“I am not a DJ anymore; I only perform my own music,” says Hans-Peter Lindstrøm without batting an eyelid. His releases are considered as raw as they come, as his unassuming detachment from marketable new trends sees him creating what he wants, whenever he feels like it. As DJs struggle to find their niche by chasing the idea of success, they scurry to create (or remix) that one track that’ll either shoot them to international acclaim or plummet them into the abyss of insignificance. This is clearly not something that concerns Lindstrøm.
Indeed, his refusal to follow the easy route to stardom has seen him become more sought-after than ever in the industry. “I stopped listening to new music when I stopped DJing many years ago,” he says, adding,” I’m just trying to make interesting music. I’m not even sure if it's topping the charts!”
Take a listen to iconic jazzy number “Granada” or his floor-filling drop “Lovesick” and you will be able to tell what a Lindstrøm tune sounds like. His contemporary disco influence is made up of popping guitar riffs, glittering synths and melodic after-effects, all morphing into a distinctive and unforgettable aural experience—certainly one of the best sets to look out for this weekend at ZoukOut.
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The American born-Greece based electronic dance music DJ/Producer has his music firmly rooted in the spiritual traditions of Ifa—a Yoruba religion from Africa—which is reflected in his irrepressible sound.
My favourite line to introduce myself is… this is Osunlade.
I’ve been based in Greece for years now because… I’m at peace there.
Ifa is… a nature based culture in which you individually balance your paths and choices in hopes of polarity.
House music is… soul music.
No one would ever believe that I… have never been to Nigeria.
My worst gig this year was… the ones that didn't happen.
My best was… the ones that did.
My idea of a perfect set is… oneness of selection and the crowd.
If I wasn’t a DJ I would… do the other things I currently do now like photography, among other things.
I would give anything to… own a private jet.
2010 has been… wonderful.
2011 will be… fulfilling.
My experience of Singapore is… always fantastic.
On my upcoming gig at Zouk I will… have fun and join my Zouk family once again.
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Rating 4/5
Two Door Cinema Club / Kitsune
Every band seems to be putting out a remixed offering of their successful original releases. It either spells trouble in their wallets or they’re taking back what’s rightfully theirs, especially with so many unofficial bootlegs running around. Tourist History (Remixed) tackles the latter. With exclusive and hard-to-find remixes by the likes of Jupiter, French Horn Rebellion, original tracks are given a gorgeous twist while staying true to the esoteric essence that makes Two Door Cinema Club a joy to listen to.
Rating 4/5
Various Artists / Love Da Records
Features covers of David Bowie’s seminal classics by some of the most talented and established artists around. Duran Duran, Megapuss, Warpaint, Exitmusic, We Have Band, Lewis & Clarke, Papercranes, Carla Bruni, Viv Albertine and many more have given their services and made this something truly special. Hear it to believe it. Profits from the tribute album aim to help benefit the War Child Charity.
Rating 5/5
Various Artists / Love Da Records
Ministry of Sound Annuals are to electronic dance what Kitsune Maison is to cutting-edge music. In its 10th series, the compilation packs 25 artists into a double CD offering. The defining Kitsune sound can be best heard here with endorsement from the likes of Yelle, Digitalism, Two Door Cinema Club, Hot Chip, The Heatbreakers and Black Strobe (just to name a few). Your hipster friends are bound to bob their heads approvingly.
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FitFlop
Featuring new Crystallized-Swarovski Elements for some added glamour, the Rock Chic is also equipped with a Mircowobbleboard; technology designed to increase muscle activation and reduce shock with every step.
$399.90 at 2/F, Isetan, Wisma Atria, 435 Orchard Rd., 6733-7777.
nuabs
Their latest line of sandals combines street chic with durability thanks to top grain cow hide uppers and water buffalo hide insoles. They’re eco-conscious too, made from 70 percent recycled tyre rubber.
$95.80 at Red Wing Shoe Shop, #02-070 Suntec City Mall, 5 Temasek Blvd., 6337-0088.
