Front Row makes a business out of dressing up its favourite people, and Tracy Philips & Valerie Wee are in our favourite group. Tracy, a name as recognisable as Zouk is synonymous with this country’s clubbing routine, needs no introduction. Val is a real trooper, it’s expected of cool people with cool jobs since she’s a copywriter at creative agency, Doodleroom. We invited them to tea and dress-up. The Brief? Disco Chicks go to high-tea. It was giggles.

Midway through tea, the tête-à-tête inevitably went in the direction of “What’s Tracy Philips doing now?” In the week when it was announced that Tracy was leaving Zouk after10 years, it created a conversation fodder for many, even landing substantial inches of news coverage in the papers.

While the chat digressed several times to growing vegetable/herb allotments (Front Row’s interest), 10 workmen (she just moved house), and her ex-neighbour’s blooming cactus that perfumed the street, we finally found out what Tracy Philips is headed.

Rife with creativity and creation from what’s potentially a very exciting project, Tracy’s new thing is a social enterprise. That sort of took the bang out didn’t it, but wait! Not only will her new company, Sputnik Projects, manage, craft out programmes and curate a space in Orchard Road for young entrepreneurs and creatives, she’s also proposing engaging platforms in the form of retail, exhibitions, workshops, installations, bazaars, performing arts etc etc. If judging by her illustrious portfolio at Zouk (purposeful-while-seemingly-random-and-ridiculously-fun themed nights), this is a project that gives us high expectations of what’s to come. The way we understood it, Tracy’s going to take all the complaints you had as a suppressed, creative youth, whilst drunk and whinging on 1-for-1 whines about the lack of opportunity, and provide you and your lost creative youth a chance of a platform… funded. The Sputnik Project is slated to be up and running by June 2010.

FR DAILY: What would be on your wish-list for Sputnik Projects?

Tracy: An affordable Art Fair. It will be an initiative to grow art appreciation and support local artists. Ranging from $50-$500

FR DAILY: Approve! I think alot of us are in a hole where we would love to own some art but can never really afford it. Budget is key. Who are your favourite local artists then?

Tracy: Xin (of Maki Squarepatch) and Melvin from Phunk Studio.

FR DAILY: Music for a revolution: what’s your guilty-pleasure song?

Tracy: I’m walking on Sunshine, KC and the Sunshine Band.

FR DAILY: Favourite labels.

Tracy: Margiela, Bernard Willhelm, Preen. The same few for many years already!

FR DAILY: Favourite street…

Tracy: I like the trees along Gilstead Road, where I used to live. There was a neighbour’s cactus that blooms every once in a while at midnight, and filled the whole street with a beautiful scent.

FR DAILY: Your thoughts on Front Row.. you know we have to ask.

Tracy: I think Front Row is great - charming in design, thoughtfully put together and carries great brands. And it’s genuine, not manufactured. I’m grateful it exists in Singapore so I don’t have to buy everything on-line. Most importantly, it stands for something, and it’s supportive of young local talent.

FR DAILY: << You see why Tracy’s one of our favourite people? Star.>>

FR DAILY: So what do you want to tell the World right now?

Tracy: one thing… I want to share one of my favourite quotes from Robert Frost: ‘I can sum up life in three simple words. It goes on.’

Credits:
Photography: Mark Lim
Styling: Front Row
Make-up: Joanna Koh
Hair: Oba (for Tracy), Akira (for Val) | Kizuki + LIM | 6221-6320