The Business Times Fri 13 Jul 2007
Announcement: We will be closed on National Day 9 Aug & Monday 13th August
Amanda de Guzman
Fri, Jul 13, 2007
The Business Times : Far from the madding crowd
AFTER a while, a night out in Singapore can get quite monotonous as clubbers take their pick of the likes of St James Power Station, Ministry of Sound (MOS), Zouk or wherever the latest hot spot happens to be. But those in the know are more likely to go beyond the tried and tested to the more eclectic charms of smaller, lesser-known and privately owned bars and clubs that are refreshing for their independence and uniqueness.
A cozy locale that has a very musical focus is the Blu Jaz Cafe, a two-storey establishment on Bali Lane in Arab Street that houses a restaurant on the first floor and a lounge area on the second floor. One of its main concerns is supporting and enriching the local scene, with several renowned international and local soul, Latin and experimental jazz acts having graced its stage.
'Blu Jaz has a great feel,' says jazz musician Dave D'aranjo. 'Great musicians always pass through.' One of them will be Fabio Morgera, a famous one-handed jazz trumpeter from New York, who will be playing exclusively at Blu Jaz on July 27.
Another interesting feature is the 10-piece jazz band that plays every Monday.
Usually found off the beaten track in areas better known for karaoke bars and shady hostels, these places combine chic, innovative interiors with a fashionable, music-savvy and closely-knit crowd. 'They actually come for the music,' says Justin Noreikis, a regional IT project manager by day and a drum and bass DJ by night.
'Let's be realistic. Most people who go to the Cannery or MOS are looking for action. As long as it's loud and reasonably tinged with house and R&B, they're happy.
Not so for the demographic that frequents places like Home Club and the recently closed Bar Baa Black Chic, two places where Noreikis has played. 'You can't stereotype the people that used to come here,' says the single-monikered Hae, proprietor of Bar Baa Black Chic. 'But they are all well versed in the knowledge of music. They know who is playing and what is playing.'
The launch of Bar Baa Black Chic, a multi-level nightspot that boasted a rooftop with beds and a barbecue, nestled among hostels and small cafes in Little India, was motivated by Hae's passion for music.
Not a cash cow
'It was definitely not a cash cow,' says Hae. The sound system, which Noreikis refers to as 'killer', came from Hae's own home, and he also built all the furniture for the club's interior. And, since the DJs who spun at the bar usually played lesser-known artists, Bar Baa Black Chic attracted a far smaller crowd.
'Drum and bass is a very niche thing,' says Noreikis. 'They also have to venture all the way to Little India,' a place that is not known for its nightlife.
Hae also professes to be devoted to the cultivation of the local music scene, and Bar Baa Black Chic became a home for fledgling and up-and-coming DJs and musicians, as well as Singaporeans 'who are serious about production'.
Home Club, which opened in June 2005, is another venue that is dedicated to the development of Singapore's music scene.
'Every month, we have live music,' says Brad Gardner, Home's business director. 'We then record these live sessions and distribute them to the media and radio stations.' Local bands that have benefited from those events have included Plain Sunset and the Great Spy Experiment, with the latter in the midst of releasing a record.
Gardner likens Home to places like The Hacienda, the famous Manchester nightclub from the 80s and early 90s that provided a platform for legends such as the Sex Pistols, and more recently, The Stone Roses. Fans of indie rock bands such as the Klaxons and the Cure fill the club on their extremely popular Friday Beat! Nights, an event that is in constant innovative flux.
Personal touch
'It's grown organically, from its start to now, from something very personal into something that has been very successful, but has not lost its personal touch,' says Gardner. This personal touch is another commonality among these smaller bars and clubs.
'Home is not like the standard Singapore bar or club, which is very sterile,' says Sal Fernando, the chief technical architect for EMC, an American technology corporation. 'You feel like you are going into someone's house. Everyone is really nice and the music is really good.'
Hae echoes this sentiment, saying that nights at Bar Baa Black Chic were like 'family gatherings'.
Unfortunately, due to the ethos of keeping the prices low and the music special, smaller bars usually have a short shelf life; Bar Baa Black Chic closed down due to a monetary issue with Compass, a watchdog organisation for music labels. Still, it expects to re-open at another location. In fact, another attraction of these clubs is that many of them constantly change locations, adding to their underground vibe - one that is both fleeting and exciting. And certainly a lot more edgy than the plain vanilla bars most clubbers are used to.
