles”, “Start A Party” and “Take It Or Leave It”.

(Greco-Roman Ltd) Comedown disco tinged with regret?

Pre-rave chillout doused with pensiveness? Balearic house for bedroom dancing introverts? Marius Lauber has scrubbed himself a niche in EDM that crosses Future Islands, Hot Chip and ’80s boy-band synth music (better bits of course). So calm the eff down and shuffle like you can’t dance to “Fever”, “Night Moves” and “Heart”.

SPEND THE NIGHT WITH

Russian Circles

Slow Club

Text Chris Ong Ujine Images Various Sources

(Moshi Moshi Club) Lovin’ the band name and album title, and the music’s equally slothy. If the You/Insta/Snap/Go/Face life is making you brain-fagged, let this Sheffield duo work you over with its folk-pop-rock songs. It’s a tad patchy (Charles Watson and Rebecca Taylor work in different locales, hence, differing headspaces) but it’s smooth sailing for most parts.

Shoot the breeze with “Ancient Rolling Sea” and “In Waves”.

ANYTHING BUT WORDS Banks & Steelz

(Warner Bros) It’s hard to qualify this coupling of the Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA and Interpol’s Paul Banks as more than an interesting (and professionally brokered) partnership. Completist (or openminded) fans might just dig into this rap-rock hybrid, but for every rough gem (“Wild Season feat. Florence Welch”, and “Sword In The Stone feat. Kool Keith”), there’s lumpy coal (everything else).

Cass McCombs

Rae Sremmurd

AND THE ANONYMOUS NOBODY...

De La Soul

(A.O.I.) The time of Native Tongues and Daisy Age hip-hop blossoms again with the return of De La Soul. We throw the confetti but mute the whoops; it’s a crowdfunded album that’s overcrowded with other artistes. Damon Albarn, Jill Scott, Usher, Little Dragon et al add too much fat and also take away; De La’s left waiting at the wings. It sprawls out so it’s best taken one laidback song at a time.

Vince Staples

Roosevelt

Feral

Cheena

(Hostess K.K) The Strokes, The Stones, New York Dolls – Cheena easily recalls a dozen of any of the great rock & roll bands.

But it’s really the sound of NYC’s underground noise and punk rock (the band’s members hail from these scenes), downshifted to be more palatable. The lo-fi basement stomps sound samey after a while but the feel of sweat and crushed beer cans come through enough on “Fever” and “Liberated Animal”.

MOTION GRAPHICS

AMNESTY (I)

(Domino Recording Co Ltd) The sounds of electronic and digital, onlinecybervirtual everythingies, cusped in the hands of Joe Williams, are assembled together to make music that enthralls. It is a beauteous meshing of the disciplines of Fine Arts and Engineering (and his cucumber-cool voice); “Minecraft Mosaic”, “Softbank Arcade” and “Lense” tickle our fancies most. Arto Lindsay and Ryuichi Sakamoto would be so proud.

(Fiction Records Ltd) Alice Glass left Crystal Castles and Ethan Kath’s been less than kind since her departure. While Glass gestates, Kath’s already got Edith Frances as the new vocalist. Frances more than fits the shoes, being an icier and also more flexible presence. And so the industrial techno blasts continue unabated: “Fleece” and “Enth” show this. Wish Kath would reinvent rather than just execute cosmetic rebuilds, though.

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Motion Graphics

Crystal Castles

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EP!C PRESENTS SHOWTEK

FOUNDATION. FEAT. WEISS

SATURDAY OCTOBER 1 AT ZOUK Get your dance on all night as Showtek takes the decks at Zouk once again. The two brothers, Wouter and Sjoerd Janssen, are undisputed champions of party-trashing EDM. Since the launch of their debut album, Today Is Tomorrow, Showtek has sold out shows all over the globe. Strap in and enjoy the ride. zoukclub.com.sg

SATURDAY OCTOBER 15 AT CANVAS Groove Armada, Loco Dice, Richie Hawtin, and AFFKT are just some of the heavyweights who’ve championed the techhouse mettle of this English groovesmith. It’s no surprise that iconic record label Toolroom has welcomed him to their roster.

Live, his signature of sinewy rhythms, warmly rumbling subs and soothing vocals will ensure that you’ll be in good hands. canvasvenue.sg

STÄRKER MUSIC CARNIVAL

SATURDAY OCTOBER 1 AT ZHONGSHAN PARK There’s never a bad time to listen to local music. And on this day, you should head down to the Stärker Music Carnival and immerse yourself in the sounds of some of our most talented homegrown acts.

Featuring Tay Kewei, Charlie Lim, LEW, and Disco Hue, the carnival promises a sweet selection of domestically produced ear candy. starkergroup.com

THE GATHERING WITH DANIELA ANDRADE

MONDAY OCTOBER 17 AT SUNTEC CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE With her girl-next-door charms and smouldering vocals, Canadian singersongwriter Daniela Andrade, is quickly garnering acclaim and cred beyond her YouTube beginnings. Peep her rendition of Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy” and Radiohead’s “Creep” and get your front-row tickets to her first showing on our shores. You will be swooning by the end of it. thegathering.asia

CANVAS X ONE FEAT. TREVD

INTERSTELLAR FEAT. HEIKO LAUX

FRIDAY OCTOBER 21 AT CATO This is huge. Berlin techno gawd and mastermind of the legendary label Kanzleramt, Heiko Laux, will descend from his stronghold and offer his sonics this night. Continuously testing boundaries in contemporary techno, his sets demarcate the next frontier for the sound. Feel and behold the future and consider your life changed this Friday night. catosingapore.com

ZOUK SOUNDSYSTEM PRESENTS DANNY ÁVILA

AUDIO TRANSLATE PRESENTS RAUL MEZCOLANZA

SATURDAY OCTOBER 8 AT CATO Commanding over 15 years of DJing experience, Barcelona-born Raul Mezcolanza is currently one of the most renowned electronic music producers in the Spanish club scene. With a large following in Europe and America, Raul’s imprint of seductive techno and deep tech sounds is certified to shake you. catosingapore.com

THE EXCHANGE #2 FEAT. MIYA

FRIDAY OCTOBER 14 AT KYO In the hands of this French selector, deep house and disco become one.

Now based in Hong Kong, Miya has emerged as a foremost trendsetter in the Asian underground. With bass, bounce and soul as her main arsenal, she’s carved out a niche that many have become vested in. Join her flock and you’ll see why. clubkyo.com

SATURDAY OCTOBER 22 AT ZOUK Danny Ávila is a prodigy in every sense of the term. The 21-year-old Spaniard is a universal club favourite and the eclectic versatility of his sets is now incontestably the stuff of clubland lore. Bump his remix of MNEK & Zara Larsson’s “Never Forget You” as you ready yourself for the big night. zoukclub.com.sg

REWIND FEAT. YUJIN & SHIGEKI

FRIDAY OCTOBER 21 AT KYO This night will be in service of nothing but the top in house sounds.

Favoured by punters as one of the best house nights in the country, Rewind always delivers. Chiming in on the proceedings will be YuJin and Shigeki – two house heads who’ve absorbed the rich history of the cannon and more than know their way around it. clubkyo.com

music

Text Indran P and Izza Sofia Images Various Sources

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SATURDAY OCTOBER 8 AT CANVAS If your night calls for dark, gritty techno and house, stand under the TrevD banner. Inspired by the likes of Depeche Mode, Iron Maiden, The Bee Gees, and DJ Koze, he’s earned a reputation as an architect of pulsing soundscapes and as purveyor of exciting narratives of kinetic force. Be prepared to move and be moved. canvasvenue.sg

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Text Aaron Kok Images Various Sources

sweet dreams When you spot Gwen Stefani in the front row of a show decked out in her Harajuku-esque best, you know there’ll be plenty of kawaii. This season, Keita Maruyama looked to the evening sky for inspiration. Titled ‘Dark Night Dreams’, expect a slew of cocktail dresses and girlish details worthy of an appearance in a Tim Burton film. Frills, ruffles and ruching amp up the cute factor, while the use of sequined patterns and constellation prints reference the serenity of a winter’s night. Gothic laces and velvets add to the bewitching collection that’s coloured in midnight blue and inky blacks. Then, as if to mimic the colours that sunrise brings, his collection ends on a pastel-filled note of Chinese pyjama-inspired blouses, embroidered pants and chubby wraps.

keitamaruyama.com

fashion

special

RUBBER ’ N I K C E N WHETHER IT’S RAIN IN THE CITY OR SNOW ON A WINTER VACAY, THE YEAR-END SEASON CALLS FOR FOOTWEAR THAT WILL TAKE YOU THROUGH ROUGH ELEMENTS IN STYLE. WITH THAT IN MIND, CONVERSE ROLLS OUT ITS COUNTER-CLIMATE RUBBER COLLECTION. HERE’S A RUNDOWN OF WHAT TO EXPECT.

COMFORT IS still

STEPS

LE CLASSIC STY FOR EASY PAIRING

Between the rubber overlay and heat-retaining properties, it doesn’t sound like there’s a whole lot of ventilation going on. However, wearers need not worry about that, because Converse has got that covered too. Building the CounterClimate Rubber collection to be fully breathable while repelling liquids, each pair in the collection provides optimal circulation levels to keep things cool and odour-free.

No more worries every time you remove your shoes.

With all that packed into a single pair of kicks, the Chuck II is the perfect footwear for running the roads in style. The print featured, reminiscent of a pixelated camouflage knit, is available in two colourways.

Whether you’re wearing them with your skinniest black jeans and a band tee, or a midi-dress for an off-duty ease, the Converse CounterClimate Rubber collection will suit perfectly to keep you looking and feeling fly.

You’re not going to be hitting the kerb without Converse covering you with its signature Lunarlon sockliner and non-slip padded tongue.

Featuring a pliable, soft foam base, the Lunarlon provides an added layer of ultra plush cushioning, orthopedic support and step-responsive flexibility.

With it in your Chucks, you can stroll, jump or sprint in a downpour without the worry of tired feet.

BREATHABLE

in the rain

FOR RUBBERISED ADDED PROTECTION

We all know that familiar feeling – you wake up looking forward to stepping out in your flyest kicks, but grey skies find a way to put a damper on things. With the monsoon season fast approaching, Converse wants you to step out in confidence, knowing that your Chucks can withstand whatever the weather may throw your way. Made out of waterproof neoprene, the Chuck II promises, come drizzle or storm, your peds are kept dry from treacherous elements.

Much like its name suggests, the stand-out feature of these kicks belongs to the transparent sheet of rubber overlaid on the upper of the shoe.

This ensures that anything from the rain to spilt drinks will roll right off. The rubber also gives the shoes heat-retention properties, meaning that you’ll be able to pack them on your wintery escapades with peace of mind that they’ll keep your toes snug.

stay dry

$139.90, available at Converse retail stores. converse.com.sg

UNPARALLELED

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BEYONCÉ

It’s no secret that Beyoncé feels passionately for the increasing racial tensions in the U.S. While her self-titled album in 2013 firmly announced her as a feminist, her 2016 drop, Lemonade, put forth the idea that not only was she a feminist, she’s an unapologetic African-American too.

Throughout her televised visual album film, Bey wore a series of Antebellum-inspired looks while swanning around the grounds of a Southern plantation, alluding to the history of African-American slaves in those days. Further driving the point home, she chose to wear a military-inspired look at this year’s Superbowl (which in part referenced Michael Jackson’s 1993 performance) while paying controversial homage to the Black Panthers.

Talk about being politically dressed.

YOUNG THUG

In the hyper-masculine world of rap that celebrates tiresome tropes of what it means to be ‘manly’, Young Thug is shaking up the scene with his commitment to break away from these antiquated stereotypes. The father of six is breaking ground as a straight man on a mission to agitate the way the hip-hop scene and rappers view black masculinity with his penchant for wearing women’s clothing. For the cover of his latest mixtape, the rapper wore a ruffled floor-length skirt in powdery lilac by designer Alessandro Tricone that launched Twitter into reactionary overdrive and media outlets into a flurry – with lengthy columns that tried to dissect his gender-driven statements. Where rap often looks to challenge the patriarchy in terms of race, Young Thug takes it a step further by questioning what makes a man.

