Step up and watch corporate beat-making in action

Heineken impressed last night at Zouk Nightclub with the Thirst Singapore Finals, a night that saw some impressive new local talent emerge, and was capped off by slick sets by two veterans of the repetitive beat.

DJ Koflow was the early star of a night which eventually saw Zouk packed to the rafters. Replete with a posse of five, the young hip hop star of Singapore was able to produce a set that boasted deep, layered hip hop mixing, and some new tricks of turn-tableism usually reserved for international competitions. Highlighted by a 16-year old baby-faced beat-boxer with the vocal tricks of a seasoned assasin, Koflow's set destroyed the meagre reply of rival DJ Funk and team, and left a star-studded judging panel led by Zouk's head of music Aldrin with an easy decision. Koflow and team will wave Singapore's flag at the regional finals in Kuala Lumpur.

A night which started promisingly was stepped up a gear next, with the arrival of Steve Lawler, hailed as one of the world's top three DJs. His set of grinding bass lines warmed up the now heaving crowd, as hundreds of punters shuffled throughout the club, eager to claim what little space was left.

Heinekin's investment in the evening was on display, with impressive light and sound talent on hand, plus an array of CD giveaways, foxy photo-takers and drink specials. The beer's close association with dance music has been well developed and maintained during the last three years, and Singapore has benefitted from some impressive events as a result.

Crowd-pleaser Roger Sanchez was on next, and those who found Lawler somewhat repetitive were gratified by the arrival of two impressively soulful singers in front of the DJ console, and a rich and funky set which had the capacity crowd rocking out in unison.

When it's done well, dance music events remain on top for multi-media fun and games. Thirst Singapore raised the roof on a house that's clearly in good spirits.

WHAT a night!!! Koflow totally rules! And I want to adopt Danny the beatboxer. That other DJ never had a chance. And Roger Sanchez is my new hero. At just after 4am, the floor was still heaving with everyone yelling for a third (or was it fourth) encore. We just thought it would be wiser to beat the crush for roti prata at River Valley Road. Or maybe I'm just getting older...

And what time did YOU leave, young man?