Cult fashion houses Ambush and Surrender in Far East Plaza have done much to inject culture and identity into Singapore’s fashion scene. Stocking exclusive indie labels such as Head Porter, Medicom, Original Fake, UNKLE, Neighbourhood, Acronym, Visvim and Good Enough, both stores have gained a big enough loyal following over the years to allow them to step out of the overcrowded mall to the more exclusive neighbourhood of Devonshire Road. Now housed under one roof, they have more room to play and display.

The décor of the double storey shophouse is art in itself. Level one is a mini art gallery with open space and white washed walls. Level two carries Ambush’s and Surrender’s underground fashion items, and the air is filled with incense. T-shirts with attitude, bags, punk accessories, quilted leather sneakers are illuminated with art, and black-and-white photos of classic race cars and Damien Hirst inspired toys. Earn Chen, owner of the store, reveals some of his plans to I-S.

Tell us about your new store, its location and the shophouse. Why did you decide to move here?
We wanted to get out of Far East Plaza. We started out really cool there but we’ve outgrown it. The new location is perfect for us: A shophouse in town. The gallery is very important for us too—we want shoppers to experience the art before they even see the clothing. In the gallery, we now have Ambush/Surrender artworks on display. It’s a platform for local artists and artists from overseas that we admire. We try to have an art show every six weeks. The next art show will feature Rostarr from New York.

How about the interior design? Whose efforts are behind the décor?
We basically brought over stuff from the old stores and fine-tuned it. I have a friend, Jasper from FUUR Architects, who took James’s (James Lavelle is a co-founder) concepts and made them happen through his work.

Your store previously stocked mostly streetwear items. What made you switch to high-end fashion?
We have always stocked exclusive labels. They are not something the average person can easily afford. Our prices compare to Prada and other designer wear. So I won’t say we are moving from streetwear to high-end fashion because we are still selling the same stuff, and our prices have always been at those levels. I guess you classified us as streetwear because we were at Far East Plaza.

Surrender is your in-house label. Can you tell us more about it?
Surrender is basically a record label cum clothing label. In Singapore we are a design and production unit for the record label, everything else runs in our headquarters in London. We try to incorporate a blend of music, film and clothing.

Have you brought in any new labels lately?
For Surrender, we brought in a new label called Supreme from New York.

Any previews for I-S readers?
We have a recent collaboration with Allan Forbes from Poster Pop, an artist based in LA. We commissioned him to a collection for us. He designed some logos and did illustrations for t-shirts. We’ll have lots of collaborations come next year and behind the gallery we’ll start a cafe. Surrender will be releasing a new album and we’ll go on tour.

Who are your customers?
Mainly youths, as well as working adults, young professionals, creative people and more recently fashionistas because of the location.

How do you advertise? How do your customers know you’ve moved?
We don’t advertise. What we carry is mostly exclusive. We are the only stockist in Asia, besides Japan, for most of our labels. People who are looking for those brands know to look for us. The last time we launched something—Neighbourhood in Surrender, the response was overwhelming. A pair of jeans costs around $950 and we managed to sell 100 pairs in two hours, with restrictions of one pair per customer. Lots of customers flew in from Hong Kong, London and China and queued up just for those jeans. This may sound arrogant, but in Singapore I don’t think even Gucci is able to pull off something like that.

What music do you play in the store?
Rock and down tempo mix tapes from friends. We’re playing on loop now Benji B from London. We really like his stuff.

Do you think the local market is big enough? How far are we from the Hong Kongers or Japananese who are more willing to spend on premium fashion?
Singapore is right behind Hong Kong and Japan. Singapore’s doing alright based on the amount we spend given our population.

Do you have plans to take over the local fashion scene?
No...no ambitions for that! We’re pretty low key.

What are you going to do with all this space?
No runways for us. We’ll have more space for art, music and we can start throwing parties for our friends.

Comprising Ng Yu-Ying (violin), Ang Chek-Meng (violin), Lionel Tan (viola) and Leslie Tan (cello), The T’ang Quartet has been diligently bringing their brand of chamber music to Singapore since the group got together in 1992. The group is currently the resident quartet of Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music and has released two albums to date. Ang spares us a few moments to talk about critics, the Singapore Biennale and their coming concert Black Russian by the T’ang Quartet.

If you had to identify one lesson that you have learned from having worked with celebrated artists such as Norman Fischer, Sergui Luca and Horia Mihail, what would it be?
That there is no substitute for hard work! All these great musicians still live for their performances and are always trying to improve although they are really established. Also, their love and respect for the music is not diminished even after so many years at the top!

And what is the most unusual praise or criticism that you guys have received?
Some have criticized us of being too “flashy” for the music. Some have criticized our costumes for our concerts. We have also received praise from Norbert Brainin of the Amadeus Quartet. He said: “I didn’t know they play chamber music so well in Singapore.” As if we still live in trees!

