DJ Amanda Keisha Ang On Singapore's Party Scene: Then And Now
Amanda Keisha Ang aka DJ A/K/A Sounds on the state of Singapore's DJ scene and her future plans.
Her cred: Going by the moniker A/K/A Sounds, she was one of the few women who commanded the decks at clubs here in the 2010s. A decade on at 39, she’s better than ever: She was one of three female acts to rep Singapore at the Boiler Room here in July – and did so while six months pregnant.
Ang helming the deck at the sophomore edition of Boiler Room Singapore in July - and at six months pregnant to boot.
How she started: “I first got drawn to DJ-ing when I was 19 – around the same time when I was starting to collect a lot of music. I’ve always had a keen ear and got really into ’90s progressive and vocal house. I also followed many DJs and producers even before I could get into a club! I decided to take lessons from a studio called Frontallabs, but I didn’t do much until 2012 when I joined the FFF Girl DJ boot camp held at Zouk. That really and properly set the foundations of my practice and I haven’t stopped playing since.”
Attending the FFF Girl DJ boot camp in 2012 helped to launch Ang's career as a DJ.
What drew her to the field: “Since I was a kid, I was always into music. My father was an avid listener and record collector. He bought me my first guitar and other gear. By 14, I was singing and playing in different punk rock and riot grrrl bands, and also met individuals who exposed me to different musical genres – hip-hop, ska, jazz, bossa nova, jungle, breaks, African beats... This led me to accumulate a huge library of songs that inspired me to want to share as a DJ later on. When I started playing as a DJ, I was conscious about how my artistic identity would be perceived by others, and often thought about what authenticity and craft meant to me. At the same time, I felt that I was over thinking and that, at the end of the day, I should be playing not just for others, but also myself. I’ve definitely developed a thicker skin since and worked out what makes me happy and how to set healthy boundaries.”
On Singapore’s nightlife scene when she started: "I miss the old Zouk (on Jiak Kim Street) a lot. It was a really vibrant place and a really important institution for me growing up and learning to DJ. Clubs such as Centro, Ministry of Sound, Venom and The Butter Factory are also places that are not around anymore and that I miss. Each one had their own personality and paved the way for so many other independent promoters and bedroom DJs to start their own nights."
A early 2000s scene from the old Zouk on Jiak Kim Street - the seminal club proved to be an important place for Ang to learn the ropes of the trade, and quite simply, have fun.
On Singapore’s nightlife today: “I love how there’s been a huge and positive shift towards championing more queer performers, DJs and producers across so many parties… There are also clubs such as TUFF and MDLR that are encouraging heavier, left-field genres on bigger dance floors… It’s also fascinating to see alternative groups like Endless Return throwing their own parties that combine art movements such as butoh dance with raving."
New-gen names to look out for: “There’s been a new wave of young DJs who are each pushing his, her or their own unique identity. One example is the collective Secret Pals, which has been slowly building a close-knit music community across Asia through showcasing artists from the Philippines. Other names to look out for include Wild Pearl, which does community-led initiatives such as beach cleanups with DJs on wheels (they rove around on bikes with music equipment attached), or Lagoon Laundry, which streams sets by emerging local DJs set against the backdrop of a laundromat.”
READ MORE: The Queer DJs Shaping Singapore’s Rave Future
On how she has evolved: “I do think the importance of – and what constitutes – being relevant is subjective because some DJs just want to play for themselves and their friends, and are happy to keep things that way. Others meanwhile want superstardom. Depending on one’s intentions, their trajectory would likely differ. For me, DJ-ing started as a hobby then became a second job (she was also a graphic designer) that I began to take increasingly seriously over time because it gave me so much joy to play music for people and be paid for it. This required me to often apply soft skills such as communication and interpersonal relations to increase my network. For example I had to create press kits and releases for my artistic profile and the parties ATTAGIRL! hosted. I also had to be more savvy and active on social media and so on. Over time, I also learnt how to navigate between and differentiate corporate and artistic engagements. Regardless of whatever you’re doing as an artist, you still need to eat. It’s a great asset knowing how to compartmentalise things, and having the power to decide what is for pleasure and what is for work.”
Her favourite gig of all time: “Hard to say because there have been many amazing ones. One of the most significant ones though has to be the second ATTAGIRL! anniversary party in 2015 that saw us work with the Good Times crew to take over two levels of Blu Jaz cafe to showcase a line-up of all-women talent. We also pulled off an auction of artworks by local illustrators that was led by the now-defunct experimental radio station Lush 99.5 – bless ’em – with the proceeds going to the Autism Association Singapore. There were other supporting sponsors such as Dailymotion, which helped us livestream the whole event. It was a huge undertaking for us as inexperienced event organisers who also wanted to do as much good as we could with very little funds. The party turned out to be a huge success and talking about it still brings tears to my eyes.”
On what keeps her going: "When I DJ for people, I want to provide happiness and relief. And when I conduct DJ workshops or do open deck jams, it’s an opportunity for me to share knowledge about music, DJ-ing, the industry and so on… All of this has given me a loving community, a place where I can seek respite, and a great source of income that I never expected. I wish for others to be able to benefit from the same and to pass it on because it’s done so much for me. That’s what keeps me going."
What’s next for her: “Right after this interview, I’ll be relocating to Tokyo, where I’ll be starting a new journey not only because it’s a new city, but also because I will soon become a parent. It does mean that DJing might take a bit of a backseat until I settle down and figure out the ways of motherhood and living in another country. But I’m looking forward to the myriad of music offerings Japan has for me!”
On who she considers Mother!: “This is actually really funny. I told everyone I was going to play my heart out for the girls and the gays for my Boiler Room set, so I started with Rupaul’s Call Me Mother. It was also my way of embracing my mother-to-be status and it was so cute hearing people calling me mother. Who is a true mother to me though is really my mum. Now that I’m heavily pregnant, looking back at everything she has done for me and gone through as a parent amazes me big time. She’s the woman I still depend on for life advice, who taught me how to be a feminist in her own way, and who helped me understand how people and business work… Also giving birth is just freaking mental.”
PHOTOGRAPHY ANGELA GUO ART DIRECTION JONATHAN CHIA
HAIR TAN ENG CHONG/KIZUKI+LIM MAKEUP SARAHTAN
This article first appeared in the September 2024 Nostalgia Edition of FEMALE