Inside Perth’s new hip-hop gym

It’s Perth’s hottest new venue — with live DJs, mood lighting and even a signature scent — but it isn’t a nightclub.

Set 30 Studio is a boutique underground group weight-training studio in the heart of the CBD, with each class set to a curated playlist of hip-hop and R&B tracks.

It’s the brainchild of personal trainers Ret Hartley, Luke Faulkner and Oscar Nilsson.

“What we found while training one-on-one clients was that they loved to train with us multiple times a week but it just wasn’t affordable,” Mr Hartley says.

“We thought about the things we like when we train, and it was weights and the hip-hop and R&B vibe.

“We figured out how we could put that in a group setting and make it affordable for people.” The three have got local DJ Luke Chan on board as music director.

As well as putting together the music you’ll hear in each class, he’ll be on the decks every Saturday in the studio.

“We wanted to put the emphasis on the experience, so having a live DJ taking you through your Saturday morning adds to that,” Mr Hartley says.

“There will also be guest DJ spots, so the opportunity to listen to high-quality local and international DJs while working out is a great for our clients.”

Hip-hop culture extends to the venue’s aesthetic, with the walls decked out with posters of Biggie Smalls, Outkast and the like, and their branding — they’ve got custom Set 30 Studio street apparel.

And it’s ingrained in their workouts.

Their classes include No Scrubs on Friday and Get Low on Wednesday.

Each day targets specific muscle groups, with a maximum of 18 people in each class.

“We have three trainers in class every time, which provides a lot of attention to detail,” Mr Hartley says.

“We really hone in on technique and educating our members.”

Why Set 30?

“You roughly do about 30 sets in a workout,” he explains.

While the flagship studio on Hay Street has only been open for a matter of days, there are already plans to expand interstate.