For the Singapore Biennale’s opening party, you guys were playing inside a tent. Some people said it was a bit pretentious. Any comment?
It was a collaboration with installation artist Ana Prvacki. I guess the point was to have musicians playing within a confined space and challenging the norm. Well, as much as we care about people’s perception of what we do, it’s all beyond our control! But I guess that’s what art is all about right? It’s about provoking a reaction from the audience!

How are you guys finding the experience at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music so far?
It has been really hectic yet satisfying! The general standards of students are amazing! It has always been our mission to help the next generation of string quartets. We hope we can guide them along and help some of these students build a career in chamber music.

Tell us about your coming concert Black Russian. What’s the concept behind it?
It’s been a long year of traveling and performing, so this is our little festive offering to our Singapore audience! The concert is titled Black Russian because we are playing a piece by American composer Michael Daugherty about an African-American communist sympathizer Paul Robeson who was given an honorary citizenship by the Soviet Union. In it, you will hear Paul Robeson on tape singing along to the String Quartet. The rest of the concert includes a very energetic and folksy work by Prokofiev. Of course there will be familiar favorites like Shostakovich’s Elegy and Polka and Tchaikovsky’s sensuous Andante Cantabile and other “white” Russian compositions!

Made up of vocalist Shane Ross, guitarist Steve Balaban, bassist Ganapatya (Glenn) and sequencer Saito, Divine 9 is an industrial band whose influences range from NIN to The Prodigy. They arrive to put up a show in the coming event Flow, sharing the stage with local bands such as Concave Scream, Plain Sunset, Saw Loser and West Grand Boulevard. We quiz Shane, Glenn and Saito to see what the band is made of.

Is there any story behind the name Divine 9?
Saito: Yes. Nine is a significant number from a numerological standpoint and it bears a degree of biblical significance. The symbol of the band is derived from the Japanese Kanji and Chinese character for Divine/Spirit/God, merged with a Celtic cross. Ha ha. Who am I kidding? To be honest, I was off my face and dreaming of a higher power when I came up with the name… and it rhymed!

Glenn, you’re the most experienced member in the band. We heard that besides the bass, you play the piano and guitar too. Which is your favorite instrument?
Glenn: The bass I would say, simply because I play bass a lot better than guitar or piano. I used to be good at piano but that was many years ago!

Personally, what’s the best thing being in this band? And the worst?
Shane: The best part is being able to work with brilliant musicians. The worst part is Saito being in Singapore and not with us. We’ve tried bribery and blackmailing to get him back to Australia on several occasions!

So what’s the process of making music for the band then? Since Saito is in Singapore.
Shane: It is tough, but modern technology helps. He designs the songs, emails us, we add to them as a band. Sometimes we’ll edit his arrangements to suit a live situation.

This is Divine 9’s second time playing in Singapore. What was the response when you guys performed previously at Home and Gashaus?
Shane: It was very positive, especially when we played at Home.
Saito: Well, a girl followed me to Zouk after our gig at Gashaus on Christmas Eve last year. She ripped my shirt off in the middle of the dance floor and I got blamed for it!

Veteran musician George Benson is often loved for his enthusiasm and deft improvisation. Though he’s known primarily as a jazz musician, his sound cuts across various musical genres, keeping things fresh. With a string of albums and eight Grammies behind him, Benson talks to us about Jack McDuff, his latest release and his coming concert.

You worked with Jack McDuff in the early ’60s. How influential is he to your music?
Wow. That’s a long time back! I thought this interview is about me? And now we’re talking about him? (Laughs) But seriously, Jack Mcduff gave me the foundation in improvisation. Improvisation can be anything. It’s your interpretation of the song, when you improvise from bar to bar, and sometimes that can lead to a lot of meaningless notes that don’t necessarily tell a story. He told me how important blues was. He said, “If you play a blues lick every now and then, everybody will listen and understand. You can play that in China and people will take notice!” I’ve put that to the test, and he was right. So I always make sure I put some blues licks in everything I play. It works very well. It brings the tune to life and gives it a reality.

Yes, we noticed that blues influence. Though you’re primarily known as a jazz musician, your music has elements of R&B and pop as well. What other genre do you hope to experiment with next?
I find that every country has a kind of music that is purely its own. I pick up bits and pieces of things from different places. That’s what kept music interesting… I like classical and flamingo. I’m now stealing things from both genres to put into my music.

What do you think could have contributed to your staying power?
I listen to what’s going on around the world. I listen to young people because they are the future. They tell us where their hearts and minds are. But I have a lot of experience, and I played with a lot of older masters. I think I am able to connect these different generations together in a way that people can appreciate. I like what I do, but I also like what others have done.

