Before 2020, you could have your pick of music festivals in Singapore. Laneway Festival was the hottest ticket, of course, but hipsters could also head to Neon Lights Festival, which hosted its fair share of indie acts. The promising first edition of Alex Blake Charlie Sessions, which was distinguished by its women-led lineup, emerged in 2019. And if you liked your picnics with a side of chill electronic tunes, there was Garden Beats.
Syahirah Din Kriukow says that the 2018 edition of Laneway Festival, headlined by Billie Eilish, Slowdive, Mac Demarco and Bonobo, “still lives rent-free in my head”. But what she misses the most is the unique way that local music festivals brought people together, saying, “Most places have one mode: clubs are for dancing, bars are for talking, and concerts are for standing and watching. But festivals? You just exist together. They’re loose, layered and full of little discoveries. That’s their magic.”
That magic can soon be discovered at Somewhere Out There, a new music and arts festival by Fabrik Asia. The name should be familiar to partygoers: the same events agency previously organised Boiler Room Singapore in 2023 and 2024.
“Boiler Room Singapore was wild,” recalls Din Kriukow, the co-founder and managing partner of Fabrik Asia. “Tickets vanished in hours, the energy was unreal, and it brought a lot of hype. But what really stuck with me? The crowd didn’t just show up for the headliners. They came early, they stayed late, and they showed love for the local collectives.”
With the success of Boiler Room Singapore, Din Kriukow knew that there was a potential to revive the local festival scene. “What it showed me is that Singapore’s got taste, energy, and serious community spirit—but we’re still waiting for that one space that brings it all together,” she says. “We wanted to build something that felt truly homegrown; something born from our creative community, shaped by the way we connect, gather, and create. That’s how Somewhere Out There came to be.”
The music festival will make its debut on Saturday, 16 August 2025, at Fort Canning Park. If you’ve already gotten a ticket, you’re in for a good time. The line-up of the main stage, dubbed the Evermore Stage, is eclectic: there’s Bonobo, the aforementioned British electronic DJ and producer; Dutch R&B artist Rimon; the self-described “alternative K-pop band” Balming Tiger, from Seoul; and the electronic duo MXGPU, hailing from Lisbon. Homegrown acts are also headlining, namely the singer-songwriter YAØ and Joshua P, aka RAAJ. RAAJ, a veteran DJ who co-founded the buzzy bar Behind The Green Door, is the festival opener.
You’ll find even more familiar names at the Roots Stage, which is helmed by the local music collectives that helped to create a vibrant, post-pandemic party scene in Singapore. That includes Blackout Agency, GrooveTop, Last Saturdays, Soul Collective and Ice Cream Sundays. Need a break from the partying? You could also head over to the Canopy, co-curated by Wild Pearl Studio, which will feature an array of arts and wellness workshops, art installations and interactive booths. (Layyi, one of GRAZIA Singapore’s Bright Young Things, will be hosting her singing booth, where you can enjoy a spontaneous live performance.)
“At its core, Somewhere Out There is about bringing back that sense of gathering and discovery,” says Din Kriukow. “The festival is less about blowing your mind with fireworks and more about giving you that feeling of ‘I didn’t expect this, but I love it’.”
She adds, “Following the Covid-19 pandemic, there is a generation that hasn’t truly experienced what festivals can offer: the joy of gathering, the energy of music and art, and the sense of belonging. That’s what we want to bring to life.”
Fort Canning Park, with its lush, green grounds, will also encourage festival-goers to do something they may have forgotten how to do after the pandemic: go outside and touch grass. “Let’s be honest, we spend way too much time stuck in air-conditioned rooms and staring at screens,” remarks Din Kriukow. “It just felt right to get back to nature. We even ditched the usual stage-with-screens setup because we’re done with screens!”
You’ll have plenty of reasons to ditch your own phone screen at Somewhere Out There. Ahead, Din Kriukow gives GRAZIA Singapore an insider’s breakdown of the upcoming music festival.
Take us through the line-up of the Evermore Stage. What did you want to capture with the festival line-up?
Syahirah Din Kriukow (SDK): The Evermore Stage is the heart of the festival. We didn’t just want acts back-to-back, we wanted to take people on a real sonic journey. We’re keeping the schedule a surprise for now. Part of the fun is just moving with the music and discovering those energy switches on the fly. But trust me, you’ll feel it. There’ll be moments to catch your breath, to dance like you own the place, and all the good stuff in between. We wanted a mix that speaks to our generation, plus fresh gems you didn’t see coming. Acts like Balming Tiger, RIMON, Bonobo, YAØ, and RAAJ all bring their own flavour, but they’re all pros at keeping the crowd hooked. We spent way too much time obsessing over how it all flows. Since we’re self-funded, it’s a labour of love to give everyone a night to remember without breaking the bank.
At the Roots Stage, there’s an emphasis on local music collectives and DJs. Why was it important to give them this platform to showcase what they do?
SDK: As we aim to grow Somewhere Out There into a defining festival in Singapore, it just felt right to honour the crews and communities that built the scene from the ground up. Roots Stage is all about giving space to the collectives who laid the groundwork long before Somewhere Out There even existed. Boiler Room proved what we already knew, which is that people here really show up for their own. That kind of loyalty deserves way more than just a side slot; it needs its own proper stage. Even with limited space, we weren’t about to compromise on that. Roots is a nod to our beginnings and what keeps the scene alive.
What excites you the most about how these collectives have shaped the local party scene?
SDK: Blackout Agency is really close to my heart. [Blackout Agency founder] Zig Zach is a good friend: loud opinions, heart of gold, and honestly still one of my favourite DJs ever (but don’t tell him I said that). I have a lot of respect for GrooveTop, too. Seeing them go regional as an all-female collective? Super inspiring. Same with Ice Cream Sundays. They’re not just throwing parties, they’re building a community and even launched their own festival. That’s huge. These collectives aren’t just about the parties. They’re shaping culture, and we feel so lucky they said yes to being part of Somewhere Out There.
What was behind the idea for the Canopy Stage? Why was it important to include a space for creativity and wellness within a music festival?
SDK: Canopy came from a simple idea: not everything at a festival has to be loud or high-energy. It’s where people could take a breather, move at their own pace, try something new, or just take it all in without any pressure. It’s also about recognising that creativity shows up in different ways. Music is a big part of it, but so is movement, conversation, art, and even just how people choose to spend their time. Canopy is about making room for that.
Who should come to Somewhere Out There?
SDK: Anyone with a bit of curiosity in them. If you’re into music, art, culture, or even just looking to feel something again, we hope you’ll find that here. We’re not trying to be everything for everyone. But if you believe in community, discovery, and the kind of energy that makes strangers feel like newfound friends, then yeah, you’ll probably find your people Somewhere Out There. For Fabrik Asia, this isn’t a side project. It’s just who we are.
Get your tickets for Somewhere Out There, happening on 16 August at Fort Canning Park, here.
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