ZOUK KL SG/INT

THE ZOUK EVOLUTION
asia’s largest superclub
we’ve got something
to show the world
The spanking new US$10-million Zouk KL reopens
this month at a new locale along Jalan Tun Razak in
Kuala Lumpur. It stands boldly in the capital city
shaped by modern skyscrapers and historic
landmarks. With its sharp, sloping lines, its
masculine, futuristic exterior is a symbol of
tomorrow. Imposing on the outside, it houses a
myriad of contrasting interior spaces at its heart,
embracing modernist techniques in sound, lights
and design, keeping its inhabitants au courant with
the future. Welcome to the clubland - Zouk KL
the world’s
most
recognised
global club
brand
asia’s largest superclub
one of the world’s biggest
club developments
#38 on dj mag
top 100 clubs in the world
106,000
sq ft complex
60,000
sq ft club space
46,000
sq ft basement carpark
11
experiential spaces
36-month
labour of love
ONE WORLD
ONE TRIBE
ONE MUSIC
ONE DANCE
ZOUK KL: DANCE FLOOR EUPHORIA
Nobody quite knows what’s coming. But when the music plays, the room is
charged
it may just
You feel alive. You don’t know what’s coming next but you know
change
your life
The electrifying, festival-like dance floor is
a rhythm nation, growing with every tune.
The music unites.
contents
p.01
THE ZOUK EVOLUTION
asia’s biggest superclub
p.03
BUILDING
ONE OF THE WORLD’S & ASIA’S BIGGEST SUPERCLUBS
design & architecture philosophy
p.05
SOUND PLAY, HIGH LIGHTS
a multi-visual experience
p.07
ANATOMY OF ZOUK KL
11 spectacular club rooms | id
content
p.17
QUICK, FUN FACTS
at a glance
p.19
TOUR DE FORCE
zouk kl resident DJs
p.27
ZOUK BRAND & FOUNDERS
spirit | culture
p.29
TREND SETTING
zouk kl milestones
inspiration
THE ZOUK EVOLUTION
one of the world’s & asia’s newest, biggest superclubs opens this month
ANNOUNCEMENT AUGUST 2015
With its bold facade of strong symmetrical lines, Zouk KL now
stands poised to become the new landmark at its new address
along the bustling Jalan Tun Razak. Taking three years in
planning, the award-winning superclub is a hallmark of club
design and concept, with its dramatic architecture resonating
with the global club brand.
The much-awaited, new US$10-million [RM38-m] home of
global club brand Zouk Kuala Lumpur [KL] is launching this
month at TREC along downtown Jalan Tun Razak. TREC is
Malaysia and KL’s first and largest purpose-built
entertainment and lifestyle enclave.
This follows the recent two-part farewell parties [July 11
and July 25] at its former club space at Jalan Ampang,
where Zouk KL has been located since 2004.
Its Singapore flagship at Jiak Kim Street opened in 1991 and
will move to its new home in Clarke Quay next year. Zouk KL,
Malaysia’s most successful nightspot, opened in Kuala Lumpur
13 years after the brand’s advent in Singapore, in March
2004. The search for Zouk KL’s new home began three years
[2011] prior to its land lease expiry on Jalan Ampang.
The new multi-room complex will open nine venues on Aug
21, after its private preview for invited guests on Aug 20,
and the remaining two venues will open on Sept 4.
At a staggering 106,000 sq ft, the newly-built, two-storey
Zouk KL is one of the world’s largest entertainment
complexes, and Asia’s biggest superclub. It comprises 11
venues – of which three are new concepts – which occupy
a total of 60,000 sq ft of built-in club space. This is twice
the entire size of the previous club complex at Jalan
Ampang.
BIGGER CLUB FOR MORE VISITORS
Ranked No. 38 in DJ Mag’s Top 100 Clubs In The World global
poll, Zouk KL – a tourist magnet – draws 15,000 visitors
weekly, including tourists. This is nearly double the 8,000
weekly visitors it welcomed when it first opened in 2004.
Now, each year, more than half a million revellers waltz past
its velvet ropes. Among these, an estimated 100,000 are
tourists.
The new Zouk KL’s underground carpark [for 150 cars]
makes up the remaining 46,000 sq ft. With distinct straight
line edges defining its external appearance, the new
structure is a vision that embodies the innovative concept
of the 24-year-old a world-class, club brand – and it is a
symbol of leadership in clubland Asia.
Zouk KL offers free entry to tourists, in support of the city’s
appeal as a tourist destination. It is also the only nightspot in
Malaysia to have a GST Tax Invoice Counter for Malaysian and
GST-registered companies that spend a minimum of US$139
at the club in a night.
Zouk KL, the capital of the city’s electronic dance music
scene, is lavishly outfitted with a state of the art lighting
and sound equipment, set against a kaleidoscope of
soundscapes from EDM, House, Electro, Open Format,
Trance, Techno, Trap, R&B, Hip Hop to Indie and Nu-Disco.
With its brand new offerings, overall visitorship is expected to
increase by another 20%. Zouk KL’s latest incarnation also
01
p.07
ANATOMY OF ZOUK KL
11 spectacular spaces
C L U B B E R S’ C H O I C E
underlines its ambition at breaking into
the Top 20 of the world’s best clubs.
Zouk KL’s co-founder, Cher Ng, who is
behind the club’s design and concept,
says: “What we’ve done with the new
Zouk KL is designing one cool massive
venue that tailors to the needs of
various demographics as well as
provide an experiential outing of the
Zouk brand for foreign visitors. Each
room has its very own unique identity
and focus, from the sound and lighting
to its interior appearance.”
He adds: “Foremost on our mind when
conceptualising the new Zouk KL boils
down to acknowledging and catering to
clubbers’ choices. We understand what
they want and why they have been
visiting Zouk KL regularly in the past
decade, and what we’ve learned, we
have applied towards improving all our
amenities and services.”