Terra Plana
Called the naked shoe for naked people, Dopie from Terra Plana epitomizes the perfect balance of durability and flexibility with a rubber construction that minimizes weight. The single shape sole folds up to protect the toes and includes a single non-abrasive strap for an extremely comfortable fit.
$59.90 at Terra Plana, #02-04 Mandarin Gallery, 333A Orchard Rd., 6836-5348.
Sue Comma Bonnie
This eye catching sandal boasts flexible soles and a tri-strap designed with punkish metallic trimmings. If you’re looking for something a little different, this certainly fits the bill.
$490 at On Pedder, #02-12 Ngee Ann City, 391 Orchard Rd., 6835-1307.
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Deck Towels
What’s a day (or night) at the beach without some towels? Deck Towels’ middle weight linen offering (from $89) doesn’t let sand or odors stick unlike ordinary cotton towels and they are both fast-drying and more absorbent. The best part is that they get softer after every use.
Available at Know it Nothing, 51 Haji Lane, 6392-5475.
DKNY Jeans
The offshoot of Donna Karen’s luxe brand, DKNY Jeans brings a New Yorker street vibe with its sensibility and attitude. But if you’re looking for something suitable for the beach, check out the brand’s Fall/Winter 2010 collection and you might find some hidden gems among its heavier collections. For the ladies, combine your lacy bikinis with a printed floral ruffle skirt ($190) or go sexier with just the printed floral dress ($230). For the guys, the brand’s range of snug cotton T-shirts ($95) are extremely comfortable for dancing the night away.
Available at DKNY Jeans, #01-05/06 Forum, 583 Orchard Rd., 6732-9727.
Gap
Redefining everyday wear, Gap’s stable of tops, pants and dresses are a mainstay in many wardrobes. The brand is known for combining comfort and style whether for work or the great outdoors. Ladies will love the Lorie animal print dress ($79) to bring out that primal party beast in you, while guys should take note of the sturdy and comfortable short sleeve utility shirt ($75), giving them some extra ruggedness in the beach-wear department.
Available at #01-18/23, Wisma Atria, 435 Orchard Rd., 6732-0438.
Rittenhouse
The Australian brand is known for their basic and comfortable line centered around impeccable tailoring and simplistic designs. The “Ink Love” T-shirt dress ($299) with its hand-printed design and classic crew neck is made of ultrafine sheer cotton jersey and is perfect for when things start hotting up.
Available at Inhabit the other store, #02-16 Mandarin Gallery, 333A Orchard Rd., 6836-8441.
Sifr Essentials
Singapore menswear label Sifr’s basic line is garnering much-deserved attention. Weighing a mere 110 grams and made of the industry finest pima cotton, their T-shirts ($39, three for $99) are perfect for the beach. Put these on and it’s like you’re wearing nothing at all—trust us, we’ve tried. If you are going for the Cuban-esque look, their 70s throwback button shirt ($139) made of 100 percent Japanese cotton broadcloth and single needle stitching provides a lightweight alternative to the basic tee.
Available at Rockstar: by soon lee, #03-08 Orchard Cineleisure, 8 Grange Rd., 6836-8201 and Know it Nothing, 51 Haji Lane, 6392-5475.
Yumumu
Designed by Singaporean Yu Yilin, Yu,mu,mu is Mandarin for “rain, wood, water” and her collection draws from these natural elements. Each item is available in limited numbers only: Combine the slit vest ($165) or the knit tube ($69) with the brand’s tailored shorts ($99) and turn heads while you frolic down the beach.Available at #P2-30B Parco NextNext, Millenia Walk,
9 Raffles Blvd., 9825-2234.
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Launched in 2008, the Singapore Toy, Games and Comic Convention 2010 is a full blown extravaganza featuring some of the biggest names in the industry. Expecting over 45,000 attendees this year, the convention will host a diverse array of activities including artist showcases and demonstrations, autograph sessions, conferences, competitions and even tournaments. We pick out some of highlights of the show during this three-day event.