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LADY GAGA

Fashion is often a very personal thing, where clothing becomes a mirror to your personality and a barrier that gives you the confidence to meet the world. This has been the case for Gaga, whose outrageous costumes and over-thetop makeup have been very much a part of her look since her early days in the scene. Whether on- or off-stage, she has been seen in everything from plastic bubbles to stacked rave-inspired boots. In an interview, Gaga explained that her outlandish looks were often a reaction to her insecurities and depression.

While adamant that she is still the same person in or out of costume, her recent turn to a more pared-down look has been about her finally accepting herself.

LEIGH BOWERY

Mostly characterised by the off-kilter sense of fashion that permeated his everyday wear, Leigh Bowery was a visual artist and club promoter during the ’80s in London who always made a statement with his clothing. Bowery often cited his outfits as a commentary on the mundane, and his outrageous and sometimes revolting dress codes were conceptualised as a joke that provoked the stuffy constraints of the high fashion industry. Coupled with a body shape that defied what it meant to be ‘in’, Bowery found that his way of approaching aesthetics meant he could love fashion while simultaneously mocking the snobs within the industry.

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ANDRÉ 3000

As one half of rap duo, Outkast, André 3000 is known for pumping out some of the catchiest tunes. But on his 2014 reunion tour with Big Boi, it was André’s slogan jumpsuits that really got people talking.

Committed to wearing a plain black jumpsuit with a slogan printed across its front in bold, white typography, the sayings that front his suits ranged from the silly (“I just wanna sleep”) to the more politicallycharged (“Teachers deserve more”).

If there ever was a more literal embodiment of statement-making clothing, this was it.

But more than just making up catchy slogans for fun, his jumpsuits tackled everything from war to self-improvement to censorship.

GRACE JONES

Grace Jones is one of the few powerhouses that command a stage like no one else can – as evidenced in her concerts that still sell out today. With an inclination for tribal threads and severe makeup, Jones sets forth in her mission to challenge the tired cliches of how black women should dress, behave or express themselves.

Rather than playing the usual contrite and submissive ladylike character, Jones revels in the proud knowledge of being a female performer of colour, and she exudes this brash confidence through her costumes.

Recently, she’s even taken young starlets to task for not challenging the status quo as she once did.

WHERE THEATRICALITY ON STAGE IS OFTEN EQUATED TO A WAY TO ENTHRAL ONE’S SCREAMING HOARDES OF FANS, SOME MUSICIANS HAVE USED THEIR COSTUMES TO MAKE A STATEMENT THAT SURPASSES THE BELLS AND THE WHISTLES. WEARING THEIR HEARTS ON THEIR SLEEVES, THESE EIGHT MUSOS HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT WHAT THEY DON IS MORE THAN JUST A COSTUME.

Text Aaron Kok Images Various Sources

PRINCE

The late and great Prince will forever be known for his psychedelic music that defined an era, and his bold fashion choices at a time when singers played it safe.

In his movie, Purple Rain, the singer wore a medley of costumes including a fitted trench coat, ruffled shirts and even a scarlet lace jumpsuit. But really, it was his love for the colour purple that shone through. In an interview, Prince’s costumer revealed that the singer adamantly wanted the colour incorporated – because purple was most commonly associated with majesty – to signify that he saw himself as music royalty. And while he may not be around to enthral with his costumes, his lasting legacy in music and fashion more than cements his claim to that throne.

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BROOKE CANDY

When she’s not challenging gender norms in the form of brazen songwriting and rap music, Brooke Candy is tearing down the walls of taboo – relating to sex and gender roles – with her hyper-sexualised manner of dressing.

Taking on a warriormeets-stripper like approach to her image and appearance, the Californian rapper is known for edging against an industry that expects female pop stars to follow a cookie-cutter formula of sexuality to appeal to a male audience. Instead, she’s turned this on its head with her outfits – one that shows plenty of skin and yet still falls far away from the typical idea of ‘sexy’. Where rap has appropriated women as objects of sexual desire, Candy seeks to reclaim sexuality for women.

fashion

focus label

TO INFINITY AND BEYOND It’s been a little over two decades since we were introduced to Woody and the gang, and boy, what a journey it’s been. From escaping Sid’s house of toy torture to discovering the omniscient powers of The Claw (cue your “ooohs” now), our favourite toy characters have brought us through many adventures.

Between lots of laughs, tears and nostalgia, fans can also look forward to fourth instalment of the franchise due out in 2018. To whet your appetite, here’s the KVch m 9^hcZn E^mVg Idn Hidgn XdaaZXi^dc# With a massive offering across the men’s, women’s and kid’s lines, the collection features all of Vans’ best-loved kicks and apparel with a Toy Story makeover. Our beloved sheriff makes his grand appearance on a pair of Vans Authentic kicks, set against a sky blue background with brown laces, while laser-shooting vigilante Buzz Lightyear flies across an intergalactic pair of classic slip-on shoes. Better yet, if you want to step into the space ranger’s shoes, there’s the Vans Old Skool sneakers redone in the signature grey, green and purple colours sported by Buzz.

Details matter, and the collection is replete with Easter eggs too. Look out for the alien squeeze toys’ eyes that glow in the dark, further playing up their Xjg^djh hiVgZh Vi LddYn VcY 7joo# Dc V eV^g d[ H`-"=^¼h ^che^gZY Wn 7d EZZe! laser-cut leather trimming adorns the signature Vans stripe, making this an ultra saccharine pair for female fans. The best part? Each pair features Andy’s marker-drawn name on its soles.

Available at Vans stores. vans.com

K6CH M 9>HC:N E>M6G IDN HIDGN fashion

Text Aaron Kok Images Various Sources

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I]Z di]Zg X]VgVXiZgh \Zi eaZcin d[ V^gi^bZ Vh lZaa# =Vbb! 7d EZZe! Ha^c`n 9d\ and Rex make an appearance amidst toy alphabet blocks set against a minty WVX`Ygde# EZg]Veh dcZ d[ i]Z bdk^Z¼h bdhi [Vbdjhan VYdgZY X]VgVXiZgh! i]Z alien squeeze toys recreate the scene where Buzz Lightyear and Woody get lost in their midst, right onto a pair of Authentics, complete with inquisitive eyes and our two protangonists cleverly hidden in the print. And let’s not forget the poor mangled toys in Sid’s backyard who eventually helped Buzz and Woody escape in the first movie, because they all make a reappearance amidst celebratory confetti over the punishment they unleashed upon Sid.

focus label

JUST KIDDING SHI CHANG FALL/WINTER 2016

Text Aaron Kok Images Various Sources

If Hollywood horror has conditioned us in one way, it’s that sometimes, children can bring about a foreboding sense of evil. Underneath innocent, angelic smirks lie something a little more sinister, and that idea came forth in Shi Chang’s Fall/Winter 2016 collection. Titled ‘Babyhood’, the New York-based designer’s collection may look harmlessly saccharine at first glance, but unpacking the collection reveals a kind of perverse obsession with the creepy.

041 audience. This is evidenced in trousers adorned with colourful Froot Loops, and a repeated motif of a child donning a bowtie. But that’s as far as the youthful element goes as the collection then takes a turn for the twisted. On closer inspection, you’ll find on a top a doll’s hand sneaking out from underneath a shoulder flap – as if tapping on the wearer’s shoulder. Another coat has its regular buttons switched out for severed doll hands reaching out, while its hem gathers up, with a diaper flap down the middle. The diaper also makes an appearance in the form of bloomer shorts, that look a little more odd than adorable.

shichangstudio.com

The starting line of Chang’s collection is greatly inspired by all the things that remind him of his childhood – fruity cereal rings, bath-time buddies and preppy attire. In a palette of sorbet shades such as powder pink, baby blue, daffodil, teal, and lavender, he plays with contrasting silhouettes to maximal effect. Case in point: rounded raglan sleeves – that look like they were borrowed from a circus’s costume rack – paired with tight-fitting pants spliced with contrasting splashes of colour. Fabrics that feature throughout the collection range from dotty jacquards and printed rubber – as seen on a poncho – to feather soft knits and plush faux fur trimmings. It’s a hodgepodge of textures that wouldn’t normally work elsewhere but, in this instance, they do because of Chang’s manic but seamless vision.

Chang further articulates his idea by interspersing key pieces with details drawn from his growing-up years, while retaining consumer relevancy for a grown-up fashion

K R A D Y S A A D

THE WITCHING HOUR COMETH. TAKE ON A LOOK IN HEAD-TO-TOE BLACK, AND EXPERIMENT WITH SHAPE, TEXTURE AND LAYERING FOR A SPELLBINDING EFFECT.

PHOTOGRAPHY CHUCK REYES STYLING AARON KOK STYLING ASSISTANT IZZA SOFIA MAKEUP BENO LIM USING NARS HAIR ANTHONY LIM / KIMAGE STUDIO MODELS FREDERIK J & SINA K / AVE

ON SINA TULLE DRESS MAX TAN WOOL TROUSERS WITH FRONT SLIT INVENTORY.CO CRYSTAL EMBELLISHED BOMBER JACKET SANDRO PATENT LEATHER BOOTS BIMBA Y LOLA CRYSTAL EARRINGS H&M ON FREDERIK NYLON BOMBER JACKET MONCLER X OFF-WHITE KNITTED WOOL TROUSERS LOEWE

LACE JUMPER ZARA WOOL FELT DRESS WITH INVERTED PLEATS MAX TAN STRETCH LEATHER BOOTS H&M WOOL AND LEATHER HAT H&M METAL AND ENAMEL EARRINGS H&M VELVET CHOKER TOPSHOP

WOOL TURTLENECK COS WOOL PANTS ZARA WOOL FELT COAT WITH TOPSTITCHING DETAIL SANDRO LEATHER SNEAKERS COS WOOL, LEATHER AND BUTTON-EMBELLISHED BEANIE LOEWE

NYLON BOMBER JACKET CHRISTIAN DADA POLYESTER TROUSERS H&M SOCKS STYLIST’S OWN STUDDED LEATHER BROGUES LOEWE

VISIT YOUTUBE.COM/JUICESG FOR A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT THIS SHOOT.

LACE TANK TOP H&M CREPE ASYMMETRIC MIDI SKIRT J.W. ANDERSON AT NET-A-PORTER.COM WOOL TROUSERS CARVEN WOOL AND NYLON DOUBLE LAYERED BIKER JACKET SACAI AT NET-A-PORTER.COM LEATHER COWBOY BOOTS SANDRO KNOTTED ROPE AND CRYSTAL EARRINGS MARNI

wardrobe trend

givenchy

COPPERHEAD

msgm

cotton jacket, $249, superdry

LIKE THE FALLING LEAVES AND PUMPKINS THAT LITTER LAWNS AT HALLOWEEN, RUSTY SHADES OF COPPER COME FORTH THIS SEASON THROUGH OUTERWEAR, SEPARATES AND ACCESSORIES. COUNTER THE RUSTIC QUALITY OF AMBER WITH SPLASHES OF DENIM FOR AN ALL-ROUNDED COSY LOOK. WE’RE PUTTING OUR PENNIES ON THIS JACKET BY SUPERDRY – A DEFINITE SEASONAL INVESTMENT.

fashion

topman design

robert geller

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wardrobe trend

knitted wool beanie, $29.90, pull & bear

watch with leather strap, $760, tsovet at robinsons.com

cotton t-shirt, poa, ami at club 21b denim shirt, $49.90, h&m

braided braclet, $85, polo ralph lauren

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cotton blend jumper, $79.90, topman

leather bracelet, $85, ted baker

cotton twill trousers, $150, mango

skinny denim jeans, $195, a.p.c. at kapok

Text & Coordination Aaron Kok Images Various Sources

felt hat, $59.90, zara

denim jacket, $99.90, mango

leather sneakers, $700, feit at feitdirect.com

wide-legged silk trousers, poa, craig green at club 21 men

fashion

pu messenger bag, $450, ted baker

wardrobe trend

rodarte

alexander mcqueen

SALEM NIGHTS

polyester high-neck top, $106, topshop

AS ANOTHER SEASON OF GOTH-INSPIRED PIECES MAKES ITS WAY ONTO THE RACKS, IT’S TIME TO FLAUNT YOUR WICCAN SIDE WITH BLACK LACE EVERYTHING. WORK YOUR MAGIC IN A HIGH-NECK TOP FROM TOPSHOP FOR A BEWITCHINGLY CHIC SPELL, AND PAIR WITH VELVET OR PATENT LEATHER ACCESSORIES FOR A HIGH-VOLTAGE FINISH.

