As the century turned, Beijing knew little of drum & bass. The Syndicate, a band of rowdy miscreants who dared to venture where none had gone before, changed that. Ahead of the crew’s sixth birthday party at White Rabbit on March 13 (RMB 50, 9pm), members Blackie and Slide tell us how they’ll up the ante in 2010.

the Beijinger: It’s been quiet on The Syndicate front for a few months. What’s been going on?
DJ Blackie: It really was a case of, in the wake of various movements and goings on in the Beijing nightlife scene, us pursuing various other projects for a short while. It’s also given us time to take stock and wait for the opportunity to hit the ground running. We’re super excited about where things are at in terms of clubs this year.

Sound art, experimental noise, video games and Dr. Dre. If any of the above excite you, you’re in luck: DJ Seph is coming direct from Buenos Aires to mix up an eclectic electronica storm at Lantern this Saturday. Before his arrival in China and exclusive set in Beijing, Seph tells tbj who his influences are, what kind of candy he likes, and how to fall in love with electronica …

 Retro is always in, but disco often is not. Luckily, that which is currently retro also happens to be disco. Enter psychedelic electronica duo Holy Ghost! (the exclamation is theirs) Before the New York duo kicks off Fake Music’s new Dance Dangereux party series at Lan Club on February 25, better half Nick Milhiser gives tbj a rundown of the band’s music, what Beijingers can expect from their live set, and the current state of disco in New York …

If you’ve ever tumbled down the wee hours of a Saturday night in the last couple of years, you may have found yourself on the dance floor at Lucky Street’s White Rabbit. But when that infamous Beijing after-hours party spot shut its doors back in July, the city felt its consistent electronica supply fall into a black hole.

He was born Hideaki Ishi but his name is DJ Krush, and he is one of the most influential DJs on the planet. During his prolific, Wild Style-spawned career, he’s collaborated with the who’s who of hip-hop and produced amazing record after amazing record, in the process created a mystical, introspective style that is all his own.

Everyone has a dream. Svetlana Lustina certainly did when she came up with Chocolate, Beijing’s most out-there nightclub. Svetlana spoke to us as she gets ready to light the candle on Chocolate's first birthday cake.
 

the Beijinger: Where did the name “Chocolate” come from?
Svetlana Lustina: Chocolate is not only a delicious health-giving food, but also a symbol of wealth, high class and happiness for Russian people. Imagine a person sitting at the table in Chocolate. Suddenly he has a phone call from a friend who asks, “Where are you?” The answer is obvious: “I am in Chocolate,” which on one hand means the location and name of the place, but on the other hand there is an inner meaning – believe it or not, but the more you say “I am in Chocolate,” the happier and wealthier you will become.

White Rabbit is back, and now in Sanlitun. The new club opens on Friday night (Dec 11); co-owner and self-professed disco lover Thomas Gaestadius gave us the story ahead of the opening.

In the world of the DJ, Qbert is a household name – literally. After winning the DMC world title three consecutive years in a row (alongside Beastie Boys’ Mix Master Mike) back in the early ’90s, he started Thud Rumble, the company through which he brands his music, ideas and innovative DJ inventions (for instance, the QFO – a solar-powered turntable and mixer hybrid machine).
As of late, Qbert's been working on a new album to go with a new movie, as well as getting things set up with his online scratch school, www.qbertskratchuniversity.com.
This week he's visiting Beijing for the second time in three years; ahead of his trip, he gave tbj a breakdown of his vision, the philosophy behind his music, and what he would give for the holidays.

Most people don’t know it, but China has played a seminal role in the development of reggae music. But those who do know this fact will then know Clive Chin. Back in the 1970s, the record shop he inherited from his father, Randy's Studio 17, became the birthplace of classic recordings by Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, Peter Tosh, Lee Scratch Perry and many, many others. He plays Bed Bar tonight.

The Beijinger: Where do your Chinese roots trace back to?
Clive Chin: My roots trace back to Guangdong and I do feel much affinity as my Chinese roots are part of my heritage. This is my first trip to China.

tbj: What is the Chinese community like in Jamaica?
CC: The Chinese community is very prevalent in Jamaica. About 20 percent of the population has some type of Chinese background

There’s a time to joke and there’s a time to be serious, but for Kid Koala, the difference is none. That’s what makes him an amazing DJ – the fun never stops. Before his show tonight (October 29 ) at Yugong Yishan, the master turntable manipulator, comic book novelist and illustrator, and (pending) solver of the world financial crisis breaks it down for Lisa Liang.