ZoukOut 2015 reviewed

ZoukOut is a Singapore's premier dance music festival. At 10,000-capacity, and selling out many weeks in advance, there's no denying the strength of this brand.

Having been present for every single one since its birth in 2000, Mixmag enjoyed yet another party on the beaches of Sentosa at Christmas. The line-up was incredible and we'd settled into Singapore life nicely after IMS Asia and Zouk the week before. We are well versed in what these guys represent: big, loud, positive vibes with world class production and sound. Zoukout delivered on all accounts.

On the first night, we spent most time on the Star Stage, the deeper of the two arenas there. Dj Tennis was predictably incredible, handing the never-easy-to-please Sing crowd to Dixon, losing their minds, after Four Tet's remix of Prydz's 'Opus'. Complete with a tranced-out six minute breakdown, this was a bold move in this territory, but it worked. Dixon tore it up, focussing heavily on African house, such as Orfa Mord's 'Saliva Commandos' and Jose Marquez's 'Belebo'.

For the fireworks display at midnight, we were treated to an unbelievably memorable live set by Paul Kalkbrennar. Sky and Sands, ice cannons, confetti and a world class pyrotechnics display made for a watermark moment in ZoukOut history. Paul Oakenfold deserves a mention for taking over after this undeniable climax, working his way through progressive modern classics such as Guy Gerber's 'Timing' and Oxia's 'Domino'.

The next night we ventured to the Moon (EDM stage) to catch Oliver Helden making light work of destroying the place with all his modern classics. This was awesome to see. Nicest-man-in-trance Armin Van Buuren followed, with A^A closing out. If the Sing crew are still "getting there" with the deeper stuff, they sure as hell get EDM. This was nothing short of a spectacle.

Over on the Star stage, Claude Vonstroke and Jamie Jones threw their trade mark basslines at the crowd while the heavens opened and the festival neared its close. Deep Dish finished things off with classics like 'Say Hello' layered beneath Dubfire and Sharam's sleek modern take on techno and house.