And, this was the winning attitude the
club took when Zouk KL underwent a
revamp in 2008, where the rooms were
compartmentalised to create new
venues to tailor to the different tastes
and preferences, giving clubbers more
options.
Cher, who is also the founder of TREC
where the new Zouk KL is located,
IMPERIAL – THE PLUSH LIFE
One of Zouk KL’s latest additions will
become the most ritzy and exclusive
venue in Kuala Lumpur – Imperial. As the
name suggests, it caters to the club’s
growing elite clientele and it features a
dedicated VIP concierge service [for hire]
that has a team of party planners, guestrelations and security.
With Zouk KL’s rebirth, the club has also
beefed up its programming with new club
nights, alongside a roster of global acts.
notes: “This is the key difference
between Zouk KL and many clubs.
We’re riding on that philosophy and
we have sharpened the room
concepts at the new club to target
our core demographic groups.” They
include the high-net worth
individuals, regular partygoers,
creative communities and even for
those who prefer a subdued nightout to a highly-energetic experience.
The result: 11 venues, ranging from
members areas, alfresco areas, club
rooms, private rooms, and a cafe,
each with a distinct purpose, feature
and appeal – topped of by amenities
such as kitchen/catering facility,
private rooms, plus lifts to clubs, a
medical bay and more, making Zouk
KL a self-contained, sustainable
entity.
02
Last year, the superclub clinched the
Nightspot Platinum Award at the Mayor’s
Tourism Awards. Zouk KL is also the only
standalone nightspot in Malaysia endorsed
by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture as
a venue under the National Key Economic
Areas. It is the only nightspot in the
metropolis with a 5am operating license.
Zouk’s brand founder [SG/KL] Lincoln
Cheng says: “There is nothing in the world
like Zouk KL Everything is custom-built
from the complex, architecture,
furnishings and club concepts.”
C h e r a d d s : “ Z o u k K L h a s fi r m l y
established itself in Asia in the last 11
years, and the idea of a club designed by
clubbers-for-clubbers still holds true – the
motto when we first opened Zouk KL in
2004.”
the making of
SUPERCLUBS
ASIA’S & ONE OF THE WORLD’S BIGGEST
design team
DIRECTION
Cher Ng
co-founder, Zouk KL
design +
ADVISOR
Lincoln Cheng
architecture philosophy
founder, Zouk brand [SG/KL]
ID
Phillips Connor
Regional Creative Director
DB&B
ARCHITECTURE
Veritas Design Group
BUILDING
Fabian Low
SKL Interior (KL)
Falkcon Interior (SG)
03
custom-built for comfort
CROWD MANAGEMENT
DEMAND, AMBIENCE &
AESTHETICS
How does one plan and build a new home for the
biggest global club name on this side of the world
that’s a staggering three times the size of what it used
to be?
Phillips notes: “The project is very large and there is a
complex interrelationship between the variety of venues
within the space. It is important to create a systematic
approach to planning. This building was created from the
inside out – from looking at the different clubs in the
space; how they interrelate with one another; how
customers would experience them;
and then, creating the building
envelope.”
1
Zouk KL’s co-founder Cher Ng took lead of the
new Zouk KL’s concept,
research and planning, which
started three years ago, in
2011. He recalls: “By late
2014, the design draft had
reached over 60 revisions, and we
started the design process two
years ago in 2012. I’m particular
when comes to space planning and
that’s one thing I’ve learnt over the
years that it can make or break a
club.”
Cher adds: “We have created a
unique environment for each of
those experiences when people
are in the rooms, moving from
space to space, and enjoying that
journey and environment.”
Architecturally, the building
design is progressive – it’s new,
it’s angular, and it zooms towards
you. There is lots of ethereal light, with plenty of
colouration on the facade, Phillips describes.
Cher did his research, studying
designs of various clubs through his
frequent travels. The former club at Jalan Ampang was
also a case study – on how the crowd moved around
within the complex; dictating the correct ceiling height
for the rooms; having the right entrance design for
better flow and crowd management; and specifying the
type of sound, light and visual effects to be achieved
in each room.
3
THE SHINY LANDMARK
The result: An architectural and design marvel. The
powerful experience of Zouk KL starts when one
approaches the building, designed by the awardwinning Veritas Design Group as an aggressive, iconic
architectural statement. So bold and alluring, people can
quickly recognise and identify it.
Cher examined the design dynamics in perspective,
piecing the elements together for guests’ overall
experience at the new superclub at TREC. It also helped
him to determine the suitable size for each room so as
to cater to demand, as well as creating little nooks in
the club, which he observes “some people have the
habit to going back to their favourite spots and
corners in the club all the time”.
Zouk KL’s facade [63m long x 15m high] features a hard
and reflective property that picks up the night light
beautifully, says Fabian Low of SLK Interior and Falkcon
Interior, who sourced for various materials from Canada,
the Philippines, Italy, Spain, USA, China, Indonesia and
Japan, during the one-year building and construction of
Zouk KL.
Based on these, American designer Phillips
Connor of DB&B embraced the challenge – all
106,000 sq feet of it – the new Zouk KL along
Jalan Tun Razak. When faced with the task, he
had nothing with which to make any
comparisons – there was no precedent, no
reference to turn to.
2
Zouk’s brand founder [SG/KL] Lincoln Cheng lent his
expertise as a trained architect, acting as a design advisor
overseeing Zouk KL’s design layouts and selection of
materials that attribute to the club’s aesthetic values.
04
SOUND
HIGH
12
05
PLAY
LIGHTS
Zouk KL’s lighting and effects project was two years in the making.
The result: The most elaborate, custom-built multimedia spectacle in
KL’s club scene combining video, lighting, sound and special effects for an
audio-visual sensation that elevates the musical and clubbing experience.
Within the Zouk Main Room alone, there are a million LED lights flashing in
synchronisation with the speakers of the British-built Funktion-One sound system –
designed for maximum acoustic and directional impact.
