Ostgut Ton's Barker & Singaporean Kin Leonn honour Cats On Crack in debut live performance

‘Happiness is an Inside Job’ aims to connect the dots between Berlin, Singapore and the kindred network of friends, all in honour of the late Eileen Chan aka Cats on Crack.

Supported by Carhartt WIP and organised by Midnight Shift, the record label largely responsible for shapeshifting sonic trends between Europe and Asia since 2011, the event will feature a debut performance between Ostgut Ton’s Barker and Singaporean artist Kin Leonn of Kitchen Label.

Speaking to Mixmag Asia, Midnight Shift’s head honcho, Kavan Spruyt, says, “Eileen Chan connected me to Kin during a private event and mentioned to me he was a fan of Barker's work. Kin is a very good experimental artist based in Singapore and also can be seen collaborating with Yeule who will be releasing on Ninja Tune. Barker also knew Eileen Chan for many years and agreed to collaborate in memory of her.”

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Spruyt adds that the collaboration between Barker and Kin will be “released later on vinyl via Midnight Shift, accompanied by our nearest and dearest favourites.”

The debut performance takes place at Tuff Club on 5 August “to honour and celebrate the intricate connections that we have close to our hearts and to realise that happiness is indeed, an inside job.”

Check out the flyer designed by Singaporean, Berlin-based designer, Reza Hasnee, below.

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Eileen Chan left us in May last year but left behind a legacy of relationships and philanthropy for peers and musical allies to continue to thrive creatively, and happily. In January last year, just a few months before her departure, Eileen curated an exhibition in collaboration with Mama Magnet, called the 'Happy House' — the successful and widely talked about exhibition was "a result of me attempting to hack my own happiness, and a response to the strange times we’re living in."

The Midnight Shift team shared these words in her memory.

in our realm of chance encounters,

fate dances with possibility

where the butterfly effect comes to life

bound by kindred spirits, music, and good intentions

expect unique sounds across the multiverse

harmonies that somehow fit

sounds that reflect the malleability of one’s existence

experience an aural odyssey that defies convention

‘Happiness is an Inside Job’ featuring Barker (Ostgut Ton, Berlin), Kin Leonn (Kitchen Label, Singapore), Pupa (Live), Bongomann and Basil takes place at Tuff Cub on 5 August. For tickets and more information, head here.

Arun Ramanathan is Mixmag Asia’s Director. Follow him on Instagram.