One of the most colorful and striking areas of Singapore is Kampong Glam, located east of the city center. Rich in Islamic history and culture, this is the gathering spot for Singapore’s Arab-Malay community.
The streets bristle with restaurants whipping up Malay, Indonesian, Lebanese, Egyptian and Turkish cuisine. And by night, many people enjoy smoking shisha pipes while sitting on comfortable cushions and carpets, soaking in the atmosphere.
A relatively new kid on the Kampong Glam block is Ignite. Opened by Muhamad Jamuri Bin Busori in June 2010, Ignite is more than just a cozy hangout spot.
Comprising a cafe, retail store and an independent music label, Ignite is a great meeting point for musicians and everyone fond of music.
Located on lively Bussorah Street, Ignite’s unique decor stands out from the other cafes and restaurants in the area.
A small stage is set up in front of the bar, and some acoustic guitars lean against the wall, as if waiting to be picked up and played.
Keeping with the music theme, the cafe’s bar stools and even the floor are covered with posters of various bands and magazine pages.
On the right side of the cafe, T-shirts, sneakers and bags are displayed for sale.
In the outdoor seating area, guests can relax on sofas while taking in the view of Bussorah Street.
Overall, Ignite radiates a very homey atmosphere — a place that invites passersbys to come in and linger for a while.
The cafe is the newest addition to Jamuri’s business empire, which includes the Ignite music label, which he started back in 2003.
“Back then, in the beginning, it was just a plain office.”
Jamuri decided to expand by opening a cafe that now takes up the whole ground floor, while his office is located above on the second floor.
“All along, I have been planning to open a cafe, but I was just waiting for the right time.”
Since Jamuri didn’t have any experience in running a cafe, he asked his friend, Jaffar Bin Sariban, better known as Sarong, to help.
Sarong, who plays in the Singaporean percussion band Wicked Aura Batucada, was a perfect candidate to manage the cafe, since Jamuri’s main aim is to support and promote local music.
“Every Friday and Saturday, we have an open mic night,” Jamuri said.
“We provide a platform for new bands and artists to play their stuff.”
He added that opportunities for fresh groups are still scarce in Singapore.
“It’s hard for new bands to promote themselves, because big venues, like the Esplanade, for example, have a tough screening system, and the music industry in Singapore is not very big,” he said.
“But here, at Ignite, they can just get up on the stage and play.”
However, it is not just Singaporean bands that get the chance to perform at Ignite. Musicians from other Asian countries, such as Indonesian indie group The Trees and the Wild, have already graced their stage.
“They also played at the Esplanade that time,” Jamuri said.
“My friend was one of the organizers and he approached me and asked if they could play here as well.”
While Ignite is usually packed for their open mic nights and other music events, the cafe is also worth a visit for lunch or in the evening.
They serve pizza, pasta and sandwiches as well as snacks like the devilishly delicious “James Brownie,” served with vanilla ice cream on the side.
“Even though we welcome everybody, most of our customers are musicians, of course,” Jamuri said, adding that he hopes Ignite will eventually turn into one of Singapore’s music hubs, perhaps even inspiring other music enthusiasts to open up similar venues to help the local indie scene thrive.
“I’m not afraid of competition,” he said, with a laugh. “Basically, I think I’m just doing my part.”
Ignite 73 Bussorah Street
Singapore
Monday to Saturday, closed on Sundays
Tel. 65 93217768
