We are called Miami Horror because … when I was a kid growing up in Miami in the '80s I saw a lot of strange things. I also think it is a very visual name; both words subconsciously or consciously have associated visuals.

If we called ourselves San Francisco Comfort it would be … a bit silly. But we are from Melbourne and this joint is … one of the best cities in the world, check it out!

Our music is best described as … disco influenced pop pyschedelia.

But people consider our music … synth pop. I think they are behind the times.

Our debut album, Illumination is … the hardest thing we have ever done.

We say we are influenced by … Daft Punk, Pink Floyd, Air, Michael Jackson and Supertramp.

But what we are really influenced by are … photos, stories and movies.

I prefer … life over death.

2010 was … a big year for us in Australia.

2011 is going to be … a big year for us overseas.

2020 is … when we will be back in Babylon and time will start again.

Our gig at Zirca will see … some amazing things from us.

What I want to say right now is … can’t wait!

Miami Horror debuts on Jan 21, 10pm at Zirca, #01-02/05 Blk. C The Cannery, Clarke Quay, River Valley Rd., 6333-4168. $25-28 includes two drinks.

Ai Weiwei (China)
The controversial Chinese artist, architectural designer and activist continues to create a stir among the artistic and political community for his vocal participation and creative expression of local affairs. Love him or hate him, Weiwei has contributed significantly to the growth of China’s rather restrictive arts scene; he was artistic consultant during the construction of the Beijing National Stadium and represented his country in multiple biennales and exhibitions worldwide.

Andy Warhol (USA)
Think Pop Art and Andy Warhol is the first name that comes to mind. Having redefined the visual arts movement in the 60s, Warhol has contributed massively to the commercial success of his preferred genre, ironically by disfiguring the ideas and concept of popular culture. From replicas of his iconic Campbell Soup paintings to movies dedicated to his creative brilliance, Warhol has remained inspirational to artists and fans alike to this very day.

Yayoi Kusama (Japan)
The ever surreal and abstract expressionism found in the word of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama is a visual representation of her psychological and mental condition which she has struggled with over the years. Her highly acclaimed work has been lauded by critics and fans alike, using polka dots, or "infinity nets” as she calls them, as her signature style.

Through Jan 16, Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre, 10 Bayfront Ave., 6688-8868. $10-60.

Néktar
With a vast selection of premium cocktails all concocted meticulously by the bar chefs, your potential partner will be smiling from rim to rim. Or test your compatibility by creating your own cocktails. This could be a good gauge to see if your relationship will turn sweet or sour. Housed in a classic heritage building, the bar offers a cosy ambiance, away from prying eyes.
31 Scotts Rd., 6836-9185. Open daily 5pm-1am.

Wild Oats
Situated high on Mt. Sophia and housed in an old colonial building, Wild Oats is something of a love-birds’ secret for its intimate ambiance. Its alfresco deck is a favorite nesting ground for couples with its plush rattan chairs and stout tables. Surrounded by lush greenery and soothing music, the bar is perfect for those get-to-know sessions. Couples have reportedly met and married here.
11 Upper Wilkie Rd., 6336-5413. Open Tue-Thu 6pm-midnight; Fri-Sun 6pm-1am.

Mr Punch Wine Bar
For the young at heart, Mr Punch Wine Bar offers a delightfully different experience thanks to its location on the rooftop of the Mint Museum of Toys. Start your dating itinerary with a walk through five different storeys in the museum and embark on a nostalgic trip with over 50,000 toys from the mid-19th to mid-20th century. Then head up to the cozy bar with your partner and indulge in private time together with their selection of cocktails and wine while admiring the vintage collection of posters and memorabilia adorning the walls.
Mint Museum of Toys, 26 Seah St., 6334-5155. Open Mon-Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri-Sat, eve of public holiday 4pm-2am.

Who are we talking to today? Matthew E, Quiet Village, Sea Devils, Rekid or Radio Slave?
Matt Edwards! I’m the sum of all these parts.

Who is Matt Edwards really?
I’m just a crazy record collector and I’m still learning everyday.

What’s in a name?
The Radio Slave name was born as I needed to come up with something that suited what I was doing at the time. Around the end of 2000, I was working on a lot of re-edits of pop records and working on mash ups for Kylie Minogue, etc, so I was a slave to radio music (mainly pop). So the name Radio Slave was perfect!

