At Ringtone, The Hyperpop Party Music Plays All Night Long
Whoever’s called Singapore’s nightlife options predictable has clearly not been out much. Following the pandemic, a rush of music-loving party organisers – new and existing alike – has been producing independently spirited, multidisciplinary events that are anything but the typical club experience. The schedule and locations aren’t fixed and often surprise. The music spans sub-genres you might not have even heard of, and art and fashion collaborations are a popular affair. So energetic is the scene that the dilemma for revellers is almost one of having too many choices on any given weekend and not knowing which to head to (or how to conquer them all). In the spotlight here: the Ringtone party series.
THE PARTY: Ringtone
STARTED: June 2023, with events taking place more or less monthly
WHO’S BEHIND IT: Product manager Sebastian Chan, and students Dominic Chan (brother to Sebastian) and Halle Tan
THE LOCATION: Previous editions have been staged at The Projector’s No Spoilers Bar in Cineleisure, Cafe Tailor Made at Turf Club, and the rooftop restaurant and bar Mortar & Pestle. Follow the Instagram account @ringtoneonline to find out about the next.
THE VIBE: Hyperpop fans, Ringtone’s your gig, but these nights also boast a raucous mix of alt‑pop, K‑pop and J‑pop, as well as house and UK garage. Expect a heaving, largely Gen Z crowd that’s queer‑centric and oh‑so‑wholesome.
Halle Tan, pictured here in the foreground with hand outstretched and surrounded by the crowd at a Ringtone night this July.
What made you decide to start your own party series?
Halle Tan (HT): "I‘m not specialised in anything yet because I am super new to DJing, so I‘m down to try everything first. I love spinning techno, hyperpop, electronic and pop the most. I would want Ringtone to be known for hyperpop, alt-pop, hard, electronic, weird and high bpm sounds. And Ringtone to have a welcoming, loving, supportive community — from different queer, alternative scenes. I like to think Ringtone to be a place where different groups of people from various scenes like ballroom, drag, rave, alternative sound, fashion, art etc can come together."
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Sebastian Chan (SC): "We definitely specialise in hyperpop, whatever that means. For me, it’s a mix of PC music-esque bubblegum bass, late 2010s queer alternative bangers, post-100 gecs maximalist pop and deconstructed club. I think we definitely want to be known for throwing really fun parties, but also having a diverse and welcoming community. Our attendees are really at the heart of everything we do, and we always looking for ways to make our parties more inclusive and more fun."
How would you describe Singapore’s underground party/nightlife scene now? What’s exciting you?
HT: "I’d say that it’s super diverse, more inclusive, very welcoming to newbies and fresh ideas. Most parties I’ve seen often get younger or fresher talents to DJ, host, and perform. The audiences are very supportive and loving towards them too. Everyone needs to start somewhere and get a platform to showcase what they. have. This is great, especially since our independent art scene has been gaining more momentum post-pandemic. I am particularly excited about having more queer, non-binary and AFAB-led events/ spaces. For example, Bussy Temple, 0rbit, and Endless Return etc. From my point of view, I think these kinds of events are still quite rare because they don’t happen as often. The vibe at these spots is really different since the femmes, AFAB, trans etc. people are more visible."
There is an infectiously wholesome spirit to Ringtone's highly fashionable, mostly Gen Z community.
SC: "As a partygoer, the scene is definitely the most diverse it’s ever been, but also the best in terms of quality. We’ve had top talent like Nia Archives coming to play here, which is super exciting in terms of really expanding the influence of electronic and alternative music in Singapore… I think it’s heartening to see more independent parties and a bigger range of genres being represented - we’re even seeing more DnB and Afrobeats parties, which is a testament to how diverse the scene has been. It feels like Singapore could be the next New York or London in terms of independent nightlife, and it's amazing to see so many passionate artists and organisers putting on great events."
Compared to pre-pandemic, what are some differences you’ve noticed in how people party now? What do people want from parties in 2023?
HT: "I can’t say much about this because I didn’t go to parties when it was pre-pandemic. But based on what I see on the Internet and hear from friends, the parties before (in Singapore) were not as diverse and inclusive. I’m not too sure about this but I guess that’s because most parties had a very similar target audience. I don’t think that there were as many openly queer parties back then too.
Ringtone organisers envision its parties to be a safe space for fall, where partygoers "take care of one another and make sure that everyone’s okay".
I think a big difference between now and then is how people document their party experiences. From my point of view, I’d say partygoers these days video and photograph almost everything — different segments of parties, performers (if there are any), friends, outfits and the after-party experience. Because of how we use technology and social media today, people want to share every moment with others and keep these pockets of memories on their pages."
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Dominic Chan (DC): "To me, the post-COVID explosion in demand for parties has also led to venues becoming more adventurous and becoming willing to host DJs or try out hosting parties even if they never did so before. It’s led to a lot more cool opportunities for both sides!"
If you were going to another party in Singapore, what would it be and why this party?
HT: "Bussy Temple for sure. There is no other rave or party space like that in Singapore. Bussy Temple’s organisers are extremely creative and have great ideas for their events. Everything from design, sound, and branding to spaces and its layout are top-notch. No one does it like them. They’re always aiming to be more inclusive too. I love the idea of having the sanctuary at their more recent raves. It’s for partygoers to chill out and take a breather. They are very supportive, loving, and caring towards their audience."
"I'd say the Ringtone crowd is laregely queer and very friendly, made up of people who are always down for new concepts and ideas, and would go out specially to experience them," says Halle Tan, one of Ringtone's three head organisers.
SC: "I’m a big fan of manifest.sg, a great mix of top-class DJs and a friendly community, plus they play at really cool venues as well."
DC: "North East Social Club has been bringing some amazing artists over from the UK this year and I rarely miss a chance to watch them in action."
Where do you see these parties going in the future? How do you see them growing
HT: "I’m not too sure because I think that the growth might die down a little bit after a while since the party scene is going to be so saturated with time. I don’t think partygoers can keep up with so much. With that said the current growth in parties is also prompting more party spaces and venues to open up. I think that’s great because party organisers can choose from more locations to better suit their vibe. Also, I would love to see what other party organisers bring! I look forward to fresh, fun, creative ideas, especially for design and marketing. I am very excited about the new art direction too!"
A version of this article first appeared in the Dec 2023 This Great City Edition of FEMALE