Special Guests
Twenty-two international and regional illustrators, designers, painters and writers will be converging for a variety of conferences focusing on different aspects of the industries, plus the token autograph sessions and artists showcases throughout the event. Guests of Honor, Marvel Comics’ writer Matt Fraction and cartographer Salvador Larroca, will share their expertise on the industry, alongside the guys who made Marvel what it is today, namely Leinil Yu, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Esad Ribic, Harvey Tolibao and Alex Maleev; plus The Simpsons’ cartoonist Phil Ortiz—this is definitely a star-studded affair.
Talent Scouting
It is a rarity for a high profile member of the comic industry to head to Asia with the goal of finding new talents and even rarer for them to step into Singapore with the same intent. But come convention day, Marvel Senior Vice President, Creator & Content Development and international talent scout C.B. Cebulski will be doing just that. And with the Artiste Alley component showcasing some of the most talented emerging and established artists in Asia today, some of them might actually get their biggest break here.
Artiste Alley
Hosting 30 talented artistes from Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia, the Artiste Alley will showcase portfolios and live demonstrations from the likes of Singapore’s top graffiti artist Artkore, famed Filipino illustrators Asuka and Bjornik and toy maker Thunderpanda.
Conferences
Multiple conferences on varying topics will be paneled by special guests. Highlights include “Writing outside of comics: How do you hone your creative writing skills?” paneled by Gail Simone, Ivan Brandon and C.B Cebulski, and “Traditional form of comic illustration: What are the basics of comic illustration?” by Phil Yeh and Phil Ortiz.
Special Screenings
A number of special screenings will be happening throughout the convention for fans. Cartoon Network’s animated television series Generator Rex, based on Image Comics’ M. Rex, will showcase its Asian premiere. Fans of animated Japanese cartoon Nurarihyon no Mago will be ecstatic to know that its 2011 first volume episode will also be premiering during the convention.
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ZoukOut has hosted over 150 international and local acts, almost a quarter of a million partygoers and over 350 hours of non-stop music and entertainment over the span of 10 years. That’s not a mean feat, considering that, a decade ago, almost every logical punter disclaimed Zouk’s vision of taking its “one dance, one music, one tribe” spirit to the great outdoors.
Today, even the officials talk it up. “ZoukOut adds tremendous vibrancy to Singapore’s nightlife, and is a pillar of Singapore’s position as an events and entertainment capital,” says Tony Lai, assistant chief executive, Sector Planning & Development Group and Industry Development Group at Singapore Tourism Board. ”ZoukOut remains unrivalled in its stellar lineup of DJs and music offerings, and its ability to draw in throngs of revelers from dusk to dawn.”
Come Dec 11, Siloso Beach will again turn into a magical arena of top quality electronic music featuring spectacular lights and pyrotechnics, and above all, a source for lasting memories. The enticement of the three different arenas will make any discerning partygoer drool with a stellar line up of 11 international DJs, 13 local jocks and two local bands dishing an array of dance music from house to trance and hip hop to disco for 12 hours of non-stop musical merriment. Given the assortment of acts, we sort out the top 10 reasons why you shouldn't miss ZoukOut (no matter how inebriated you are!).
1. Tiësto
Who: The Dutch trance DJ needs no introduction. As a matter of a fact, other DJs’ credentials are given added weight just by adding his name on their bio.
Why: His debut appearance on our shores feels like it was planned for ZoukOut’s 10th anniversary. Who knows? Who cares? He’s here! And as part of his fourth studio album tour, the Kaleidoscope World Tour 2010 which was launched across 150 countries, expect some euphoric tunes when he hits the deck.
2. David Guetta 
Who: This workaholic French house DJ has risen from a relative unknown 20 years ago to an internationally recognized figure of electronic dance music after having sold over three million albums and 15 million singles worldwide.
Why: The man’s number 2 (just a rank down from to the man mentioned above) on DJ Mag’s Top 100 Poll 2010. Enough said.
3.Laidback Luke
Who: The innovator, industry’s favorite remixer and the face of future sounds are some of the titles attached to this Philippine born-Netherland raised house DJ/Producer.
