SINGAPORE: After one of the longest—and strictest—pandemic lockdowns across the globe and alongside the return of tourists bent on revenge travel, these underground parties are full to the brim almost every night.
VICE began reporting on Singapore’s underground scene as early as September last year, followed by a piece in Elle in November. And just this week, Vogue Singapore posted a list of five of its favourite underground rave venues. We’re happy to tell you that the following made it to Vogue’s list: North East Social Club, Conversion Therapy Clinic, Escape 56, Tuff Club, and Bussy Temple.
The Glass Hut, which used to be located at 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, is described in the piece as one of the venues for the “growing underground music movement within the Singapore nightlife scene” aimed “to create more inclusive spaces, focused on the intersection of art as a community-building project, blending people” from all sorts of backgrounds.
Strangely enough, it was Covid-19 that appears to have given some local artists the space to gather the courage to express who they are. “COVID was a reckoning for locals to look inwards and realize what we have,” VICE quoted Jie Che Wan, one of the organizers at The Glass Hut, as saying.
Elle also credits underground parties for reviving Singapore’s night scene: “A string of one-time events hosted in eclectic locations, these underground raves are organised by independent party hosts looking for a new way to have a good time. And, whether intentional or not, they’re also doing the good deed of spotlighting new local DJ talents and less-explored places in Singapore.”
“Underground parties bring a different energy and experience to a party-goer, compared to a traditional club. The sense of community and the intimacy of the parties also allows musicians to explore unconventional sounds,” Elle quoted Mako, an aspiring DJ, as saying.
The piece points to the people behind Eat Me Pop Tart, North East Social Club, and The Council SG as some of the movers and shakers for these events, adding that Eat Me Pop Tart, which began in 2004, even made an appearance as guest party host at F1 Singapore last year.
As for this week’s piece in Vogue Singapore, the hopping night scene is described this way: “Underground party collectives can be recognised by their uniquely captivating posters, which often take inspiration from a myriad of subcultures and pop culture references. Nestled at the intersection of music and creative expression, these distinctive posters are bold and often carry a social message, echoing the inclusivity of the spaces they represent.” /TISG