Let’s talk about your latest release Giving It Up. You and Al Jarreau go back a long time way. Why release a collaboration CD only now?
We’ve wanted to do that for a long time and we finally got around to it. The reason that we didn’t get to it earlier is that, it is only after many years that we are back in the same record company. We started off at Warner Bros. together, and went off to other companies separately after that. The fact that we’re back in the same company is a catalyst to making that album.

Tell us more about your coming concert. What can the uninitiated look forward to?
Well, in my experience when I stick to what people know about me, people are happy. So we’ll make sure we have plenty of that. We know how to have a good time. We’ll be bringing the older songs to a new level of interest, playing the new things I’ve discovered, and more. I have a formidable band with me and we know how to make people happy!

How did you first get into flamenco dancing?
I got into flamenco when I was nine or 10. I was introduced to it by my tap teacher, Rose Borromeo. She kindled my interest in the dance and has been a very great influence in my journey to master flamenco.

Ever stepped on your flowing skirt?
Many times, but thank goodness not during a show!

The dance involves quite a bit of clapping too. Do your hands hurt?
It wasn’t just my hands which hurt. As the beat gets faster, my arms started aching too. There is a certain technique in which you clap, and then it was just a matter of mastering and getting used to it!

Why do flamenco dancers stand motionless for the first few seconds, before jumping into action?
Dancing is like telling a story. Standing still builds tension in a dance. It gives a dancer a chance to immerse herself further in the story she is telling, to get the audience’s attention. In a very intense choreography, it provides the dancer a gap, a chance to catch her breath before she explodes into action.

The flamenco dance is supposed to be hot and sexy. Do you have to be subdued in your moves since you’re only 14?
I think that the moment I start performing, it doesn’t matter what age I am, because I’m not Kimberly anymore. I am playing the part of someone else. I believe that I should play every part I am given to the best of my abilities, even if it calls for me to be hot and sexy. Besides, not all types of flamenco dancing needs to be sexy. Some may need me to express the intensity and sadness of a grown-up. Either way, it’s a challenge.

In my pocket: My wallet and my Bluetooth headset.

Most annoying thing I have to encounter every day: I can’t complain. I wake up every day.

Love that job: Playing music for music lovers.

Hate that job: Putting out the trash.

Last thing that made me stop and think: Listening to people complain about life.

Listening to: Jill Scott, Jay Z, Justin

Groupies: Are people, too.

Stupidest trend: Expensive bottles of water. Are you kidding me? It’s water.

Favorite crowd: Cork, Ireland; Tokyo; Singapore.

Last lie: I wasn’t home when you called.

Fail-safe crowd pleaser: “In the Club” by 50 Cent.

People always assume I’m: Quiet and to myself.

But I’m really: Outgoing and really funny.

Best part about going on tour: Meeting people and making them have a good time.

I began as a stand-up comic because I thought making people laugh by just standing alone on a stage telling jokes was a challenging task. No one ever tried it before in Thailand. We have a lot of good comedians but mostly they play in groups.

Those stories I told really happened. I just tried to narrate them from a different angle.

My attitude towards the world is the most important thing I have in my everyday life. It keeps me alive and makes me into the person I am today.
Of all the things I’ve done, art makes me the happiest. I really don’t know why. Although I don’t even earn a living from it, still I love art. It could be because I’m having fun with it, I guess.

I must admit that in Thailand, we don’t get much support in the art field.

In my view, a painting is one-way communication. It differs from installation art, and its Thai translation explains all about its specialty—jud wang. An artist just wang (put it there) and it’s audiences who turn it into something beyond their own expectations. To me, using installation art in this Platform project is giving power back to the people.

When this project’s over, I think I’ll just go with the flow. If someone asks me to do something interesting, I’ll do it. If there is a nice role offered from a director, I would jump in and learn from it.

When I was young, I suffered from my own ambitions. Now that I’m getting older, my ambition is less strong than before. I think happiness occurs when people drop their ambitions a bit and just do whatever they need to do.

I now understand that failure can happen, and it’s acceptable. Ten years ago, I felt like I had to be a success at everything I did, which is impossible.

I believe we learn from the past. Problems and obstacles will always occur in our lives in different forms and we gradually learn through them. It’s like when someone breaks your heart; you can’t say that it will never happen again for sure.

Currently, I don’t have any goals or plans, but that may change ten years from now. In the past, I was like a tourist, taking a package tour, setting goals to achieve. Now I see that living without a goal is like backpacking—it’s more fun, more of a challenge.

I admire Prapas Cholsaranon. I like the way he makes complicated stuff understandable. Although he’s a businessman, he also creates good things in our society.

I want to be like him, but I’m not good at business. I try to be positive and give myself a break. Maybe making people laugh is another kind of virtue.

If I couldn’t speak, I’d use art as a tool. I don’t need everyone to understand everything I try to say. Let’s say I hang up a photo of a sunset in my office—it doesn’t mean I want everyone in the office to understand why I think this photo is so beautiful. I just want them to feel something. Art is something you may not understand, but you can feel it.

