Reshaping the Blueprint of a Creative Community Space
RASA takes on a new rhythm, bridging music, the arts, culture and people into one unified platform for collective expression and exchange.
RASA, a vibrant new community space for music, the arts and culture, will officially open at Republic Plaza this Friday, Jan 10. Conceived as a dynamic platform for collective experience through the lens of of young Southeast Asian perspective, RASA – essence in Sanskrit – fosters creativity, connection, and collaboration between artists and communities.
With live shows, performing arts, and curated music programming, RASA seeks to engage and inspire the discerning and ignite the curiosity of those yearning to explore.
Occupying 6,000 sq ft, RASA houses two distinctive rooms – Hall and Floor. Hall, a contoured space featuring a cocktail bar and restaurant lounge, serves Southeast Asian-inspired beverages and artisanal ice cream. Its oval bar, with soft sweeping curves, stands as a striking centrepiece, illuminated by a steel mesh overhead within Hall’s understated taupe interior. Walk through a majestic 4.5m high single panel saloon door – and Floor presents the unvarnished charm of an intimate enclave – a music lounge for those seeking an engaging night out.
RASA was brought to life by Berlin’s renowned Studio Karhard, who is behind the interior design of Berghain and Kiev’s K41. This is their first work in Southeast Asia.
RASA’s Opening Weekends Music lovers are in for a treat with two weekends of auditory adventure to experience RASA – Jan 11 and 17. RASA’s grand opening weekend will see a collaboration with Taiwan’s Organik Festival, celebrated for its embrace of genre diversity. The Jan 11 event will unite the Pan-Asian underground sounds for an unparalleled musical expedition, featuring special guests Diskonnected and Toumingren (Taiwan), along with local guests A’alely, a resident DJ at Strange Weather, and Sivanesh, co-founder of Sivilian Affairs.
The festivities extend into the following weekend with the inaugural RASA Weekender, a three-day series from Friday, Jan 17 to Sunday, Jan 19. The lineup includes modular synthesist JakoJako, the first woman of Asian descent to join Berghain’s coveted roster of residents, making her Singapore debut. She will be joined by Berghain residents nd_baumecker and Barker.
The trio will play alongside local musician Kin Leonn, and RASA’s resident artists Daryl Knows, Leland, The Professor, and local guests Dez, EJ, Jehm, and sho&tell.
The musical convergence is a reflection of RASA’s identity: Southeast Asian at heart and global in spirit, says RASA’s founder Kavan Spruyt, who also helms the 13-year-old independent record label, Midnight Shift.
“We’re also bringing communities together through the language of sound where local and regional talents can shine, while also welcoming global acts who resonate with our identity,” the Singaporean adds.
RASA’s cocktails not only stir the senses, they are also a conversation starter, inviting guests to engage with the rich flavours, stories, and traditions behind each creation. RASA collaborated with mixologist and consultant, Louis Tan, to develop a menu that brings a new take on Southeast Asian-inspired cocktails.
While Singapore’s cocktail bars have long embraced local ingredients, Tan charts a different course for RASA. His concoctions focus on the purity and clarity of flavour, with classic cocktails as a reference for guests. He incorporates Asian ingredients that authentically reflect RASA’s regional inspirations, complemented by an international bar stocked with premium spirits.
Bold Flavours to a Fresh Perspective
RASA’s signature cocktail menu includes highlights such as Cantaloop Rush, which uses RASA’s Rock Melon Sorbet as one of the ingredients. Others, such as the Lapsang Souchong Negroni, incorporates the smokiness of Fujian black tea while preserving the familiarity of the Italian classic. Cocktails from $20++ each.
One Scoop at a Time
Adding to the complete bar experience, RASA scoops up gelato and sorbets with plant-based and dairy-free options available. Partnering with a local gelato maker, RASA’s flavour offerings include Cempedak, Rose Lychee, Thai Coconut, Hokkaido Milk and more, from $6 per scoop. Similar to RASA’s cocktails, the gelatos draw inspo from the flavours of Southeast Asia and Japan, with options like Rum & Raisin for those looking for an alcoholic sweet treat.
Of Course, There’s Happy Hour
Just as the city’s pulse slows, RASA becomes both refuge and ritual, offering a momentary pause before the evening unfurls. Easy on the wallet yet generous in flavour, Hall offers two Asahi beers or standard mixer drinks for $20++, from 6pm to 10pm, Wednesdays to Saturdays.
