SINGAPORE: Zouk, the best-known name in Singapore’s club scene, has unveiled its new home in Clarke Quay’s Cannery Block, two weeks after it bid farewell to its Jiak Kim Street premises.
The two-storey space, which most famously housed the now-defunct Ministry of Sound Singapore, is a “perfect fit”, said Zouk Singapore’s Consumer Marketing & PR Director Sofie Chandra, adding that the search for a new venue had taken up to four years.
The new venue, which partitions its dance stages Zouk and Phuture with a folding wall, has a maximum floor space of 898 square metres and can accommodate 2,000-plus revellers. During big events and special guest DJ nights, this wall will be opened up to transform Zouk into a “super club space”, something it was unable to achieve at the old premises, said Ms Chandra.
The exterior of Zouk’s new home at Clarke Quay. (Photo: Winnie Goh)
The club’s new owners, Genting Hong Kong, also view the relocation as an opportunity to refresh and update the iconic institution. The casino and cruise-line conglomerate bought Zouk from its founder Lincoln Cheng for an undisclosed sum late last year.
“With this relocation, we saw an opportunity to evolve with the culture of music, a chance to create a new atmosphere that will breathe new life to the brand with the promise of new experiences,” said Hui Lim, Chief Information Officer, Genting Hong Kong.
Genting Hong Kong has ambitions to grow Zouk into an international name. And the new venue – in the arguably more tourist-friendly Clarke Quay entertainment precinct – would expose Zouk to a wider audience that it would not have been able to reach previously, said Ms Chandra.
Zouk’s centerpiece is a giant UFO-like light structure. (Photo: Winnie Goh)
A BLEND OF THE NEW AND FAMILIAR
A new addition to the main dance floor is a suspended ‘UFO’ or mothership-like structure designed and programmed by Barcelona-based lighting design firm, LEDSCONTROL.
The light structure features more than 120 light patterns across a 360-degree view, resulting in an “out-of-this-world” explosion of light, said LEDSCONTROL founder Rebecca Sanchez Pastor.
One of the bar areas at Zouk. (Photo: Winnie Goh)
And while party-goers can look forward to a neo-industrial and futuristic aesthetic inspired by the underground rave clubs and refurbished warehouses in New York and Berlin, the space retains a familiar feel, as it was designed by long-time collaborator, Phillips Connor of interior design firm Independent Consultants.
In addition, Zouk has retained its original sound system, custom-created by renowned late audio engineer Gary Stewart.
“This sound system is specifically EQ’ed (equalised) for Zouk; it’s specially made for the club, and we really appreciate the sound that comes out of it,” said Ms Chandra. “When you actually enter the dance floor in the main room, you would see the four speaker stacks… like how it was at Jiak Kim.”
The dancefloor, with the strobe lights turned on (right) and off (left). Zouk retains its original sound system, custom-created by renowned late audio engineer Gary Stewart. (Photo: Winnie Goh)
Zouk’s key themed nights, such as ‘Mambo Jambo’ and regular music series nights helmed by resident DJs, will remain. But new programming is being planned, including a local sessions music series, to serve as a platform to groom up-and-coming local talent.
The club, which opens for a soft launch on Saturday (Dec 17), will officially open on Jan 13, with a performance by American superstar DJ-producer Diplo.