fashion

roberto cavalli

marc jacobs

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wardrobe trend

cotton lace top, poa, red valentino

brass and enamel earrings, poa, roberto cavalli

leather shoulder bag, $900, charlotte olympia at ssense.com

lace mini dress, $950, alexander wang

lace dress with slip, $95.90, mango

velvet choker with pendant, $45, natalie b jewelry at revolve.com

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onyx bracelet, $45, steve madden crochet lace bomber jacket, $90, river island at zalora.sg nylon bodysuit, $45.90, h&m

Text & Coordination Aaron Kok Images Various Sources

lace panel jersey knit skirt, $40, river island at zalora.sg

lace blouse, $69, mango

pleated lace skirt, poa, michael kors

patent leather lace-up ankle boots, $129, zara

cotton blend trousers, $79.90, h&m

fashion

stretch velvet boots, $163, steve madden

vault

faceted crystal earrings, $25.90, mango crystal and metal cuff, $345, iosseliani at farfetch.com

OUT FOR BLOOD

crystal necklace, poa, atelier swarovski

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asymmetric crepe dress, $507, joseph

leather heels, $116, topshop

IF REVENGE IS A DISH TO BE SERVED COLD, THEN NO ONE DISHED IT BETTER THAN CARRIE WHITE. CHANNEL HER PROM PRANK LOOK IN A BLOOD-RED SLIP, AND ACCENT WITH GLITTERING ACCESSORIES WORTHY OF A PROM QUEEN. TELEKINESIS NOT INCLUDED.

double pearl bracelet, $190, marc jacobs

fashion

leather box clutch, poa, serpui at serpui.com.br

metallic leather sandals, poa, stuart weitzman

Text & Coordination Aaron Kok Images Various Sources

ostrich effect leather clutch, $68, banana republic

pleated georgette dress, $490, maje

shop

STEP UP weave tie leather brogues, $1,347, thom browne at surrender store

FALL’S WORK SHOES GET AN ELEVATED BOOST WITH THE ADDITION OF CHUNKY SOLES. NOW TELL US, HOW’S THE AIR UP THERE, CHAMP?

polished leather derby shoes, $550, common projects at pedder on scotts

leather derby shoes, $521, lanvin

leather oxford shoes, $149, h&m

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leather brogues, $420, dr martens

leather blutcher shoes, $199, mango

Text & Coordination Aaron Kok Images Various Sources

leather derby shoes, $563, marni

leather derby shoes, $352, satudays nyc at mrporter.com

leather brogue shoes, poa, paul smith

leather derby shoes, poa, neil barrett at club 21 men

fashion

profile

A STITCH IN TIME

How do you decide which archive piece to use during a particular season?

Whether it’s at our headquarters in the U.S. or in the Japanese market, we always have people with their ear on the ground, trying to get a sense of what’s next. They are looking at everything – magazines, catalogues, the streets – and then they provide the feedback and recommend designs accordingly.

It’s like a grassroots approach; it’s very ground-up rather than HQ deciding on what to produce next.

What’s your favourite aspect about Red Wing Shoes?

I love the history of the brand, and that every single product style comes with a story behind it. A lot of our products have history – how it was made, why it features certain elements, and so on – and that’s what I love about working for Red Wing.

A lot of the boots tend to walk the line between being fashionable and utilitarian.

Is this something that the design team pays attention to?

When we create new styles, we never think about trends or fashion. Rather, we always pay attention to what makes a pair of boots a Red Wing boot. It must be made with quality materials and remain respectful to the brand’s DNA. Sometimes customers have the misconception that Red Wing boots are dressy footwear, but they don’t realize that our boots were originally made for workers. We produce some of the most durable shoes that have a rugged utilitarian appeal. For instance, Red Wing fans love our beautiful stitching, and our leather have a naturally supple look.

So while they are boots built for workers, fashion

our customers have come to appreciate it also as a lifestyle fashion boot.

It’s common knowledge of Red Wing’s boots are catered to the men’s market. What are your thoughts on this?

Well, Red Wing Shoes is a men’s brand, but we have slowly been expanding our selection of female-friendly designs. In the North American and European market, we got a lot of requests to feminise the existing boot design so our female customers can also enjoy our products. In the future, we are looking to launch yearly collections that take inspiration from our century-old archive and in this vein, we will look at how this can also be used to expand the women’s line.

Why do you think it’s important for the design team to constantly reference the heritage of the company?

Because some people still have misconceptions about the company, our product development team is always thinking about what we want to inform our customers about. We’ve come to realise that, to do so, we need to bring the focus back to the archives and to what has defined us for so many years.

On a lighter note, what is the one model you wear the most often?

This is a tough question [laughs]. Before the start of the week, I always have a roster of which boots I will wear for the next seven days. But the choices change with the season. During the spring and summer months, I wear more oxfords or chukka boots; for the Fall/Winter season, I go for taller boots. Recently, however, I’ve been wearing the Postman boots more than usual.

Red Wing Shoe Store is located at #04-16 orchardgateway. redwingshoes.sg

Text Aaron Kok Images Red Wing Shoe Store

RED WING

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IN AN INDUSTRY THAT CHAMPIONS THE TRENDY AND NEW, RED WING SHOE COMPANY HAS MADE A REPUTATION FOR ITSELF BY LOOKING TO ITS HISTORY TO INFORM ITS EVERGROWING COLLECTION OF BOOTS. WHETHER IT’S A REPRODUCED HERITAGE MODEL OR AN ARCHIVAL PIECE TWEAKED FOR TODAY, ITS STOMPERS ARE KNOWN TO BE SOME OF THE LONGEST-LASTING IN THE MARKET THAT ALSO KEEP UP ON STYLE. ON A STOPOVER IN SINGAPORE, WE CATCH UP WITH RED WING JAPAN’S PRINCIPAL, TAKEFUMI SEKIGUCHI, TO PEEL BACK THE LAYERS AND GET AN INNER LOOK AT THE BRAND’S ETHOS.

Fall Winter 2016 Heritage Collection

THE HERITAGE OF HUNTING Inspired by hunting, a popular sport in the hometown of Red Wing, Style 8884 is the latest 6 inch Moc-toe Boots, fashioned in camouflaged leather. Our classic boots design with white crepe outsoles were born in the 1950s as hunting boots.

Get your game on with this Made-in-USA footwear.

Connect with us:

redwingshoesingapore

redwingshoesingapore www.redwingshoes.sg

profile

WOMEN OF THE BIMBA Y W O R L D

Each season has very distinctive inspiration points. How does the team collectively decide on one direction to focus on?

We find a lot of our inspiration from the world around us; whether it’s from the culture and art through our travels, when we delve into the archives, or through reading. The collection starts to take shape once we decide on the story we want to pursue as our narrative thread. We start off by sketching and deciding on patterns and key prints for the collection. We also divide our sketches by themes, colour palettes and textures. We think it is rightful to say that prints are at the base of all the work that we do. They are definitely a big part of our DNA and are what truly distinguishes us from the rest of the brands in the market. From there, we explore ways to adapt to various categories of our collection, such as ready-to-wear, accessories, shoes, scarves, and handbags.

LOLA

Who is the BIMBA Y LOLA woman, and how do you fit your designs to her profile?

The BIMBA Y LOLA woman is one who is free from stereotypes. She is independent, intellectual, has a great deal of personality and definitely knows how to define her own style. She is brave in choosing special and unique pieces without falling into the fashion victim trap.

You are celebrating your 10th anniversary this year. What is the most important thing you want customers to associate the brand with?

Our founders Maria and Uxia Dominguez started the brand by strategically positioning it in the affordable luxury range, offering women access to quality designs at affordable prices.

Every collection is true to the brand’s spirit, which is a blend of strength and edginess; sweet, but still pure.

Name three highlights from the your past collections that the team loves.

Well, our first bag collection is a big highlight, for sure. Also, we were quite proud when we launched our first swimsuit collection in the

fashion

summer of 2014. We also adore the bags from the recent Fall/Winter 2016 collection. The inspiration for the season came from Jules Verne’s work, and we’re in love with the dinosaur prints we developed.

What do you hope the brand will accomplish in the next 10 years?

BIMBA Y LOLA has found its ‘sweet spot’ as a brand. Over the years, we’ve grown tremendously as a brand, evolving from season to season – from our collections, to our logo, to the stores. It’s been extremely encouraging to see that our consumers are supportive, even coming along on this journey and growing with us.

So moving forward, we are going to double the stakes. We want to continue growing, and to push ourselves further as a brand.

BIMBA Y LOLA is available at #01-04 Mandarin Gallery. bimbaylola.com

Text Aaron Kok Images BIMBA Y LOLA

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THE BRAINCHILD OF TWO SISTERS, BIMBA Y LOLA HAS EXPANDED ITS WORLDWIDE REACH WITH OVER 210 STORES IN MAJOR CITIES, INCLUDING PARIS, SEOUL AND – OF COURSE – SINGAPORE. KNOWN FOR ITS QUIRKY TAKE ON FASHION, THE BRAND CONSTANTLY CHURNS OUT FABULOUSLY KOOKY CLOTHING FOR WOMEN WHO APPRECIATE INDIVIDUALITY. IN CELEBRATION OF ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY, WE CHAT EXCLUSIVELY TO THE BRAND’S DESIGN TEAM TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR APPROACH TO DESIGN AND EVENTUAL WORLD DOMINATION.

hit list

Favourite Footwear I’ve always loved chunky platforms, and not every brand makes them the way Buffalo does. These are comfortable, long-lasting and androgynous – and I love the classic ’90s designs.

K L LY L M R C K

Weirdest Movie I first watched Paprika when I was 15, thinking it was a random animation – I didn’t properly get it until I watched it the third time when I was 18. Even without ‘getting it’, I was intrigued by the visuals and the idea of ‘incepting’ dreams (this was way before Inception). The scene where the toys march down the streets has inspired me for a long time.

Artistic Hero I met Yamamoto Motoi while helping out with his salt artwork in Japan. It was really amazing to see such dedication and precision in his work, and the consideration towards the environment. I’ve recently grown interested in large-scale art that respects nature and doesn’t create waste and Yamamoto-san’s work is a perfect example of that.

ARMED WITH HER CROCHET HOOKS AND KNITTING YARN, KLLYLMRCK IS PUSHING THE ENVELOPE OF CROCHET ART WITH HER BRAND OF KIMO-KAWAII – A JAPANESE TERM THAT DESCRIBES A KIND OF CUTENESS THAT’S ALSO A LITTLE GROTESQUE. BY INTERLACING HER TECHNIQUES WITH SUB-CULTURE INFLUENCES, SHE GIVES THE OFTSTUFFY WORLD OF CROCHETING NEW EDGE – AS SEEN IN HER WARES THAT INCLUDE CHOKERS AND DETACHABLE DREADLOCKS MADE OUT OF TWISTED WOOL. THIS MONTH, SHE SHOWS US AROUND HER WORLD.

Text Aaron Kok Portrait Samantha Francis Images Various Sources

Guilty Pleasure I really indulge in shopping for fancy yarn. My house has boxes and boxes of materials, which I don’t think I’d be able to finish in this lifetime.

Lashes For Days I swear by Heroine Make’s mascara. The curl and lengthening effect from it is amazing for the price.

Costume Goals One Halloween, I decided to dress up as an ah lian, complete with denim shorts, tank top, slippers and fake long hair. It was… refreshing [laughs].

Soundtrack To Life “Hair” by Lady Gaga. This song speaks so true to me, and indeed my hair (dreads) has now given me a new kind of life.

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kllylmrck.com

Daily Playlist I’m always listening to Joe Hisaishi. I’m more of a tuneover-lyrics kind of person, so I love emotional orchestral pieces. Having listened to his pieces from a young age, his catalogue is one of the few that speaks to my heart.

Fair Trade The last thing I gave away were frozen oranges.

