“SUPERFLAT” is inspired by contemporary artist Takashi Murakami’s recent Superflat movement. Can you tell us more?
Superflat was initiated by acclaimed Japanese pop artist Takashi Murakami in 2000. According to Murakami, Superflat began as a search, in the context of globalization and a post-war Japan, for Japanese identity and the meaning of art in Japan. He draws from Japanese art history and the current Japanese creative scene to expose the postmodern Japanese consciousness, muted in the Japanese arts scene previously but revealed in subcultural art forms like manga narratives. Through Superflat, he introduced a new wave of Japanese artists to an international audience through various collaborations.

And “SUPERFLAT” is a story about Mr Sweet. Tell us more about him.
Mr Sweet is a young, androgynous boy in search of a lost memory in a realm known as the mushroom cosmos. To fill in more details, Mr Sweet is one who lives side by side with quiet pain and is nourished by this pain, which I see as an elegant expression of life.

Well, how do you personally relate to him?
I do not consider him my alter-ego. He is a channel of expression to transform unknown impulses into known consciousness, he can be a vessel of dreams and fantasy and he can be a common link between my audience and me—a plane that can connect us from two ends of the communication formula.

Let’s go on to the story in the exhibition. What is this episode about?
This episode is the one that communicates my idea of contemporary human history—our history as it unfolds—in the most direct manner. For instance, I explicitly write “Marshall McLuhan’s global village is no more” in the main painting for this show and made overt reference to the current Superflat movement in my title. I no longer hide my thoughts through fictional devices but instead expose our human narrative as narrative.

Who are your favorite artists?
Tony Oursler, Chris Ware and David B. after reading his graphic novel Epileptic. It’s beautifully illustrated.

Have you always wanted to be an illustrator?
Well, my mom did enforce the idea of me becoming an insurance agent until the age of 10. On normal days, I had conversations with the characters I drew.

What about your teachers? Did they always catch you doodling away during class?
Yes. One threatened to douse my arms with turpentine for doodling on them.

Anything which you would absolutely not draw?
It would be more accurate to say that I would absolutely not draw for certain people. Those who go “Ohhhh... You’re an artist? Can you draw a mechanical monkey? Can you draw my portrait? Oh Oh... Can you draw on my arm?” NO.

Describe your relationship with your pens, pencils and markers.
I take them for granted. One day, they’ll take revenge...I’m sure of it.

You wake up one day and discover that you are a two-dimensional figure. What is the first thing that comes to mind?
I’m foldable. I’ll be able to slip between cracks easily.

What’s your ultimate dream?
To complete an epic graphic novel or artwork that takes years and years, eventually gets banned for a few more years, make another epic piece of work that is banned only in some countries and a few days after the ban is lifted, I mysteriously disappear. I’ll only make ghostly reappearances now and then.

Clichéd as it may sound, but time really flies when you’re having fun. 365 days have zoomed by since Ministry of Sound’s 40,000 sq. ft. of clubbing space was launched. Come this weekend, MoS will take things to a high on its first birthday with two nights of non-stop dancing.

On Dec 15, Jon O’Bir from famous international club brand Godskitchen will helm the decks. This jock has played alongside Paul Van Dyk and has collaborated with Gareth Emery (GTR). Watch out for trance, progressive and electronica sounds to get you on your feet. And on Dec 16, Hyper will be at the DJ console, pumping out electro house and breaks while the club is being decorated to the theme “An Enchanted English Tale.” Look out for wizards, knights and fairy princesses. Oh, you might just be the lucky winner to take home a pair of air tickets to London to visit the original Ministry of Sound there too!

When queried on how the Singapore’s Ministry of Sound has changed during the past year, Marketing Manager Calvin Sio says, “I think the club has grown. Although we started with many teething issues at the door, we’ve managed to iron them out quickly and have built up a huge, strong base of loyal regulars that club with us every week.”