Zouk KL’s co-founder Cher Ng explains: “We wanted to offer a one-of-a-kind experience,
not only unique in Malaysia but unique when compared to most prominent nightclubs
worldwide. The lighting team looked for compelling installations in nightclubs, cabarets and even
amusement parks before deciding what would be worth installing in the new Zouk KL. The task
was, therefore, to create a bespoke installation within the multiple spaces that would not be found
anywhere else in the world.”
06
anatomy of
zouk kl
beyond the velvet ropes
07
With 11 venues, each possessing a
unique, individual identity – there is
diversity and a self-supporting
ecosystem even within the club
complex. The challenge was to
create unique, individual experiences
for each outlet that would also
preserve the Zouk brand, combining
its unique savoir faire, design, and
functionality.
Zouk KL’s co-founder Cher Ng says:
“It’s about re-imagining spaces –
integrating architecture, interior
design, music, art, decor, lighting
and effects, making each space one
of its kind and individualistic – just
like the Zouk clientele. And, that’s
what Zouk KL is all about –
experiential clubbing.”
11 E X P E R I E N C E S
With a series of interconnected club
rooms, entry and progression were
one of the most important
considerations in creating unique,
new experiences that allow guests
to be given a choice as to which
path they would like to take to each
venue.
Adding to that are the lights,
graphic elements and transition
spaces, where visitors can sample
the views and vibes before they
enter, creating an immersive
e x p e r i e n c e t h a t a m p l i fi e s t h e
senses. Each of the 11 spaces has
at least one special feature.
Welcome to Zouk KL. Let the dance
through begin..
08
GROUND FLOOR
OPENS ON AUG 21
1. ZOUK CAFE BAR
Pitstop for drinks, good food and conversations.
Opens: Daily, 5pm-5am
2. BEER GARDEN
Adjoined to the Zouk Cafe Bar, this is an alfresco space
to hang out, or have a sumptuous meal before the party.
VIBE: Popular Happy Hour spot for the after-5 crowd from the
nearby offices. This is also the clubbers’ meeting point before
they head inside Zouk KL. The 3,303 sq ft Cafe features a
kitchen with a service bar where food is plated. Local and
western cuisines, and catering are available. Oh yes, you’ll find
Zouk’s iconic hotdog stand here, too. This is not a ticketed
venue. Adjoined to it is the 1,485 sq ft Beer Garden [right].
SENSORY: Zouk Cafe Bar [above] “floats” above the water
pond beneath it. The Cafe is visible from a distance as the
plush sofas are illuminated with soft sepia lights. Its earthy and
organic tones are accentuated by delicate floral motifs that
blanket the ceiling.
SPECIAL FEATURE: Breathy view of TREC’s Electric Boulevard
plaza from this alfresco where you can people-watch.
09
THE
10
ZOUK JOURNEY
BEGINS
GROUND FLOOR
OPENS ON AUG 21
3. ZOUK MAIN ROOM
The pulse of Zouk KL with its altar-like console,
massive arrays of LED and visual displays.
Opens: Tuesdays 10pm-3am
Wednesdays & Thursdays 10pm-4am
Fridays & Saturdays 10pm-5am
MUSIC: EDM, TRANCE, TECHNO, ELECTRO, TRAP
VIBE: Heart of Zouk and home to the cool club kids, the 6,574 sq
ft room [above] – the biggest room in Zouk KL – is the
soundscape of the superclub. One that defies musical boundaries
with the intense rhythms pounding from the state-of-the-art
Funktion-One sound system that reverberates through the room,
breathing life onto the energetic dance floor.
as a softer burgundy that coats the hall giving it more depth and
warmth. A double-storey void on either side of the ‘fall’ and the
banquette seating which drops down a level, again creates a feeling
of space between the floor and the ceiling. The use of light and
materials provides a functional lighting effect – a resin screen
element diffuses light and separates the bar from the tunnel
entrance.
SENSORY: A long tunnel entrance heightens the anticipation as
you prepare to step in. The ceiling stretches to the end of the
room, drops down and rises again, providing an engaging lighting
effect over the banquette seating, so you’re greeted by the
room’s magnitude as well as a sense of coziness. The club
features a fiery red hue with splashes of grays and silvers to give
it a membranous feel. Under the inviting lighting, the reds appear
SPECIAL FEATURE: Over a million LED bulbs dazzle the room. Zouk
Main Room also features a custom-built moving truss for lighting
above the dance floor, adding to the electrifying atmosphere.
11
FIRST FLOOR
OPENS ON AUG 21
4. ACE
From Zouk Main Room, slip into this cool
Hip-Hop club via the side staircase
Opens: Thursdays 10pm-4am
Fridays & Saturdays 10pm-5am
MUSIC: HIP-HOP, R&B
VIBE: Located on the first level, the 2,346 sq ft Ace [above]
overlooks the dance hall and DJ console of the Zouk Main Room.
This Urban Hip-Hop Bar is a room for the very expressive younger
set with a penchant for hip-grinding urban rhythms of crisp hi-hats
and banging snares. The space is also used as an extension to the
Zouk Main Room with pipe-in music from the latter to
accommodate a bigger turnout when an international guest DJ
performs.
True to its Hip-Hop spirit, Ace’s bar faces are truly phat-worthy,
studded with crystal beads, and the banquette upholstery is
deliberately puffy. Even the stools are overstuffed with sparkly
upholstery to complete the OTT effect, and with much pride.
SPECIAL FEATURE: An island bar dominates with banquette alcoves
around the perimeter offering an interactive lighting
SENSORY: Strong graphic elements line the walls of the tunnel
leading to Ace that heightens the anticipation. Behind the angular
concept loft are Hip-Hop bling-inspired iconic symbols, and a
ceiling plane over the bar that provides a dramatic overhead
lighting feature. Separating the alcoves are illuminated candy poplike rods made of coloured resin, which rise elegantly from the
ground.