Many consider you a remixer extraordinaire—you’ve put your essential touch to tracks from Talking Heads, Trentemøller and even Sir Elton John. How do you approach a track?
Every remix is like painting a different picture and the palette you have is of the parts from the artist or band involved. This can either be a very limited range of colors or a palette of sounds so large that the remix is already done when you start the work. I don’t know if this makes sense but that’s the point. And for me, if I like the artist then I will do as much as I can to respect the original song.

You’ve remixed over 260 tracks and counting compared to your personal releases of about 25 tracks. That’s quite a stat.
I’m just fascinated with seeing how other artists work and it’s so interesting to receive a track in its parts. I’ve learned so much from this and it led me to start releasing more of my own music.

We really can’t wait for your brand of brain stimulation at your forthcoming gig at Velvet Underground ...
I love the food in Singapore and the people are very welcoming, and Zouk is just an awesome club! It’s a unique space and I’m always itching to come back there to play. Expect house music all night long! I’m just super excited to be coming back to Singapore and I’m sure we’re going to have a great party!

Free up your schedule for a house music escape with Radio Slave on Jan 15, 10pm at Velvet Underground, Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim St., 6738-2988. $28-35 includes two drinks.

1. Floral print shirt, Ted Baker, $290
2. Concorde Tie, Louis Vuitton, $270
3. Bowtie, Lanvin for H&M from Dresscode, $79
4. Transparent Tree Cufflinks, Mulberry, $160
5. Calfskin Ankle Boots, Hermes $2,200

Dresscode, #01‑07 The Cathay, 2 Handy Rd., 6732‑4606.
Hermes, #01‑02A Liat Towers, 541 Orchard Rd., 6738‑9807.
Louis Vuitton, #01-20-24 Ngee Ann City, 391 Orchard Rd., 6734-1189.
Mulberry, #01‑26 Raffles Hotel Shopping Arcade, 328 North Bridge Rd., 6336‑6977.
Ted Baker, #01‑132/134 VivoCity, 1 Harbourfront Walk, 6376‑9498.

The buzz: The popular Japanese luxury brand has set up their flagship store in Singapore much to the delight of fans of their youthful chic bags and accessories. Fans include Victoria Beckham, Paris Hilton and Penelope Cruz, all of whom have endorsed the brand’s innovative design and embodiment of femininity at its finest. What’s more, with its affordable prices, the only problem one might have is finding enough closet space—although that’s hardly a complaint.

The vibe: Imagine a walk-in closet filled with bags, bags and more bags. The parquet décor creates a warm and welcoming ambiance and, with its soft lights and spacious floor area, it’ll put any shopper at ease.

The goods: Whether it’s handbags, purses, cases, totes or luggage bags, Samantha Thavasa offers a vast collection to suit almost any need (or mere want). Check out the cutesy Petit Choice range (from $396) and their Disney inspired long wallets. One of the most eye-catching bags (Hello Kitty fans, please restrain yourself) is the Hello Kitty x Liberty Print Crea bag (from $630) which features an attached soft toy. Also look out for the distinctive Samantha Vega line and Samantha Kingz men’s line coming in the near future.

Why you’ll be back: To feel like one of the gang, or simply to fill that last bit of closet space. 

#B1-27A ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, 6634 2880. Open daily 10am-10pm.

Returning for its 7th year, the dance, music, theater and visual arts extravaganza that is the Fringe Festival is renowned for its innovative and engaging showcases. Past festivals have opened the door not only for artists around the world to exhibit some of their edgier works, but have also built a dedicated and active community through their thought-provoking themes. This year, organizers and curators from The Necessary Stage will explore the relationship between art and education through the works of 19 international and local artists from 10 countries, including three fringe highlights from India, France and Singapore. We pick the most visually stimulating and intellectually engrossing works from the fest.

Another Me: Transformations from Pain to Power
This exhibition by independent Indian documentary photographer Achinto Bhadra takes him to a half-way house called Sanlaap in Kolkata, India. Survivors of trafficking, rape or abandonment, and the children of sex workers, were counseled to take on human, animistic and divine beings of power, love, revenge and freedom through costume and make up. Bhadra captures their transformation and reveals their inner strength of these women through his photography work.
Through Jan 16. ION Art Gallery, 4/F, ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, 6838-6520. Free.

