From raves to ramen, international DJs to local music champions, Zouk delivered once again with this nightlife spectacle on Sentosa's Siloso Beach. We review what went down
Numb lifeless limbs, a ringing in the ears, sand to be found everywhere… As dreadful as that might sound to nightlife newbies, these post-rave symptoms are the inevitable rewards that befall any partygoer who endures this seismic marathon ’til the break of dawn. Over two soaking (we’ll get to that in a bit), debaucherous nights, ZoukOut 2015 witnessed the congregating of 45,000 roisterers at Sentosa’s Siloso Beach, all in attendance to lose both sleep and inhibitions over non-stop hours of commercial EDM and underground dance music. For a festival of this monstrous magnitude, it’s always a conundrum when it comes to picking out our most cherished memories. But #SeizeTheMoment we did, and we have here 10 highlights that made this extravaganza one of Zouk’s biggest shows to date. Now where do we begin…?
#1 Oliver Heldens & Porter Robinson: Good Start with Young Bucks
While these two DJ-producers were slated for the opening slots of the international line-up at the EDM-focused Moon Stage, their sets were as phenomenal as their big-name counterparts, if not greater. Oliver Heldens (the Dutch kid’s just 20!) warmed up for Nervo with a blistering future house set – his revitalising synth-stabbing take on the big-room format. While the return of Porter Robinson (the 23-year-old made his ZoukOut debut in 2012) had him geeking it up with his fantastical, robo-inspired style of synth-pop. Beep boop.
#2 Rain Rain, Don’t Go Away
Yeah…clear skies are peachy and all. But you know you’re in for a real adventure when nature herself feels like kicking up a storm. Thank monsoon season for the volatile torrential showers, ’cos there’s something spiritual when you’re dancing to the heavenly Swedish house sounds of Axwell Λ Ingrosso as cooling raindrops kiss your cheeks. But for those who preferred not to muck up their makeup, ZoukOut staff distributed free ponchos to everyone(!!!) like how they do on Oprah, and then there was always the sheltered Star Stage that became, essentially, a dry sanctuary of underground beats.
#3 Claude VonStroke went Barrump in the Night
For all the maximalism that erupted from the heavyweight bangers of the Moon Stage, there was one industry doyen who provided exactly the opposite at the Star Stage. Despite having a hefty following as the founder of Dirtybird Records, Claude VonStroke churned out beats that were massive on a minimal scale. Relying on innocuous formulae of sparse punchy percussions, succinct vocal samples and addictive hum-a-long basslines, VonStroke – who cheekily flashed peace poses in between – was quite the entertainer!
#4 Give Us Ramen, Man
Dancing always works up an appetite, so we’re more than thankful for ZoukOut’s abundance of food stalls, selling heaps of churros, kebabs, tacos and quesadillas. But given the slightly-chilly backdrop of the rain, nothing could beat a broth of creamy, tonkotsu ramen with gooey onsen eggs made by ‘Tonkotsu Kings’ themselves, Keisuke Ramen. Swift gung-ho service (“Irasshaimase!” went the chefs) and easy portability (da bao for dancers) – ramen at music festivals could possibly be the best idea ever??
#5 Conveniently Cashless
Waiting time for snacks and tipples must’ve been a drag, eh? On the contrary! No time wasted emptying out one’s bulging pockets for wet, crumpled clumps of cash; no wristband-lodged micro-chips that tend to glitch out – we simply had to tap our EZ-Link card to process payments in a jiffy. Top-up stations were a great help too!
#6 Kaleidoscopic Display of Local Talent
Naturally, our homegrown acts killed it. Given a whole stage to themselves – the Kaleidoscope Arena graciously curated by the Lush 99.5 folks – our local troopers could showcase left-field works that straddled the line between the main stages’ EDM and underground house cuts. THELIONCITYBOY tore the roof odd (figuratively speaking) with his razor-edged hip-hop verses, Vandetta cranked the r&b section up with stripped-down vocal looping, Jean Reiki kept it gritty with bass-inflected techno, and all-girl crew ATTAGIRL! spared no expense in polarising with unorthodox grime and juke rhythms. Too shiok, y’all.
#7 Eyegasms on the Screens
ZoukOut 2015 was abound with audial overloads, but the hypnotising potential of the soundtrack was heightened thanks to the gush of visuals across the massive LED screens. Giant talking heads, pulsating fireballs, alien flower gardens and dancing Victorian wraiths were just some of the trippy eye candies that complemented the equally surreal tech-house jams of DJ Tennis and Visionquest. Only the fountains of pyrotechnics could peel our eyes away from the action, and yes, it was sensational.
#8 Dixon: Our Best Act of the Fest
For three consecutive years, this German deep house guru has been regarded as the #1 DJ in the world within the underground circuits. And at ZoukOut, this veteran proved that such lofty credentials were hardly an overstatement. Broodingly melodious, poignantly emotional and laden with delicate subdued beats, Dixon’s set was art that didn’t try too hard to impress its subtle grandeur upon others – you simply felt it.
#9 Tiesto, Deep Dish and Paul Oakenfold: Old-Timers Still Got It
Zouk has been in the game for a long time now (since 1991!), so much so that’s it been lauded as one of the top clubs in the biz. And its legacy isn’t just built on the praises of punters, even revered DJs owe Zouk their gratitude for boosting their careers across Asia in their fledgling years. With that, this ZoukOut – also the last under owner, Lincoln Cheng – was a touching blitzkrieg of nostalgia and a homecoming of sorts for its ace alumni. Trance pioneer, Paul Oakenfold, stuck more to the house end for his closing Star Stage set, while Tiesto – arguably the biggest DJ in the world – safely catered to the masses with appeasing hits. But it was the anticipated reunion of prog-house luminaries, Deep Dish, who made our hairs stand on end, with a suspenseful, shuddering set that ushered us all the way ’til sunrise.
#10 Entranced by Armin van Buuren
Though on the other end of the dance music spectrum – for those who wished to bask in the morning light with the splendour of trance – they could always count on the President of A State Of Trance himself. Fusing trance’s anthemic melodies with pumpin’ big-room vigour at the Moon Stage, AVB made the thousands of remnant ravers (those still going strong at 6am) weep and cheer with effortless aplomb, showing all why he’s still regarded as one of the best in the world.
The aftermath strewn across the ZoukOut battlefield past 7am: intoxicated conked-out punters as their mates try to jostle ’em awake, puke puddles, discarded glow sticks and undergarments on the sand, canoodlers in the corner, residue ravers still fist-pumping for the sendoff beats of Zouk residents Hong and Formative, and weary zombies who trudged through the walk of shame. We, however, departed the premises with our heads held high, comforted by the knowledge that we had survived yet another ZoukOut. Too old for this shizz? Please.
For updates on the next ZoukOut, follow Zouk and ZoukOut’s official website.
Images by Colossal Photos
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