Is it hard changing from one field of work to another?
No, not at all. I normally choose the things I like to do. That’s why I’ve changed from electrician to policeman to manager to teacher to paramedic. I just follow my heart and basically do what I want to do.

What’s next the next one?
I think this is the end of the road, though—it’s what I love doing. Saving somebody’s life is probably the ultimate thing. This is the reason why I was born, the reason why I am here.

How did you get hooked up with the Ruamkatunyu Foundation?
The father of one of my first students was one of the bosses of Ruamkatunyu. She invited me to do some volunteer work. I went to a flood-hit area in Saraburi five or six years ago. It was my first time to meet poor people who had lost everything.

Your co-workers at the Foundation don’t speak English—any Lost in Translation moments?
Two days ago, I went to help somebody, but actually it was a snake. I thought I heard “puad” or “jeb”—I wasn’t sure. I went there very quickly and the pranakorn asked me why I came and I said, “Chuay kon jeb” [to help the injured]. They said it was a ngoo [snake] and the other said, “ngoo jeb mai?” [is the snake hurt?]. They started making fun of me.

What can we do to help?
You don’t need any experience to work with us—all you need is a strong stomach and a big heart. Or just donate food, clothes, toys or books—basically anything, money for coffins even. If you drive into a petrol station and see some volunteers, buy them a drink. It’s really appreciated.

In five years?
My five-year plan is to have my ambulance running and to be speaking fluent Thai. I also expect Ruamkatunyu to increase its service to the community in Thailand. I would like some support from the farang community in Thailand, as well, because I think farang like to help.

What would you like to do next?
Get married and have a kid. I really want a child. My girlfriend left me because I didn’t have time for her.

FreakyZ fell in love with hip hop in his secondary school days. Since then, he has won the Eminem Rap-A-Like contest, performed in shows, cut an album called The First Draft and produced for local hip hop artistes. He’s hitting the stage again for the MTV Vagary Hip Hop Countdown Party on Nov 30. Drawn by his cheerful music and infectious tunes, we grabbed him for a quick chat.

Tell us something about you that’ll freak people out.
I am so skinny that I’m two-dimensional. In a few years time, I will disappear!

What’s your must-have hip hop accessory and who’s your style icon?
My must-have hip hop accessory is a microphone. I can go on and on rapping and talking on it. Plus, when I hear some beats, I will get all crazy. Honestly, I am the worst dressed hip hop artiste in Singapore. But if there’s one person I would want to copy for style, it would be Johnny Depp because he’s so cool!

What’s your favourite dance move?
I can do the Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” move, and I’m really good at it. Seriously!

What are you working on right now?
I’m working on my second release On Second Thought, which will consist of 18 tracks. It’s a continuation of The First Draft. Other than that, I’m working on a compilation called The F Dept which consists of some of the best rappers in the local hip hop circuit. I’m also working with local rappers like Bless, Ishaaq and XS:1 on their upcoming EP or album.

Cool. And what can the uninitiated expect from you at the coming MTV Hip Hop Countdown Party?
Pure local hip hop done FreakyZ’s style, loads of fun and if you’re lucky, I might even show you the “Beat It” move!

Tell us about your ultimate dream.
Besides marrying Anne Hathaway and having Oprah Winfrey pay for the wedding, I just want to make good music for as long as I can, and I want people from all around the world to know who FreakyZ is and where Singapore is!

So how’s school going for you?
School is sibei (very) boring. I ponteng (skip) classes all the time to play Counterstrike!

We used to do that too. Any cute girl in class who has caught your attention?
Actually, there’s this girl who dresses like a manga comic heroine. Some people call her ah lian. I don’t think she wants to disclose her name to the public, shy ah!

What’s your ambition?
My ambition is to draw my own manga comics, and to own a zhi char (Chinese cooked food) stall.

Awesome. And let us in on your darkest secret.
My mother is a Tiger beer girl and we have been sharing many Tiger moments since I was 12.

What about your mother irks you from time to time?
Always ask me to study, study, study... Especially when she is drunk! She is worse than a broken record player! I can only just tell her that I will bring her a lot of money somehow.

And what’s your greatest fear?
That the world will run out of beer.

How did you get Ah Kow as a pet?
I went to a farm with my father and mother to buy him, and when we brought him home he was crying for his own father (kow bei) and for his mother (kow bu) for a very long time.

Can he do any stunts?
Er, he is a very unique dog that secretes milk. One-of-a-kind. You will figure it out when you come and see my show.

What’s your last memory of your dad?
He was telling me to look after my family and to pursue my dream to the top.

What do you hope to see upon climbing the bean sprout?
I just want to have a biiiiiiiig adventure and see all my dreams come true!