A Paradigm Shift: Local Label Midnight Shift Opens Up About Its Adaptation In Berlin
Kavan Spruyt and Debbie Chia have been essential in building Midnight Shift since 2012 (Credit: Midnight Shift / kyō)
It’s natural to feel culturally inhibited in a pebble-sized country like Singapore. To counter this, the music scene has flourished as a melting pot of imported influences from all over the world, and it’s indubitably delivered a stupendous diversity that’s imparted the red dot with global appeal. But sometimes, that just isn’t enough. For record label, Midnight Shift, staying in Singapore just wasn’t going to suffice. The venerable label, after establishing a sterling repute that awakened in 2012, followed its instincts and did what many techno devotees could only dream of. They made the big move to Berlin.
The premise seems ideal on paper – migrate to one of the buzziest techno meccas of the world and augment your business as a like-minded record label. Prior to the transition, Midnight Shift was already flaunting an international roster of techno, house and left-field electronic acts; including the likes of KiNK, Hodge, Mr. G, Umwelt, dBridge, Recondite, and Singapore’s own Xhin and Eddie Niguel. It certainly possessed the clout to rub shoulders with its Western counterparts and help enhance Singapore’s credibility in the industry’s eyes.
Together, the duo perform side-by-side as Lily’s Rose (Credit: Midnight Shift)
But like every major life-changing decision, Midnight Shift’s relocation to Berlin came at a cost. The sacrifices of leaving home and the community they helped build, and the harrowing risks of potentially starting afresh became worrisome concerns for the founding duo (and family unit) of Kavan Spruyt and Debbie Chia. Both cornerstones of the Singaporean music industry – Kavan was pivotal in building the musical direction of kyō, while Debbie was also a co-founder of the FFF Girl DJ Bootcamp – the two were leaving behind collective achievements that’d turned Midnight Shift into a beloved scene powerhouse.
Their hustles helped make Midnight Shift parties a norm in the local clubscape; think Deetron at Zouk, Redshape at kyō, Voiski at Kilo Lounge, and Tzusing at Headquarters. Over the years, their regular Midnight Shift showcases were unwavering temples of techno and off-kilter electronica that proved that the alternative subcultures of dance music could have a place in conservative Singapore. Legacy summons reverence, and the scene never forgets. It is this undying devotion from Kavan and Debbie that’s inspired support from the scene back home as they chase their dreams.
Midnight Shift used to throw wild label showcases at Velvet Underground (Credit: Midnight Shift / Zouk)
Today, Midnight Shift coexists in both Berlin and Singapore, with a homegrown team that keeps the machine whirring here. Despite being millions of miles away, Kavan and Debbie believe in keeping their label family close as they grow their influence overseas. It’s this robust connection that’s kept their morale intact, especially in the isolating miasma of the pandemic that’s ravaging the European circuit. They have found balance in a chaotic climate that threatens to topple it. Midnight Shift started out with a worldly purview and an outreaching vision. But now, it’s embarking on a paradigm shift that finds peace and contentment from seeking within.
How are Kavan and Debbie doing over there in Berlin? What difficulties did they have to endure? And what does the future of Midnight Shift hold as it celebrates its 10th year anniversary? Kavan shares more in this heart-to-heart.
Kavan was instrumental in shaping the musical programming of kyō in Singapore (Credit: Midnight Shift / kyō)
Hi Kavan! Hope everything is well. First up, how would you say the label has evolved through the years in terms of vision and underlying ethos?
Thanks so much for this interview! The label has indeed evolved much. I would say as a summary, we have decided to chronicle our own narrative with what we have and whom we are already in connection with. We want to make this a family thing, with projects that encompass special music relationships, and have a storyline and/or message behind it.
What sort of acts and styles does the label look out for lately? What gets picked up on the Midnight Shift radar?
We haven’t been looking out so much, but rather looking in – discussing concepts and theories in life with artists whom we have already been working with.
One would say that you’re living the dream since moving to Berlin, a techno capital of the world. How has the move helped the label?
It has been really helpful. On the production front, we have been able to scout for materials and can finally tell and predict how the vinyl will look and feel like post-production. On top of that, the social welfare system in Germany has kept us going financially, despite club and other business closures; we have been blessed to have three meals on the table every day during a pandemic.
A label showcase at Velvet Underground from 2013 (Credit: Midnight Shift / Zouk)
What are some things people should consider before moving to Berlin for music? I reckon it’s not an easy transition one bit.
When we moved here, it was partially due to push factors that don’t need to be elaborated here as it is already over. But what I can mention is that on the week before we moved, I was crying in my sleep for almost a week, knowing we had to start all over again and hustle for a living.
Upon arrival, I rushed into things and got a job in Berlin on my first day here, which in hindsight was a bad move. I should have spent more time with my wife, settling in and feeling my way around the scene in Berlin first before going straight into the workforce. The most important thing with such a move is to have savings that can last for at least six months.
I am very fortunate to have Debbie and other good peeps such as the crew from Midnight Shift, close friends and our family who supported the move. I remember coming back to Singapore after our second year and am grateful to peeps such as Eileen and Clement (of The Council), Zig Zach (of Blackout Agency), Kenny Wee, Amjad Shah and Jonathan Charles from Malaysia, and Mai from Bangkok who helped us with shows, which in turn helped us for our expenses back in Asia.
