Offtrack opens in Singapore with a mission to feed your soul

Offtrack opens its doors in Singapore to those “guided by leisure”, as a post-covid music bar and restaurant on North Canal Road, equipped with a pair of restored Klipsch La Scala speaker — the very same horn boxes that were used by the legendary David Mancuso for his Loft Parties in New York City in the 1970s.

Conceptualised by the co-founders of local music collectives Darker Than Wax and Ice Cream Sundays, Offtrack is a place for artists, creatives and culture-enthusiasts — constructed with conservation in mind in a traditional shophouse, architect and designer Dean Chew emphasised a notion of changing times by keeping existing features while projecting a forward-thinking personality.

The decor exudes themes of contrast and comfort — naturally stained plywood panels, exposed steel beams, vintage glass blocks and subtle finishings highlighted in a deep, mustard yellow.

The underlying foundation that holds their ideas and concepts together is, of course, the music. Coming from professional music backgrounds as a label, artist and promoter, Daniel O'Connor (Ice Cream Sundays) and Dean Chew (Darker Than Wax) have opted for two beautifully restored Klipsch La Scala speakers in an acoustically enjoyable space. Local and regional DJs are expected to take helm of a vinyl-friendly booth that makes way for music that gets left in most traditional club settings.

In addition to the music, the space aims to support artists and creative collectives — in a press statement, the venue founders say, ”Diversity and inclusion are important pillars of Offtrack, and this will be reflected through the programming. Added to the music will be a rotating roster of homegrown artists and designers exhibiting their creativity and projects on the walls. These works will provide a lens to creative currents within Singapore that may not typically find avenues for expression.”

Offtrack’s tagline ‘Guided by Leisure’, and in Singapore, no leisure experience is complete without an inspiring food and drink experience. Offtrack will serve up a constantly evolving menu of sharing plates inspired by pan-Asian flavours, cult-classic cocktails, natural wines and sake. Chew says, “Offtrack is that home away from home you have always been on the lookout for. The pandemic has been brutal on our local music venues, and we really hope that Offtrack can start to usher in a new wave of positivity and resurgence. There’s so much brewing in the underbelly of this island, and it’s time that we have another beacon for it.”

Real talk: We like to think that only good things come from playing the patient game, and Singapore, you’ve done well to land yourself a new safe space for quality tunes and nourishing for the soul.

Find out more about Offtrack in Singapore here.