SINGAPORE — Zouk’s Mambo Jambo night was the longest-running party in Singapore’s nightlife history. The retro-themed event happened every Wednesday night for 21 years until 2012, as people from all walks of life came together to dance to hits from the 1980s, complete with coordinated steps. But there are those who say that Mambo Jambo was more than just a popular mid-week party.

Which is why Dave Tan, the singer and frontman of Singapore’s rock trio Electrico, has chosen it as the topic of his maiden film project. “Mambo Jambo is one of the very few iconic phenomena that is 100 per cent local and touched a generation of youth,” said the 40-year-old musician, who added that the film’s working title is Blame It On The Boogie. “In its history are countless stories to tell and it deserves to be documented in a comprehensive and entertaining way.”

He continued: “I used to go religiously, and I saw it evolve over the years. While outsiders might assume it was just a night when people synchronised their dance steps to retro music, Mambo Jambo embodied something much more. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been the phenomenon it was. It wouldn’t have lasted so many years. There is a really interesting set of stories surrounding this piece of our history, and I want to tell it in this film.”

Making this independent film has been Tan’s dream since 2010, but he is in a race against time. “When Zouk leaves its current premises, it will truly be an end of an era. It’s imperative that we finish filming at the original location, and it’s an appropriate part of our SG50 celebrations,” said Tan, who recently left his position at MTV Networks to focus on the project full-time. “I’ve taken time off from my other work to focus on finishing this, hopefully in time for this year’s Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), if not for the next.”

However, just because he’s hunkering down with this project doesn’t mean he has hung up his guitar, even if this means Electrico has to go on yet another hiatus. “We’ve had babies, gotten married ... just busy!” he said. “And we all have individual projects we’re committed to for now. But the Electrico boys will be back!”

Right now, Tan is on the hunt for all things Mambo Jambo, from photos, videos and flyers to news clippings and other memorabilia. He said he is in the midst of setting up a website where he hopes Singaporeans will post and share their Mambo memories. The big challenge is finding archival material to help support the film’s editorial journey, and he said he needs all the help he can get.

“The majority of Mambo Jambo’s run pre-dated the smartphone, lah,” he said.

Another hurdle is funding. “It’s a self-funded project so far,” he said. Tan is planning a crowdfunding campaign, which should launch next month, to help cover costs. He also said he intends to apply for a Media Development Authority fund. But he’s also hoping everyone will come together and help. “I am fortunate to have great support from Zouk and others who are also passionate about seeing this film get made,” said Tan.

“I don’t intend to make money on this project. To me, it’s simply a film that needs to be made. But there are filming and production costs for which I hope those whose lives were touched by Mambo over the years will help to cover.”