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China NOT the New Ibiza Skrufff’s new man-in-Beijing Neebing downplayed the hype surrounding China’s much vaunted club scene this week, insisting ‘there is no genuine music scene, club culture is just part of the entertainment business; the same as red light zones and foot massage centres.” Paul Oakenfold recently told the Observer ‘right now, nowhere is more exciting than China’ though Neebing, one of the country’s leading promoters of international DJs, was unimpressed. “The superstar DJ names get really well paid and serviced with champagne, luxuries and literally whatever they want,” he said, “But underground clubs can never afford to book them so they always play in big commercial clubs where only expats and local rich people go. These clubs have tiny dance floors and everybody sits at tables drinking whisky. Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren and Paul Van Dyk all play at these clubs, but people can only swing their bodies beside the tables,” he said. Local superstar DJ Calvin Z programs Shanghai and Hangzhou superclubs G Plus and agreed with Neebing that the local club scene has a long way to develop. “Several years ago I remember thinking ‘maybe the scene will be better in a couple of years but it hasn’t changed much at all,” Calvin told Skrufff, “ The base is so different here comparing China to somewhere like the UK.” DJ magazine recently reported that many of the votes for the latest poll came from China prompting publisher Jason Robertson to predict that the ‘market for dance music is shifting abroad’, though Calvin’s G Plus colleague Jacky said practical issues for local DJs remains an issue. “It’s easier to buy DJ equipment but still hard to buy music, particularly vinyl,” said Jacky, “In fact, there were very few clubs at all here until recently.” Despite his disillusionment with the current scene, Neebing recently opened his own bar/ club Song in Beijing, which as well as catering to the bottle service style customers so prevalent, also has a decent sized dance floor with a stompingly powerful, custom-made sound system. “China needs more visitors and more people spending more money so you’re gradually seeing more and more bars and clubs opening,” he said. “And some DJs are starting to develop real followings such as Richie Hawtin, who’s an idol. Minimal techno is actually extremely popular,” he added, “At least amongst the clubbers who aren’t stupid enough to follow the whole DJ Top 100 thing.” Neebing also had essential advice for tourists worried about committing cultural faux pas, particularly male clubbers looking for a holiday romance. “Don’t flirt with girls with boys sitting beside them,” he recommended.” It’s VERY dangerous. http://www.clubgplus.com http://www.djcalvinz.com (Calvin Z) http://www.songbeijing.cn <http://www.songbeijing.cn/> (Song, Beijing)
Article by Jonty Skrufff (Skrufff.com)
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