by Alex Taggart
Did you hear about that Taylor Swift vs. Spotify thing? If not, you definitely haven’t been within shouting distance of me. Long story short, she pulled her music from all free streaming apps, including those in China, and caused a right old bally-hoo. But while I was scrabbling around trying to make sense of it all, I discovered just how useful a tool apps like Xiami, QQ Music and Wangyi are for linking up electronic artists, promoters and fans in China.
Just to make this clear – I know they’re not new. But nowadays, we’re seeing these easy-to-use apps making better use of functions like curated DJ playlists, recommended electronic releases and podcast functionality to cram brand new Western and domestic dance tunes right into the phones and brains of China’s increasingly open-minded music consumers. They share, they discuss, they become more engaged, and they eventually come out to gigs. Then go home and make tunes of their own... maybe.
Here’s a few DJs playing in December, most of whom you can check out on Xiami before you go.
Perennial Beijing visitor Boys Noize is back in town on December 4 to capitalize on his literally millions of plays on Chinese streaming apps. I remember this dude’s first gig here in 2010 on Tango’s third floor, when he was still a wee electro-house bairn – he rose, grinning like a loveable Teutonic toe-rag from behind the decks, after coming up out of a trap-door in the DJ booth. These days he’s working the festival-friendly EDM angle, but still keeps it interesting. I might actually go to Circle for this one.
Dada’s program this month is straight-up fire. It’s actually hard to pick one, but I’m gonna go for the SubCulture 7th Anniversary on December 12 with Kode9 and DJ Spinn. Dubstep OG Kode9 has been a long-time supporter of the bass music scene in China, linking with Chinese artists and naming songs after Shanghai streets. Spinn meanwhile, is part of the liquid-hot-magma core of Chicago footwork producers shaping the future of electronic music, as well as the sound of the Gulou underground. Both these guys have plenty of tunes on Xiami ready to gobble up your mobile data.
Finally, happy fourth birthday to Dance Dangereux, a disco flap-out that’s had everyone mincing around Migas for as long as I can remember (I arrived just before their first party... but hey, this isn’t about me). Check ’em out on December 19 at their birthday party at Migas with Rodion, who produced the forthcoming Nova Heart album (see page 36) and apparently is the ‘King of Queer Voodoo Beats’, which frankly I wouldn’t have expected to even have a monarchy.
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