Tzusing performing at Headquarters (Credit: Midnight Shift / The Council)
Do you witness the pandemic leaving a drastic effect on nightlife in Berlin? And how has this affected the label?
Retrospectively looking over the year, I have known people to party even harder during lockdown with private parties, illegal raves, etc. Clubs also didn’t really close due to the government support they were receiving, which was great. Also, I was glad to start focusing more on my family this year and made a point to deepen my relationships with close ones. This in turn made us realise that we needed a deeper context for the label, concentrating on the reason why we are still doing this.
Back home, the label collaborated with local clothing label, Dead Inside (Credit: Midnight Shift)
You still have a strong support system back home in Singapore. How important is it to hold onto these roots, and how has this supported the label?
I met someone over the last month and she was complaining how a certain artist was always saying they were ‘[insert nationality here]’ but never went back to the country often. We are really blessed to have such a great team in Singapore who have been helping us with our label, merch and events there. One of the most important factors is that we care for each other, lift each other up and always work through our problems honestly and openly, with no secret whispers behind each other’s backs. Keeping in close contact and making sure we went back to see each other as often as possible helped with that a lot.
Roots are very important, and it was precisely our roots that made us expand our catalogue and avoid sticking to a certain sound; thereby encompassing our different influences from many different music scenes. It was amazing as the more we expanded our genre palette, the better received it became.
Redshape performing at Black Box at Goodman Arts Centre (Credit: Midnight Shift)
With your wisdom in the scene, what are your thoughts about the current state of the Singaporean electronic music industry? Can it learn anything from Berlin?
Well, I don't think I can compare and shouldn't. It's a different scene that originates from different cultures and lifestyles. But some things I have learned from being in Berlin that may also be applied to the music industry include:
Take care of your own staff and family first, and everything will fall into place gradually. They in turn will help you, if you are facing any issues.
Mental health comes first, and physical health is needed to accompany that priority. Don’t be afraid to see a therapist. Take some time off if you have to, and draw boundaries. This will help with mental health and help with your performance at work.
Unions at companies are very important and should be compulsory for fairer treatment of staff, to encourage diversity and fairer wages among different genders.
The label has brought down techno heavyweights like Rødhåd (Credit: Midnight Shift / kyō)
What are some difficulties you face in running the label, and how do you overcome these obstacles?
We had a lot of issues… lol! Started right from the beginning: We were waiting for our first release with our partner for the first two-and-a-half years, but it never happened (we waited and waited, and it just never happened). After the long wait, we decided to do it ourselves in the end and from there, we learned how to look for the right mastering and cut engineer, the right pressing plant, and distributors. It took some time to look for the right one but I am really happy to say we finally found our ground after a decade (of losing money too).
I guess we all have to learn from mistakes. There isn’t really any ‘secret sauce’; it is mainly persistence and taking the time to keep on releasing, and eventually record stores will start buying more into your curation. If anyone needs help or advice from the mistakes we have made, please feel free to hit me up.
Tap on the respective artwork to listen to each record.
Can you share some milestones for the label in the past year?
We just released our second album from Deadbeat x Om Unit, amazing EPs by Nico, Paal, Umwelt, Nothus, and a collaboration from Prequel Tapes and dBridge. I guess you can say that the milestone was continuing our regular release schedule despite a really harrowing year filled with many setbacks and disruptions for everyone.
And what about upcoming projects or signings you have lined up? Anything you can tease?
We will celebrate the label’s 10-year anniversary in 2022, and will have about four albums (or more) to be released. Among them will be a Singaporean band collaboration with a Japanese artist (which I am so excited about) and an absurdist opera piece that was made in 1994, but never released officially (yes, you read that right – an opera piece). You will start seeing us slowly moving in and out of dance music, as we will start releasing more music not just for the body, but for the mind too.
With everything you and Debbie do for the label, do you still have time for your own musical pursuits?
Well, I still have my day job which also involves music, so that is great! Debbie recently made her first official track for a radio show curated by CTM festival and she was also supposed to play in Berghain, but everything is on hold again due to restrictions. We always try to make time for music, as it is part of our lives and will always be.
And to wrap up, how do you juggle between your creative lives and time for personal growth? How do the two of you consciously strike that balance?
It has been a struggle and that is another thousand word essay, or something I love to tell someone over three cups of coffee.
Debbie chimes in: It’s really tough. In addition to being parents, it is nearly impossible. I guess the hack would be to align your creative life with your personal growth so that they are intertwined. Creativity feeds us and we’re probably the happiest when we are being creative so it’s a priority. I guess when you follow your personal path and stay true to what makes you happy, it eventually falls into place.
Other past performers include Recondite (Credit: Midnight Shift / kyō)
Hans Berg (Credit: Midnight Shift / Tuff Club)
And of course, KiNK (Credit: Midnight Shift / kyō)
Listen to the full catalogue of Midnight Shift on its Bandcamp page, and follow its Instagram page to stay updated with its activities. The Midnight Shift crew currently comprises Kavan Spruyt, Debbie Chia, Basil Lam, Clifford Chong, Haan Aziz, James Riach and Naomi Xiao.
