Singapore City Guide with Kopi Records

Hey, we’re Luca and Bunny, co-founders of Kopi Records. Having called Singapore home for a while, we recently launched Kopi Records to spotlight the region's local producers and artists. This city shapes our label’s identity, so today, we’re pulling back the curtain on some of the spaces and crews driving Singapore’s thriving underground.

What makes Singapore different?
It’s the way diverse creative communities operate between the ever-evolving cityscape. Whether it's hidden venues, late-night spots, or unlikely creative hubs, Singapore’s underground is constantly adapting and reinventing itself. The underground exists between the spaces of well known shopping malls and iconic structures, and while they take time to reveal themselves, these spaces sustain the creative community - so today we'll take you to some of our favourite spots.‍

Pearl Hill: A Creative Oasis in Singapore’s Urban Core

Above the clamour of Chinatown lies Pearl Hill, a creative hub that feels worlds away from the city's usual grind. Once a military barracks, it’s now Singapore’s most densely populated creative haven, home to everything from recording studios and potteries, to graphic design houses. Central to Pearl Hill is Kult Yard, a hotspot for live performances and pop-up events, and critical meeting point for the creative community.

Head upstairs, and you’ll discover Wild Pearl Studio—a vibrant space dedicated to hosting music, cultural, and wellness events. Every Thursday, the studio comes alive with its 'Community Night,' where DJs take turns on open decks, while music lovers relax, enjoy the tunes, and socialize. If you’re drawn to the outdoors, don’t miss their 'Cargo Bike' tour—a unique experience where a DJ on a cargo bike, equipped with speakers, sets the vibe while cycling slowly through the city, followed by a group of riders. It's all about great music, fresh air, and good company.

Pearl Hill embodies the intersection of art and music. It was during an after hours event that we first sketched the idea for Kopi Records. This collaborative space remains a critical catalyst for us to meet with our producers, and in a city where physical space is limited, Pearl Hill remains an anomaly—a constant creative outpost amid an ever-changing skyline.‍

Thugshop: The Pulse of Singapore’s Underground

Few places define Singapore’s underground like Thugshop. Headed by Clement Chin, the Thugshop runs Tuff Club, MDLR, and Headquarters, three pillars of Singapore’s electronic music scene. Each venue occupies a unique part of the city and provides unique interactions with the city - from river views to suspended concrete bunkers. 

At Headquarters, nestled along the iconic Boat Quay, the vibe mirrors its upbeat surroundings—with groove and house sets echoing the liveliness of the riverwalk. In contrast, Tuff Club and MDLR sit among Singapore's towering skyline, offering heavier breakbeat and industrial techno in a gutted concrete bunker nestled among prime office suites and downtown views. 

Local legends like Vaibs, Sivanesh, Made 909, and Ayano call these spaces home, alongside international talents. Any night at a Thugshop venue is a snapshot of Singapore’s underground evolution, and the best ways to experience unconventional spaces around the city. 

Picture: Tuff Club

Thugshop IG: https://www.instagram.com/thugshop66/‍

Blackout Agency: Uncovering Hidden Spaces

For over a decade, Blackout Agency has been taking clubbers beyond the obvious. Spearheaded by Zach Kim, the agency has carved a niche by hosting secret parties in unconventional spaces - blurring the lines between club, gallery, and urban jungle. As Kim puts it, "We’re not just throwing parties; we’re creating experiences that resonate with the city's pulse."

This ethos of unpredictability was on full display earlier this year at the abandoned Peace Centre, when Blackout hosted Demi Riquisimo for an all night show, just 48 hours before its demolition. With graffiti-covered walls and raw urban grit, Blackout transformed the space into a vibrant canvas of sound and art, for what was our party of the year, and a fitting goodbye to the beloved Peace Center. 

Blackout’s mission is defined by its innovative use of unexpected space, providing the Singapore dance community with exclusive access to hidden and often overlooked venues. They thrive on the city’s ever-changing nature, capturing the essence of fleeting moments in undiscovered spaces. By transforming these overlooked locations into hubs of raw energy showcasing cutting edge music from the international underground, no one quite showcases the “other side” of Singapore like Blackout Agency.

Demi Riquisimo playing at Peace Centre (48 hours before it’s demolition)‍

Sunda Festival and Fort Canning Park: Celebrating Community and Heritage in Outdoor Spaces

Finally we have to take you to two of our favourite outdoor spaces.

Fort Canning Park, a gem in Singapore’s outdoor scene, is steeped in history and atmosphere. This historic site hosts events that tap into its rich past, including underground parties in the Battlebox, a World War II bunker. These gatherings focus on ambient and experimental music, creating a captivating blend of sound and space that resonates with the location's significance while creating space for experimental performance. Events like “Underground: The Summoning” invite participants to engage with contemporary music while reflecting on the layers of history within the bunker walls.

Another standout spot is Sarimbun Scout Camp which hosts Singapore’s Sunda Festival, an annual event which transforms the scenic natural surroundings into a lively hub of creativity and community showcasing independent chefs, eclectic live performances, and art exhibitions. The next edition of the Sunda Festival will take place on April 18 and 19, 2025. 

Sunda festival latest edition

Sunda Festival IG: https://www.instagram.com/sunda.festival/

At Kopi, we’re constantly drawing inspiration from the hidden side of Singapore, and the producers and crews working in these spaces, and we encourage you to scratch beneath the surface of this unique city.

Buy/Listen to Kopi Records first release via Bandcamp here

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