12
GROUND FLOOR
OPENS ON AUG 21
5. PHUTURE
Head back to the ground floor to check out the futuristic décor
Opens: Wednesdays & Thursdays 10pm-4am
Fridays & Saturdays 10pm-5am
MUSIC: EDM, OPEN FORMAT, MASH-UP
VIBE: The 5,200 sq ft room [above] is the residence for the funloving, trendy and cosmopolitan set who transform the dance floor
into a rhythm nation.
SENSORY: The club is approached by a tunnel which is like a blind
alley leading to the space, and it’s pulling these retro ideas but
made crisper and inspired by the façade and with an angular
texture, making it more 21st Century. The light lines lead you
through the tunnel with light reflecting material, a magic maze
that draws you in. Inside, a series of three platforms with soft
seating step up into the space, which is completed with a
centralised DJ console, a couple of raised VIP pods, and a super
VIP area behind – the party room – which can be reserved.
the VIP area framed by hanging LED tubes. Specially designed,
contemporary space-like sculptures, along with hues of blues and
grays from the panels, give the entire room a futuristic and avantgarde look.
SPECIAL FEATURE: A suspended track hoisting dancers around the
dance floor in a Cirque du Soleil fashion.
Your eyes are drawn to an androgynous space sculpture at the
luminous bar – and light lines that lead you to the back and
13
GROUND FLOOR
OPENS ON AUG 21
6. VELVET UNDERGROUND
Posh, lush interiors befitting its discerning clientele
Opens: Tuesdays 10pm-3am
Wednesdays & Thursdays 10pm-4am
Fridays & Saturdays 10pm-5am
7. MEMBER’S LOUNGE
Opens: Tuesdays 10pm-3am
Wednesdays & Thursdays 10pm-4am
Fridays & Saturdays 10pm-5am
MUSIC: OPEN FORMAT, COMMERCIAL HOUSE
VIBE: The 5,700 sq ft Velvet Underground [above] is alluring and seductive, and it is here the
trendy, beautiful crowd and fashion-conscious call home.
SENSORY: Lining the tunnel leading to Velvet Underground is a series of reflective squares – it’s
like a grid, but with offsets. Once inside, you’ll notice the feature wall made up of illuminated
protruding resin blocks and this is reflected on some screens that separate some of the areas.
Its magnetic appeal is underlined by the colouration that verges towards bronze and other
metals – coppers, golds, silvers and gun metal, and within these are accents of deep indigo as
well as a little bit of softer, velvety hues, giving the space an intimate, feminine chic with a hint
of mystique. The high energy dance floor is matched by a combination of five different tones
of wood. The central seating area features some loose furniture elements which are
upholstered in velvet, and a ceiling feature of an array of overhead hanging LED panels that
cast a warm, inviting glow.
SPECIAL FEATURE: As you look towards the DJ you’d feel it dips into a pit. The console’s face
is composed of rods arranged in a three-dimensional tartan pattern, in three different metal
tones with a rich fabric drape as a backdrop for a luxurious effect.
14
MUSIC: EDM, OPEN FORMAT
VIBE: Located between Velvet Underground
and Phuture is the Member’s Lounge. This
1,194 sq ft intimate space [above] is a
symmetrical room focused on the service bar.
SENSORY: Its faux marble effect projects a
dramatic, almost art deco feel. Adding to
that is the shimmering sheer fabric that
wraps the banquette seating. This is midcentury modern meets Capellini – very
elegant, with a dash of gold and black.
SPECIAL FEATURE: Watch people glide
[literally] into the Member’s Lounge via a
fantastic slide that comes down from Imperial
above it.
FIRST FLOOR
OPENS ON AUG 21
8. APEX LOUNGE
Take the staircase from the ground floor to this club
Opens: Sundays, Mondays & Tuesdays 6pm-3am
Wednesdays & Thursdays 6pm-4am
Fridays & Saturdays 6pm-5am
9. GLASS BOX
Hidden gem of Zouk KL. Perfect for private events
MUSIC: HOUSE, NU DISCO, INDIE, CLASSICS
pleasures of gastronomy. A delectable Japanese tapas menu sashimi, rolls, tempuras, salads, and more - keeping flavours diverse
yet pleasing for communal enjoyment. You’ll find the Pinot Noir and
cocktails as savoury as you would the tenderly grilled yakitori.
VIBE: En route to the 5,638 sq ft lair is Apex Lounge – the
breeding ground for the free spirited and creative hounds, from
the advertising, arts to music and design communities. An
alternative bar-lounge, it is the proud host to a diverse musical
fare, lending to its individualistic personality.
Apex Lounge’s playlist is curated by Zouk KL’s resident jock Blink
from BFM 89.9 radio shows The Muddy Confluence Musical
Companion [indie]; Into The Blue [forward-thinking genres]; Take
Five {contemporary]; and 33rpm [alternative].
SENSORY: Enter this room and you’ll be greeted by an expansive
island bar with a mushroom-like canopy extending overhead,
bathing the club in a gentle, luminous glow. Here, the warm,
comforting atmosphere envelops you. The surrounding –
accentuated by its soft lighting, alcove seats with deep arches
that gives it an aerodynamic characteristic within the space –
creates an effect both intimate and welcoming that aptly reflects
the eclectic spirit.
GLASS BOX
VIBE: If you’d like some privacy for you and your guests, this 750
sq ft room adapts suitably for private events [private dining,
atmospheric and party-centric bashes] for up to 30 people.
SPECIAL FEATURE: Its floor-to-ceiling glass wall on one side
overlooks the golf course, and another side with a full height glass
wall with a door opens to a balcony with a glass balustrade, with the
view of Zouk Outdoor Cafe.
SPECIAL FEATURE: A 5m floor-to-ceiling glass window lets you to
enjoy the spectacular view of the streetscape on Jalan Tun Razak.
