Endless Return To Nowhere: This Is A Virtual Rave Experiment You’re Not Ready For

Are you ready for a mind trip? (Credit: Divaagar, Anti Shift, Brandon Tay [front] / Endless Return [rear])

The best raves are the quirky ones, the ones that circumvent expectations and offer an experience that’s distinctively inimitable. You could say that, in a distorted age where traditional physical parties have been abolished (in the meantime, at least), every initiative cropping up in the digital space of streaming might seem novel, and there indeed have been a couple of fresh developments in the past few months from avatar boogies to adaptations of live festivals. But I can confidently declare that the scene has yet to be familiarised with the upcoming antics of Endless Return, a “regenerative virtual rave” that is as outrageous and outlandish as it sounds.

Visuals by Brandon Tay for the previous edition of Endless Return (Credit: Brandon Tay)

Founded by XUE, this manic showcase marks the sophomore edition of Endless Return, and it’s a tie-in with the EdgeCut Performance Series in partnership with New York Live Arts. Centred around the theme of Captivity, this collaboration will manifest as a virtual rave on ZOOM – featuring local and international DJs, VJs, live acts and other artists – that’s hosted on NOWHERE, an “enigmatic 3D platform” that serves as a gathering for other participating artworks in the series. If this is already getting you giddy, you haven’t even seen what’s in store yet.

Expect soundtracks from Anti Shift (Credit: Anti Shift Facebook page)

And Malaysia’s rEmPiT g0dDe$$ (Credit: Sarah Hanan)

Sonically, you can expect everything from the dystopian and industrial cacophonies of Anti Shift, the accelerating salvos of C2AC, the maximal electronica of Malaysia’s rEmPiT g0dDe$$ and other amorphous forms that dodge the fixed four-on-the-floor formula. These DJ sets will be complemented with radical artworks and videos from the likes of Brandon Tay, Divaagar, Elsa Wong and Chong Lii; live performances from originators like Sonia Kwek, Chantel Foo and Babenshin; illuminations from Nicholas Ong and Wildblu and even something called a rave shrine from Pallavi Gupta. Everything on this lineup is designed to dismay, inform, perplex and regale – a bizarre ensemble of visionaries gathered in a party portal that exists within its own rules.

The lineup will also include works from several artists (Credit: Divaagar)

(Credit: Rifqi Amirul)

(Credit: Sonia Kwek)

(Credit: Nicholas Ong)

(Credit: Babenshin)

Entertainment aside, this platform also hopes to raise awareness for several ongoing petitions and organisations which Endless Return advocates. You can view this full list here.  

(Credit: Endless Return)

This event happens on 10 October 2020, 9.30pm-3.30am. To find out more Endless Return To Nowhere and how you can watch the show, view its public press release or follow its Instagram page.