Once upon a time, the subcultural sweet spot was house beats at Chye Seng Huat Hardware and kopi in hand — remember Brew nights with Darker Than Wax? That was 2017. Fast forward to 2025, and the vibe has shifted. We’re still sipping, still dancing — just with a bit more daylight.
Enter the sober rave.
No, seriously. It is 3pm. Sunlight is streaming in. The DJ’s on deck. And your drink? It’s a $7 flat white, seems raw, with a tinge of purpose-built, vibe-driven ethos.
Parties like Beans and Beats are flipping nightlife on its head, or rather, turning it into daylife. Think: cold brews over cocktails, gym floors over club floors, and serotonin over shots. The playlist still slaps, the fashion’s still on point, but the recovery time? Basically zero. And with ticket prices that are relatively lower than most club covers, it’s a no-brainer for Gen Zs priced out of the velvet rope dream.
Call it what you want, coffee clubbing, day raving, wellness-coded hedonism. The signal is clear: the culture is pivoting. Not away from the party, but toward intentional fun or conscious consumerism.
And just as caffeine-fueled dancefloors are rising, so are spaces like TRIFECTA’s new Riders’ Lounge — Orchard’s latest cool-kid hideout for the surf-snow-skate tribe. It’s got slope-inspired sourdough pizza, craft brews by Yeast Side, vinyl drops on JBL speakers and even a Leica photo wall if you need something to look at while pretending to listen. It is giving après-ski meets Orchard chill, minus the actual snow.
No one’s saying EDM is dead, it’s definitely been replaced by lo-fi beats, soft serve, and a live DJ in New Balance. The only stimulant is 80mg of ceremonial-grade caffeine. It is now time to bring that energy to the dance floor at the upcoming Matcha Rave by Exposure Therapy with beats by DJs EDEN, SHAHAN, SWLTKR, happening on 12 July 2025, with a secret location dropping soon. Expect all the ritual without the regret — chilled beats, plant-powered highs, and enough antioxidant buzz to power you through till bedtime.
Would we hit up the next one? Only if there’s oat milk, served up in compostable cups.
Image credit: Vanessa Fernandez
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