Satellite Voices

Shanghai

R3 talks about the Shanghai Scene

April 11, 2011

Robot electro and punky synths with the up-and-coming club producer

• Text by Karchun Leung

R3 dominates the Shanghai club scene with his electro brews and forward thinking club nights. Supporting the local scene with both homegrown DJ talent as well as being a link for introducing international acts to play China, R3 is one of Shanghai's leading club DJs and promoters.

Satellite Voices: Why you start DJing and creating music in Shanghai?
R3: I started making music since I was 17 and I came to Shanghai to make music for a TV show production company. When I started going out in Shanghai I noticed there weren’t many people playing the music I wanted to hear, so I started DJing, playing more dance Rock  and synth punk stuff at my own parties. I just figured if no one else is going to play what I like… I’ll play it myself.

SV: What doe you think makes the audiences in Shanghai so different?
R3: The audiences in Shanghai are actually some of the best I’ve experienced in the world. They are very respectful to artists and are willing to give everyone a fair chance. Around the world there is a lot of people judging music, styles and looks, and that can all be quite daunting for any musician. Shanghai gives you the feeling that you can do whatever you want and not be afraid.

SV: Why are you working on right now?
R3: As a producer I’m working on a new EP which will be released on Modern Sky. Looking to have something by mid this year. I’m also currently working on a remix for a new Brisbane band called Teleprompter. Their music sounds great and I think the remix will be killer. Their album comes out soon and my remix will be on the album.

SV: Where do you find your new music in Shanghai?
R3: Friends and internet.

SV: Which is your favorite club or bar in Shanghai?
R3: Used to be LogO but it got shut down. Sucks. My house is a pretty nice bar, I just bought a foosball table! Foosball is like crack to me.

SV: What are you listening right now?
R3: French Horn Rebellion, Delorean, Radiohead, Unkle, James Blake, Friendly Fires, Jackson and His Computer Band, Neus, Miles Dyson, TV On The Radio, A Place To Bury Strangers… I could go on for a while yet

SV: Do you think Shanghai is a great place for music?
R3: It’s a good place for an aspiring musicians that want to just give it a go. It’s a great place for electronic music fans, as it’s not totally sold out and has a cool underground vibe with heaps of parties all the time. The live music scene is still struggling in Shanghai but I have a feeling it’s due for a big act to come out of there. There’s a lot of creative people here and I think it’s starting to come together. I’ve done heaps of parties in Shanghai to help support local and foreign acts, and it’s really nice to see likeminded people to come together, listen to good music and have a good time. Great to be a part of it all.