And how does Ministry of Sound in Singapore compare to other outlets around the world? Sio claims, “Ministry in Singapore has been a breakthrough and an eye-opener for many clubbers around the world. The fact that we have managed to deliver a wide variety of music genres under the same roof and give a little something for everyone to enjoy makes us stand out from the rest. The club’s look and feel is a lot more polished than its UK counterpart.”

Indeed, with its décor and music policy, Ministry of Sound has raised eyebrows and caused much commotion when it first unlocked its doors. And the club has kept things swinging for the past year by playing host to renowned DJs such as Tiesto. If you swear by this club, drop by for two nights of revelry this weekend.

Imagine track after track of heartrending acoustic guitars with a lone wistful, contemplative voice singing away. That is homegrown talent Leslie Low’s (from the band The Observatory) second solo offering Worm for you. Unlike his first solo release Volcanoes which has elements of sound art, this album is marked by the simple, absorbing folk sound Low is known for. We sat down with Low to learn more.

Five of the tracks in Worm are demos recorded in your home, giving the album a personal feel. How does this DIY process fit into the album’s concept?
When I started out to write the album, I recorded whenever I was done writing a song. When I have an album’s worth of songs, I compiled them into a CD and passed them to Justin Seah who agreed to come onboard the project. We decided to keep some of the original demo tracks and re-record the rest that needed improvement. The concept was borne out of the fact that a lot of the performances on the demos were pretty much what the mood of the album should be like. So we went ahead in that direction.

The personal feel came from the fact that all the songs were performed quite naturally in a comfortable environment. The end result was quite satisfying as most of the recordings were about performance rather than audio quality or other technical details.

We find the lyrics of one of the songs in Worm, “The Years of a Silent Sea,” intriguing. What are you trying to express?
Well, I am not always very good at explaining my songs. My lyrics seem to paint an emotion, and they’re mostly about how I feel about certain things. So, I tend to pull in words that have a vague or direct relation to the emotion I am trying to convey. Most of the time, the lyrics do not follow a conventional train of thought. And I have resisted trying to make a whole song lyric flow in a typical way. I think I have done enough of that sort of songwriting in my earlier days. For a song like “Years,” the best way to describe it is that it’s about the way I see the world…and how helpless and lost I feel in it. It means the years of keeping quiet and not speaking up.

In an interview with X’Ho, you mentioned that you’re fulfilling a void by putting out your own works. Can you elaborate on that?
I have always had bouts of fruitful songwriting periods where a bunch of songs would manifest themselves upon me. And for Worm that is what happened. I feel with The Observatory, I get to fulfill my desires with collaboration. I recall the trigger being a Vashti Bunyan’s record called Lookaftering. I was pretty obsessed about that album. And the seeds of Worm were planted then. It was a very beautiful acoustic record with nice subtle arrangements and good songs. Suddenly I was missing the acoustic thing again and that was when the song-writing bug hit me. Sometime Dec last year, I wrote the first song “Along the Way Down.” And the rest came along quite easily.

Rocking the Bellini Room of St James Power Station is musician Dylan Foster, with his wide repertoire that spans across jazz, soul and pop. Also a vocal trainer, this looker has fronted various leading show bands and is a member of the famous a cappella group Flying Pickets. We engaged in a quick banter with this hunk.

Who is your muse?
My Mum!

What’s your all time favourite song?
It got to be “Knocks Me Off My Feet” by Stevie Wonder.

How about the song you utterly hate?
It’s a toss up between “Losing My Religion” and “Mambo No. 5”!

Who is the one dead musician you wish was still alive?
Only one? I can’t decide between Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley or Miles Davis.

What is your biggest achievement to date?
For fulfilling every straight man’s fantasy.

Can you give us some tips on vocal-training?
If you want to sing, get some training from me! I’m easy but not cheap.

How would you rate yourself on the hunk scale from 1-10?
12.

What was your last lie?
My answer to your last question. Haha

Before you grow tired and exasperated at the same old fashion labels at different shopping malls, hit the bazaar Rapunsale. Organized by online boutique epilogue.com and rooftop bar Loof, this event features cool clothes, accessories, lifestyle products and Christmas gifts. Browse over edgy stuff, and take note, this is definitely not just another neighborhood pasar malam.