Apex Lounge is also the space of comfort offering the earthier
15
FIRST FLOOR
OPENS ON SEPT 4 [ENTRY BY BOTTLE PURCHASE + RESERVATION]
10. IMPERIAL
Exclusive services not seen in any KL club, including a password-activated
private lift from the basement car park straight to the nightspot
Opens: Wednesdays & Thursdays 10pm-4am
Fridays & Saturdays 10pm-5am
11. BALCONY DECK
Connected to the Imperial, enjoy the spectacular view of the Royal Selangor
Golf Club from an outdoor setting
MUSIC: HOUSE, EDM
VIBE: Celebrating the highlife is the 6,671 sq ft Imperial, the
newest concept from Zouk KL. Opulent in its
design, it was conceptualised for the growing
affluent, high society who pursue the finer
things in life where premium wines and
champagnes are top tipples.
This is the second biggest room in Zouk KL.
Imperial provides a highly personalised service
such as prominent parking spaces for
supercars, as well as club entry via private
lifts for guests who desire privacy, and a
dedicated for-hire VIP concierge that includes party planners,
security and special bottle rituals, designed for the top tier
demographic.
SENSORY: Design wise, there’s a vestibule approach that leads to
a large open space. In the middle of Imperial is a column which
‘grows’ into an organic- looking tree with metallic branches and
leaves that descend over three signature VIP pods. Around the
perimeter of Imperial is an arcade effect with its indirect lighting
on fabrics giving it a soft elegant glow. Imperial is filled with a
champagne and orange iridescence, and this luxurious feel extends
even to its washrooms. In the back of the room is an
L-shaped space with more standard groupings, which
gives guests a vantage point to view what’s
happening in the club. The fluid idea in the centre of
this room is an organic chandelier that drops from
its roof. It’s has a luxe, vintage appeal to it. The
room has an underlying champagne theme, right
down to the windows at the back that overlook the
gardens. The hero of this space is the ‘bling-bling’
champagne bar [center] that sparkles from 1,200
Dom Perignon champagne bottles, which are lit with an LED array.
SPECIAL FEATURE: Forget the lift if you’re heading to the Member’s
Lounge on the ground floor. Jump onto the slide that will take you
straight down. PERK: A private lift takes VVIP customers from the
basement carpark straight to Imperial – minus the queue. A password
is given to guests of the VVIP Pods for the door access panel for the
lift. Imperial Lounge will also feature a whisky collection, which will
include rare and award-winning whiskies from around the world.
16
MAGNIFICENT [SQ FT]
• Total floor area: 106,000 – Size of 2 football pitches
• Underground carpark: 46,000 [150 cars at Zouk KL],
adding another 150 lots at the nearby Electric Boulevard.
• Built-in club space: 60,000
• 11 venues in total
AT YOUR SERVICE
• Tourists’ free entry [with
valid passport]
• Dedicated tourist entry
lane
• VIP concierge
• Full catering facilities
• Medical bay with medics
• Private lift for VVIP guests
• Reservation service
• Valet & ample parking
• Private event bookings
• Membership services
FUN STUFF TO DO OR SEE
• Guests at Imperial can jump onto a
slide to go to Member’s Lounge
instead of taking a lift
• Be mesmerised by the ‘bling-bling’
champagne bar [center] that sparkles
from 1,200 Dom Perignon champagne
bottles, which are lit with an LED
array.
• Watch dancers being hoisted on a
suspended track around the dance
floor in a Cirque du Soleil fashion
• Check out the moving truss of lights
at Zouk Main Room
17
DISCOGRAPHY
Min entry age: 21 for guys & gals [ID required]
No slippers/football jerseys/shorts
No dark shades/baseball caps
Zouk KL address: 436 Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur
Zouk KL reservations: rsvn@zoukclub.com.my
Zouk KL reservations: +60.03.2171.1997 [12-6pm]
or +60.01.6332.3191 [after 6pm]
• Social media ID: Zoukkl hashtag #ZoukKLGoesBig
• Website: www.zoukclub.com.my
•
•
•
•
•
•
CRIB [SQ FT]
• Zouk Main Room: 6,574
•Imperial: 6,671
•Velvet Underground: 5,687
•Apex Lounge: 5,638
• Phuture: 5,180
•Zouk Café Bar: 3,303
•Beer Garden: 1,485
•Balcony Deck: 3,906
• Ace: 2,400
• Members Lounge: 1,194
•Glass Box: 750
FOODIE ALERT!
• Japanese tapas bar at Apex Lounge
• Asian and Western cuisines at Zouk Cafe Bar
BOOGIE PASS [MALAYSIAN RINGGIT]
• TO ZOUK MAIN ROOM & ACE ONLY
via Zouk entrance
Tue RM25; Wed RM30; Thu RM35; Fri & Sat RM45
each ticket includes one housepour
• TO ALL ROOMS EXCEPT IMPERIAL
via Phuture & Velvet Underground Entrance
Tue RM35; Wed RM40; Thu RM45; Fri & Sat RM60
each ticket includes one housepour
• TO IMPERIAL
via Imperial VIP entrance
Entry only by bottle purchase and reservation
18
TOUR D
ZOUK KL
BLINK
THE
PIONEERS
Home to KL’s best DJs and live acts,
Zouk KL was the first in the scene to
adopt the open music format in 2008. It
was relatively new then and the
energetic tempo-to-genre selection was
a staple for Vegas clubs. Zouk KL was
also the first to introduce visual and
audio mixing in 2006 in KL.
The nightspot led the open format
sound championed by resident DJs Blink
[left], Goldfish [facing page] and Luqe,
and it set a trend in clubland KL. Zouk
KL is not without its adventurous
sensibilities, playing Trance, TechHouse, House, Nu Disco, and
Alternative, at its other rooms.
19
E FORCE
DJS
GOLDFISH
GOLDFISH & BLINK
Internationally signed to Hardwell Publishing
[Cloud 9] with releases on Mixmash Records
Revealed Recordings, and Universal Music
They are one of Asia’s most successful DJs, and
they are the EDM duo who brought Malaysia’s
EDM music scene onto the global stage. Goldfish
and Blink are the new generation of Southeast
Asian DJ-producers, who have established a
unique and industrious sound to EDM. With
releases on Universal Music, Dirty Dutch and
MixMash Records, they are also signed to
Hardwell Publishing under music head honcho
Robbert van de Corput, better known as
Hardwell, for their big anthem tracks, Here We
Go Again and Kismet.
