After its storming Shanghai debut last year featuring DJ Koze and Kevin Saunderson, Beijing-born INTRO Festival returns to Shanghai this holiday weekend with another impressive line-up of DJs and producers from the worlds of techno and bass.
It's an all-night affair on Monday 29, going from 6pm to 7am (best not to plan much dragon boating the next day if you're going all in) over two stages at Bandai Namco Shanghai Base (formerly QSW). Here are some highlights from the line-up:
Virginia
Munich-based DJ, singer, songwriter and producer Virginia's career kick-started in the late '90s thanks to a wave of early hit singles, and she soon began to tour as a DJ. She produces warm, soulful techno.
Dax J
Dax J is a London-born, Berlin-based DJ, producer and label boss, known for producing raw, pounding techno. In 2016 Dax was voted into Resident Advisor's top 100 DJs of the year at No.56, and has a ten-hour marathon set in Berlin uberclub Berghain under his belt.
MikeQ
MikeQ is one of the leading figures of the East Coast's long-running (but still largely underground) ballroom/vogue-house scene. Based in New Jersey, the 26-year-old producer also heads up his own Qween Beat Team and turns out a steady stream of vogue and ballroom tracks, re-edits, and remixes.
DJ Paypal
DJ Paypal's take on footwork is kaleidoscopic and vivid, expanding on Teklife's Spinn and Rashad template for a new wave that looks backwards and forwards in equal measure. His Mall Music label is home to some of footwork's most idiosyncratic voices, including DJ Mastercard and his lush sci-fi funk. Growing increasingly obsessed with jazz, funk and soul music, Paypal's latest album, Sold Out, brought him to Flying Lotus’ imprint Brainfeeder, showcasing what he can do at 160bpm.
There's support from a strong list of locally-based DJs too, including MIIIA, Osheyack, Kilo Vee, Hyph11e and Howell.
INTRO Festival Bando Namco Shanghai Base. May 29. 6pm. 380RMB; 280RMB (presale); 200RMB (early bird).
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