12 notable shops are involved in Rapunsale, of which include Antipodean, Asylum, BooksActually, Epilogue, Fling, Felt, Granny’s Day Out, Iyna Haava, Patiorockhouse, Simone Irani, Venue and White Dog Bobby. When asked about the selection of the labels setting up shop at Rapunsale, Lin Chan, one of the partners of Epilogue quips, “I handpicked only my favorite boutiques and labels for the event. They are all retailers with sass and spunk who’ve made a name for themselves with their unique collection of apparels, accessories, novelties and collectibles.” Bargain hunters can also look out for great discounts as well. “While we’re not a bargain basement event, we’re offering sales of up to 70 percent off. Prices will likely range from $15 to $350,” adds Chan.

With such an outstanding slew of labels in store, are there plans to make Rapunsale a regular event? “Yes, perhaps quarterly or bi-annually if this round proves a success,” says Loof’s Marketing Manager Gary Tan.

On the day, watch out for DJ NDC who will be dishing out downtempo electronica, funk and soul music. House pours are at one-for-one, while vodka jelly shots are available at three for just $10. Shoppers can enjoy pub grub such as lamb racks, bacon scallops and crayfish too. Housing a terrific lineup of homegrown labels, good food, music and wonderful drinks, Rapunsale is a must for fashionistas and music lovers.

Dance outfit Faithless, comprising Maxi Jazz, Sister Bliss and Rollo, has brought us dance anthems such as “Insomnia,” “God Is A DJ” and “We Come 1” over the years. Now, the band is back with the superior dance release To All New Arrivals. We grab Jazz for a quick chat about his religion, Faithless’s music and the split up that never happened.

Maxi, one thing that strikes us about Faithless is your lyrics. How many of the lyrics are influenced by your religion?
All of them. The two bits that I really like about Buddhism are that you can influence your own life to be better, and you can influence others’ lives to be better too.

Can we say you make music to make others’ lives better then?
I make music to make my life better! I love to do it. It gives me satisfaction. I want others to enjoy it too. To this day, music has a huge influence on my life. I learn stuff through music, I learn something when someone writes a song, or I hear someone singing. Writing a song that other people like is really the icing on the cake.

OK, one of Faithless’s hits that people truly dig is “God is a DJ.” What was the song inspired by?
The song was inspired by a conversation and the fact that you can take the word “God,” and replace it with “beauty” instead. Indeed, beauty is everywhere. Beauty, love and joy are everywhere, at all times. One of the main lines in the song is “This is my church/ This is where I heal my hurts.” The church can be anywhere where people get together and respect each other. Rather than a “proper” church, you can be in a concert, and you see a whole bunch of people, thousands of people, treating one another with love and respect. When people go to a festival, it’s because they have the same shared values in music and have fun. If we can get everybody in the world to share the same values, you’ll have exactly the same vibe you get in concerts. And I feel that’s when you have a peaceful world.

Why is the latest album called To All New Arrivals?
It’s because Sister Bliss was expecting a baby when we were making the record. To All New Arrivals could mean migrants coming to a new shore. It could refer to a new way of thinking, or consciousness if you like. We have a lot of new fans because of our greatest hits album Forever Faithless. It’s like welcoming them too. It’s a broad theme covering a lot of concepts.

And how do you personally relate to the concept?
To me, it’s referring to the new arrivals on the planet, or to humanity. I think we are not born with humanity, but we aspire to be human. Ghandi was an incredible human. People like him work on their humanity.

How is this album different from Faithless’s previous releases musically?
There’s no huge anthemic house track here. There’s no “God is a DJ” or “Insomnia.” It’s a lot more introspective. Some say it’s quite dark, but our albums have always been rather dark. It’s just that the other albums have a couple of uplifting tracks. People focus on that and forget about the rest.