Why: For 14 years, Luke van Scheppingen aka Laidback Luke has been pushing the boundaries of electronic dance music with a string of top-notch remixes for A-list DJs like Moby, Calvin Harris, Steve Angello, Sebastian Ingrosso, Axwell, Martin Solveig and even Depeche Mode and Cyndi Lauper.
4. Booka Shade
Who: The German duo of Walter Merziger and Arno Kammermeier make up Booka Shade, the pioneers of Frankfurt’s synth-junkies electronic wave. Though they now dabble more in a clubby sound, be sure to expect some grimy, atmospheric and moody beats as they go along.
Why: Because the boys make us shake all over with their deliriously cool house choons.
5. Midnight Juggernauts
Who: Australians Andrew Szekeres, Vincent Vendetta and Daniel Stricker have taken electronic music and given it a such a blatant twist that the industry have given up trying to define their sound. But there’s nothing shabby at all about Midnight Juggernaut’s tunes. With their weapons of sound manipulation through synths, samplers and stereos; the boys have racked up big name fans from Pete Tong to Calvin Harris.
Why: Using samplers, pads and a host of other gadgetry and musical instruments, the trio will be teasing your aural canals with some sweet beeps and bleeps.
6. Seth Troxler
Who: The American born-Berlin based house DJ/Producer is a name constantly mentioned by the likes of Matthew Dear, Lee Curtiss, Theo Parrish and Terrence Parker—all house music luminaries in their own right—as the most likely to take the genre to the next level.
Why: A shame that he had to cancel his gig at Zouk earlier this year but Troxler is confirmed this time round and, together with his influences which include the chirping of crickets, the whirring of spaceships and the sweet sound of whistling voodoo magic, this makes everything worthwhile.
7. Lindstrøm
Who: Born Hans-Peter Lindstrøm, the Norwegian has been hard at work over the past seven years developing his original take on dance music through his inspiration from country gospel choirs and a quiet dinner with the family. And as such he's not been brainwashed by the current trends and “wants” of dance music. While relaxing at home on his farm in Oslo, he enjoys a cult following for his raw and intimate electronic tunes.
Why: He makes his own music—the man plays the bass, guitars, drums, keyboards and percussions on the layers of his tracks, so expect some depth and an intrinsic quality in his set.
8. SIXX
Who: The nine-piece hip hop band has been rising in stature with their hard work and rocking urban sound. With the vocal prowess of Aarika and raspy lyrical waxing from the recognizable Kevin Lester, Sixx have made notable appearances at TAB, Zouk, Victoria Theater and 98.7FM.
Why: Because they were cut short at Singfest and deserve a wider audience.
9. Kiat (Syndicate)
Who: The premium purveyor of drum ‘n’ bass and dub in Singapore, Kiat is considered the genre’s local kingpin when it comes to delivering the best sounds and quality left-field audio-video events through his collective Syndicate.
Why: Expect some melodic and grubby dub tunes and a visual spectacle of extraordinary proportions.
10. Dennis Ferrer
Who: This house music icon's body of works have been played by the world's DJ elite. Responsible for one of last year's biggest house tunes, "Hey Hey" and "Son of Raw", Ferrer has been synonymous with sounds that are innovative, fresh and borderline risky.
Why: If you are a fan of his remixes of Fish Go Deep "Cure and the Cause," Martin Solveig "Jealousy," and Blaze featuring Barbara Tucker "Most Precious Love," you will definitely want to check out his set. We hope its the sunrise one.
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Most prominent DJs grew up surrounded by some form of music, were you one of those?
I grew up in a musical and creative family so it was just a natural thing (to progress into music) I guess. I was collecting records from about 10 and playing guitar from about 12 and then started DJing and making beats in my teens.
And you also used to draw when you were a kid, was that where your moniker came from?
Yeah, all the time when I was younger and kanevils were these little characters I drew. So it was from that, really.
You’re into Jap anime characters Gally and Keroro Gunso…
I love Gally for her strength, determination, playful innocence, confusion and honesty; she's just such an amazing character. Keroro because he's a space frog surrealist…
What about real life heroes?
