The One & Only Aldrin: Guardian Of The Local Electronic Scene For Over 30 Years

Every industry has its legends, but there is only one like Aldrin (Credit: Courtesy of Aldrin)

For a country’s music industry to possess ironclad permanence and watertight credibility, it needs its champions. It requires steadfast characters who stand their ground and stay in the game, overcoming problems that tend to plague long careers like stagnancy and burnout. These are the musical pioneers who helped reshape perception across generations, amplifying our tiny red dot as a beating heart of Southeast Asia where dance music is concerned – where dance music can flourish. Stimulating this pulse for decades is one stalwart no less than an icon; the one and only Aldrin whose legacy echoes across the echelons of the industry.

Aldrin was a resident DJ at Zouk as early as the mid-’90s (Credit: Zouk Singapore)

The captain behind his signature ONE nightlife brand which has become a renowned staple of the local electronic scene, Aldrin is by all means a master selector adept in a spectrum of genres, be it melodic techno, deep house or nu-disco. A maestro to the masses, Aldrin played private “mobile disco” parties in the ’80s and was an essential part of the growth of superclub, Zouk, from the ’90s, making history as its resident DJ with his ONE series in tow. The club’s association and his revolutionary impact would go on to open several doors for him; a brilliant streak of accolades that would cement Aldrin as one of Singapore’s proudest exports. From Ibiza guest slots and an Essential Mix on BBC Radio 1, to magazine cover features and numerous awards, the victories that adorn Aldrin’s accomplished career are plentiful and unparalleled.

Today, Aldrin continues to make his presence felt at institutions like Marquee (Credit: Marquee Singapore)

In circumstances tarnished by COVID-19, the hard-hit industry needs veterans like Aldrin now more than ever. An active performer before the world went awry at institutions like Tuff Club and Marquee Singapore, Aldrin continues to enrapture audiences with live-streams of his everlasting ONE series, as well as his disco-/indie-oriented Singapore Island Culture Club. These undying efforts are much-needed jolts of passion and positivity, groove-dosing defibrillators reviving the scene from its stupor. Music is the voltage it needs, administered by Aldrin as its respected guardian.

Sharing his wisdom in this interview, Aldrin tells us the ups and downs of his extensive career, and how he’s keeping it going with gusto and authenticity despite the state of the industry. If you want to understand survivability, look no further than Aldrin.

“It’s not about what you play, but more importantly, how you play it.” (Credit: Courtesy of Aldrin)

Hi Aldrin, it’s an honour to have you with us. With your decades of milestones, you’re pretty much regarded as an industry hero respected by many. How do you feel about all of this?

Thanks for having me! To be honest, I think I was just lucky to be in the right place at the right time, but I’m definitely grateful to the industry for all the accolades, and for the massive support from the clubbers all these years.

How does one stay in the game for so long and keep that burning passion alive?

I guess turning one’s passion into one’s career makes work feel like play! Also the fact that the music I love to play out is progressive by nature, with genres morphing their sounds over the years, plus new sub-genres popping up every now and then; it really keeps things refreshing and interesting. And for that, I have to thank all the talented music producers out there who are consistently churning out great music day after day, week in week out.

Aldrin has brought his ONE nights to party spots all over the island (Credit: Kilo Lounge)

What rules or philosophies do you always follow, and what mistakes should DJs never make if they want to make it in this business?

It’s not about what you play, but more importantly, how you play it. Any DJ these days can get their hands on the latest or most sought-after tunes, but a great DJ knows how to program the music in such a way that even the most obscure track can become the highlight of the night. Also, a great DJ should understand the concept of a warm-up set and know how to execute it well.

Even now, the imprint of Aldrin’s ONE brand rubs off on today’s youth (Credit: Zouk Singapore)

The ONE brand has become a resilient mainstay in this industry, synonymous with the legacy you’ve crafted. How do you feel about its growth and staying power through the years? Would you say it’s your proudest baby?

Yes, I guess you can say ONE is my proudest baby! But the honest truth is that the brand’s direction got lost at some point. The ONE night at Zouk took a beating when EDM became such a monstrosity that swept across the globe like a pandemic. It also meant fewer foreign gigs for me as EDM became the preferred sound in most large capacity clubs (especially in this region). 

Furthermore, the exclusivity of the ONE night to Zouk didn’t help the situation. I was sort of living in a bubble, and wasn’t very in touch with what else was going on outside of Zouk. It took me a couple of tough years to find my feet again and I’m extremely grateful that the industry and clubbers are still supporting ONE.

Aldrin playing Bestival in Bali (Credit: Courtesy of Aldrin)

The ONE identity also includes your OneWithMusic label. Are you still keeping it running?