Goldfish and Blink’s five-year collaboration saw
them performing at ZoukOut 2014 and Djakarta
Warehouse Project 2014. Their track, First
Light, was the anthem of ZoukOut 2014.
Catch them at Zouk Main Room on Saturdays’
20
RESIDENTS
SHAZZ
House, Techno, Disco
Apex Lounge [Mon, Wed & Friday]
Shazz has been crucial in shaping the musical direction
for the club, bringing the underground sound with an
intriguing mix of Deep House, Techno and Disco. His
sets are a rhythmic journey that transverses from
ethereal to intense, leaning towards the styles of
Levan and Humphries, staying true to House music’s
original ideals of eclecticism that elicit a soulful,
spiritual and inspirational vibe. Growing up in New York
City has attributed to his diverse musical reference.
BATE
EDM, Electro, Progressive House
Zouk Main Room [Fri].
Ethan Curzon and Yeoh Wai Hong are
BATE. The charismatic duo brings
the energetic tunes that explode on
the dance floor. JUICE magazine’s
Best New DJs [2012] have played
alongside R3hab, Hard Rock Sofa,
Showtek and Cosmic Gate, as well as
raves such as Thirst 2013 where
they shared the stage with Afrojack,
NERVO and David Guetta.
LUQE
Hip hop, R&B, Urban
Velvet Underground [Thu &
Fri], Phuture [Sat]
His playlists are a pilgrimage
of fine DJ-ing, tripping
between genres and
employing the delightful
ear-snagging soulful DancePop- Hip Hop hooks as its
predecessor to thrill the
diverse dance floor. His
tasteful sets weave the
latest club bangers of mashups and EDM, alongside
soulful classics.
21
HYPEEMBEATS
RADZI
Zouk Main Room [Sat]
Velvet Underground
[Wed, Thu & Sat],
Phuture [Fri]
EDM, Mel Bounce,
Prog House
Davern Koh, who
started DJing more than
a
decade
ago,
established the monthly
night at Zouk KL [Jalan
Ampang] called House
This!? with JHin after he
was inspired by the
riveting rhythms at
Zouk KL’s Barsonic,
which influenced his
musical style. House
This!? went on to
become a successful
showcase of EDM,
Electro, House, and HipHip sound.
Retro, R&B, EDM
He
brings
the
transcendent and dynamic
syncopated rhythms of
funk to the latest sounds
of electronic music, and in
modern Hip-Hop in the
form of direct sampling
from funk riffs. Radzi’s
childhood training as a
drummer provided him a
strong music foundation.
RESIDENTS
INDIEGO & CO
Indie & Nu Disco
Ace [Sat]
Edgy with a dose of street cred. That’s what Indiego
brings to the dance floor. With their strong background in
fashion, music, production and events, the trio delivers
more than just the perfect playlist at their gigs. Having
introduced the Malaysian music scene to nights of NuDisco and Indie Dance, their new collaboration continues
to innovate with their sets delivering a melting pot of
genres and unexpected hits to the dance hall. More than
just DJs, they also combine a music-listening experience
with mesmerising visuals – décor, costumes, special
guests, props, and more – that make them stand out in a
sea of performers.
JANE
MISS KIYA
Open Format
Velvet Underground [Tue]
Imperial [Fri]
KEN MASTER
Open Format, Hip-Hop, R&B, EDM
Imperial [Wed], Phuture [Thu-Sat]
Ken honed his DJing skills in college in
Oklahoma, and has refined his sound
adding a touch of Asian music. His
style combines Hip-Hop, alongside
Rock and Pop elements laced with the
driving beats of EDM. He also doubles
as a VJ.
22
Tech House, Nu Disco &
Deep house
Apex Lounge [Fri]
HIP-HOP
PARADE
PRESENTING A RIVETING LINE-UP OF THE
CAPITAL’S BEST HIP-HOP CREW. A CULTURAL
& URBAN MOVEMENT & LYRICAL DOCUMENTARY.
ONE THAT SPEAKS OF LOVE, RESPECT &
FRIENDSHIP.
NOW SHOWING
23
17
HIP
HOP
$WAGGA
CZA + TBONE
The duo is currently the most popular Hip-Hop outfit in
Malaysia. With multiple awards under their belt and over a
decade of experience in the music industry, 2015 at Zouk KL
is set to be their biggest platform in their musical journey.
Cza [Malaysia DMC Champion 2008] and T Bone [of Too Phat
fame] perform using four decks ‘n’ tricks, and a whole
boatload of tracks, laying down the jams for huge blockparties.
NESH + DJ LETHAL SKILLZ
+MC VANDAL
They are the pioneers of Malaysia’s Hip-Hop scene. The trio
are more than just your average party rockers. Prepare to
experience the musical journey of a lifetime as three
maestros unleash a mash-up of past, present and future
sounds of Souk, Funk, Reggae, R&B, Ghetto Funk and HipHop, that resonate with the senses.
ASH + NAZ
The duo from As ia’s popular DJ c ollec t iv es , The
KARTELHITMEN and BANGKOKINVADERS, who have been
working up a storm for over 20 years. Ash and Naz have
have worked with various DJs & Hip-Hop legends including
Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, DJWhooKid and The
HEAVYHITTERS.
