PUBLISHED November 15th, 2018 06:00 am | UPDATED July 23rd, 2024 11:30 pm
Good music and inclusivity — these are the two pillars supporting Tropika, a brand new socially conscious events brand that’s coming to Singapore. For its first edition on Sunday, 2 December 2018, they’re throwing an outdoor party within the rich greens of Fort Canning Park. That’s nine straight hours of music, wholesome food stalls, and inspiring talks.
Aiming to connect socially conscious individuals around the themes of inclusivity, sustainability, and wellness, the inaugural edition will take place around Fort Gate, a remnant of the historic fortress and a magnificent monument surrounded by large trees and lush foliage. Hipsters in the know will recognise the site as the location for the popular Neon Lights series, and can we just say how excited we are for a new player in the game?
“We hope to promote mindfulness, so everyone gives a little more love and respect to each other and Mother Earth.” — Tropika Co-founder Sharmaine Khoo
From 2pm to 11pm, attendees can look forward to a diverse array of renowned headliners like Berlin-based DJ and producer Daniel Haaksman — known for his incredible skill with tropical bass and Brazilian funk— as well as Italian multi-instrumentalist Gabriele Poso, who previously took the alternative jazz world by storm with his signature African and Afro-Latin percussive beats. Providing support is DJ Funk Bast*rd from Singapore recordDarker Than Wax as well as Syndicate’s co-founder DJ Kiat.
Embodying Tropika’s belief that music and culture go hand in hand, much-talked-about visual sound duo NADA (Rizman Putra and Safuan Johari) will perform groovy re-interpretations of 60s to 80s Malay pop songs in a homage to the golden era of Malay music. There is also The Beatroot Ensemble — comprising percussionist Mohamed Noor, guitarist Syed Munir as well as DJs Anand and Kenneth Francis — that will stage a specially-curated 90-minute act created just for Tropika.
It’s not all hard-hitting tunes either. Take a break from the music with a series of panel discussions that dive into the themes close to Tropika’s heart. In one session, Haaksman and Poso will discuss the current state of the global music industry based on their respective experiences, while another sees Audrey Perera, festival director of True Colours, and spoken word poet Deborah Emmanuel examining the representation of marginalised communities in the performing world.
The inaugural edition of Tropika is happening on Sunday, 2 December 2018 at Fort Canning Park. Pre-sale tickets are available here at $35 (includes one house spirit) from now to November 30, 2018. Tickets will also be sold at the door on the event day at $45.