We heard this album might be followed up with a tour. Is it true?
Yap, it’s true. There will be gigs. But it won’t be as maniac like our last tour. Because we think we’re getting old. We’ll play in Europe, and a few shows outside.

There was a huge rumor that Faithless is splitting up last year. Was it entirely unfound?
Yeah. We just said we didn’t want to tour so much. And our greatest hits album was out during that time. There’s this concept that people release a greatest hits CD when they are splitting up. Maybe that’s how it started. As long as we enjoy making music and we’re still got something to say, we’ll keep releasing albums. But both Rollo and I believe strongly that in life there’s a beginning, middle and an end. Once you’re overripe, you’re not much use to anybody. When the time has come, we’ll…well, let’s just say we’ll end before we get boring.

What do you usually do with your winnings?
I love to travel. I splurge on long trips, hotels, and good restaurants. I spend a lot on books as I read like crazy. I’ve stopped splashing on expensive jewelry and mobile phones for girls as I’m looking for someone who will love me, not my money.

Ever been thrown out of a casino?
I’ve never been thrown out of a casino, but I was barred from playing Blackjack a few times. I used to play with a fake ID in Las Vegas when I was underage but never encountered any problems. When I was 18, I played Blackjack as a part of a professional team in Las Vegas. I had a funny barring incident in the Palace Station casino. After winning all night long, a manager requested that I stop playing all the card games and play other games instead. They wouldn’t even let me play Poker, which was funny as Poker is not played against the house.

Do your friends and relatives refuse to play Blackjack with you, especially during Chinese New Year?
I don’t usually play Blackjack with close friends or relatives but when I do, no money is involved and it’s all for fun. I used to play a lot of cheap Poker with friends and family, especially with my mother, but it has become boring for me. I take all her pennies in nearly every hand as her facial expressions are so telling!

Give us some tips on how one can play Poker like a pro.
Play at a level that you are comfortable with, be selective with cards and bet aggressively when you have good cards. If your opponent appears to be timid, bluff more. If you suspect that your opponent only bets good cards, fold more. Stay cool, calm and collected at all times. Wear nice sunglasses. Practice makes perfect.

Christmas is a time for parties. And like every year, different nightspots are putting up smashing Christmas Eve revelries to pack punters in.

We give you a lowdown on the parties at the local hotspots worth going to, so that you’ll know what to expect when you club hop round the island and make merry with your friends.

Zouk

17 Jiak Kim St., 6738-2988.
This year, the award-winning Andy Moor is gracing Zouk’s decks. A member of Leama & Moor, Tilt and Whiteroom, this famous globe trotter is competent in various genres, from progressive house to trance. He played his first piano piece at five, mastered six musical instruments at 11, DJed at 13 and graced renowned festivals at 21. Moor has also remixed for Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, Paul Oakenfold, Brian Eno, Tiesto and Arthur Baker. After you’re done with Moor, do drop by Phuture to witness homegrown talent Andrew Chow whipping up a mean concoction of hip hop and R&B grooves.

Ministry of Sound

#01-02 Blk. C Clarke Quay, River Valley Rd., 6235-2292.
Ministry of Sound will be the place where electro and tech house fans will congregate and groove this Christmas Eve. Swedish jock Axwell, who just released his latest solo offering “Feel the Vibe,” is in the club hurling out cool music. He has remixed for Rasmus Faber, Moby, Usher, Faith Evans and more. Having played in Miami, Ibiza, Manila, South Africa and London, Axwell looks set to rock the dance floor in Singapore. Watch how he’ll pave the way to sonic wonderland.

The Clinic

The Cannery, Clarke Quay, River Valley Rd., 6887-3733.
Things are going to get swinging at The Clinic too. We reckon Bert Bevans, a veteran DJ who has played at the private parties of Mick Jagger, Sylvester Stallone, Diana Ross, Halston, Grace Jones, Marvin Gaye, and Steve Wonder, will definitely get the club rocking with his signature sexy, soulful and funky house sound. With remixes for Depeche Mode, Paul McCartney, Style Council and Red Hot Chilli Peppers under his belt, don’t doubt his powers. Just arrive all pretty and glamourous and expect a splendid time at this spanking new space embellished with Damien Hirst’s art works. Martin Taylor and Jason T will be at the decks showing off what they have up their sleeves too.

