Tashasan
Natasha Hassan wears many hats. She is a freelance designer and illustrator, before which she spent many years working in the corporate music world. She is also the co-founder of music and party collective North East Social Club, which hosts regular DJ shows with the aim of introducing underrated sounds such as garage and UK funky to Southeast Asia. Her foray into DJing, then, feels completely natural.
“There’s a meme about experiencing a millennial mid-life crisis where you either learn how to DJ, join an intensive sport or completely change your career path. I ended up doing two of those things,” she laughs. “DJing started off as a joke, with the idea of opening for one of my parties. Over time, I realised that my song selections were becoming more than just for amusement. That’s when it hit me that this is serious.”
The affinity she found with the craft is unsurprising, given how deeply Hassan has always been entrenched in creative fields. “One of the reasons I find DJing so fulfilling is because it resonates deeply with my work as a designer. The processes involved in both fields are strikingly similar,” she shares. To illustrate, she draws comparisons between the meticulous layering required in graphic design and beat matching in DJ work, as well as the similarities between editing animations and mixing tracks. “It’s all about creating a cohesive and engaging experience.”
“DJing allows me to contribute to this cultural and political dialogue, making it an integral part of my life and identity”
Beyond that, Hassan shares that DJing serves as a reminder of the role that music plays in history and culture. “What makes DJing special to me is its inherent political nature. Within every sound played lies a piece of history waiting to be rediscovered and amplified,” she explains. “For instance, genres like dub music, which I enjoy playing, originate from reggae roots and are imbued with cultural and political significance, often serving as a form of protest music. DJing, in essence, allows me to contribute to this cultural and political dialogue, making it an integral part of my life and identity.”
And identity—in a field still dominated by men—becomes an inescapable part of the equation, especially for minority women. “We’re witnessing the rise of queer- and women-led collectives, signalling a promising move towards inclusivity. Individuals are actively creating opportunities rather than waiting for them,” muses Hassan. “As a woman and a person of colour in this space, I find myself energised by this transformation. It’s not just about breaking barriers; it’s about reshaping the narrative and creating a more inclusive nightlife community.”
As the nightlife scene in Singapore continues to evolve, Hassan hopes that acceptance and understanding will be at the forefront of growth. She concludes: “Contrary to misconceptions, nightlife is not something to be feared but rather celebrated as a vital cultural hub. Parties, at their core, are about fostering connections and building communities—a concept that holds immense significance for me. We need more spaces and support to nurture creativity and innovation within our community.”
A Tashasan party, in 5 tracks
- ‘Weh Dem A Do (Coki – Digital Mystikz & Underground Ice Remix)’ by Mavado
- ‘Rebound X’ by Rhythm N Gash
- ‘Shurooq’ by Toumba
- ‘Darabukka’ by TSVI
- ‘Midnight Request Line’ by Skream
Aya
“When I’m at the booth, I’m fully myself and I can embrace all my strengths and vulnerabilities,” begins Ayano Ueno. By day, the Yokohama native is a flight attendant. By night, she takes her place behind the decks as DJ Aya—spinning for local label Midnight Shift and events collective Thugshop. “DJing is like an anchor that guides me back to myself when I feel lost. I can confront and overcome challenges without fear of failing and I’m constantly driven by my curiosity and ambition to learn and improve as an artist as well as an individual. It brings excitement and optimism into my life and it’s where I can evolve and grow as a person.”
Having first discovered her love for electronic dance music at raves while living in San Diego, Ueno began learning to DJ through bedroom sessions with friends after moving to Singapore for work. “It was a moment of finding my passion. I got decks and jammed by myself for hours every day.”
Since then, she’s played everything from the Alex Blake Charlie Sessions in Singapore to DJ streaming platform Hör Berlin. The magic of DJing, Ueno muses, stems from the connection she shares with party-goers on the dance floor through music. “The energy from the crowd has a huge impact on the journey of my set—we create the vibe of the room together. It’s like an energy exchange between me and them. I receive and absorb their energy, and send it back through the music, and vice versa.”
“When I’m at the booth, I’m fully myself and I can embrace all my strengths and vulnerabilities”
One of her most memorable performances, she shares, was her first gig for Manifest, where she extended her set in the midst of rain and thunder. “The vibe was surreal,” she reflects. “It’s a privilege to have such electrifying experiences. These moments when we create something special make my day and motivate me to keep on going.”
