“We are something like The Melvins sodomizing Marvin Gaye”

The Inspector Cluzo (www.myspace.com/theinspectorcluzo) isn’t your typical band. For one, they are just two people: a guitarist and a drummer – and that’s just the way they like it. Other things they like: rugby, behaving like wild animals, periodic acts of arson. And things they don’t like: bass players, rock stars, and Michael Jackson. The self-proclaimed French bastards explain themselves below.

It’s not easy being Peaches. Electroclash, glamrock, synthetic punk, rap, retro and futuristic all at the same time – and that’s not even getting into her self-described male-female dual identity. Fortunately, all of the above makes the Canadian singer, songwriter and producer one of the most innovative and interesting artists out there. Before her April 24 show at Yugong Yishan, this Goddess of Shock Value shares a few words of wisdom with Lisa Liang.

He may be shy and he may look humble, but DJ Kentaro has skills galore. That’s why he’s a DMC champ, that’s why he gets the ladies, and that’s why he’s signed with the illustrious Ninja Tune label, who releases Kentaro’s second album later this year. Before that happens, however, the Japanese golden boy makes a stop at Yugong Yishan – as he packed his bags, he told tbj about his favorite place to scuba dive, his most beloved stalker, and what he does with his set of gold turntables …

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.