It’s seriously the best thing to eat after dinner, and I give them to my Japanese friends when they offer me something else to eat. It’s more of a barter trade than a gift, though [laughs]!

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fast fashion

GROUND ZERO High octane lifestyles require onthe-go shoes that are built to adapt.

Stepping in to help is Cole Haan with its latest 2.ZERØGRAND range, designed to meet the hectic demands of a city slicker. Each pair in the collection is fitted with a lightweight outsole to deliver flexibility, while the anatomical foot bed aids in better weight distribution. Plus, the zonal tongue and Achilles padding both work to deliver a super comfy wear.

Take cues from the eccentricity of Fall’s runways and pair your 2.ZERØGRAND oxfords with a silk pant suit, or keep it classic with your favourite denim jeans. $359 to $459, available at Cole Haan, #02-11 Paragon.

Immediacy is the new buzzword in fashion, and more and more brands are jumping on the see-now-buy-now bandwagon. While it remains to be seen how the industry, as a whole, will adapt to this new approach, these three brands are leading the charge.

BURBERRY As a brand that constantly champions the usage of technology, Burberry was the first to announce that its recent “seasonless” runway collection would be immediately available for purchase in stores and online.

While there is no word on whether this new model has reaped commercial success,

MIGHTY JAXX X HYPERGRAND

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Whether you want to sit this piece on your shelf of collectibles or actually wear it out for an effortless dose of style, there’s no denying that the partnership ticks all the right boxes.

Featuring a hand-casted polystone skull fashioned after Cyclops, the watch holder leaves a nice circle in the socket of the skull’s eye so a matching Hypergrand ticker can be seamlessly displayed. Featuring the brand’s signature NATO strap in two camouflage colourways, the timepiece also boasts a matte dial with crossbones detailing the face.

$150, available at mightyjaxx.rocks.

it is clear that the industry is in favour of the brand’s revamped sales model – as tastemakers continue to praise the English fashion house for breaking new ground.

burberry.com

TOPSHOP UNIQUE Topshop knows a thing or two about fast fashion, but in tandem with its September fashion show in London, customers could also shop the runway at the brand’s ION Orchard store. In an official statement, the brand’s global communications and marketing director, Sheena Sauvaire, highlighted this shift as a “logical conclusion in our drive to democratise fashion and, given Topshop’s real-time fashion model, something that feels like a very natural evolution for the brand”.

LIKE WALKING ON AIR

topshop.com

VETEMENTS

While Dr. Martens has been known for charging forward with some of the most comfortable boots in the business, it is upping the ante with the DM’s Lite range.

Featuring a sample of classic styles from its stable, the revolutionary lineup sees the super lightweight Phylon midsole attached to the base of every pair. What this allows is unparalleled comfort and a boot that is so light, you’re practically walking on air. Furthermore, the revised soles also feature moisture-wicking technology and memory insoles for better support – making them the perfect footwear choice for the upcoming party season. $209 to $239, available at Dr. Martens, #B1-31 Capitol Piazza.

Ever the disruptor in the conversation of fashion, Vetements joined the runway-toretail army of brands with more than just immediate shopping. By moving its shows three months earlier every season, Demna Gvasalia and his crew ensure you’d always be one step ahead of the fashion pack. Simply place your order after the show, and you’ll receive your purchase before the seasons change. A smart way to put real fans at the forefront with its highly coveted pieces.

vetementswebsite.com

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WHEN OLIVER MEETS OLSEN It’s a simple style equation. Combine an ultra hip eyewear brand with a fashion label known for its cavalier-chic threads and you’ll get the Oliver Peoples x The Row collection. Lending its signature effortlessness to the classic opticals by Oliver Peoples, the Olsen sisters imbue each frame with a vintage-inspired spin reminiscent of ’50s California. Drawing inspiration from the laidback spirit of the West Coast and the glamorous lives led by its residents, the collection also breaks barriers by being the inaugural series with a reinvented signature O’Malley frame. $390 to $570, available at Optical 88, #B3-53 ION Orchard.

VISUAL MASS With an ever-growing repertoire of high-quality opticals and sunglasses catered to customers on a budget, as well as a programme that gives back to society, the Singaporean brand is poised to make waves as it works towards global eyewear domination. We catch up with founders Jerial Tan and Eddie Tan to get a clearer understanding of their mission.

SAY MY NAME

How did Visual Mass come about?

We have known each other for about 10 years now, and in 2013, we decided to create a new system to change the way people shop for glasses. We launched our own brand and started by selling our eyewear at flea markets. This is something we still do, as it is a platform that provides us with the opportunity to listen to our customers and develop long-standing relationships with them.

So, you bought it; now own it. Fans of Lacoste can now enjoy in-store customisation of the brand’s ubiquitous piqué polo shirts in under 15 minutes. As part of a complimentary service with every purchase, you get to choose from 12 thread colours, three font types and two placement options, before the embroidery is done on the spot.

Available at Lacoste, #03-07/11 Wisma Atria.

What inspired you to use your brand as a way to give back to society?

Even though we’re a relatively new player on the block, we believe we can make a difference and contribute to the larger community. For a year, we sold our eyewear at one-for-one to see if it would be a viable business – we gave away a pair of glasses to someone in need for every pair sold. To our delight, the strategy worked so we rolled out the ‘One For You, One For Them’ initiative to allow our customers to impact another in a very meaningful way.

EVERLAST The appeal of white tennis sneakers doesn’t seem to be waning anytime soon and Everlast is joining the game with a line of fuss-free sneakers dubbed the Court Classic collection. Designed to put comfort first, the kicks sport a moulded, lightweight EVA insole to keep your steps pillowed throughout the day. They also feature reinforced durability, full leather uppers, and rubber midsoles for added grip. Pick from three colourways – green, red or black set on a white shoe upper – and hit the street in style.

How is Visual Mass different from the other eyewear brands?

By delivering new eyewear deisgns, we work hard to focus on quality customer experience, whether they are shopping on our website or at brick-and-mortar stores. We want to create a community of loyal customers who relate to our brand and love our products. At our core, we believe that everyone has the right to good quality eyewear that won’t cost a bomb.

Do you design with a particular guideline in mind?

While our designs are inspired by Asian fashion trends, our priority is comfort. Singaporean consumers are practical and they place great emphasis on quality and functionality. That’s why we offer an Asian fit that incorporates a lower bridge and a narrower frame so it sits better on the face.

$79.90, available at Everlast.

Tell us an interesting fact about Visual Mass.

We use thermoplastics, which is a specialised material from Korea, in our frames. Being lightweight and highly flexible, it is incredibly comfortable and durable enough to withstand impact. The flexible material also enables the frame to mould nicely against facial contours.

SECOND LIFE

visualmass.co

Text Aaron Kok Images Visual Mass

For their 10th collection, MASH-UP takes a trip down memory lane to bring back old designs and breathe new life into them. A showcase of the trio’s creativity in addressing the growing problem of waste in garment production, pieces are upcycled through the use of deconstruction, unexpected placements of details like seams and sleeves, as well as thorough patchwork. Expect graphic tees, sweatpants and T-shirt dresses in a myriad of prints and colours that pop. And if you want to cop a piece, best hustle ’cos supply is extremely limited. $79 to $289, available atTANGS Orchard, Level 4.

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Text Aaron Kok Images Various Sources

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scare tactics

Text Jazmin Kelly Six Images Various Sources

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Oh come, all ye creatures of the night; this season is about the black and the keyword is ‘intense’. Eyes are bewitching yet haunting at the same time, adorned in various ways – from exaggerated wings to careless brush strokes, inky smudges to all hollowed-out. Less goth and more glam, bold obsidian kissers add to the equation – channelling the dark, moody and subversively romantic with a modern, high-shine finish. In between all that vampy elegance lies a porcelain base that is luminous and ethereal. But why stop there? We are throwing in piercing stares and plenty of ’tude for good measure.

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halloween hacks

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EYELASH GLUE

CONTOUR POWDER

LIPSTICK

Liquid latex can be expensive and if you prefer not to use craft glue (because, eww), your everyday eyelash glue works just fine. Besides holding up rhinestones, feather pieces and ‘ugly’ moles, eyelash glue can also be used to create texture for fresh wounds and scars. For the former, apply many thin layers then tear an open hole, or create layers of thicker lines to mimic raised scars. A touch of lip gloss will make it more convincing.

How about that? The year’s most buzzed-about makeup product can also double up as scary makeup essential. Yes, contour powder is perfect for creating sunken, hollowed-out eyes, and crepe-y old skin like that of a witch. Adhere thin layers of toilet paper to the skin using a gooey cornstarch paste, then pile on the colour when dry to add dimension for a realistic finish.

Other uses include creating gaunt cheeks, gross zombie lips and old bruises.

Definitely the key item on this list – what is Halloween without a wild splash of ‘blood’?

While a smear of red can make you look bloody, we prefer to add on some coconut oil and mix well to create a realistic watery effect. For old-looking wounds that are discoloured, choose a burgundy or brown hue and add some cornstarch to create a paste. The thick consistency will make it look like you’ve been roaming the streets dead for a long time.

Eyelash Adhesive, $15, Duo at sephora.com

Rouge Allure Velvet in Rouge Vie, $49, Chanel Beauty Bronzing Powder in 03 Mykonos – Deep, $24, Sephora

Audacious Lipstick in Bette, $44, NARS

White Lash Adhesive, US$8, houseoflashes.com Couture Contouring Palette in Golden Contouring Harmony, $89, YSL Beauté

Lash Glue, US$8, benefitcosmetics.com

L’Absolu Rouge in 166 Rouge Noir, $46, Lancome Shade + Light Contour Palette, $73, Kat Von D Beauty at Sephora

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FOR THE COMMON FOLK, STOCKING UP ON SPECIAL EFFECTS MAKEUP FOR A ONCE-A-YEAR AFFAIR CAN BE WASTEFUL – YOU USE A BIT OF EVERYTHING AND COME THE NEXT YEAR, THEY DRY UP, GET INVADED BY MOULD, OR EXPIRE COMPLETELY. WHETHER YOU’RE TAKING THE GHOULISH ROUTE OR GOING GLAM THIS OCTOBER 31, THESE COMMON MAKEUP AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS WILL DO THE TRICK FOR ALL YOUR SPOOK NIGHT SHENANIGANS.

LIQUID EYELINER

EYESHADOW

NAIL POLISH

Thanks to its slim felt- or brush-tip, a liquid eyeliner creates precise lines where you want them. Besides drawing on veins that crawl all over the face, a brown or black formula can also add depth to fake wounds and scars. To create bruises, add a dose of hand sanitiser gel, mix the pigments in, and leave on skin to dry. For stubble or dirt marks, smear a small dash of coffee grounds over diluted ink.

For those who prefer the pretty, sexy, glamorous ’dos, having an arsenal of colours – to be used as face paint in character makeup – at the ready is a must. Instead of purchasing bottles of face paint made with dubious ingredients, why not use eyeshadows that you already know are safe? Simply mix the powders – or, better yet, cream-based formulas – in with petroleum jelly to get the colours you need.

Combine existing shades for more options!

You could simply polish your nails a ghastly blue, grey or black if you’re lean on time but to truly ace the Fright Night look, fake nails are compulsory. After coating talons in a suitably ‘creepy’ colour, cut into size some falsies – or crack them for better effect – and glue them onto the base of each nail. Once dry, go over with a pale hue, then paint on a darker hue at the base to zombie perfection.

