MIX TAPE

Since its birth in the free party movement of the nineteen-eighties, electronic dance has transformed the musical world, spawned a thousand different sub-genres and pushed the DJ to the front of the stage. New technologies have provoked a digital-music revolution over the last two decades. And while the PRD has its fair share of iPod shuffle DJs, there are some truly dedicated artists and promoters pushing the frontiers of electronic sounds in the Delta. This month we’ve been out and about meeting the most influential, active and creative South China has to offer.

Ms ChAos (嘈) is "very noisy"
DJ JCC is turning the tables

“I mostly like hard, techy and chaotic sounds,” says the striking Ms ChAos. Guangzhou party label ChAos (嘈) has been making waves in China with the break through Drum n Bass crew, Trilithium. Focusing on developing the DnB, dubstep and reggaeÜscene in South China, ChAos have won expat and local fans alike over the last year.

The scientist by day and spin-doctor by night, Ms ChAos is better known to her friends as JCC. The Sichuan born neuro-pharmacologist with a degree in forensics has been cutting up tracks for about the last the five years. “I used to play with bands at my college and I played violin when I was younger,” she said. “I started to learn how to scratch five years ago and played hip-hop for a while. I’ve always been more into DnB and there were not many DnB DJs in town back then - so I just had to spin it myself.”

She goes on to say, “I am a DnB and dubstep DJ, though I’m more known as a Drum n Bass DJ.” The twenty-five year old has spun records at events all around China including -ÜShanghai’s the Shelter for Sweatshop with Trilithium at DJ Siesta’s DnB night, the Pearl Delta Bassheadz Gathering Party in Hong Kong presented by Hong Kongese bass crew ‘Heavy’; and at theÜJZ Festival in Shanghai on the Antidote electronic stage.

As well as touring, ChAos holds monthly shows in the PRD. “There were few Drum n Bass heads back in 2007, and now 3 years later, we can expect 200 people at our DnB nights,” said Ms Chaos. “Party-goers just need time to get to know about it, and as promoters, we need to keep it up. For me, being a DJ is all about my passion for the music and sharing.”

“The Chinese electronic scene is definitely just starting in my eyes - there have been loads of new clubs and bars for over 15 years,” she said. However, she said that there is not much quality music going on. “Without good and professional promoters, it is really hard to get not only great parties but parties that are also good for the music scene.”

When asked about her musical inspiration and philosophy JCC was quick to reply. “I’ve always been a big of fan intelligent sounds, and my music style has a lot to do with that. I love and I am inspired by crazy and fresh ideas that make colorful sets,” she said.

Ms ChAos has just toured Nanjing and Shanghai with her two favorite post dub step producers, Pixelord and Doshy.

Catch DJ ChAos plus Nicole & Penny at ‘ChAos special Girls’ at Ping Pong on April 9. For more information regarding ChAos visit www.chaoslab.asia or email chaoslabasia@gmail.com

Guangzhou's first DnB crew
Trilithium with Urban Savant

As he sipped on his Bloody Mary, DJ / MC Urban Savant surveys the scene. “I am working on the most anticipated album in the PRD,” he says with a smile. He’s not prone to modesty. The twenty-nine year old turntablist hailing from North Carolina has DJ’ed the Kobe Bryant tour, the Asian Games; MC’ed for the CBA and NBL on numerous occasions as well as DJing for skateboarding competitions, fashion events, and a wide range of corporate, government-sponsored, and underground events.

Savant joined the rave scene early in 96’ at the age of 16, honing his craft as a DJ at after-parties, clubs and working at a local record store, before going onto cut his teeth as an MC in ghetto club battles. This is a far cry from growing up with his parents’ love for southern soul and bluegrass.

Trilithium is known as the first Drum n Bass crew inÜSouth China. The innovative crew features DJ JCC, highly acclaimed photographer and designer Alex So as the VJ and Savant. Themed the “Future of Drum n Bass,” the crew are known for their love for exotic music styles and putting on a high-octane performance. The trio spins the latest bass-wicked beats and mesmerizing melodies, layering them with freestyle rhyming and psychedelic video displays.

