This Is 'local': Watch a new video series that pairs lifestyle venues with DJ performances

The local series features familiar DJs in familiar spaces (Credit: local)

It’s not news that the nightlife industry is badly bruised, and recently aggravating the wound was the postponement of the problematic pilot scheme for clubs in Singapore. Now more than ever, with the future of party culture up in the air, the scene needs more originators to galvanise the terrain. A new entrant that’s stepping up to the plate is local, a new video series that showcases DJ performances in unique establishments, diversifying the dominantly live-stream content that continues to persevere.

While past series like United We Stream Asia featured DJ sets in clubs, the debut season of local features F&B haunts that play a part in stimulating the nightlife industry. These lifestyle destinations are transformed into makeshift performance spaces, inviting viewers to perceive these settings in a new light. Each 30-minute, fortnightly episode will feature a different homegrown DJ on the decks – with selections spanning house, tech-house and beyond – while revealing the distinctive nooks and crannies of each handpicked venue.

The team of pioneers behind this project (Credit: local)

local is the novel brainchild of people devoted to the scene, and it shows in the quality and curation of each episode. Its team comprises the trio of Ming Feng, past resident at CÉ LA VI; Fariz, one half of Doppelgangerz; and Darryl Teng who is the series’ videographer. “Our ultimate goal is to showcase beautiful venues in Singapore and pair them with some of the best homegrown talents in the country,” explains Ming Feng. “We hope that this concoction will tell a unique story in every episode.”

The debut episode featured Fariz from Doppelgangerz at Catfish (Credit: local)

The emergence of local is praiseworthy to say the least. Besides benefitting the F&B community by featuring these beloved waterholes, it shows that dance music isn’t something that’s exclusive to clubs. Dance music is an art with universal appeal, sculpting vibes and connecting communities in wherever it’s being played; it’s far from just a debaucherous genre of music to get sloshed to. The local series helps show that dance music is fundamentally another tenet of lifestyle, and its role in colouring the culture of our city should be better protected, especially in turbulent times like these.

With a name that’s pretty much self-explanatory, local is dishing out a passion that’s full of heart, something the scene urgently needs more of.

You can watch episodes of local on their YouTube channel. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated on future episodes.