I started the label in ’07 to showcase my music production output, and as a platform for other music producers in Singapore and around the region. As I made music primarily for my gigs, I kinda lost my mojo when EDM came into the picture. When it became increasingly difficult to continue my night at Zouk, I lost track of my direction and became pretty disheartened and stopped producing. The label has since remained dormant for the last eight years. There are currently no plans for any new releases just yet as I’m actually (and finally!) working on other music production projects.

Aldrin made history with One More Time, an event that honoured 25 years of dance music history as he performed live with a 50-piece orchestra (Credit: Courtesy of Aldrin)

Nice! Can you tell us more about these production projects? 

So I finally got back into the studio over the last few months, kick-started by a travel company that commissioned me to produce three original tracks for their virtual conference. I’ve been wanting to get back in the studio for quite a while now since I’m a little more settled with the ONE brand and its current direction, but I just needed that extra push. Now that the engine has restarted, I’ve just agreed to work on an EP for Asia Music so I’m pretty excited about that.

Singapore Island Culture Club is another primary avenue for Aldrin’s repertoire (Credit: Courtesy of Aldrin)

Of course, ONE isn’t your only endeavour. Another enduring brainchild of yours is Singapore Island Culture Club.

Yes, Singapore Island Culture Club (SICC) is actually a night I started in ’13 with my long-time friend and former Zouk colleague, Tracy Phillips. There wasn’t such a party in the local clubs at that time, so we wanted to plug into an alternative sound that was current, lighthearted and fun, that was accessible even for more mainstream audiences.

Everyone is welcome at Singapore Island Culture Club (Credit: Courtesy of Aldrin)

Of all the genres you’ve dabbled in, why did you decide to build a brand anchored by nu-disco and indie dance?

Since my early Zouk days, apart from the bigger, tougher sounds of my main sets, I’d always kept up to date with a ‘friendlier’ secondary sound, be it soulful/disco house in the ’90s, US West Coast deep house in the early ’00s, or the more European/UK deep house in the mid ’00s, and would grab any opportunity to play them out. I guess this nu-disco/indie dance sound that developed towards the later half of ’00 was just a natural progression for me.

Also, ever since I was a kid, I have always preferred synths over guitars, so when I started hearing indie bands from mid ’00s getting the electronic remix treatment with loads of ’80s and disco influences, I was sold! Also, the sheer range of the genre, from slower, easy-listening jams to more dancey grooves, made it such a flexible sound and so easily adaptable for all kinds of occasions. Besides, this modern disco sound has now mutated into darker variations, blurring the lines with techno, making it even more versatile.

Clubs come and go, but the legacy of Aldrin perseveres (Credit: CATO)

Do you think the growth of the electronic industry has been a cyclic trajectory that repeats itself? Or do you genuinely see an evolution that’s making headway?

With the advent of EDM, which is by far the most commercial I’ve seen dance music become in all my years in the industry, I feel that everything else has gone back ‘underground’ in order to reinvent itself.  Since then, it has definitely evolved, albeit still in a niche kind of way, especially here in Asia. But it is certainly way more developed, with a better foundation and more defined infrastructure.

The industry needs veterans like Aldrin now more than ever (Credit: Courtesy of Aldrin)

In all your years, have you ever seen anything as dire as the COVID-19 crisis with regards to its toxic impact on the music industry?

This is by far the worst I’ve seen our industry plummet to. It seems like only those with the deepest of pockets will be able to survive this crisis. I sincerely hope we will all be able to recover from this stronger and more united.

I hope so too. How has this pandemic affected you personally and as a creative?

I’ve been out of DJ work since March, so finances are drying up fast and it’s pretty worrying when there’s still no light at the end of the tunnel. Keeping up with new music, though, has been keeping me positive and productive, along with the music production projects. And I’ve definitely learnt so much from all the live-streaming. My creativity is definitely at its peak!

Aldrin performing at ZoukOut (Credit: Zouk Singapore)

If you could build a time machine and travel back to the point where you first decided to be a DJ, what would you tell yourself?

Stay on this path. You’re on the right track. Electronic music is the way forward! HA!

Lastly, can you share what’s next for the legacy of Aldrin?

Nothing massive; just looking forward to churning out some fresh new music and eventually getting my label up and running again. I’m also looking to collaborate with like-minded peeps in this modern disco sound to help propel the Singapore Island Culture Club brand. And since no one is exactly sure when bars and clubs will get to reopen again, I might plan to start teaching some basic DJ classes!

Aldrin currently runs the party series, ONE and Singapore Island Culture Club. Follow his profile to stay updated with his activities.