Colourful Eyeliner in 03 Morning Mocha, $20, Sephora

Nail Lacquer in Shh…It’s Top Secret, $12.80, opi.com.sg Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow in Arcturus, $45, NARS

Line Designer in Noir, $60, By Terry at Escentials

All Fired Up Gel Effect in Spencer Street, $xx, Nails Inc at Sephora

Text Jazmin Kelly Six Images Various Sources

Pressed Eyeshadow in Pearl – Dark Blue, $25, Shu Uemura

Precision Eye Marker in Jet Black, POA, H&M Beauty

Artist Eyeshadow in ME-304 Emerald, $27, Make Up For Ever at Sephora made up

Nail Polish in Dark Side Of The Moon, $30, Deborah Lippmann at sephora.com

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DEAD DOLL

velvet eyeliner in black moon, $36, nars

nuit kajal in fascinating black, $22, sephora

ALL THE EBONY YOU NEED FOR A HALLOWEEN ’DO THAT’S SINISTER AND ON-TREND.

hello lashes 5-in-1 volumising mascara, $42, it cosmetics at sephora

artist shadow – diamond finish in d104 black diamond, $27, make up for ever at sephora

eyebrow stylus pencil & gel in brown black, $35, nudestix at sephora

mini black magic mascara $28, eyeko at sephora

la laque couture in no. 73, $39, ysl beautè

liptensity lipstick in stallion, $39, m.a.c. cosmetics

artist rouge in 604, $35, make up for ever at sephora

nail varnish in boosh, $26, illamasqua at illamasqua.com

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Text & Coordination Jazmin Kelly Six Images Marc Jacobs FW16 (Main) & various sources

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trend

colourful eyeliner in 08 stadium fever, $20, sephora

m.a.c. star trek lipglass in khaaannnn!, $35, m.a.c. cosmetics

moondust palette, $80, urban decay

all fired up gel effect in portland square, poa, nails inc at sephora

v for v.o.l.u.m.e. volume mascara in violet league, $15, sephora

razor sharp water-resistant longwear liquid eyeliner in junkshow, $35, urban decay

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Text & Coordination Jazmin Kelly Six Images Various Sources

velvet eyeliner in curacao, $36, nars

melted matte liquified matte lipstick in mrs. roper, $33, too faced at sephora

VIOLENTLY HAPPY THERE’S NO BETTER TIME THAN HALLOWEEN TO FLY THE FREAK FLAG AND WE’RE LOOKING TO BJORK TO ACE THIS IN STYLE. WITH OUTRAGEOUS WARDROBE CHOICES THAT EXCITE AND ENTHRAL, THE HIGH PRIESTESS OF ART-POP LEADS THE WAY WITH RIVETING COLOUR AND TEXTURE CLASHES, AND A PENCHANT FOR ALL THAT’S NOT SO QUIET. made up

artist rouge in 602, $35, make up for ever at sephora

fineliner ultraskinny gel eye crayon in 22 cold blue, $32, marc jacobs beauty at sephora

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pout in full force

SOAK UP THE SUN

As long as you protect your skin from the effects of damaging UV rays, there’s no reason to be hiding under that brollie all day long. Here to aid your cause is Bottega Verde’s latest drop – the Sol Protezione+ series. Offering total protection and skinsoothing benefits, the collection includes a Face Protection Serum, After-sun Face Repair Treatment, Soothing and Repairing After-sun Lotion, Protective Spray Lotion (SPF30) and Protective Spray Lotion (SPF50). Each product is also infused with calabrian liquorice – which helps to heal skin tissues, reduce inflammation and increase elasticity – as well as sunflower extract, which delivers a radiance boost for healthier-looking skin.

From $26.90 to $42.90, available at Bottega Verde.

Meet the new crop of lip paints that are more than worthy of precious vanity space.

NARS VELVET LIP GLIDE Consider this a meeting of the best – a liquid lipstick formula that offers strength in coverage, yet remains soft and comfy at the same time. Infused with nurturing oils for a smooth-glide effect, the lippie veils puckers with glossy intensity, perfected by the doefoot applicator – which delivers a plush application.

Definitely lust-worthy for all you glam queens.

$45, available in 12 shades at NARS counters.

FLOWER POWER

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YSL BEAUTÉ VERNIS À LÈVRES VINYL CREAM

When it comes to mid-day slumps, our usual go-tos are espresso shots and, if the situation permits, an afternoon siesta. Next time, try the Kiehl’s Cactus Flower & Tibetan Ginseng Hydrating Mist instead. A great perk-up mist that cools and refreshes, the invigorating formula boasts a blend of natural botanicals and essential oils to hydrate the skin and ‘wake up’ tired minds. Infused with a mix of lavender, geranium, rosemary and Tibetan ginseng extracts, the handy quick fix also features cactus flower properties to help retain moisture, while keeping the mien feeling soft and smooth. $25 (75ml) and $40 (125ml), available at Kiehl’s.

A hybrid that combines the longevity of a lip stain with the high-shine quality of a lip gloss and intensity of a lipstick, this formula is a multi-tasking dream come true. Its unique long-wear formula not only glides on to a smooth finish, it also delivers just the right amount of colour, while keeping the pout hydrated.

$50 each, available in 12 shades at YSL Beauté.

SHU UEMURA TINT IN BALM A sleeker update to its predecessor, the new formula offers a hydrating veil of colour that coats and cares for the lips at the same time. Combining intense pigments with moisturising properties, the silky balm imparts a lightweight texture that never feels dry. Inside the tube is a built-in clicker, which dispenses just the right amount of product for the desired coverage.

$42, available in 10 shades at Shu Uemura counters.

STRIKE OUT

Who else could we count on to make the art of bowling look chic?

Enter the M.A.C Cosmetics ‘It’s A Strike’ collection – a 21-piece range that welcomes the Fall season with calming autumnal colours and a splash of brights. Besides on-trend neutrals like khaki, fawn, espresso, and taupe, the collection also features striking reds and vibrant pops of colour for those who covet the bold. We’re putting our money on the ultra cute Trophy pearl matte face powder, the lime green Bowlarama eyeshadow and the pistachio Baby Split nail polish.

From $24 to $64, available at M.A.C counters.

CLINIQUE POP LIP COLOUR + PRIMER With matte formulas being all the rage, fans would be more than delighted with the brand’s latest roll-out. The Matte Matte lipstick debunks stereotypes to deliver seven suede-like hues that wear comfortably all day. The Liquid Matte, on the other hand, offers a blend of pampering oils with high-octane colours for dramatic lips that pop.

$35 each, available Clinique counters.

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ALL IN HARMONY

LUSH HALLOWEEN

We’ve heard it all before but the most common complaint of city slickers is this: too many things, too little time. Between running around from work to social events day in and out, our skin takes a serious beating. To reverse the stress it endures, look to L’Occitane’s premium Harmonie Divine collection. A luxurious duo of serum and cream that soothes and saves, this anti-ageing pair helps to stimulate natural collagen production for plump, youthful skin, lightens dark spots for clarity, and regenerates for smoother texture and brighter tone. For extra help around the peepers, slather on the Divine Eye Balm to reduce the look of fatigue. $299 (30ml, serum), $280 (50ml, cream) and $110 (15ml, eye balm), available at L’Occitane.

While we’re celebrating all that’s spooky this month, trust us when we say that there’s nothing creepy at all when it comes to these bath-time gems. Whether you’re a seasoned LUSH fan or new to the brand, this season’s range of goodies is sure to get your senses tingling. To get you in the mood, the Pumpkin bath bomb is sweet with notes of vanilla and warm with a spicy cinnamon base. Hydrate parched skin with the Goth Fairy shimmer bar – which soothes and jazzes up the skin with micro glitters at the same time. Then, make a wish with the Magic Wand soap – which delights and uplifts with tangerine and sweet orange oils.

While the rest of the world move into the cold, we are living it up with rays of sun and festival vibes aplenty. Now, meet the perfect scent that epitomises the youthful, cheery spirit – Hollister’s Wave For Her. A beach-y scent that calls to mind endless summer days with wind in our hair, driving top-down along sandy coasts, it combines notes of flowers and citrus for a refreshing touch. Hints of starfruit and blackberry sorbet are layered over a creamy base to further charm and uplift – a holiday essential that’ll bring about all-round good vibes. $37 (30ml), $47 (50ml) and $60 (100ml), available at Sasa.

CHILDHOOD FANTASIES

Text Izza Sofia & Jazmin Kelly Six Images Various Sources

From $11 to $18, available at LUSH.

PERFECT ARCHES Nothing completes your look like a set of well-manicured brows and if you need a little boost in that department, Make Up For Ever has just the right tool. Ever the go-to for lasting pigments that apply like a dream, the brand rolls out its Pro Sculpting Brow Palette, which will help you achieve the look you desire, whether you dig high arches or straight, full ones. Inside the kit contains a slant-cut two-sided pencil and wand, a softly pigmented wax for added definition, a trio of powders so you can mix and match to the perfect shade, and a luminiser with a soft creamy texture and powdery matte finish. What’s more, they are all housed in a pocket-sized compact that fits perfectly inside your purse. $76, available at Make Up For Ever at Sephora.

Just so your vanity gets an extra dose of cute, The Face Shop teams up with Disney to roll out the beauty brand’s signature items, dressed in ultra-adorable prints. Featuring Mickey Mouse cushions and lipbalms, Winnie The Pooh foundations, and Monsters Inc. eyeshadows, now you can indulge in your childhood favourites, while looking mighty fine at the same time.

From $11 to $33, available at The Face Shop.

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man up

scented away

Complete your Fall wardrobe with one of these fragrance must-haves.

GIORGIO ARMANI ACQUA DI GIO POUR HOMME EDT

SALVATORE FERRAGAMO UOMO EDT

A contemporary twist on traditional masculinity,

Like taking a dip in crisp, cool waters, this

Charismatic, confident and creative – this is the

it exudes a balance of freshness and confidence.

fragrance is a modern-man’s scent that’s

epitome of today’s Italian men. Leading the way

Featuring notes of aromatic gin and tonic,

equal parts masculine and fresh. At first spritz,

with black pepper, cardamom and bergamot, the

kiwano melon and spicy szechuan pepper, the

a refreshing blend of citrus notes opens to

vibrant scent features a heart of tiramisu, orange

scent conveys both strength and charm. A base

welcome a heart of subtle jasmine, bergamot,

blossom and ambergris, while cashmere and

of suede musk and raw amber also adds a

and neroli. There’s also an undertone of salt,

sandalwood anchor it with a touch of tonka bean.

robust warmth.

making this ideal for those who loves the beach.

A versatile option for both leisure and work.

$58 (30ml), $80 (50ml) and $108 (100ml),

$89 (50ml), $123 (100ml), available at

$83 (30ml), $113 (50ml) and $150 (100ml),

available at Sephora.

leading departmental stores.

available at leading departmental stores.

WATER BABY In this heat, and especially after a good workout, misting the skin with a refreshing formula is a great way to cool off and feel refreshed. Also, because our skin loses minerals every day, it is essential to replenish them. That’s why we are looking to this soothing perk-me-up, the Vichy PH Balancing Thermal Water. Spray it over the skin at the start of your day to strengthen it, or use it throughout to combat dry, air-conditioned environments. Besides hydrating and comforting your mien and body, it also helps to rebalance skin’s PH levels. $9.90 (50ml), $18.90 (150ml) and $29.90 (300ml), available at leading personal care stores.

SKIN DEFENDER Men’s thicker and coarser skin means it needs a routine that has extra prowess. For an all-round system that cares for your mug, look to Kiehl’s Age Defender range.

Consisting of three products – serum, moisturiser and eye cream – to meet your facial needs, the collection boasts lightweight yet hardworking formulas that combat ageing.

Veil freshly-washed skin with the age-busting Serum, which contains cypress extract and hydrolysed proteins from soy and rice. Next, apply the Moisturiser, which is infused with caffeine to combat puffiness, and salicylic acid to reverse dull skin. Lastly, give eyes the extra TLC they need with the Eye Repair cream – which diminishes the appearance of fine lines and eye bags with rye seed and caffeine extracts. $75 (75ml), $68 (75ml), and $55 (14ml) respectively, available at Kiehl’s.

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DAILY RITUAL From the time our alarm clocks ring, we’re up and running. But before the madness begins, take a moment to engage your senses and treat yourself to a pampering bathroom sesh. To kick-start the day and revive tired skin, try the Origins RitualiTea Powder Face Mask. It contains a signature blend of tea leaves and raw natural ingredients to provide skin with a restorative and healthy lift.

For a greater, overall boost, slather on the Cleansing Body Mask to buff and exfoliate. Its creamy, lightweight formula is infused with antioxidantrich teas, naturally exfoliating sugars and a subtle scent, which help to calm skin, leaving it clean and soft. $68 (45g) and $58 (150ml), available in four variants at Origins counters.

