Can't Stop The Music
Prestige Singapore|August 2017

A music festival, a restaurant and a business lounge — Alexander Chew’s pursuits have the common thread of providing experiences,learns low shiping.

Can't Stop The Music

It’s three days after Ultra Singapore 2017 and when contacted about this interview and cover shoot, Alexander Chew asks for some time before we meet. “I need a couple [of] days to recover and decompress,” he says.

Who can blame him? After all, the stage lights had just been switched off at one of the biggest music festivals in Singapore — both in terms of number of attendees (50,000) and acts (40). More importantly, this year, Chew and his crew had a lot of amends to make.

The first edition of Ultra Singapore in 2016 was fraught with challenges, from endless queues to enter the venue next to Marina Bay Sands Tower 1, and for food and drinks, to crowd control issues. “We disappointed close to 30,000 people despite spending a year planning for it. That’s pretty heavy,” Chew lets on.

Adamant that mistakes made last year would not be repeated, Chew and his business partner Raj Datwani began planning the 2017 edition two days after the one in 2016 concluded in September. For starters, they looked at rectifying the problems they faced: “It took us four months just to understand where we had gone wrong and to find solutions. So we went through social media to pick up the recurring comments.”

The effort paid off. In addition to changing the entrance process and using RFID technology to make payments, they increased the size of the main stage and very nearly doubled the amount of lights. “Social media was kinder to us this year, which was encouraging for the team,” he says, with relief.

What also helped was the stellar line-up. For two days in June, artistes such as Hardwell, Tiesto, Steve Aoki, Nicky Romero and Tchami took turns hogging the spotlight across the Main, Live and Resistance stages. If you raised your eyebrow at the 40-act ensemble, know that maximum effort was poured into the selection.

Denne historien er fra August 2017-utgaven av Prestige Singapore.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra August 2017-utgaven av Prestige Singapore.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA PRESTIGE SINGAPORESe alt
Sailing Into A Dream
Prestige Singapore

Sailing Into A Dream

Scenes from the fantasy feature Game of Thrones come to life in the otherworldly landscapes of the Arctic Circle.

time-read
6 mins  |
November 2024
Here Come The Sun Seats
Prestige Singapore

Here Come The Sun Seats

Italian furniture has long held the crown for blending luxurious, sophisticated design with impeccable craftsmanship.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
ABSOLUMENT FAB
Prestige Singapore

ABSOLUMENT FAB

France's premier fair for fine-art and antiques returns for its third edition inside its new home in the Grand Palais.

time-read
7 mins  |
November 2024
Through the Director's Lens
Prestige Singapore

Through the Director's Lens

Filmmaker JIA ZHANGKE and his protégé RAFAEL MANUEL share their perspectives on life, cinema and their current projects.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
THE CUTTING EDGE
Prestige Singapore

THE CUTTING EDGE

Having long played quiet supporting roles in the gem industry, gem cutters are finally having their day in the sun. Four acclaimed independent master gem cutters share more about their love of the craft and the creation of their best pieces.

time-read
7 mins  |
November 2024
Spheres of Power
Prestige Singapore

Spheres of Power

Following up on the gold- and titanium-focused Tiffany Titan by Pharrell Williams launch collection, the superstar now turns to pearls for a softer, but no less striking, second act.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
Horological Masterpieces Reimagined
Prestige Singapore

Horological Masterpieces Reimagined

Beyond the wrist, these timekeepers transcend all traditional boundaries.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
WILD IMAGINATION
Prestige Singapore

WILD IMAGINATION

Cartier's latest category-spanning Panthère de Cartier novelties showcase the endless ways in which the panther continues to inspire.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
READY FOR ACTION
Prestige Singapore

READY FOR ACTION

The latest watch to come from the celebrated Richard Mille and McLaren partnership looks set to be another trailblazing timepiece.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
THE RIGHT ANGLES
Prestige Singapore

THE RIGHT ANGLES

Twenty-five years after the launch of its last new collection, Twenty-4, Patek Philippe introduces the Cubitus range.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024