17
24
GLOBAL
POWERHOUSE
@
ZOUK KL
DJ MAG TOP 100 2014 RANKINGS
#3 ARMIN VAN BUUREN
#1 HARDWELL
#5 TIESTO
#4 MARTIN
GARRIX
#8 NICKY ROMERO
#18 W & W
#12 AFROJACK
#10 STEVE OAKI
#19 DEORRO
#21 NERVO
#28 ALY
& FILA
#24
ANDREW
RAYEL
#17 SHOWTEK
#23 R3HAB
# 31 UMMET OZCAN
#28 ABOVE & BEYOND
#32 DIPLO
#35 FEDDE
LE
GRAND
25
19
#38 PAUL VAN DYK
#42 KURA
#44 MARKUS
SCHULZ
#46 KASKADE
#55 YVES V
#56 FIREBEATZ
#62 VINAI
#74 GARETH
EMERY
#50 LAIDBACK LUKE
# 51
SANDER
VAN DOORN
#58 ATB
#63 MAKJ
#59
CARL COX
#68 CARNAGE
#79 ORJAN
NILSEN
#80 TJR
#93 HEARTBEAT
26
19
#69
COSMIC
GATE
#91 FERRY CORSTEN
#99 ARTY
circa 1991 / 2004
reload, rebirth 2015
zouk brand spirit
Zouk, the birthplace of modern nightlife and
contemporary electronic dance music, is famed for
its transcendence-through-music ethos. The story
of Zouk, through its unparalleled music selection,
and the love and togetherness, define its spirit.
A memoir of inspiration and aspirations that
connect nocturnal creatures in a deeper way
through its magical voyage, where kindred spirits
come together as
One World, One Music,
One Tribe, One Dance
27
www.zoukclub.com.my
SINGAPORE
KUALA LUMPUR
MUSIC
DJS
one world
one music
one tribe
one dance
FOUNDERS
CULTURE
PARTIES
Zouk’s cornerstones – embracing design, fashion,
pop culture, music, and people from artists,
musicians to trendsetters and designers, underline
its unifying tag and spirit – One World, One Music,
One Tribe, One Dance.
As the club matured well into its adolescence
came Zouk KL at Jalan Ampang. The making of
superclub No.2 illustrated a tale of dreams and
aspirations between Lincoln and former Zouk
resident DJ Cher Ng – the poster boy of Zouk KL.
The storied meeting between the two – before
the birth of the flagship – saw them bonding over
house music, where Lincoln brought the vinyls to
former Warehouse disco where Cher played.
Rebirth of a global club brand in the digital era.
Zouk KL – The global brand at the pulse of Asia’s
electronic dance music beat. And she looks every
bit the part. With a sleek, shiny veneer and her
majestic presence set to perfection by the
prestigious Royal Selangor Golf Club in the
foreground, she is a sight to behold. She
cuts a commanding yet enigmatic figure,
with a visceral allure that has drawn many
to an endless love affair, paying homage to
her intoxicating dance floor concoctions.
The spirit of Zouk is famously documented
in its 24-year-history. Zouk, a 90s club kid [circa
1991] in Singapore, has long nurtured its followers,
acting as a breeding ground for electronic dance
music.
Fast forward 13 years – in 2004 – the two
re-connected and crystallised their dreams
in the Malaysian capital. The US$4-m Zouk
KL was a runaway success, bolstered by its
self-made fame. With Cher at the helm, he
instinctively took the superclub to the next
level as its then-marketing director, in its
programming, rebranding campaigns, partnership
drives and club revamps into a resounding triumph
in the last decade.
Zouk KL rode through
tumultuous times of recessions and intense
competition.
Founded by entrepreneur Lincoln Cheng, he set the
stage for House music explosion with the Balearic
beats leaping from its analogue speakers. Along
came the roster of global DJs from a distant land
who helmed the decks in a cultural and musical
exchange of Zouk’s formative years. Its heady mix
of House, Disco, European Electronica, Industrial and
alternative sounds was spiced with tape edits
manipulated on vinyls. The altar was the deejay box,
churning the highest echelon of contemporary
electronic dance music in its bold musical expedition
to the mainstream audience.
Adventurous, albeit a conscious streak in its
ethos, the five-year-old Zouk KL revamped in
2008, and rebranded. The beeline grew to a
staggering 15,000 passing through its velvet
ropes every week. A fixture on DJ Mag’s Top 100
Clubs In The World, the award-winning superclub is
recently voted No.38, adding another another
trophy to its glittering shelf of awards, and
auguring superbly for the bigger, bolder Zouk KL
that would yet again usher a game-changing era.
28
Cher Ng is the
executive director and
the face of Zouk KL.
The Singaporean who
has long based himself
in the Malaysian capital
has been instrumental
in steering the
superclub in its journey
in the past decade.
f
And one that is glittered with awards and
accolades. Cher’s illustrious career began more
than two decades ago where he was a resident DJ
of Zouk Singapore. He was also part of
Transcendental Experience, Singapore’s first
electronic dance music outfit, which saw him taking
an adventurous route in music production, and
subsequently earning a deal with Brit label, React
Music, in 1996 to release the music in Europe.
The relentless self-starter left Zouk Singapore a
year later with aspirations to further his music
career. Cher found himself at a crossroad that
became a turning point – and an incubation period
that honed his entrepreneurial skills that would help
lay the foundation for Zouk KL. At the height of
Singapore’s electronic dance music scene in the
late 90s, his stint as an independent music
promoter – one of the earliest upstarts– saw him
organising a string of successful festivals in the lion
city and the Malaysian capital, featuring Paul Van
Dyk; Incognito; Deep Dish; John Digweed; and
Armand Van Helden.
Cher later co-organised the first two editions of
ZoukOut, Asia’s biggest outdoor dance music
festival, which now draws over 50,000 revellers.
His career came full circle with the inception of
Zouk KL in 2004.
Under his stewardship, the club earned the
endorsement from the Ministry of Tourism under
the National Key Economic Areas in 2011 – the
first for an entertainment venue – and it bagged
the Mayor’s Tourism Awards 2014 Nightspot
Category. Zouk Kl is now ranked #38 in DJ Mag’s
Top 100 Clubs In the World. He has been named
one of the Top 50 – Who’s Who In Malaysia’s
Expatriate Community by Expatriate Lifestyle. The
achievements amplify Zouk KL’s status as the
epicenter of electronic dance music in Kuala
Lumpur, raising the bar on the city’s entertainment
scene, where 15,000 revellers throng its strobe-lit
dance floors each week.