Text Izza Sofia Images Various Sources

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ABERCROMBIE & FITCH FIRST INSTINCT EDT

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book of the devil Text Aaron Kok Images Various Sources

With Orrin Grey’s Never Bet The Devil, fans of horror literature are in for a treat. Consisting of nine short stories and a novella, the collection of prose packs a series of unexpected story twists, properly fleshed out plots and characters, as well as a good dose of the supernatural. While Grey’s writing employs mythical creatures and folkloric elements like poltergeists and the like, it’s the human nuances that give the stories their hair-raising chill. Stars include “Black Hill”, which unfolds the evils that lie underneath oil fields, and “The Seventh Picture”, which stirs in gothic influences with contemporary characters without overbearing cliches.

US$96.50, available at amazon.com. orringrey.com

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stranger things T U R N I P FA C E S

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The practice of turning pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns is Halloween ubiquity all over the world. But folks in the British Isles prefer a different kind of vegetable on which to carve a ghastly visage. For centuries, turnips have been used to ‘adorn’ homes and streets on Halloween, particularly in Ireland. But this wasn’t merely for cosmetic purposes. The ghastly turnips – which are much more terrifying than their festivelooking pumpkin counterparts – are meant to ward off unwanted visitors on the inauspicious day that is Halloween.

It’s only when the Irish and Scots migrated to America and brought the tradition along that they found that pumpkins, native to America, made perfect fruits for carving.

FEELING THE BURN

Fire is an elemental force that commands monumental significance throughout many vastly different cultures. Naturally, then, does it inform a large-scale Halloween shindig which takes place in England, Scotland and Wales. Though Halloween is an apolitical affair, it’s come to inform Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Bonfire Night. Named after the infamous activist – and adopted mascot of formidable hacker collective Anonymous – the event calls for the building of massive bonfires. People believe that these soaring pillars of fire possess prophetic powers.

For example, it’s thought that if a pebble tossed into the fire disappears in the morning, the thrower is doomed to die in the next year.

DARK MIRROR

HIDING KNIVES

Germany’s history is rich with diverse traditions – and a fair share of quirks. And it’s during Halloween that one of its more unusual ones manifests. Every year, as witches, Frankensteins and other pop culture figures surface, it’s a norm for knives in German households to be hidden and kept away. Unlike most customs across disparate cultures that hold spirits as adversarial to humans, this one began with the welfare of the spirits in mind.

As such, knives are put away so the otherworldly creatures don’t end up hurting themselves. Whether or not this is indicative of Germanic hospitality is just conjecture. The fact of the matter is that this is an ancient tradition that still endures.

It’s become cultural commonplace that on Halloween, revelations both pleasant and tragic can be experienced.

For this, you’ll need the proper tool for divination and, in this regard, it’s been a long-held belief in the U.K. and North America that if one were to stand before a mirror in a dark room, one would eventually see the face of the person they’ll marry in the future.

However, if one sees a skull instead of a human face, it means that they will die before they get married. Since it plays out differently in different cultures, there are nuances to this practice. In some instances, the voyeur is required to walk to the mirror backwards – which is way more frightening.

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HALLOWEEN ISN’T JUST THE PREROGATIVE OF COSTUMED BRATS DEMANDING CANDY. ON OCTOBER 31, FREAKS AND GHOULS FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE WORLD COME OUT TO PLAY IN THEIR OWN DISTINCT WAYS. BEFORE THAT, GET ACQUAINTED WITH EIGHT OF THE WEIRDEST HALLOWEEN CUSTOMS.

BURNING THE DEVIL D AY O F T H E D E A D

‘Dia de los Muertos’, Portuguese for ‘Day Of The Dead’ – not to confused with the identically titled George Romero 1985 B – movie classic – is a Mexican holiday celebrated on a massive scale, a day after Halloween. Unlike other Halloween events, most of which overplay the fear element and fetishise the undead, this multi-day one is a bona fide extravaganza where the dearly departed are honoured and celebrated. As is the custom, family and friends gather to pray for their late relatives so as to guide them along their journey into the spiritual plane. There are massive feasts, where the favourite foods of the deceased are prepared and served in abundance, as are skull-shaped candy.

And with free-flowing tequila and mariachi music, the living, too, enjoy this fiesta.

Though this Guatemalan tradition happens in the first week of December, it’s still invariably a Halloween rite. Since its main hook is that it involves the burning of effigies of the devil, we can safely conclude that it’s a militant – and environmentally unfriendly – display of righteousness. The effigies are known to be large and unwieldy, with some of them standing taller than the average adult male, if they are made out of wood and furnished with long wooden wings.

Besides wood, piles of rubbish are also shaped into a menacing Devil likeness – and subsequently torched.

The motivating idea behind this stems from spiritual cleansing; burning all the bad from the previous year and starting anew from the ashes.

Text Indran P Images Various Sources

E AT U P

It’s widely believed that Ireland is the birthing ground of most Halloween traditions celebrated in the pop cultural mainstream. But it’s also got a few ancient ones that haven’t made the migration into widespread acceptance, and eating barmbrack is one of them.

A yeasted bread stuffed with sultanas – and more – served on the big day, barmbrack is used as a fortune-telling medium to decide the fates of its consumers. Here are some agreedupon outcomes: if you find a ring in your brack, marriage is on the cards; a piece of straw connotes a prosperous year, while a scrap of rags means a future of poverty. Though it’s too fatalistic for us, the Irish seem to love it.

NIGHT OF NAUGHTINESS

If you’re a fan of The Purge movie franchise, it’ll intrigue you to know that it has its roots in a North American Halloween tradition.

In certain towns and cities throughout America and Canada, the eve of Halloween is the one night where you can perpetrate acts of mischief. Some simple shenanigans include pelting people with rotten fruit and TP-ing someone’s house, while more felonious incidents such as arson and assault are known to occur. It’s worth noting that in Detroit, the holiday became so violent and dangerous that volunteers organised Angel’s Night, marshalling civic-minded citizens to patrol the streets and ensure that things don’t get out of hand. How cool – and deranged – would it be to be chased by an axe-wielding Michael Jackson impersonator?

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EERIE APP-ARITIONS T H E S C H O O L : W H I T E D AY

Reimagining the 2001 Korean cult hit game, White Day: A Labyrinth Named School, fans of the Asian horror genre will be more head-over-heels than a possessed Regan to see a decent mobile horror game from a non-Western perspective. As one of a group of students locked in at school after hours with no weapons at their disposal, players must run, evade and outwit the demonic faculty members and spine-chilling ghosts lurking within the school’s halls. Touting impressive 3-D graphics and a plot shrouded in mystery, players’ actions determine the outcome of the students’ fate, with multiple possibilities in which you’ll meet your maker. $9.98 (iTunes) and $10.98 (Google Play), available on iOS and Android.

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DARK FEAR

Even with today’s alarmingly realistic game graphics, sometimes it’s the rudimental 8-bit aesthetic that still scares the most. Harking back to old school point-andclicks, Dark Fear finds strength for frightening players in its compelling, mystery-driven story, throwing players into pitch-black uncertainty and leaving it up to them to figure it out. Blending mechanics from RPG and adventure games with a cinematic soundtrack and a deeply layered storyline, the pixel-horror game not only keeps gameplay interesting throughout through combat, terrain exploration and character levels, but also keeps the scares coming with nostalgic verve. $4.48 (iTunes) and $4.32 (Google Play), available on iOS and Android.

NIGHT TERRORS

If you’ve ever wanted to know what it’d be like to have a poltergeist terrorising you in your own home, this is probably the closest you’ll get from the real deal. One of the most hotly anticipated crowd-funded games in recent memory, Night Terrors has been described as Pokémon GO for horror film buffs, placing players at the centre of their very own augmented nightmare. Tasked with saving ‘the girl’ and surviving the abominations that enter your home, the survival horror game makes use of the environment around you through practical effects and frighteningly realistic gameplay immersion. Not recommended for a good night’s sleep.

US$5.99, available on iOS and Android on October 31.

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YOU’D BE LUCKY TO GET A FLINCH OUT OF DESENSITISED AUDIENCES WITH EVEN THE MOST GRUESOME HORROR FLICKS THESE DAYS. THOUGH, WHEN IT COMES TO TODAY’S SMARTPHONE HORROR GAMES, BEING CURLED UP AND WIDE-EYED UNDER THE BLANKETS, WITH NOTHING BUT THE GLOW FROM THE SCREEN, MAKES FOR SOME TERRIFYING TIMES. THESE MOBILE GAMES WILL MAKE YOU JUMP MORE THAN A ‘LOW BATTERY’ WARNING.

I H AV E N O M O U T H A N D I MUST SCREAM

Based on the 1995 PC game of the same name, the mobile reboot of sci-fi author Harlan Ellison’s chilling short story, I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream, immerses players in a post-apocalyptic world ruled by a human-hating computer, where only the last five humans on Earth are kept alive to be tortured for the computer’s sadistic pleasure. With a range of alternate endings and customisable graphics and soundtracks, players must guide each character through their own personal hell, facing the survivors’ greatest fears for even the slightest chance of freedom – whether it means making it out alive or not. $5.98, available on iOS and Android.

F I N A L F R I D AY

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For those looking for a game that delivers the spooky vibes without the actual possibility of having a heart attack, Final Friday brings all the Halloween familiarities in an addictive horrorthemed clicker. Levelling up your hero as you slay all the classic beasts that made your hair stand as a child – from Frankenstein’s Monster to the twins from The Shining – the 8-bit-inspired game features a number of themes and BGMs fitting for All Hallows’ Eve. It’s no Silent Hill, but the occasional scream or growl in the background is sure to keep you on your toes as you collect coins, upgrade weapons and cast spells to level up.

Free, available on iOS and Android.

S L AYAW AY C A M P

Text Trent Davis Images Various Sources

Minecraft meets Friday The 13th in this ’80s horrorinspired puzzle game – but rather than taking on the perpetual role of the hunted, this time you get to be the killer. Set in the familiar slasher flick environment at a summer camp, players get behind the mask of the skull-faced baddie and are tasked with stalking and killing all helpless teens in each level – through the clever use of traps or luring them to your blade – without being caught by the coppers. While the desktop version of the game is in full-swing and mobile versions are soon on the way, Slayaway Camp is set to be a killer hit once it reaches iOS and Android.

TBA. To sign up as an iOS beta tester, visit slayawaycamp.com.

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ALL BEER EVERYTHING

OUR VEGAN FRIENDS MIGHT DISAGREE, BUT IT’S CONSENSUS THAT MEAT IS THE MOST SCRUMPTIOUS OF GASTRONOMIC PLEASURES. BESIDES BOASTING INNATE FLAVOURS, A GOOD CUT IS A SPONGE OF THE ESSENCES IT’S PREPARED IN – MAKING THAT FORKFUL THAT ENTERS YOUR MOUTH A RIGHTEOUS ONE. HERE, WE GIVE YOU THE LOWDOWN ON THREE SPOTS TO SATE YOUR INNER CARNIVORE.

THE 1925

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LEVEL 33

ALCHEMIST BEER LAB

Offering a delightful view of Marina Bay 33 storeys above ground and a wide array of beers brewed in-house, LeVel 33 needs little introduction. And if you’re planning to knock back a few sundowners, be sure to make space for the grub too. Start with the French Onion Soup ($15) – a well-balanced 33.9 Wheat Beerinfused broth with chunky onion slices, topped with red Leicester cheese. Its acidic sweetness is further complemented with a dollop of 33.15 IPA foam to give it an extra kick. Wrong Gnocchi ($28) offers fluffy, smooth nuggets of potato gnocchi served with a 33.15 IPA Mornay sauce, raw wild mushrooms, a beautifully caramalised porcini mushroom, baked goat’s cheese and ricotta. Lastly, the Scampi And Chips ($23.50) makes for a hearty party platter, where breaded langoustine is paired with malt aioli, served with beer salt and a 33.1 Blond Lager vinegar dip. When shared with a heap of fluffy fries, it’ll satisfy any fried food cravings you might have.