The fast-talking Savant has come along way since his mix-tape days and is now a regular on Guangdong radio stations and appearing frequently on CCTV5 and GDTV. “Working with Mitchelle Wang (王雪儿) and Fashion - Dance (舞时尚) - China’s premier cheerleading squad - has been a blessing and a fantastic experience,” said Savant. Though commercial gigs pay the bills such as DJing on tour throughout Asia for EUS, V-mix, Shine and many other agencies, or MCing at the Super Badminton tournament – he is focused on his craft. “Ghost Kings, my latest project, is rising up by bringing back to life the deceased music stars of China by sampling their sound into fresh head-nodding hip hop beats.”

With prot»g»s such as DJ JCC, Savant is one of the most influential DJs in the PRD and after promising to do so for five years, his many fans are eagerly awaiting his forthcoming album.

Catch the Ghost Kings’ DJ ram session at C:Union on April 23. For more information regarding MC Savant email MC Urban Savant at: urbansavant@qq.com or visit www.facebook.com/urbansavant

Ah yes, ain't that Fresh...
Fresh Crew Shenzhen
“I want to do something new, something different, something unique. That’s part of what makes Fresh, fresh.”

Radiating with North American self-confidence, Jesse Warren (aka DJ Quest) explains the philosophy behind his Drum n Bass crew’s attitude to events and music in Shenzhen. The photographer / surfer / DJ is clearly very proud of what Fresh have achieved in a few small years, and rightfully so. Over a Buddhist meal in Luohu (he’s also a vegetarian who practices Yoga) Jesse along with his “right-hand man” fellow American David Shomaker (aka CEO) recount how Fresh Crew grew from humble beginnings to become one of the premiere electronic music exponents in the SEZ.

Jesse and friends began playing out in late 2007, mixing hip-hop in Triple J Caf». He hosted his first surf event that same year but it was in 2008 that the ball really got rolling. “We threw our first beach party in summer of 2008. I followed it up with monthly DnB events. We soon did some events with all the other guys, and Fresh coalesced over time.”

The Fresh Crew is a loose confederation of DJs and MCs though the central figures are Jesse and David who mix both DnB and Old School Hip-Hop. David is in fact a self-proclaimed Drum n Bass traditionalist; favouring technics and vinyl to contemporary DJ software. The crew also includes the awesome, Rice the Beat Chef (Michael Hsu), an American Born Chinese who produces his own experimental electronic music, MC Black Dynamite (Jaris Cole) from California and Prince Luohu (Sebastian Bueckle) from Germany, who works primarily as an events promoter.

When asked how he came up with the name Fresh, Jesse was quick to reply. “It just captured the essence of what we were doing. Fresh has always been about good and innovative music, homemade visuals, talented guest performers in unique venues that’s affordable to all.”

“That’s why we bring DJs from Hong Kong and Guangzhou to our parties,” adds David. “To bring some something fresh to Shenzhen.”

Indeed the Fresh r»sum» is impressive. As well as the rather legendary annual beach parties and surf-contests, Jesse and co. have brought the likes of Violent Jokes to Enigma in Shekou and have collaborated with almost every creative DJ in the PRD and beyond. “We’re planning to bring true international DJs at some point, hopefully this fall,” he adds.

Sighting influences as diverse as the Beatles and LTJ Bukem, it’s clear to see why Fresh have such a spirit of innovation and collaboration. “There are other crews in SZ we’d like to work with,” says David openly. “And we want to work with more domestic artists. We’re always looking for new ideas and venues.”

“For instance, I’m doing an event this month at a vegetarian restaurant,” Jesse adds. “There will be a live guitarist, bongo drums and singers. The idea is people can have a good time without smoking and drinking.” ÜÜ

Recent parties in a host of venues as diverse as La Casa in Coco Park and Fly bar on Shangbu Nanlu are testimony to the Fresh Crews anything goes policy. The crew even have their own sound system, enabling them to take their eclectic beats almost anywhere.

“I’m really into the music,” says Jesse finally, while we’re waiting for the bill. “That’s what keeps it going.”

For more information regarding Fresh check out http://szfresh.org/ call 134 2439 6859 or email jessewarren@gmail.com The next fresh event will be on April 16 at Han’s Cafe in the OCT.