Attica

#01-03 Blk. A Clarke Quay, River Valley Rd., 6333-9973.
Jeremy Healy and his bag of house records will be at Attica. This DJ based in the UK is the music person behind leading designer Galliano’s fashion shows. He has also worked for Versace, Jigsaw, Katherine Hamneff and Vivienne Westwood. Together with his friend Amos, they’ve remixed for the likes of George Michael, Boy George and Eve Gallagher.

DXO

#01-13F Esplanade Mall, 8 Raffles Ave., 6582-4896.
Decked entirely in white, DXO is putting DJ Normski at the DJ console to woo R&B and hip hop lovers this year. He has shared decks with Groove Armada and Mylo. Watch out for a custom-made space at the front of the club too where professional ice skaters will whirl, twirl and slide (and hopefully not fall) in order to impress punters. Oh, don’t forget to poke at the Santa Claus’s belly, chat up the cute Santarina, and kiss under the mistletoe.

Q Bar

#01-04 The Annex @ The Old Parliament House, 1 Old Parliament Lane, 6336-3386.
And if you prefer to check out what our local DJs have in store this Christmas Eve, hop over to Q Bar, where you’ll see DJs Debbie Chia, Adrian Tan and Martin Yeoh churning out deep house, electro and house respectively. Debbie Chia has been nominated for the Motorola Street Style Awards 2006 and Adrian Tan is the winner of Pioneer Battle Juice DJ Quest 2006. Who says our local DJs suck?

Bar None

B1, Singapore Marriott Hotel, 320 Orchard Rd., 6831-4657.
If you are the romantic type who swoons when you watch movies like Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty, Bar None will be the place to go to.

The bar will be specially revamped according to a fairytale theme, with bar staff being dressed as elves, princesses, princes and more. Lounge away at the corner decorated like Cinderella’s room, and dream of a sweet happily-ever-after ending with your lover. Resident band Energy will be taking to the stage to dish out rock numbers.

Hit these places for some action. After all, Christmas is a time to get all high and happy. Dance away and celebrate with your friends with the clinking of champagne glasses as the clock strikes midnight. Party till late!

The word is out. After a hiatus due to restoration, the National Museum of Singapore is officially up and running. And kicking things off to a whopping good start is a slew of absorbing and exciting activities in its month-long opening festival. From exhibitions to theater shows, dance to films, there’s something for every art freak.

For a visual banquet, feast your eyes on a collection of over 99 items associated with Empress Maria Theresia Walburga Amalia Christina, or better known as Maria Theresia. This lady is the only female ruler of the Austrian Habsburg Dynasty and some very opulent, glamorous and precious objects such as the Gold Breakfast Table Service of Maria Theresia and the relic of Saint Francis Xavier are being exhibited. Or treat yourself to a street drawing by Kurt Wenner. This eminent artist, hailed as one of the world’s master painters, produces works that seem realistically 3D at a certain angle. Hit the festival between Dec 15-19, and you might just catch him drawing live. Don’t miss renowned local sculptor Han Sai Por’s striking installations relating to the museum and nature while you’re there.

If you’re an avid theatregoer, check out Cake Theatrical Productions’s Divine Soap. This amusing comedy inspired by the Malay opera Bangsawan shows how Bangsawan troupes try to hold on to traditions in the face of modernity. Written by Haresh Sharma and directed by Natalie Hennedige, Noorlinah Mohd, Peter Sau and Kumar headline this show.

Acclaimed local mixed media artist Brian Gothong Tan is presenting the film Waking the Fluorescent Lion. This work stems from different genres of film and video art and revolves around local culture, history and identity. Royston Tan, on the other hand, made a short film Sin Sai Hong which talks about a Hokkien opera troupe in Singapore for the opening festival, so fans of Tan’s won’t want to miss this one.