When it comes to hangout spots in the Metro, there’s no shortage of new places popping up. From coffee shops, pubs, and to bars, there’s always something new to try and check out. The only question left is — what’s the vibe?
We totally get the dilemma that each weekend varies, sometimes you’re in the mood for a hip hop and R&B chill type of Friday, while some Saturdays high energy club heaters and techno music. This is where CLAVEL comes in, with our first installment, we got to hang out with the team behind Apotheka, a bar located in Makati’s nightlife district, known for their curation of live music and events in Poblacion.
There’s always something going on in Apotheka, from Hip-hop nights to Ballroom events as well as experimental offerings , it’s guaranteed to be intriguing. When we got there, it was Nomoclassiq’s first hosted night at the club, called REFRACTION.
What people don’t usually know is that behind every techno or R&B night at Apotheka, is a team of co-directors who pitch in to make every week’s line up. “We do different day, different vibes”, says Marga, live events and entertainment director of Apotheka, telling us further that no two nights are the same. Joining us and Marga that Saturday was Jorge and Fern, co-directors of community events, or as Fern said “co-director of vibes.”
If there’s one thing Marga, Jorge, and Fern is proud of in Apotheka it would definitely be the programming. No two nights are the same, as said earlier, putting emphasis on curating new experiences for their audience. Marga explains that while sometimes it’s based on behavior, like Wednesdays are hump days and people are in the mood for a pick me up, there’s some nights where they feel like throwing a curveball. Giving their audience something new to chew on and hopefully take away after that night.
“It was interesting to see that people know what they want on a Friday but we shocked them.”
– Jorge
Vibe Curation
When it comes to curation, it’s almost always talked about alongside taste. To each their own as they say and this is definitely the case in Apotheka. Outside of nightlife, Marga, Jorge, and Fern have their own projects going on, which creates an interesting dynamic when they all sit down to program Apotheka’s nights. Jorge also explains, “everyone that runs the place has skin in the game. From the chefs, bartenders, programming curators, we all have some sort of stake in it. We’re really passionate about it.”
The passions exudes from outside as well, for the most part, Marga describes Apotheka as a place that’s slowly becoming a platform for different scenes and communities.
“We’re really not one to just house one kind of music for one kind of people. There’s always a variety of people. So, like, every time you come to Apotheka, it’s always something different.
– Marga
Fern emphasizes that everything in Apotheka is a collaboration, not just between the three of them, but also down to the DJs and the collectives. People from different scenes, hip-hop, ballroom, underground, all come together here, making Apotheka a must experience for up and coming creatives.
“If you’re an artist, you feel like you wanna come here.”
– Fern.
Creative Hub
With different collectives, influences, and tastes all housed under one roof, Apotheka is becoming a mainstay for pushing boundaries. Marga tells us that while collectives come to host for a night, the programming team likes to give them a little bit more of a push, “sometimes, they have their own nights. But sometimes, we’re like, why don’t you collaborate with this other group and see what you can do together?” And it’s not about who’s better than who, but rather let’s see what happens when two and two are put together, which makes for an interesting night. Not only for the collectives and the DJs but also for the audience experiencing the music.
Since Apotheka’s opening in March 2023, a wide array of artists and creatives have played inside those walls. A lot of shows have come and gone but one key thing about all this, as Marga emphasizes “I think it’s also us learning that everyone’s growing up at the same time along the way. So, the venue should also grow up.” Meaning that the key to creating this collaborative and exciting atmosphere that Apotheka has is pushing the team’s envelope.
Both the artists and audiences always have room to discover something new which is what makes Apotheka such an interesting place to spend your nights out. So what’s the vibe? Well from Wednesdays to Saturdays, it’s guaranteed that Apotheka curates an atmosphere of both newness and familiarity, luring you in for a fresh experience each time.