J Dilla, Timbaland, RZA, Arvo Part, Sufjan Stevens, Toru Takemitsu and A Tribe Called Quest. Why? Because they are all magnificent!
Big hip hop names but what’s hip hop to you?
It's difficult to say now; it has spread its wings so far and wide. But I think it's something to do with drums, with the vibe, the DIY energy and a certain mindset.
What do you think of the current music trends?
It's dope, there's so much crazy music out right now it’s almost overwhelming. It feels like the beats era or something.
2010 is coming to a close. How was it for you?
RBMA has to be a highlight, it was too amazing. The Modeselektor lecture in particular was some next shit. The Soundwave and Outlook festivals were crazy. Man, it has been an amazing year actually. My album coming out was cool too!
And 2011?
I have a bunch of remixes, an EP with Foreign Beggars and a beat tape made from Raymond Scott samples coming out. I've co-produced an album with the group Stateless which drops on Ninja Tune in February.
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The list of titles that Italian comic illustrator, Giuseppe Camuncoli has worked on reads like a superhero who's who: Hellblazer, Spider-Man's Tangled Web, Vertigo Pop: Bangkok, The Intimates, Batman, Captain Atom: Armageddon, Ms. Marvel Special, The Incredible Hulk and The Death of Dracula. With a career spanning over 20 years, the cartographer has worked with industry leaders like DC Comics and Marvel, showcasing his distinctive graphic and storytelling style.
His first American assignment on Swamp Thing was a pivotal moment in his career, the point at which he broke into the American market. “Well, you can imagine how good that felt. It was overwhelming, I couldn’t believe it,” he says. “I was full of joy because it was a childhood dream that I thought was impossible when I was a kid.” Camuncolli’s works were so well-liked that DC Comics made him a regular artist on their projects and he has not stopped working since, collaborating with highly notable writers in the field including Daniel Way and Marjorie Liu on the Marvel hit Dark Wolverine and Vertigo milestone series Hellblazer, written by Peter Milligan. Having worked with some of the best writers, editors and designers in the business, one can only imagine the value of his experiences. “It’s priceless. You have a lot of exposure, and you have the chance of being known in the whole world,” he says. “Also, it’s great to work with so many cool professionals, from writers to colorists to inkers, and some of them were and still are my personal heroes from when I was just a reader. You cannot ask for more, really.”
“An artist has to be lots of things: Passionate above all, then hardworking, curious, punctual with deadlines, respectful of the other professionals working in the industry, and possibly easy going,” he says, when asked for his advice for future artists. “Comics is team work, and the more relaxed a working relationship is, the better your work and mood will be in the end. Be hungry. Be smart. Be focused. Always believe in yourself and never give up when things don’t go well. And be prepared to work really hard. Aside from this, it’s fun!”
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The rising stature of trance music can be attributed to the number of quality DJs emerging specifically from the land of the Dutch. From Armin van Buuren to Tiesto, Sander van Doorn sits on the same pedestal as these legendary greats. His debut on DJ Mag’s industry-respected Top 100 DJ poll at number 13 in 2008 and number 10 in 2009 has showcased his undeniable progression.
Both his recent release of “Hymn 2.0” under his other moniker Purple Haze and his track “Intro (XX Booty Mix)” have been receiving heavy plays on dance floors all over the world. “I am just happy that people like my music,” he says. But as much as van Doorn’s name is well known over in Europe, he feels that cracking the States is a different challenge, since it is still maturing in its acceptance of dance music. “The US is such a huge place and has its own musical culture like hip hop and country that dominates the airways,” he states. “It is growing all the time though and with festivals like EDC, Ultra, Electric Zoo and the Miami Music Conference, there are signs that the US is really starting to embrace electronic music, especially on the coasts and in the cities.”
As trance and electronic dance music has gained more fans over the years, it has inspired a great number of music lovers to take up DJing too. “Take your time and get your music and mixdowns up to a high standard before you start contacting other DJs and producers,” says the Dutch maestro. “If you do this, they will take you more seriously and you will have a much bigger impact on the industry releasing top quality tunes from the beginning. Quality over quantity—always!”
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