8 Marina Blvd, #33-01 Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 1, tel: 6834 3133.

The mission of this newly opened restaurant and watering hole is writ large in its very name. An asset of the same team behind microbrewery-pub Little Island Brewing Co., the Alchemist Beer Lab is a first-of-its-kind beer-infusion establishment in Asia. Besides the good stuff from its 16 beer infusion towers that house beers infused with a plethora of herbs, spices and fruits, this gastro-pub also has an impressive menu to its name. And it’s with a true classic that executive chef John Edwards has chosen to fuse the bar’s bespoke Golden Ale with. Order the Ale Battered Sea Bass ($15.90) and treat yourself to a densebut-moist cut of fresh sea bass deep-fried to a golden-brown crisp. In every bite, the interplay of savoury and heady notes comes through as the bitterness from the golden ale leaves a strong but welcomed aftertaste. Served with complementary watercress and fat chips, it marks a beery elevation of the humble Fish & Chips.pl;oZ 26 Beach Road, South Beach Avenue, #B1-16, tel: 6386 4365

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Text Aaron Kok & Indran P Images Various Sources

Tucked away in the buzzy neighbourhood of Jalan Besar, The 1925 excites beer nuts all over with its delicious lineup of house-brewed beers as well as those imported from the U.S., U.K. and Australia. On entry into the rustic space – with warm overhead lights and industrial walls – you’ll be greeted by an impressive wall of beer tanks at the ready. Menu-wise, the star has to be the Pulled Pork Burger ($18), where juicy pork shoulders are braised in a slow cooker with the house-made dark ale, Blk 6.22, to create a taste profile that balances the sweetness of the meat with a tangy, sour sauce. For something fulfilling on a lazy weekend, the Ranch Breakfast ($16) will satisfy. It’s an interesting take on the classic rendang dish, where beef chunks are slowcooked in a curry stew with traditional rumpah, mixed with the Yellow Van Pale Ale – offsetting the umami flavours of the dish with a light and distinct sweetness.

369 Jalan Besar, tel: 6294 9215

hit list

TIFFANY LOVAGE

Collector’s Item I collect vintage brass goblets, dishes and ashtrays. The engravings and designs are so unusual, they are art pieces in themselves.

I chanced upon some at a thrift store and it’s been a growing collection ever since.

Get Groovy “My Boo (Hitman Club Remix)” by Ghost Town DJ gets me dancing, because of the silly running man dance that went viral over the Interwebs. Makes for a good laugh any time of day.

Dream Henna Customer I’d say ’90s Winona Ryder, because it’ll be an excuse to have a conversation and take some photographs of her.

Sippin’ Tea Personally, I adore the blend of aromatic florals with green tea. My go-to tea is Gryphon’s Pearl Of The Orient. It’s a blend of fujian jasmine green tea and morrocan rose. I also love Gryphon’s Hanami blend, which features japanese sencha and cherry blossoms.

Spotify Go-To The Rap Caviar playlist on Spotify is awesome.

The description says it all: “Not only is this refresh of Rap Caviar fresh, it’s hard! It’s impossible to explain in words. Please reciprocate and go hard”. ’Nuff said.

Illustrating Her Idol I’ll have to settle on Margaret Mee, who was a British botanical artist specialising in plants from the Amazon rainforest.

She is an inspiration to me.

Fave Frock I’ve got this slender black maxi dress with beaded straps from a thrift store.

It’s a basic dress I can wear any and everywhere, and it’s so easy to dress up or down.

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THINK BOTANY ART AND THE GENERAL IDEA IS THAT YOU’LL GET VIBRANT COLOURS WITH LUSH FLORALS. BUT WITH TIFFANY LOVAGE’S WORK, YOU’D BE HARD-PRESSED TO FIND THE COOKIECUTTER TREATMENT FLOWERS OFTEN GET IN ART. INSTEAD, THE ARTIST AND ILLUSTRATOR TAKES HER BOTANICALS IN A DIRECTION THAT MARRIES SUBVERSIVENESS WITH DETAILED ILLUSTRATIONS THROUGH INTRICATE HENNA PATTERNS AND SKETCHES. WE PICK HER PETALS THIS MONTH TO UNRAVEL WHAT SHE LOVES.

Text Aaron Kok Images Various Sources

tiffanylovage.com

Botanical Beauty I’d have to say the Protea.

They are the prettiest in powder pink, and they have this soft texture that’s similar to leather or suede. I like the feeling I get when it brushes against my skin.

Animated Adoration This is a tough choice, because there are so many subgenres within animation.

Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away and Isao Takahata’s Grave Of The Fireflies touched me. Also, The Land Before Time, because I cried to that as a kid!

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Pop Some Tags I love shopping at New2U at 96 Waterloo St. I love being surprised by the eccentric, unique and timed pieces I find at thrift stores.

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GUTS AND GLORY

In 2016, we can more than safely conclude that pop culture is post-guilty pleasure.

That’s why we can make the following proclamation: We love wrestling!

There’s no irony in that statement because the testosterone-fuelled multi-act opera that is wrestling is one of the most captivating storytelling formats available to a wide audience. And while much of what the world has consumed on this front has been served up by American behemoth, the World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE), Japan’s New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) franchise has likewise been weighing heavily on the scene. And now, we’ll get to behold its brand of pomp, drama and punches as it takes its Wrestling World act to our shores next month.

Founded in 1972 by former professional wrestling legend Antonio Inoki (who has also boxed with the late great Muhammad Ali), and now owned by Bushiroad Inc., Japan’s

top wrestling promoter, NJPW boasts a roster of over 75 wrestlers from more than nine different countries. Its inroads into popular entertainment can be measured by the fact that it’s a multi-million dollar-grossing endeavour with a strong following at home and abroad. Last year, CharaExpo 2015 drew a crowd of more than 16,000 to the Singapore Expo – how’s that for an army of fans?

Wrestling World 2016 promises to be an even bigger spectacle as assured by an expansive lineup of some of the league’s most popular figures raring to take each other on in the ring.

Amongst the 24 wrestlers who will grace our shores stand luminaires such as Tetsuya Naito AKA Los Ingobernables de Japon, BUSHI, Togi Makabe AKA the Unchained Kingkong, Ryusuke Taguchi AKA The Funky Weapon, Juice Robinson AKA Moon Child, and Matt Jackson AKA Mr. Instant Replay.

Like their WWE counterparts, Wrestling World’s combatants have devoted much of

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their lives to entertaining audiences and transporting them out of their comparatively boring present and into an entirely and vividly different world. Not only do they train rigorously, they also bring life to the roles they inhabit within their respective story arcs.

Consider how great it’d be to witness these superhuman athletes perform death-defying stunts, amidst a backdrop of production purpose-built to excite and overwhelm the senses.

What you’re in for is a glorious payload of campy theatrics, incredible feats of strength and show-stopping showmanship, all coated with a distinctly Japanese charm and set to overload your senses. This is the one time where athletic prowess and high-octane entertainment will collide dazzlingly before your very eyes. See you ringside.

Wrestling World 2016 happens at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre on November 15.

Text Indran P Images Various Sources

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WRESTLING WORLD 2016 IN SINGAPORE

arty

CUT AND

WHILE THE ADVENT OF PHOTOSHOP HAS MADE MANY FORMS OF ARTISTRY AN EASIER HILL TO CLIMB, GLASWEGIAN ARTIST LOLA DUPRE RELIES ON THE TRIED-AND-TESTED METHOD OF HANDIWORK TO CREATE SURREAL COLLAGES. WORKING WITH PRINTS OF PAINTINGS AND PHOTOS, DUPRE TRANSFROMS THE USUAL INTO OBSESSIVELY BIZARRE, DREAMLIKE MONTAGES THAT SOMETIMES BORDER ON CREEPY. SHE SPILLS MORE ON THE METHOD BEHIND THE MADNESS.

How did you get into collage-making?

I worked with many mediums like photography, stop-motion, painting, and more. I became fascinated with collage because upon returning to the medium after a short break, I found it to be entirely new and even more exciting. I think that made collage work stand out for me.

collage, but it changes all the time. I think it will change for every collage because I am always looking for different things. Generally, I am not looking for the most beautiful image, because I change things so much, I am more interested in the details, such as little shadows or the curve of a lip.

Describe your working method.

I try to keep my process different, so when I can see a routine develop in how I work, I try to find a new angle. I find this approach to be very enjoyable but it can also be the most challenging part of my work. Selecting the image to be collaged is the first step, but along the way, I have to make some compromises to my vision as the collage process is deconstructing the image.

Talk us through some of your more tedious pieces.

I have made several large abstract works that were challenging to complete. Some of them have perhaps over 10,000 pieces of paper neatly arranged. These works focus on the optical tricks brought about by moiré patterns and subtle height changes in the collage surface. Sometimes, they can take several months to complete.

LOLA DUPRE

Is there a particular selection process that goes through your head when you’re creating?

The selection process will balance my idea for the

When you’re working, do you try to affix a surrealist approach to your art?

I’ve never tried to achieve anything or give any kind of meaning to any collage. In my work, I place my own stories, memories, reflections, and ideas into it, but I never divulge this. I think it is much more important that the viewer looks with their own eyes and observes what they want to see themselves.

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What’s next for you?

I am currently collaborating with several photographers on fashion editorial projects.

This is my biggest interest at the moment, and I am always looking to connect with photographers and plan collaborative projects.

I am also working towards several group shows coming up later this and next year.

loladupre.com

Text Aaron Kok Images Lola Dupre

PA S T E

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the luxe life

Three lust-worthy collaborations that up the ante.

FUJIFILM X MICHAEL KORS

Having outgrown its McCallum Street space, SPRMRKT opens a second outlet within the artsy confines of Singapore Tyler Print Museum. Come through the ground floor and you’ll be greeted by a wide range of produce, ranging from coffee beans to chili sauces, all sourced locally or from the region. A deli provides a quick fix, but if time is on your side, head up to the Kitchen + Bar area to sample dishes dreamt up by head chef Jonathan Ong. With an emphasis on reinventing local influences with an international spin, delight in stars like the jiu her eng chye-inspired Spanish Octopus With Asian Twisted Romesco, Water Spinach And Burnt Fruit ($65) or the Fettuccine With Squid Ink, Tiger Prawn, Chilli, Bacon And Egg ($24).

41 Robertson Quay, tel: 9736 4032.

Featuring a liquid gold casing with the designer’s logo splashed across the back of the camera, the Fujifilm Instax x Michael Kors Mini 70 is poised to be as much of a fashion accessory as it is your handy cam-pal for capturing all your memories on film. Plus, it comes with a selfie mode where camera’s settings are adjusted according to your surroundings for that perfect mugshot.

US$149.99, available at fujifilm.com.

APPLE WATCH SERIES 2 080

Finally – we can take our Apple Watches into the pool and have no fear of the rain nor accidental dips and dives. Yes, the latest Apple wearable can now endure being (up to) 50m underwater, thanks to a robust body that’s watertight and a builtin mechanism that expels any residual water. Swimmers can also track their performance and progress with two new sport modes – Pool Swimming and Open Water Swimming – which autodetect strokes, record lap pace and count laps. All that plus a 50 per cent speedier processor, two times brighter touch screen and a slew of new bands to pick from according to your fancy.

FABER-CASTELL X KARL LAGERFELD Housed in a sleek, black box made of lacquered beech wood, the colours within the 350-piece arsenal are hand-picked by Lagerfeld himself – as a representation of his personal aesthetic and love for fashion, art and design.

From $398, available in 38mm and 42mm at apple.com.sg.

Arranged into their respective colour familes (OCD artists, rejoice!), the set comprises graphite pencils, crayons, colour pencils, ink pens, sharpeners, and an eraser, so you can fully flex your creativity.

$4,588, available at TANGS at Tangs Plaza.

EVIAN X CHRISTIAN LACROIX

THE WORLD OF ART

Known for its ornate artistry and hefty

Back for a fifth outing, the Singapore Biennale 2016 once again provokes, inspires and captivates audiences with a fourmonth-long spectacle. Titled ‘An Atlas Of Mirrors’, this year’s event brings together 61 artists from 18 countries, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Laos, and Indonesia. Through the works of artists such as Htein Lin and Ryan Villamael, the biennale aims to examine and challenge the world’s view of Southeast Asia being a window to the rest of the world. With creative director Dr. Susie Lingham and her team of curators from the Singapore Art Museum at the helm, you can expect a visceral journey from the quiet of the venue galleries.

