What was the inspiration behind the group's name? 

We started out with the name 'Voodoo', and changed it a few years on after realizing it's quite impossible to achieve an online presence with a name like that. The reason behind 'Voodoo'—we like the mysticism and intensity it invokes. We also like how drumming is an integral part of the voodoo culture in many places. 'The Voodoo Sound' feels like a good fit as we are the type of band who'd like our audiences to 'get their freak on' with our music.

Describe The Voodoo Sound's music in three words.

Raw Intensity: Redefined.

The band consists of ten members—do you guys fight often?! 

We fight A LOT. Just like married couples. But when the dust settles in the studio, it forms solid grooves and uplifting melodies. Then we go out for teh and prata.

Who are some of your musical influences?

Our original sound is built mainly of the genres rock, hip hop and funk. Rage Against the Machine with Linkin Park, AGAM and The Roots thrown into a blender. However, being a 10-strong band, our personal influences are wide and varied. You can find bits of electronics, metal and post-rock in our music. A distinct and delicious flavor!

What has been The Voodoo Sound's most memorable performance thus far?

It's a tie between a gig at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre in early 2013, and a performance at BTNK (KL) in December 2013. The spaciousness of the Esplanade is a breath of fresh air—there's capacity for everyone to go crazy and deliver a big sound. On the other hand, the gig at BTNK is special because it was the first time we traveled together as musicians. All 10 of us! We learned a lot from this experience—there was fantastic energy throughout the trip.

Are you guys excited about the upcoming Culture Clash Festival?

For sure! We will be launching our EP then, and there is no better way to celebrate this than with everyone else at the festival. We are also excited about how our show will be received, as we have some new tricks up our sleeves!

What do you think The Voodoo Sound will be like in two years' time?

Wiser, fuelled and ready for the world.

Catch The Voodoo Sound at the upcoming, much-anticipated Culture Clash Festival on March 22.

The Vault
The Vault’s new space stays true to its trademark industrial aesthetic of brick and metal—and yes, they moved their original three-tonne bank vault door, too. Drinks like beer ($16) and cocktails (from $15) are pretty standard, but the revamped food menu is impressive—expect sophisticated plates like raw tuna with marinated watermelon, mentaiko and chilli emulsion ($16).

Boomarang
The laidback Australian bar from Robertson Quay has a new outpost on Circular Road, which opened its doors just a few months back. A favorite with Aussie expats, the bar is also popular with sports nuts, thanks to its multiple flat-screen TVs. Tuck into the hearty steak sandwich ($25) or kangaroo burger (also $25), and wash it all down with a wide range of Australian draught beers, such as Pure Blonde (from $12).

Anytime Fitness @ Macpherson CC 
Macpherson Community Club, 400 Paya Lebar Way, 9340-6233, www.anytimefitness.sg. Open daily, 12am-12am.  

California Fitness
8/F Ngee Ann City, 391A Orchard Rd., 6834-2100, www.californiafitness.com. Open Mon-Sat 6am-12am; Sun 8am-10pm.

Fitness First
Platinum @ One George Street #05-01 One George Street, 1 George St., 6538-7666, www.fitnessfirst.com.sg. Open Mon-Fri 6am-11pm; Sat 7am-7pm; Sun 10am-6pm.

Gymmboxx XL @ Bishan CC
#04-01/02 Bishan Community Club, 51 Bishan St., 13, 8499-4897, www.gymmboxx.com. Open Mon-Fri 8am-11pm; Sat-Sun 8am-8pm.  

Pure Fitness
6/F Asia Square Tower 1, 8 Marina View, 6100-2233, www.pure-fitness.com. Open Mon-Sat 6am-midnight; Sun 8am-10pm.

Solitude of Strength
#01-04 Blk 37, Lorong 23 Geylang, 8123-4362, www.solitudeofstrength.com. Open daily 6.30am-11.30pm.

True Fitness
7/F Chevron House, 30 Raffles Place, 6438-3000, www.truefitness.com.sg. Open Mon-Thu 6am-11pm; Fri 6am-10pm; Sat 6pm-8pm; Sun 8am-6pm.

If you always struggle to get a workout in during the day, there’s some good news—a small, but increasing, number of gyms are beginning to accommodate late-night fitness buffs. 

US-based chain Anytime Fitness opened its first 24-hour gym here last October at Woodlands’s ACE The Place Community Club, and has just launched another 24/7 branch at Macpherson Community Club. The group also has grand ambitions to open a whopping 100(!) franchised outlets in Singapore by 2019.

We paid a visit to Anytime Fitness Macpherson, and liked what we found. While it’s a compact, no-frills gym, it features a decent range of basic equipment—there’s a number of treadmills, stationary bikes, and exercise machines that will provide an effective workout for the average gym-goer. (However, if you’re looking for more luxe facilities like pools and steam rooms, you’ll be left disappointed.) Members are each given security keys that enable them to access the gym at any time of the day, as well as the other 2,400 Anytime Fitness gyms worldwide.

According to Ming Koh, one of Anytime Fitness Macpherson’s franchisees, “the response has been amazing. Many people are excited about the 24-hour access, as this allows them to exercise whenever they want.” Ming and his partner, Joanne, were inspired to bring Anytime Fitness here, as they feel that “Singaporeans tend to finish work later, making it hard for them to work out at conventional gyms.”

While Anytime Fitness Macpherson is already attracting a decent number of late-night gym goers, it seems that early hours workouts have yet to catch on islandwide. Some Gymmboxx outlets operate till 11pm on weekdays; but, says, Gymmboxx’s Marketing Manager, Ikram Kalil, “the peak period is between 5 to 9pm. Thereafter, the crowd will either be finishing their last reps, or washing up”. However, he says that they still choose to extend their operating hours to accommodate “a small group of gym goers who work late, or have to tuck their kids into bed before enjoying some ‘me time’.”

Fitness First Singapore’s Managing Director, Anthony Tottman, agrees. The majority of Fitness First outlets operate till 10pm, as they currently don’t see a demand for an extension of operating hours. “Based on our observations, we find that the busiest periods of the day are usually in the mornings and evenings—before and after work,” Tottman says. “However, we’d be happy to work out how we can potentially extend our operating hours if the need arises.” 

As fitness trends go, it looks like this one has more legs in it than most.

Here’s a list of gyms that open till late, so you can squeeze in that extra bit of workout time.