29
ounders
Lincoln Cheng, a trained
architect and art collector, is
regarded as the Godfather
of House Music in Asia.
The founder of global brand, Zouk, and its music festival,
ZoukOut, he opened the Jiak Kim Street club in 1991 and
with its advent, ushered in a new era for music and nightlife
in popland Singapore with the introduction of Balearic House
– a bold move at that time.
The superclub, a fixture on DJ Mag’s Top 100 Clubs in the
World, has also pioneered many firsts in Singapore and Asia,
including the multi award-winning ZoukOut – Asia’s largest
outdoor electronic music festival [by Siloso Beach] – that
draws over 50,000 revellers from Singapore and around the
world.
Zouk’s incubation period also saw Lincoln becoming the first
in Singapore and Asia to roster a string of superstar
electronic music DJs to Zouk’s line-up. Twenty-four years on,
the internationally acclaimed Zouk club remains the primary
residence for global acts. Lincoln has been credited for his
contribution to the development and stature of Asia’s music
scene.
Zouk’s body of work stands as a testament to Lincoln’s
passion and entrepreneurship. Zouk Singapore, which is
ranked #7, has been in the top 10 positions of DJ Mag’s
Top 100 Clubs in the last five years. In 2004, the same year
Lincoln co-founded Zouk KL – he was also awarded the
prestigious Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year award by the
Republic’s tourism board, and last year, he was honoured
with the IMS-Pioneer Award for his work in the region.
A tastemaker – Cheng’s deep appreciation and
understanding of the arts is translated into an experiential
clubbing journey unique to the trend-setting Zouk – a
cultural intersection for design, fashion and music.
30
Collin Currie
Managing Director
adidas Group, Greater China
2004
Zouk KL opens at Jalan Ampang
2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013
Best Club, Juice Malaysia
2005
Zouk Fest @ Genting Highlands
Lainey Loh
Editor, Hype Malaysia
2006
Revelation
“We didn’t need another
club then in KL. We needed
a home for music lovers.
Even as its following grew
older while new ones found
their way there, the former
won’t find it hard to fit in.
Home is where the heart
is.”
2007
Entertainment Outlet Of The Year, HAPA
2008
Revamps to 6 rooms
Entertainment Outlet Of The Year, HAPA
2009
Celebrates 5th year
Launches Zouk KL Value Guide
2010
“The icon is key in the
development of house
music in Malaysia. It
continues to be relevant,
attracting clubbers
providing entertainment of
all genres of electronic
music in different rooms.”
Best Nightspot of the Year, HAPA
Best DJ Act [Goldfish & Blink], Juice KL
2011
Nightspot of the Year, HAPA
#65, DJ Mag Top 100 Clubs
Endorsed by NKEA
Hardwell
No.1, DJ Mag Top 100 DJs
2012
Nightspot of the Year, HAPA
Zouk Fest @ Sepang
#66, DJ Mag Top 100 Clubs
Nightlife Legacy, Juice KL
Iqbal Ameer
Group CEO, Livescape Group
2013
Gold Award, HAPA
2014
Celebrates 10th year
Platinum Award, KL Mayor’s
Tourism Awards
#52, DJ Mag Top 100 Clubs
Reaches a quarter million Facebook fans
Best Club, Expatriate Lifestyle KL
2015
#38, DJ Mag Top 100 Clubs
Farewell Zouk @ Jalan Ampang
Launches the 11-room new Zouk KL
Patrick Grove
Group CEO, Catcha Group
“I spend three weeks a
month away, but when I’m
back to KL, Zouk is my
sanctuary, my home away
from home. A world
without Zouk KL is a world
I could never imagine."
31
“Zouk KL has been a key
inspiration role for us at
Livescape and our shows in
discovering new music and
homegrown talent. I dare
say it has been one of the
key catalysts to the
growth of Malaysia’s
nightlife and beyond.”
“The place retains a strong
connection to the
underground aspect of
clubbing. The booth is
positioned in such a way
that you can connect with
the crowd so intimately,
yet deliver a festival-type
set.”
Hayze Menon
Producer of Changes with
Kings of Tomorrow; Freak
with Sandy Rivera, Around
with Noir
Melissa Indot
Recording Artist
Songwriter
“When Google Maps first
arrived in Malaysia I was
asked to name my
favourite haunts and
Zouk was my top choice.
KL was an unfamiliar city
when I moved back from
London 10 years ago. I
discovered Zouk, my
second home – and its
eclectic mix of rooms
and music.”
“Zouk KL plays a pivotal
role in the growth of
Malaysia’s dance music
scene, providing artists a
platform and infrastructure.
The last decade has laid the
foundation for the club for
the next 10 years. Crossing
the decade mark puts them
in a very special place in
Malaysia’s club culture. The
next decade is of
importance for the Zouk
brand and Zouk KL, which
has its work cut out for
them, and under the vision
of Cher, he will take it
there.”
Paul Van Dyk
Grammy award-winning
electronic dance music DJ,
musician and record producer
“Zouk in Singapore and KL
are the two of the best
clubs in the world…And if
you have ever been to Zouk,
you’ll obviously know how
intense and energetic the
atmosphere is at the club.”
32
PRESS QUERIES & INTERVIEWS
CONTACT FOREIGN PRESS REP
CARA VAN MIRIAH
PARTNER, TYPEWRITER MEDIA
☎ +1.518.531.6032 [US]
☎ +65.9066.3440 [SG]
cara@typewriter.sg
skype: caravanmiriah
IVAN LIM
PARTNER, TYPEWRITER MEDIA
☎ +65.9066.3440 [SG]
ivan@typewriter.sg
skype: ivanity07
GLOBAL MEDIA PARTNER [UK]
SUPPORTED BY
produced by typewriter media for zouk kl