We caught up with some of the most exciting acts to grace the stage at Ultra Singapore. Taking us from underground clubs to sky-high urban rainforests, we find these Grammy award-winning festival veterans to be a surprisingly a healthy bunch.
07 July, 2017
As the holographic confetti settles after Singapore's freshest electronic music festival, Ultra Singapore, we caught up with some of the most exciting acts to grace the stage. Taking us from underground clubs to sky-high urban rainforests, we find these Grammy award-winning festival veterans to be a surprisingly a healthy bunch.
Before embarking on an impressive solo career, Dubfire made up one half of Grammy award-winning duo Deep Dish. Between expanding his cutting-edge label, SCI + TEC, Dubfire can be found tweeting restaurant reviews and foodie titbits with hope of opening a Japanese restaurant in LA. His documentary Above Ground Level also recently premiered at Miami Film Festival.
By taking a treetop walk at MacRitchie Reservoir. Start at the country club for a 6km trail that takes you through the rainforests at dizzying heights. Watch the sun come up among birds, monkeys and lizards just 15 minutes away from Orchard Road.
Capella Singapore is hands down the best hotel in Singapore - especially if you snag one of their villas. Their Sunday brunch is also pretty great.
Waku Ghin, Restaurant André or Iggy's all deserve a mention - but I'd suggest heading to Lau Pa Sa Satay. Drink pitchers of beer on the streets from 7PM 'til late - it's fun, if a little sweaty.
For quality underground music head to Headquarters by The Council in Boat Quay.
I don't think I've ever ventured out for live music in Singapore, so I'd love to know where myself!
It's no secret that the year-round heat and humidity can be unbearable in Singapore, so be sure to pack a hand fan. Gents can slip it into their back pocket and the ladies can stuff it into their purse - finally, a souvenir that's useful.
I just finished watching the new documentary film on Nick Cave called One More Time With Feeling so naturally I'll be listening to last years' Skeleton Tree album.
Operation Dagger is the coolest basement bar in Singapore. It's a hard to find speakeasy where they distill their own alcohol. The only street signs are a bunch of runic symbols above a set of stairs.
Voted the world's number one DJ two years in a row by DJ Mag and mentored by Tiesto, it's easy to see the impact Hardwell has had on EDM. The Dutch-born DJ has had crowds jumping at Tomorrowland, Ultra Music Festival, EDC and Creamfields. Summer 2017 sees him return once again to the White Isle with regular sets at Amnesia and newly opened super-club Hï.
After dropping my bags off at the hotel I'll tag along with someone else from the area to show me around. Singapore is a great city, but because I've been a few times I'm always keen to see a different side so I enlist the help of trusted locals.
The Esplanade Theatre is a stunning piece of architecture and acoustically impressive. It would be an honour to perform a show there one day. As an artist, you're always looking for incredible spaces to take your music and the Esplanade Theatre is certainly one of those venues.
Travelling as much as I do it's often difficult to find time to relax and just enjoy yourself in nature. It's especially hard to do when in the middle of a city, but one of the things I love about Singapore is the Gardens by the Bay. It's right in the middle and so easy to access. As it is such a great concept, I'd love to see this incredible natural park appear across big cities around the world.
Keep it simple and light. You'll find yourself in and out of a lot of shops.
It varies because I never know what music I'll have at the time and what the crowd will be like on the night. Right now I'm playing around with a lot of new styles and have some super fresh tracks.
Take a day to visit one of the southern islands like Lazarus.
The French DJ, singer, songwriter and producer has previously teamed up with an array of household names - Madonna, Bloc Party and Laidback Luke to name a few. Catch him every Monday at notorious Ibiza hotspot Pacha, where his energetic residency My House finishes at sunrise.
Start with a run in the Southern Ridges, have lunch at Curry Culture, get some rest and enjoy the Gardens by the Bay, finished off by hanging around in Chinatown - with Singapore's cultural heritage, it makes for an enticing backdrop.
Marina Bay Sands as it's the location for an episode of the Smash series. The pool is also insane.
Check out the Thian Hock King Temple.
I work a lot on my Future Pop playlist that's available on Spotify. It's really a collection of my favourite chill-electro-hip-pop, so when I'm not performing that is what I plug into.
Internationally acclaimed and Grammy-nominated, UK-born Nic Fanciulli has worked with artists as diverse as Underworld, Kylie Minogue, U.N.K.L.E and Loco Dice. Nic's label Saved Records continuously pushes the boundaries of underground house and techno by breaking new artists and producers. Look out for his debut album, My Heart, out 20 October.
For me it has to start with breakfast at Wild Honey, some shopping on Orchard Road and then ending the day at a bar in Sentosa like Coastes.
The Patina, Capitol Singapore.
Shinji by Kanesaka at Carlton Hotel is probably one of the best sushi restaurants I've been too.
For me it has to be Zouk as I've been playing there since I was 21 and I've never not had an amazing time.
Something light! Humidity in the city is crazy, but luckily most of the shops and bars have air con.
I try not to listen to house music on my playlist, so it would be mainly disco and funk. Anything from Nile Rogers always seems to get me in a good mood.
The Library, an amazing little speakeasy bar in the heart of Chinatown.
Famed for his collaborations with Rihanna, Calvin Harris, David Guetta and Tiesto, the Dutch DJ is a regular on the festival scene with performances at Coachella, EDC and Tomorrowland. His number one single with Avicii "I Could be the One" stormed UK charts as summer 2013's soundtrack.
&SONS has great food and live music.
Ce La Vi, which was formerly Ku De Ta.
Bring a comfy pair of shoes, a nice pair of sunglasses, swimsuits and definitely a light jacket if you're visiting during monsoon season.
These are amongst my most played: Corey James - Bring It, Tom Tyger & Melsen - I Need U
and Linkin Park - Heavy ft. Kiiara (The Nicky Romero Remix).
