Would you consider yourself a raver?  “To be honest, I only just started going to raves. I was not quite a party girl before Covid-19 hit.”

What do you love most about rave culture?  “The people and the music.”

Can you spot a raver when you see one? “I feel that there is no fixed image of a raver. There are so many kinds of ravers span different backgrounds, ages and styles.”

What do you typically wear to a rave? “Anything black and comfortable, and a pair of Dr Martens always! Add a dark smokey eye or dark red lips and I’m set.”

Who’s your rave style icon? “Nineties’ Madonna and ’70s Vivienne Westwood.”

Putri wears her own Aurabyri corset, Ghostboy skirt, thrifted stockings worn as a bolero and Vivienne Westwood earrings

How did you get into rave culture? “By first discovering its music… I also like to read up on party icons such as the Blitz Kids, Boy George, John Galliano and Alexander McQueen. A lot of them were broke fashion students who used cheap fabrics to make their own outfits from scratch to go clubbing, all with the aim of being the best-dressed of the night. This showed me that you don’t need a lot of money to make a fashion statement.”

How do raves compare to a night out at the main clubs here? “I recently went to Zouk and it was completely not for me. A rave draws a very different kind of crowd. While some people do go simply for the music, there are many others who are into its whole lifestyle including its fashion and makeup… It’s a very easy community to integrate into if you’re into the creative scene… I think raves are going to make a huge comeback. This is the year to get back into the swing of things.”

Victoria wears her own Guess vest, thrifted skirt, Courreges sunglasses and Bimba Y Lola platform sandals

What do you love most about rave culture? “I started going to rave parties organised by the likes of local techno music institution Headquarters three years ago, and they felt so different. The moment I stepped into one, I felt like I wasn’t in Singapore. In fact, the whole experience felt like something out of Berlin, which was really refreshing. The DJs champion the kind of music experimentation that one can’t find anywhere else… And I appreciate rave’s hedonistic attitude – it feels very liberating.”

Who’s your rave style icon? “Boy George – I think he dresses so fantastically that sometimes it’s almost preposterous. I love that outlandishness because I personally like to adopt characters when I dress up.”

Can rave dressing be for every day? “Sure! Brands such as Balenciaga have helped popularise rave culture or at least elements of it… in Singapore’s rave scene, I find that people are still finding their fashion language, which explains the wide variety of styles. You have as many people dressed in cargo pants and oversized T-shirts, as there are those in leather, fairy wings and cyberpunk-style goggles.”

Nicholas wears his own Comme des Garcons Homme Plus shirt and pants, and Motoguo tie

How do you think rave culture today has changed from that in the ’80s and ’90s? “I think rave culture today is heavily influenced by its past. It’s ultimately about the freedom of expression, creating a safe space, and sharing good energy. If anything, I think social media has made underground raves more accessible as compared to the past, when people had to rely mostly on word of mouth to find out about them.”

What do you love most about rave culture? “That it’s about liberation of youths, and finding common ground with like-minded people – those who’d pick dancing over sleeping. Most importantly, it is a space for all to express themselves freely.”

What do you typically wear to a rave? “I enjoy a monochromatic look – usually full black or white – with chunky shoes and socks, sporty sunglasses and a smokey eye.”

Shimin wears her own Hyein Seo bolero, I Am Gia bikini top, Blumarine skirt, leg warmers sourced from Shopee, and Adidas sneakers 

How should one dress for a rave? “When you’re at a rave, your dressing shouldn’t be restricted to what you wear regularly and you shouldn’t be too concerned about looking too outrageous. Nobody really cares if you’re wearing too much or too little. It’s also completely acceptable to not put much thought at all into your look. The most important thing is that you are yourself.”

How do you think rave culture today has changed from that in the ’80s and ’90s? “Raves came about as part of a movement against mainstream society, consumed by individuals, who share the same ideals and beliefs, and as a result became a safe space for them to channel their most genuine selves. In that sense, rave culture hasn’t changed much – that welcoming sense of community remains.”

Who’s your rave style icon? “The Brooklyn-based non-binary artist and music producer Zah – a nightlife fixture who was one of my earliest introductions to rave culture today and is a major influence on my own, ever-evolving tastes in music and style.”

What do you typically wear to a rave? “Mismatched layers of textures with spontaneous touches of draping. And comfortable shoes are a must.”

Farah wears her own thrifted jacket, tights, necklaces and belt; self-modified Zara skirt; and boots sourced from Taobao

Would you consider yourself a raver? “Yes, because when I got to a rave, I enjoy myself. I dance to the music and I feel very comfortable. To me, a raver isn’t necessarily defined by a look, but by how at ease they feel at the event and are unafraid to move to the music however as they please.”

What do you love most about rave culture? “That it’s a safe space for people who might not fit into the mainstream… I also personally see raves as a space for me to experiment with clothes that I don’t think I can otherwise pull off. I once worse a batik shirt and slippers to a rave at Gillman Barracks because wearing flip-flops to parties is generally frowned upon. Of course, I wouldn’t do that again because my feet got stomped on a lot, but I had fun.”

Ariel wears his own Marine Serre tank top, Pupil Travel cape (worn as skirt), Parts of Four bangles and Asics X Kiko Kostadinov sneakers

What do you love most about rave culture? “I like to describe rave culture as being born of raw energy. You can see that when you go for a rave and people dance through the night till six or seven the next morning… Maybe that release of energy stems from being suppressed at work, or simply a love for music. I think raves are avenues for people to live out their fashion fantasies and enjoy the music, instead of getting involved in all the nonsense that happens at mainstream clubs – like people trying to hit on others.”

What do you typically wear to a rave? “I’m into what I call a military queer vibe. I like the feeling of being ready for combat, which is why I have on here this padded bracer that I made out of some material originally intended for dogs to chew on. Other times, I might wear accessories such as metal body chains. I think people are more unafraid to let loose or show off their bodies at raves. At the last one I attended, I was essentially topless. One fashion essential, though, is a good pair of boots like Dr Martens because they’re battle-ready.”

Josh wears his own thrifted mesh top, self-made vest, Abercrombie & Fitch cargo shorts, necklaces bought in Guangzhou, bag by Singapore designer BryanYeo, self-made puffer bracers, Parts of Four bangles and vintage cowboy boots

Photography Phyllicia Wang Direction Jonathan Chia Coordination Pang Jia Wei

A version of this article first appeared in the July 2022 Drama Edition of FEMALE