To Ueno, the community she has found in the nightlife scene is where she can be her most authentic self. “Music has been a huge part of my life and meeting people in the nightlife scene—from promoters to DJs to party-goers—has made me feel at home when I’m at the clubs. We have conversations about music of all sorts, and I love jamming and having music production sessions with friends. I’m grateful to have such a warm and loving place where everyone looks out for each other,” she shares. “I hope our local nightlife scene continues growing and our community stays strong. Hopefully more people will feel that it’s a special place to hold in their heart where they can be themselves.”
As for what’s next, Ueno shares with a smile: “I would love to be really good at playing vinyls. Maybe you’ll see a vinyl-only set by me in the future. Practice makes perfect.”
An Aya party, in 5 tracks
- ‘Lamella’ by Zoë Mc Pherson
- ‘Maneater (Pantile Bootleg)’ by Pantile
- ‘U Make Me Feel’ by Baron Von Trax
- ‘Transformations’ by X-Coast
- ‘Little Fluffy Clouds’ by The Orb
Miss Lil
To Lilian Hautemulle, DJing, at its heart, is a method of sharing music, which has been an integral part of her life long before she stepped behind the deck. “I’m a major music enthusiast and I’ve been fortunate to architect my life around it,” she muses. Not only is she a DJ, she is also the cofounder of music collective Sivilian Affairs which she runs with her partner Sivanesh Pillai, as well as a streaming and radio manager at independent electronic music label Monstercat. “Whether you’re playing from a DJ app on your phone or on turntables and a custom mixer, the beauty of DJing is getting to spread a sound that you find rewarding to listen to.”
The idea of DJing came to her 12 years ago when she was living in Tucson, Arizona. “I started sending tracks to my DJ friends who kept encouraging me to get on the decks. I’ve had a couple of people give me tutorials over those 12 years, but it was really a matter of timing,” she explains. “Prior to COVID-19, I had a job that had me travelling everywhere and I loved it—it was a great way to see the clubs in so many cities with such different scenes and sounds. When the pandemic hit, I was finally home long enough to give it a go. It was nice too because I had a bunch of friends, particularly girlfriends, who were getting into DJing at the same time, so we found camaraderie practising together in small at-home jams.”
The reception she has received from the nightlife community since then has been entirely warm. “I frequent a lot of events, which means that when I emerged as a baby COVID DJ, there were a lot of familiar faces ready to support me on my journey.
“Whether you’re playing from a DJ app on your phone or on turntables and a custom mixer, the beauty of DJing is getting to spread a sound that you find rewarding to listen to”
And just as the local nightlife community has embraced her, Hautemulle’s goal is to give back by creating spaces and opportunities for aspiring DJs to hone their craft. Together with Wild Pearl, a dance music community and space in Pearl Hill, she is putting together a DJ crash course for non-male, non-EP holders. “We will cover foundational information like cords, equipment and mixing with the intention of creating a safe space for attendees to play around and see if this is a passion they would like to continue pursuing. We are still ironing out the details, but it’s looking like a June launch of the pilot,” she shares.
As opportunities like these open up within the nightlife industry, Hautemulle hopes that a more vibrant music scene can grow in Singapore and Southeast Asia. “There’s a hunger for new spaces where we can listen to music. There’s a shortage of dance music venues and getting licences for pop-up parties is complex.” she reflects. “Beyond just the nightlife space, I would love to see more activations across our city which include local artists. We have so many beautiful parks and community spaces that are great for daytime dance parties. Normalising music events outside and encouraging dancing could be a wonderful shift for local arts, culture and well-being.”
A Miss Lil party, in 5 tracks
- ‘2 Tha Dance Floor’ by Liquid Earth
- ‘Cutie – Edit’ by Shanti Celeste
- ‘Sparkly and Bouncy is For Me?’ By Didi Han
- ‘Divine Time’ by Aldonna
- ‘Going On (Dub Mix)’ by Saint Guel
Photography Zantz Han
Styling Jasmine Ashvinkumar and Nicholas See
Hair Hazel Tan/Makeup Entourage using Keune Haircosmetics
Make-up Lydia Thong/Makeup Entourage using Make Up For Ever
Photographer’s assistant Michelle Yap
The April ‘Pop’ issue of Vogue Singapore is available online and on newsstands now.
