Following on from the inaugural event last year, Shanghai-based promoters Spectacles of Sound are bringing together an exciting array of Scandinavian talent over three nights this week for Music by Design 2016. Taking place at Yuyintang on Wednesday, Arkham on Friday and a secret venue yet to be announced in the middle (Thursday), this year’s iteration will feature everything from Swedish rap and Norwegian indie-rock to Chinese trip hop.
Hailing from Copenhagen, producer Taragana Pyjarama will be bringing his trance-infused beats to town as part of a diverse line-up, with Swedish rapper Erik Lundin, who delivers rhymes in his native tongue backed by soulful beats, set to be another highlight. Joining them as part of the showcase will be synth-driven Norwegian power pop quartet The Fjords, experimental Danish RnB duo Saint Cava and Oslo-based baroque-pop producer Bror Forsgren.
No stranger to Shanghai, having performed here a number of times and spent much of the past six months living here, Lydmor (pictured) will be another act not to miss. Her infectious, beautifully crafted electro-pop never fails to beguile her audiences and with the Danish singer-songwriter set to return to Europe soon to tour with producer Bon Homme, this may be one of the last chances to see her here for a while. Check out our archive interview with Lydmor online.
The Scandinavian contingent will be joined at the trio of shows by Hangzhou-based jazzy hip hop artist Wootacc, rapper Dizkar from Kunming, electronic-pop singer Sonia Lao from Macau and Shanghai’s own ChaCha and GOOOOOSE.
Music by Design is at Yuyintang tonight at 9pm, tomorrow at a secret location and on Friday at Arkham at 10pm.
More from Time Out Shanghai
November issue out now!
Weekly fluff: Be a pal, adpot a pet