The Experimentalists
Dickson Dee and Noise Asia

We met-up with Dickson Dee in the rather unromantic location of Luohu station McDonald’s. He’s always on the move and it can be tough to pin him down. He arrived late and in a flurry. He just performed in Guangzhou Friendship Theater and was on his way home to Hong Kong where his wife and kids live, before jetting off to Beijing to perform at Haidian Theater. You wouldn’t know he was a husband and father to look at him. A boyish face betrays his age and his naturally unassuming nature gives no hint to his mammoth achievements. Simply put, Dickson Dee has been in the music business for over twenty years. He has created record labels, promoted events, imported and distributed foreign albums, bridged the cultural gap between Hong Kong and China Mainland and travelled the world with his umpteen bands and collaborative projects. Not bad for the son of a Fujianese school teacher.

“My father played the flute, violin and er hu. He was a composer and a painter. He taught me how to draw. In the eighties he bought me a Hi-Fi with a free New Order LP. I quickly grew interested in factory records. You know, new wave, post-punk and gothic. I began to collect LPs. Today I have 45, 000.”

In university Dickson began organizing events and started his own record label. “Though I didn’t study music formally, I taught myself to engineer and produced a lot of local bands. After graduation, I ran the label. I got no income from it but I could make money from design. I was good at freehand airbrushing and could earn HKD8000 a week from that. Eventually me and my partner began a distribution company in Hong Kong for the likes of 4AD, Mute and Creation records. We’d export music to Japan, Taiwan and Singapore.”

During the early nineties Dickson and his friends grew increasingly interested in noise art. “My first band was PNF, an industrial noise band though I was the only stable member.” Dickson also began coming to China, befriending the major mainland artists, promoting events in Guangzhou and Shenzhen and working alongside CCTV to help bringing music videos to China’s emerging entertainment market. For several years, it would appear that Dickson was the man in-the-know, bridging China and the rest of the world through independent music. He had a finger in every pie, whether he was signing mainland artists like Wang Lei, hanging out with Cui Jian or producing noise art in Hong Kong.

Throughout the early-mid nineties in Hong Kong a few music magazines and similarly avant garde bands sustained an underground scene but around 1997 things began to change. “Indie labels emerged with a budget. We could not compete. Some magazines folded and a number of important bands, like LMF and AMK split up. My partner, Henry Kwok was disappointed by the scene and quit.”

Unfazed, Dickson formed Noise Asia as the parent company for all his projects and increasingly aimed at becoming a full time, independent artist. For the last decade, he has grown increasingly productive on an artistic level, distancing himself from the business side of the music industry. He describes his music as avant garde, jazz, world, electro. He is presently the founder and member of Mars News Ensemble and will perform this year in New York.

email: dickson.dee@gmail.com checkout: www.dicksondee.com/blog www.myspace.com/dicksondee/www.dicksondee.com www.noiseasia.com

Zen Lu and Neo Sound
“My life is simple, I just follow my interests,” Zen Lu told us over an afternoon beer outside Idutang in the OCT Loft. Zen Lu at first appears timid and reserved, yet his searching eyes and thoughtful expression indicate something deeper is at work. He is the founder and central figure of Neo Sound, who’ve been putting on monthly experimental electro events in the Liang Cha Shop behind Idutang since 2006. Neo Sound typically invite Chinese and overseas experimental sound artists to perform and should you attend an event, expect to be surprised: Noise meets ambience, samplers meet tapes, record decks meet live instrumentation. Even household furnishings are incorporated! The events have been described as an anti-clubbing-experience. The audience sits around a sparsely decorated room and watches the artists perform. It’s electronic music but not as you’ve heard it before.

Zen Lu originally hails from Anhui province. “I attended Shenzhen University. My major was accounting. My family pressured me to study it but I found it boring. I started listening to Taiwanese pop and then moved onto western music. In the nineties, before the internet was well developed, foreign music was hard to find. Businessmen bought CDs as reusable plastic and we’d get the music from them.”

By the age of nineteen Zen was listening to Portishead and Faithless; and DJing at his own parties. The fledgling musician soon grew interested in post rock and joined a band called Zhi Jue. He also developed an interest in Japanese and Northern European Music, notably experimental music.

By 2004, as well as his full time job in the media, Zen Lu was promoting gigs in Shenzhen. He invited Dickson Dee to perform at Trip Bar on Shangbu Nanlu, a meeting that would have a profound effect on his career.

