Where is the Soul?

At long last a Sm:)e is launched within the heart of Singapore's underground. The silhouette of Singapore's true night grooves play loud into the late part of the night and early morning. Finally soul is brought back to dance floors.

Some may count success in numbers and return in profit. Yes, that is important but for some and it seems to be an increasing few, success was measured in the wideness of the collective smile that was shared on such a forward thinking yet undeniably nostalgic event.

Music, Colours and most importantly emotions flowed through the night as organizers strove to create something with more spine that skin. A stellar line up that night lets get on the way with what physically took place that night. The event and the acts that made it what it was.

The Karl Maka opened. (*Refer to the photos at an earlier post for more imagery than there is in this article). Their unique brand of synth pop always gets an early crowd rocking and tonight was no exception. Songs laden with saccharin synths and sing along vocals meant involvement and enthusiasm by the audience during the entire performance. If this wasn't enough there is always the signature move of Jon Maka bursting into the crowd freeing the mic up over that ever so familiar Depeche Mode song that everyone should know the name of. Anyone? Quite simply sweet and easy to take in, their performance could be compared to a sugar coated pill with much sweeter after effects.


The night had started and as punters tucked into the end of their hour long free flow, Smile resident DJR handed over the transition between synth pop rising up and comers to established international Podo, previously of Technorient HK and now running Love Da Records. A Smile resident of the highest caliber and experience (like all of the three behind this revival) he stepped up with a bag full of tracks spanning from early days of Technasia to secrets of the far reaching sounds of melodic techno and beyond. Not one to back away from a harder sound, he interlaced between seamless mixing into jackhammering tracks that left the few left on the floor in awe of such transitions. It's a shame that most needed a smoke break and so a collection of the floor went outside to enjoy cigarettes and a football game that was currently showing. Nevertheless, Podo continued on strong with a mammoth set, never backing down and pushing his sound forward.

An hour in, a good friend and Smile partner, loopinmotion came to join. A true veteran of the scene it has been none other than his hard work and continual perseverance that has meant an event like this could have taken place. Through both ups and downs he has stayed strong and continues to do so. There is nothing that is telling me his commitment will ever change. Between the seamlessness of Podo's mixing and the breakdowns of loop's now signature echos and delays they brought together a harmony in composition. A new energy came and with it new faces and feet. The two of them were obviously having fun as both smiles and records were exchanged with friendly yet powerful execution. Perhaps everyone had all finished their long awaited cigarettes, I'm not sure but, for whatever the reason, a crowd started to fill as energy and passion flowed through both of these individuals movements and track selection.

Next came and was what many had been waiting for. Deetron, who recently has had an incredible release on Music Man started off with a favourite track of mine 'I'm like a Child', a Carl Craig remix of a Junior boys track. It seems to me and rightly so that everything that Carl touches becomes gold wax, this is one of the latest ones. Deetron himself has currently been on such a mission, with his recent album and the increasingly successful singles that are being released afterwards it seems there is no stopping this spacious and evocative sound. Having said that by space i do not mean minimal so do not be confused, this is full bodied music with plenty of soul. Anyway, I'll stop my pigeon holing, its all House really.



Apologies for the tangent, I will, as was previously intended, go back to Deetron. Technically efficient but not without flare, he moved both quickly and smoothly without compromise. Chopping, layering and doubling up, he is, and I can now say this first hand, a DJs DJ. Impeccable selection with a sensitivity to the crowds needs he also possesses speed and precision while mixing three decks.

No, I can't say it was a full house that night even when Deetron came to take control. Can I ask a question now. In the words of Abe Duque's release, "What Happened?" What happened to the music, what happened to the soul?" I can safely say that is truly one of the goals of this event, to bring back both passion and soul to the dance floor. This is only the beginning. Smile for the future.