Entre Nous
The Asian premier of Belgian Helmut Van den Meersshaut’s one man performance is nothing if not energetic. Entre Nous is an entertaining and explosive story of a man’s search for himself. Helmut’s acclaimed performance sees him free fall into the “space” of his characters, with neither an emotional safety net for himself nor the audience.
Jan 7–8, 8pm. Esplanade Theatre Studio, Esplanade, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8377. $19-30 from Sistic.

Monster
Performed by American dance troupe Pappas & Dancers, Monster sees dancers crumble and reform; creatures with oversized breasts and prosthetic noses storming the stage. The Los Angeles Times calls it “mesmerizing” with a performance that questions Jewish identity, shame, and what it means to be a victim and a victimizer.
Jan 14–15, 8pm. Esplanade Theatre Studio, Esplanade, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8377. $19-30 from Sistic.

Perceptio
This audio-visual concert explores our ideas about pollution and climate change through music and sound, cinematics and art and animation. Curated by local collective PMP, the exhibition uses sound and visual samples from various parts of Singapore, combined with computer generated visuals and sounds to create an immersive experience.
Jan 15, 7:30pm. Esplanade Recital Studio, Esplanade, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8377. $19 (double-bill with Oldfish) from Sistic.

School Of Hard Knocks
Singapore’s quirky knick knack emporium, the Little Dröm Store, has partnered with international advertising company JCDecaux to explore social interaction within the premises of a playground. The photographic exhibition will feature these childhood monuments that have captured our imagination but are now in the process of extinction.
Through Jan 18, JCDecaux Bus Stop Shelters islandwide; Through Jan 23, Esplanade Tunnel, underground walkway from Esplanade to Raffles City MRT. Free.

Something About Education but Not Exactly…
Curated by Hong Kong visual artist Leung Chi Wo, this installation work features text and images exclusively created for the festival. A pseudo-educational video entitled Signs will be screened in a classroom setting, aiming to translate the ideas of non-mainstream communication and the meaning of human reality overloaded by mass media.Through Jan 23. Jendela, Esplanade, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8377. Free.

The M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2011: Art + Education is on through Jan 23 islandwide. For more details, log onto www.singaporefringe.com.
 

KPO
1 Killiney Rd., 6733-3648. Open Mon-Thu 11am-1am; Fri 11am-2am; Sat 9am-2am; Sun 9am-1am.
This two-story bar sits right in the heart of the ever bustling Orchard Road and is housed in a restored historical post office. Frequented by suits and high rollers it's a perfect spot. As they say, your net worth is equivalent to your network. So start rubbing those shoulders here.

City Space
70/F, Swissotel The Stamford, 2 Stamford Rd., 6837-3322. Open Sun-Thu 5pm-1am; Fri-Sat 5pm-2am.
Perched high above the Singapore business district, City Space is located atop Singapore’s tallest hotel. Offering a truly welcoming environment with its velvet armchairs and colored light globes, it strikes just the right note. With a spectacular view of the city, it'll make you and your guests feel on top of the world.

Lobby Court
Shangri-La Hotel, 22 Orange Grove Rd., 6213-4288. Open Sun-Thu 7:30am-1am; Fri-Sat 7:30am-2am.
With its rich 39-year history, the hotel is heralded for its epicurean grandeur and unquestionably high service standards all set within a lush tropical landscape. Bring fellow captains of the indusry to the hotel’s bar, Lobby Court, and enjoy their wide range of wines, liqueurs and cocktails.

“I’m happy to say that I had a really positive year with a lot of amazing gigs,” says Dash Berlin; and his incredible work ethic amid a daunting schedule explains why he is known as the Flying Dutchman. Born Jeff X. Sutorius, the Dutch trance DJ began his career in 2008 and after his release of “Till the Sky Falls Down” the same year he was propelled to a status reserved for the likes of Tiesto, Above and Beyond and Armin van Buuren.

