9 House & Techno Producers In Singapore
House and techno is alive and well in Singapore, and there is unquestionably no scarcity of DJs pushing these dominantly four-on-the-floor genres in clubs and raves. Deft on the decks, these selectors construct sets by unearthing tracks from all over the globe – which begs the next important question… Does Singapore have its own house and techno producers? Do DJs in Singapore have any homegrown tracks that they can proudly adopt into their sets?
The answer is a resounding yes, and in fact, Singapore has had its own house and techno production scene for a while now. From veterans to fresh faces, here’s a list of beatsmiths to keep an ear out for.
Credit: Saiful Idris Facebook page
Saiful Idris
Spy with your little eye, and you’ll actually find a house enthusiast in a certain indie hero. While many might know Saiful Idris as the dynamite frontman of indie-rock outfit, The Great Spy Experiment, the fact that he’s also an adroit house producer might come across as elusive. A passion project that started back in 2014, Saiful crafts clean and crisp house numbers that boast a classic sheen. From synth-dripping nightcrawlers like “Orbit” to audial love letters to the old Zouk with “J.K.S.”, Saiful’s compositions fit gracefully on dancefloors today as they would in a ’90s warehouse rave. He even showcases his work on his own imprint, Surrender HQ.
Listen to: “Undertow”.
Credit: Xhin Facebook page
Xhin
X marks the spot, and for Xhin, he’s made his mark a long time ago. Singapore’s triumphant ambassador of techno has been cutting his teeth on the production game since the ’90s, and he continues to shine with his brooding style of techno. Sometimes it’s industrial, sometimes it’s minimal, and sometimes it sounds like techno you’ve never heard of. That’s what makes Xhin so thrilling – just ask labels like Stroboscopic Artefacts and Meerestief who’d previously signed him, and artistes like Surgeon and Perc who’ve remixed his tracks. Nowadays, you’ll spot his releases on forward-thinking Singaporean label (based in Berlin), Midnight Shift – including the IDM- and electro-tinted Vision Electrified EP.
Listen to: “IKNx2”.
Halal Sol
Despite having a tagline that reads “beats so deep, it’s Halal”, his productions are no joke. Despite bursting onto the scene not too long ago, Halal Sol has already won respect from entities like Darker Than Wax and Singapore Community Radio. Because not only is he a smooth operator on the decks, but his songs exhibit a fondness for the deep house genre with melty chords, suave beats and soulful vocal samples. Just dig into his First Thing EP, and you’ll be cruising with it in no time. Definitely one to watch out for.
Listen to: “Brik It”.
Kaye
In the gig circuit, Kaye wears many hats. He’s a techno veteran who dabbles in live sets with drum machines and other gadgetry. He’s a jazzy wizard on the saxophone. And not forgetting, he’s also the co-founder of local label, Darker Than Wax. So should anyone be surprised that he’s also a maverick in production? His creations diversely explore genres like a crate-digger in a record store, with precision and respect. He’s delved into disco, synth-wave and electro with his Innervate series, and released his venerated White Horse EP in 2016 which covered a vast range of techno.
Listen to: “Sam Pearl”.
SWTLKR
One of the scene’s deftest emcees with the gift of the gab, Vijay Singh AKA SWTLKR applies his vocal prowess to productions of his own. Complex in nature, Vijay’s musical manifestations toy with broken beats, deep grooves and even tinges of tech. His greatest weapon, however, is his natural addition of vocals, with which he creates spiritual sermon-like monologues and meditative mantras that elevate the trippiness of his ventures.
Listen to: “Never Know”.
Credit: Integrity Records Facebook page
Eddie Niguel
A figure of reverence, Eddie Niguel has been a stalwart of the electronic scene for over 20 years now. While he takes a backseat these days when it comes to performing, Eddie has not rested on his laurels in production. He was responsible for the 2012 stunner, “Absolute”, which received support from the likes of Dixon and Laurent Garnier, and he continues to flourish even now with his recent Guardians of the Sacred Visions EP. As the head honcho of mastering studio TBR Mixmaster, that’s polished the tracks of Amelie Lens and KiNK, it’s no wonder Eddie’s productions are genuinely world-class. Eddie also runs his own imprint, Integrity Records, that’s pushed out tracks from international elites like Panteros666, Dachshund and Kiko Navarro.
Listen to: “4 The People”.
Credit: Dodgy South Facebook page
Dodgy South
Another clandestine duo of upstarts that’s simmering beneath the spotlight, Dodgy South has been making heads turn with their sporadic gig appearances and high-energy techno blitzkriegs. With destructive, gabber-like kicks and screaming synths, the output of Dodgy South ushers listeners into a realm of techno that’s not for the faint-hearted. They were even asked by local electronica doyenne, The Analog Girl, to remix one of her tunes – and what a cracker it is.
Listen to: “Missile From ‘62”.
Credit: Oliver Osborne Facebook page
Oliver Osborne
No stranger to the Singapore scene, Oliver Osborne has affixed his roots since moving from the UK, playing everywhere from Kilo Lounge to Ultra Music Festival. Like his sets, his productions reflect a pensive yet fidgety stance, combining downtempo elements with rhythms that are unmistakably groove-worthy. His deep house numbers flaunt features such as tribal beats, warm synths, chopped-up samples and even ambient hues. Oliver also runs his Eyes To The Front label, which not only manages a roster of regional artistes, but also puts out his works to the world.
Listen to: “01001100”.
Credit: Hong Facebook page
Ferng
You can’t address the history of superclub, Zouk, without acknowledging the grand contributions of Ferng AKA Hong. Aside from being involved with the institution since 1996, primarily as its resident DJ, the man behind Zouk’s techno-oriented Soulfeed nights also indulges in techno production escapades of his own. Shrouded in steely beats and hypnotic rhythms with dark dispositions, Ferng’s creations reveal a menacing side of him that beckons to be heard.
Listen to: “The Pain That Won’t Go Away”
