City Nomads Radio: Daytime Dancing, Singapore

PUBLISHED January 1st, 2021 05:00 am | UPDATED August 18th, 2023 01:04 am

Most party animals tend to be nocturnal, but for Nicholas Ye, there’s no feeling like breaking out some sunlit moves. Known by his DJ moniker Daytime Dancing – a nod to his favourite pastime – he’s often found getting the party going at unusual times and places. Whether it’s in the desert, at the museum, or outside a church, his versatile range from Balearic house to dubstep can quickly get crowds sweaty. We chat with him on daytime dancing, genre mashups, and his work as co-founder of creative agency The Secret Little Agency.

Hi Nicholas! Take us back in time – how did you get into DJing?

Ibiza and Aldrin are to blame! It was on an annual pilgrimage to the magic island in 2012, and I was fortunate enough to be tagging along with some friends to see Aldrin play at Pacha in Ibiza. I was in love with the Balearic sound and started taking a real interest in how the music was being made and played.

I kept at it for a few years and one day, Eileen (better known by her DJ name Cats on Crack) booked me to play at the National Museum – and later, on particular weekday nights at HQ and Tuff Club. Like all things, the interest became a hobby, then a habit, and now, an all-out love affair.

Who’re your major musical influences?

My dream concert lineup would be Prince, Dixon, Daft Punk, Burial and The Beach Boys!

Besides the usual clubs, you’ve played at the National Gallery, in the desert, at an ice factory… tell us more about these unusual gigs.

It’s always a ball! I try to find two to three tracks that make sense for where I’m playing at. Darude’s Sandstorm in the desert, or a Christmas carol at an ice factory. Something cheesy that lets the audience know that I’m human too. Club sets tend to be exactly that, a set… whereas a strange venue throws all expectations of what’s being played and how, out the door.

You’re all about genre mashups in your sets. What’s one genre you’d love to see get more attention?

This may sound pretty obvious, but I worry that we still don’t hear or play good, proper, 4/4 house music out enough. Other than that, I think just ambient and downtempo music should be played out more often too!

Where in Singapore would you daytime dance if you could get away with it?

Upstairs at Headquarters for sure. It would be great to see bars and clubs open as soon as safely possible.

You also co-founded creative agency The Secret Little Agency. Do you find that there’re crossovers between design, advertising, and your DJing?

Yes, plenty. The best creativity flourishes around good music. Music, even the non-electronic kind, is so essential to culture and creativity. I don’t think I could function creatively without the avenues to pursue, consume, play, share, and enjoy music.

What’s one track you haven’t been able to get out of your head recently?

Because its Christmas… Jeff Mills’ The Jingle Bells (Iban Zero Remix).

2020 has been quite a doozy – looking back, what were your biggest challenges this year?

Everything melding was an interesting challenge. Office and home, rest and play all started melding together. It sometimes got confusing, and most times exhausting. I know everyone is trying to find, or has found, their own new balance this year.

Describe your mix for us!

It’s an adventure that goes unusually dark (for me at least) somewhere toward the end.

Keep up with Daytime Dancing on Soundcloud.