In fact, it was Buuren’s Armada label and the inclusion of “Till the Sky Falls Down” in his Universal Religion album that helped catapult Berlin to the top. Not only did 2010 see him moving up from number 105 in 2009 to number 15 on DJ Mag’s Top 100 Poll, ("a huge highlight for me," he admits) he was also nominated three times in two categories and won “Best HiNRG/Euro Track” at the 25th International Dance Music Awards. He was also given a prestigious nomination for “Best Trance Track” at the 2010 Trance Awards for “Man on the Run” and listed twice in Armin van Buuren’s A State of Trance Top 20 tracks in 2010—such has been the velocity of his climb. Credit should be given to his definitive “Berlin sound,” an inventive play in melodic construction boasting the memorable (and often haunting) vocals of some of the most-sought after artists in trance.

“The global response to the preview of ’Disarm Yourself’ on A State of Trance has been really overwhelming,” says Berlin of the first single from his forthcoming album. Collaborating again with Australian vocalist Emma Hewitt after their last highly acclaimed release “Waiting,” Berlin again delivers an emotionally charged experience. “I think music has the power to move us in all kinds of ways—good or bad. It’s basically a mirror,” he adds. “The way we respond to music says a lot about who we are and how we feel. Trance music is very harmonic and melodic, which can really move people in a positive way.”

Catch Dash Berlin on Jan 8, 10pm. Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim St., 6738-2988. $25-30 includes two drinks.

Aldrin, Independent
The globetrotting DJ/Producer have been planting Singapore’s dance music seeds on the map with his hard-work and dedication to his craft. 2010 saw him dropping his distinctive “Aldrin sound” of meticulously crafted tunes across Asia, Europe and the Middle East, as well as his signature ONE nights at Zouk, where it all began.

DEC2010ONEDERLUST by onewithmusic

Cherry Chan, Syndicate
Singapore’s representative for the 2010 Red Bull Music Academy in London has sure made us proud with her instinctive selection of glitchy beats and trippy dub; making her role model of sorts of a quality local DJ who can be heard in joints like Home Club and La Maison.

Eclipse, Zouk
Only 23 years old this year, the newest resident to Zouk’s youthful playground Phuture, Ivan Chia aka Eclipse has been holding the fort with his signature mash up style of hip hop, electro, house and funk; and dropping them like they never went old.

Effen, Symmetry
Considered one of Singapore’s finest Trance DJ/Producer, Effen has been making a name for himself having organized jaw-popping trance events bringing in the likes of Martin Roth, Alex M.O.R.P.H, John O’Callaghan, Myon & Shane 54 and MaRLo. His personal set of techy laced trance is not for the faint hearted.

EJ Missy, electrocaine 
No stranger to the local techno scene, EJ Missy can be spotted at top local clubs dishing some seminal and rare choons through her carefully laid selections. Leading the progression of techno via her monthly Loop nights last year and garnering a larger group of fans, 2011 looks like a sure-fire year for her.

ej missy - live at home club (loop 3) - 4/11/2010 by ej missy

Funk Bast*rd, Cosa Nostra
One half of Cosa Nostra, Funk Bast*rd together with saxophonist, Kaye have been making heads bop and feet shuffle with his delicious funk, afro, bossa and samba inspired tunes. From playing to a half-naked beach crowd at Tanjong Beach Club or heating up dance floors at the swanky off-beat club La Maison, Funk Bast*rd is the shit.

Godwin Pereira, Ku De Ta
The Godfather of Singapore’s electronic dance music doesn’t like to be labeled as that. He is as humble and down to earth as they come but looking at his credentials, Godwin has definitely led Singapore’s nightlife in more ways than one. Having lend his musical expertise to Centro, Ministry of Sound, Ying Yang and Stereolab; Godwin now dishes his musical take at Ku De Ta.

Has, Rawjak
The poster boy of our local dance circuit, 2010 has seen Has either releasing tracks through his imprint Rawjak, musically directing the soundscape of White Rabbit, Tanjong Beach Club and Overeasy or lecturing future jocks the finer ways of being a good jock. Whatever he touches turns into dance music gold, a currency that will see him being even more prominent in 2011.

Rub A Dub by has

Inquisitive, Zirca
Whether it’s wobbly Dutch house, dirty electro or mash ups, the bad boy of the decks have seen his theme nights at Zirca attended like it was a holy mass but with bass instead.

JNR, Zouk
The new face of Zouk’s discerning taste of quality dance music, JNR has taken charge of Velvet Underground’s console and slapping the dance floor with his rare disco, afro and house gems.