Happening from October 27 to February 26, 2017. For more information, visit singaporeartmuseum.sg/singaporebiennale. navigate

gowns, a Christian Lacroix creation is the epitome of peak luxury. In celebration of Evian’s decade-long collaboration with high fashion designers, Lacroix has been tasked with imbuing the iconic bottles with his detailed patterns and romanticism.

The colourful Paseo Limited Edition bottle comes in blue or pink, each featuring a flamboyant pattern that reflects the designer’s verve.

$8 (75cl) and $4 (50cl), available at selected hotels, cafes, restaurants, and retailers from November and January 2017 respectively.

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GAME ON!

Yes, we did (sort of) well at the Olympics this year but it’s time now to celebrate the prowess of players of a different spectrum of games. GameStart Asia, Southeast Asia’s premier gaming convention, will be upon us this month. Over three days, you can expect game previews, tournaments, producer presentations, retro gaming, cosplay, and music performances by Malaysian guitarist Az Salad and local chanteuse Rika Lee. Highlights include the highly anticipated Capcom Cup, where the best Street Fighter players in the world will battle one another, and the Fifa 2017 tournament supported by Xbox and ViewSonic.

From October 7 to 9 at Suntec Convention Centre, Halls 405 and 406.

For more info, visit gamestart.asia.

AU NATUREL

As part of its ‘Be Natural’ campaign, Belvedere Vodka is celebrating its natural roots with the launch of the Belvedere Spritz Collection.

Like Belvedere Vodka itself – which is crafted from just two ingredients, Dankowskie rye and artesian water – the Belvedere Citrus Spritz and Belvedere Cucumber Spritz are made with all-natural ingredients and low sugar so as to not overwhelm the innate flavours of each drink. Refreshingly crisp and packing a slightly heady bite, each concoction will serve you well on a humid night out or even if you’re just unwinding after a long day.

Available at 63Celcius, Cé La Vi, Little Saigon, Hotel Jen Gateway,

INTO THE LABYRINTH

MENU

Besides remembering David Bowie for the icon and iconoclast that he was in the realm of music, the world also adores him for the indelible impression he made as Jareth The Goblin King in the cult adventure musical fantasy film, Labyrinth.

Later this month, Labyrinth: The Ultimate Visual History, a new book offering an in-depth, behind-thescenes analysis of the film, will be released. Written by renowned sci-fi authors, Paula Block and Terry Erdmann, the tome details director Jim Henson’s vision behind all aspects of the film such as costumes, setting and casting. Here’s a spoiler: Freddie Mercury and Prince were originally selected for Bowie’s role.

Available October 18 via Insight Editions. For more info, visit insighteditions.com.

For a lesson on simple, user-oriented design, leave it to the Danish to show the world a thing or two. This is where Menu steps up to the plate. With a clear focus on making life easier through smarter product design, the team has stripped away the bells and whistles to pay closer attention to a product’s primary purpose and aesthetic. From simple kitchen utensils such as coffee drips and cutlery to candle holders that lend a subtle tinge of drama to your living space, there are plenty of things to want from the range.

Available at Gallery & Co.

welcome to the spooky town

Remember Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” music video? Halloween is the one day in the year where you can dress up and be in the midst of ghouls like those.

Here are two events to hit up.

HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS 6

THRILLER IN THE PARK

Text Aaron Kok, Indran P and Jazmin Kelly Six Images Various Sources

Universal Studios Singapore’s

This is something that families,

annual Halloween extravaganza

Halloween enthusiasts and dance

never fails to draw a teeming

music enthusiasts can all get in on. Thriller In The Park, also

crowd. Back for its sixth edition,

known as The Singapore Halloween

this year’s ’do features an

Festival, is the first of its kind

expanded lineup of haunted houses, including Old Changi

here. Besides a full-on carnival,

Hospital, Hawker Centre Massacre,

the fest features Singapore’s first

Salem Witch House, Hu Li’s Inn, and Bodies Of Work. There’s also a live show, March Of The Dead – inspired by the Mexican holiday, Día de Muertos

zombie maze, a cosplay competition, a specially formatted kids zone, and musical accompaniment from local DJs like Brendon P, Daryl C + Kaye, KFC,

– that features this year’s mascot, Lady Death. Besides these freakish

AOS Collective with Andrew T, and DJ Tinc. This has all the ingredients of a

attractions, rollercoaster rides like Battlestar Galactica and Revenge Of The

frightfully good time so gather the troops, deck yourselves in your freakiest

Mummy will also be open the whole time.

From now till October 31 at Universal Studios Singapore. For tickets and more info, visit halloweenhorrornights.com.sg.

best and get your party on.

On October 29 at Fort Gate, Fort Canning Park. For tickets and more information, visit apactix.com.

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GARETH EMERY + FRESH + 100% BULLETPROOF + WINE BAR SESSIONS AT ZOUK GET TRANCEY

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SPLASH AND DASH AT W SINGAPORE SENTOSA COVE WET & WILD

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AOS COLLECTIVE AT ALTIMATE DANCE PARTY!

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SWEATLODGE SHOWCASE FEAT. ED DAVENPORT & LOCKED GROOVE AT K YO GOING DEEP

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ULTRA SINGAPORE OFFICIAL CLOSING PARTY FEAT. MARSHMELLO AND JAUZ AT CÉ LA VI CAN’T STOP, WON’T STOP

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GRAND PRIX LADIES’ NIGHT AT SPACE CLUB RACE GAME ON

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RAVE OF THRONES AT ATTICA DUNGEONS & DRAGONS

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ULTRA SINGAPORE AFTERWEEKEND PARTY AT NOVA THE PARTY NEVER STOPS

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FOUNDATION X ULTRA SINGAPORE AFTER PARTY AT CANVAS ULTRA GOOD VIBES

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WEEKDAY WINEDOWN PRESENTED BY TERRA AND PENGWINE AT TERRA WINE FOR DAYS

S H O P AT T H E S E S T O C K I S T S ALEXANDER WANG #02-03/04 HILTON SHOPPING GALLERY

KAPOK #01-05 NATIONAL DESIGN CENTRE

PAUL SMITH #01-11/12 HILTON SHOPPING GALLERY

SURRENDER STORE #02-31 RAFFLES HOTEL ARCADE

BANANA REPUBLIC #B2-27/28 MARINA BAY SANDS

LANVIN #01-19/20 HILTON SHOPPING GALLERY

PEDDER ON SCOTTS SCOTTS SQUARE LEVEL 2

THE SUNGLASS HUT #B2-05 WHEELOCK PLACE

PULL & BEAR #B2-08 ION ORCHARD

SWAROVSKI #B1-17/18 ION ORCHARD

MANGO #B1-39/40 NGEE ANN CITY

RALPH LAUREN #01-01 TO 03, #02-02/03 SHAW CENTRE

TED BAKER #01-132/133 VIVOCITY

MARC JACOBS #02-12 ION ORCHARD

ROBERTO CAVALLI #B1-10/11 MARINA BAY SANDS

TOPSHOP/ TOPMAN #B2-01, #B3-02 ION ORCHARD

MARNI #01-06 PARAGON

STEVE MADDEN #B2-25/26 ION ORCHARD

UNIQLO ORCHARD CENTRAL

MICHAEL KORS #01-16/17 SCOTTS SQUARE

STUART WEITZMAN #02-12E NGEE ANN CITY

VALENTINO 01-03 ION ORCHARD

MSGM LEVEL 2, TAKASHIMAYA DEPARTMENT STORE

SUPERDRY #01-129 VIVOCITY

ZARA LIAT TOWERS

CHARLES & KEITH #B2-12/14 NGEE ANN CITY CLUB 21B #01-07 TO 10 FORUM THE SHOPPING MALL CLUB 21 #01-02 AND #01-09 TO 11FOUR SEASON HOTEL DR MARTENS #02-17A WHEELOCK PLACE H&M ORCHARD BUILDING JOSEPH #01-19 TO 21 CAPITOL PIAZZA

MAJE #B2-109 MARINA BAY SANDS

final word

EERIE THEORIES

BY NOW, WE ALL KNOW THAT ELVIS AND TUPAC ARE ALIVE AND WELL, JAY-Z IS THE HEAD OF THE ILLUMINATI, AND BEYONCÉ IS A CLONE CREATED BY LIZARD PEOPLE TO FORCE US INTO CAPITALISTIC SUBMISSION. IF YOU THOUGHT YOU’D FOUND ALL THE TRIANGLES THAT THE MUSIC INDUSTRY COULD THROW AT YOU, PUT YOUR TIN FOIL HATS BACK ON AND GET A LOAD OF THESE.

ANDREW W.K. DOESN’T EXIST

While it can be argued that Swift’s most devoted followers take on the tendencies of cult disciples, some have owed her obsessions with the number ‘13’ to something more sinister than her date of birth. On account of her eerie resemblance to Zeena Schreck, daughter of the Church Of Satan’s founding father, Anton LaVey, and her lucky number’s links to the Satanic 13 Bloodlines of the Illuminati, Tay Tay’s devilishly catchy songs and man-eating reputation have all been chalked up to the mark of the beast. How’s that for “Bad Blood”?

STEVIE WONDER ISN’T BLIND If this one were true, it’d have to be one of the most committed acts of deception we’ve ever heard. Over the years, truthers have pointed to instances in which the “Superstition” superstar executes Daredevil-esque reflexes despite his lack of vision, including catching a falling microphone stand, taking photos through a camera’s viewfinder, and sitting courtside at basketball games while apparently following the action. So, how did you know about the “writings on the wall”, Stevie? That the “ladders ’bout to fall”, Stevie?

PITBULL PREDICTED MH370

NICKI MINAJ IS ACTUALLY JAY-Z

While many see Pitbull as a needless guest musician of incomprehensible success, there are others who look much deeper into his ‘Mr. Worldwide’ nickname. Teaming up with Shakira for the single, “Get It Started”, the Miami rapper drops a few key phrases in a verse that include “big news”, “Malaysia”, “worldwide” and “two passports”, catching the attention of discerning, non-“sheeple” netizens and linking it to circumstances surrounding the disappearance of flight MH370. Come on folks, this is the guy who rhymed “Kodak” with “Kodak”.

MICHAEL JACKSON’S DEATH WAS A COVER-UP The King Of Pop dealt with his fair share of out-there theories during his time on this earth, but perhaps it was his departure from it that gave rise to the most bizarre of them all.

While Jackson’s accidental overdose resulted in a lengthy malpractice case, some note that his death came conveniently during Iran’s Green Movement protests – which sought to remove the country’s president from office. In a bid to divert attention from the political upheaval, it’s believed that higherups masterminded Jackson’s death to keep eyes on the West.

Hov is a hot ticket when it comes to conspiracy theories, and when he’s not a time-travelling vampire going back to the ’30s to do research for The Great Gatsby soundtrack, he’s laying down verses for rap queen Nicki Minaj. Though we’d argue that titling her album The Pinkprint after The Blueprint was mere tribute, we can’t deny that when her voice is sloweddown, it bears uncanny resemblance to Jay-Z’s signature style. We’ve yet to see evidence of miming, but it puts a whole new spin on “I got 99 problems, but a b*tch ain’t one”.

DR. DRE STARTED BURNING MAN There’s no question that the N.W.A. legend stumbled upon the festival when scouting for locations for the Tupac-starring music video “California Love”, evidenced by a letter to his then-girlfriend detailing his encounter with naked people building a wooden man in the Nevada desert. Also stating in the letter that he thought there could be money in the festival, some believe it was Dre who put the “Inc.” in Black Rock City; opening the event to the public and driving up ticket prices each year.

Still hustlin’.

Text Trent Davis Images Various Sources

088

After a concert in 2004, in which the “Party Hard” rock star left the stage mid-set never to return, Andrew W.K.’s slimmed-down and freshly shaved appearance prompted many to question whether the funloving head-banger had been replaced. Some have speculated that he is constantly switched (once by Dave Grohl, according to lore) by an enigmatic puppeteer named Steev Mike. Or – and this is a stab in the dark – he could’ve just gone easy on the burgers for a while. Either way, it seems like W.K. is having far too much fun playing along.

TAYLOR SWIFT IS A SATANIST

FIND

HERE BARS & CLUBS

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