“Dickson exposed me to a lot of music and showed me how to make music with a laptop.”

However it wasn’t all easy going. “We made an avant-garde scene at Musicbar,” Zen recounts. “We brought artists from Australia and other places but some performances were too strange. Many Chinese people didn’t understand the music at all. The bar told us this was not good for business.”

In 2006, Zen gravitated to the OCT Loft that was back then, still an undeveloped area. Around this time he also received word from ETA, a Polish record label that wanted to distribute his first album, Ding. From this initial connection, a musical exchange program named CHOP (China Poland) was born. Zen toured Poland with other Chinese artists in 2007 and again 2010, as well as performing at an art festival in Sweden.

Regarding his future Zen told that’s PRD. “For myself, I plan to do more art projects, sound installations and new media art. With Neo Sound, we hope we can bring more western artists to Guangdong and promote more east and west cultural collaboration.”

For more information checkout: Zen Lu:www.zenlu.com We Play! Records:www.weplayrec.cn Neo Sound:www.neosound.cn

Meet the DJs
Name: J. Nimbus
Nationality: New Zealand
Age: 34
Location: Shenzhen

How would you describe your DJ style and where do you play?
Currently working with the good people at Plush bar in Futian, introducing an eclectic mix of all things house… including old-school house classics, electro, techno, breaks, tech house, fidget and various other diversions.

What is your DJ musical philosophy?
Music should be fun. No point in playing just one type of music all night. I love house because it virtually has no limits on its musical influence, and I never really know what I will be playing next. The music I play is heavily influenced by the crowd I’m playing to, and I enjoy the excitement when the music itself takes on a life of its own and I’m just hanging on for the ride.

What do you think about the electronic music scene in the PRD?
Well, the last DJ that said he hated Lady Gaga had to leave town… so I will refrain! The Electronic music scene in Shenzhen is in its infancy, and like any developing city it takes a lot of time, effort, and support to get it established. The best thing we can all do is to support the bars and event organizers that are leading the future of music in our city. Be curious, check out new DJs and club nights. Even supporting local live bands can help develop a good general music scene, it’s all very important and connected.

Name: Slim Buddah
Nationality: French
Age: I am so old, I cannot even remember – I will have to get back to you on that one.
Location: Zhuhai

How would you describe your DJ style and where do you play?
My sound is mostly groove and bass driven.ÜI love texture and raw organic tones. My usual selection ranges from deep house to technoÜbut the main influence remains early hip-hop. I seek to mix the smooth with the raw, the clean with the dirt - by balancing opposites. I believe music is not only meant to be listened to, as it is also a full physical experience - the sound system and the room is essential. In Zhuhai you can hear me spin at Danis Corner, on Thursdays & Fridays and in Guangzhou, once a month at Ping Pong. As well as playing in various venues both in Macau & Shenzhen.Ü

How did you become a DJ?
It all started from being a music producer and buying tons of vinyl. After a while, I started to jam with my deejay friends. For a long time I never actually thought of myself as a deejay, music production being my main concern.

What do you think about the electronic music scene in the PRD?
It’s fun to become part of it and help things move and diversify.Ü

What have been your musical influences / what international DJ’s do you recommend?
The deep influences come from the classics, 60’s and early 70’s funk, jazz, soul, early Hip Hop to Thelonious Monk. For the recent influences,ÜI love DJs and producers who keep pushing boundaries - some of my favorites are Switch, Jesse Rose, Claude Von Stroke, MyMy and Magda.

Name: Ceet
Nationality: French
Age: 39
Location: Hong Kong

How would you describe your DJ style and where do you play?
My style is more entertainment; I like to play hip hop, electro, dancehall, rock… to mix different styles to keep the crowd on the dance floor. I like to surprise them also, to mix new music with old.

What is your DJ musical philosophy?
A good DJ has to have a good culture of music, and also a very good selection during the mix in the club, the most difficult thing for a DJ is to keep the people and make them happy.

What do you think about the electronic music scene in the PRD?
I meet many DJs in China, and some of them are very good, some of them are better than some DJs in Europe, and I m very proud to play in China and to share my music with my second country.