While working on our nightlife trends story, we spoke to a few movers and shakers about what the future has in store: namely Phil Poon of Fenix (behind Empire and Bang Bang), Sofie Chandra (head of events at Zouk) and Alyssa Kokilah ("experience innovator" at Super O).

What changes have you seen to the scene in the last year?
Phil: It used to just be the big clubs but there’s been a definite shift to smaller venues. That’s not just because real estate is hard to come by, but also that the big DJs have become a lot more expensive, so there’s been a shift towards more intimate venues. The market is definitely more educated as well. As a result there are now more clubs catering to interests that are less mainstream, more specific.
Sofie: The scene continues to be very dynamic with the consistent opening of new clubs. There has also been the sprouting of new bars, along with food offerings as a recent trend in the past two or three years. Aside from that, we have seen a sudden increase in festivals and concerts being held in Singapore.
Alyssa: Well, there are definitely a lot more collectives and people doing their own thing, which is great as it brings more diversity.

How have the crowds changed?
Phil: People are more discerning, so our clubs now play more EDM and hip hop. I think the crowd might also be getting a little older. 
Sofie: One thing we have noticed is the peak partying hours are getting later. For instance even on Wednesdays, the crowd peaks at 1am. We also notice that clubbers today are generally more well-travelled and exposed.

What do you see happening in the next year?
Phil: Unfortunately, I do see more clubs consolidating and some having to shut down due to increasing costs. On the flip side we’ll probably see more festivals and events, as they make it financially viable to bring in the big DJs. We’ve also definitely noticed that more events are mixing music with something else like sport—for example, like Illumi Nation.
Sofie: We are planning a series of events under the SG50 umbrella, culminating in a Zouk Arts and Music Festival in August 2015. Zouk has always served as a platform for our local fashion designers, artists and musicians, and we want to showcase of the best in our local scene. Zouk Members Bar will also be going through a major renovation come December. Stay tuned for very exciting updates.
Alyssa: We are in the midst of prepping for Super 0 Open Air which is our first pop-up boutique festival. It’s a much bigger undertaking, with a lot more focus on art, design, culture and lifestyle. In the same way, we can expect to see more festivals and music events in 2015. However, this influx should hopefully not lead to festival fatigue too soon with inflated ticket prices, productions costs and more, as has happened in Australia, UK and Europe.