DJ Sugarstarr
SH: It's great to have you in Shanghai as we definitely need more quality electronic dance music parties these days. Please describe your sound to us in one sentence.
DS: Funky-Electronic-Techhouse-With-Vocals-And-Soul....The widest range of the hottest new Housemusic...
SH: Have you played in Shanghai before? What's your impression of the city?
DS: Nope. It's my very first time and I'm really excited to rock the crowd in your colorful city.
SH: Your DJ name is Sugarstarr with two 'r', right? Though it's often misspelled as 'Sugarstar'. Is there any story behind it?
DS: When I started DJing in the late 80s several of my favorite artists came up with a RR in the end of their names: Gangstarr, Atlantic Starr or Edwin Starr. But also the Beatles' Ringo Starr gave me this inspiration.
SH: You will be DJing alone in Shanghai. Will the energy and style be any different from when you're playing as a duo?
DS: I'm definitely more in action when DJing solo, what I definitely love to do. When we perform as a duo it's more like back-to-back which offers lots of space to animate the crowd while the other half is preparing for the next transition. The selection of tracks varies just slightly, as we always try to mix our own productions in combination with the hottest new tunes.
SH: 2011 is coming to an end. Have you had a satisfactory year of 2011? What are your plans for the New Year?
DS: 2011 was special in every kind of way. While only releasing one single per year in the past, we already had four in this year. And all of them gathered excellent response with several top-positions in international Charts. For 2012 we already have five new singles in petto as well as big plans for a huge album release. By the way, three of our upcoming singles will have their world premiere which I will play at Zeal. I'm so curious as to how the audience will react... ;-)
Jay Sebag
SH: Is this your first time in Shanghai? What are your expectations?
JS: First time indeed. Huge expectations since it's THE city of the future, one of the few destinations i was dreaming to go to. Everything's brand new, fresh, super modern.
I can't wait to see how the audience will respond here; i know people are gonna be fashionable and classy; I'm curious to see if they will let themselves go crazy or if they will act posh and precious.....we'll see....very excited to go to Shanghai.
SH: Do you know how long your performance will be at the Shanghai show?
JS: The live PA is always much shorter than a DJ set, but it is meant to be intense, and filled with high energy!! It's around 25 to 35 minutes.
SH: You've lent your voice to many big name DJs. Who did you enjoy working with the most?
JS: Tough question; can't offend nobody!! My answer might sound politically correct in a coward way but.......I did enjoy all of them for real!
Martin for how worldwide big it's been, DJ Yass for our long time friendship and his soulful and sophisticated taste in music, the Syke for the funk-electro super energetic production they come up with. Also my buddy Rodney Hunter from Vienna, with a hybrid hiphopish electro-funk. I like it when it's funky, in case you didn't get that!!!!!
SH: Where did you learn music? What is your own music like, when you're not working with international DJs?
JS: I started with 10years of classical piano, followed by many years of piano bar, which is for modern music, the best school possible!
The stuff I do beside dance is way more down tempo, like soulful singer-songwriter type of songs. U can check my writings for other artists such as Amel Bent from France (''Où je vais', 'Tu n'es plus là') or Exile from Japan ('Forever Love', 'Negai'), it gives an idea of what i do for my own projects as well.
SH: What's the most bizarre behavior/reaction from the audience you've ever seen?
JS: Good ones would be girls getting crazy, trying to touch my feet on stage or offering to follow me after the show....Bad ones would be guys showing jealousy by trying to mess the show up, being noisy or even trying to get on stage.......Of course both situations are pretty rare....Unfortunately for one of them. Guess which one!!!
DJ Sugarstarr & Jay Sebag @ Zeal, 10pm November 25.
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When: 1.30pm-8pm, April 23-24
Where: 68 Daqiao Lu, Zhouzhuang, Kunshan
What: Organized by Beijing’s famous record label Modern Sky, this is a festival dedicated to folk music and poetry, with a line-up of over 20 Chinese folk singers, bands and poets spread over three stages right inside the small water town.
They say: ‘Poetry and folk music is a kind of cultural mix and match, which is a new way of cultural transmission and will become a new trend.’
We say: We don’t know much about cultural transmission, but folk music in one of the most iconic water towns? Definitely a match made in heaven.
Don’t miss: Zuo Xiao Zu Zhou, Zhou Yunpeng, Lao Lang.
Tickets: 120rmb presale/150rmb on site for one-day pass (ticket hotline 158 0117 5975)
How to get there: Just hop on a train to Kunshan and then take Bus 161 or 130 to Zhouzhuang (approximately one hour).
When: 12.30pm-9.30pm, April 30-May 2
Where: Green Country Garden, Qidu Town, Wujiang, Suzhou
What: Launched in Beijing in 2009, Strawberry Music Festival is yet another brainchild of Modern Sky. This is the first time the festival takes place outside the country’s capital. Compared to MIDI, Strawberry is more light-hearted and youthful, with a focus on pop rock, folk and post punk.
They say: “Strawberry Music Festival 2011 – the most springlike, the most rock ’n’ roll, the most romantic, the freshest, the hippest, the sexiest and the most loving.’
We say: Yes, we can use some fresh air by the beautiful Taihu Lake, and feel the springtime, music and love all around us. If MIDI is too heavy for you, go get a bite of the sweet Strawberry.
Don’t miss: Xie Tian Xiao, Re-TROS, Queen Sea Big Shark, Zhou Yupeng, Cui Jian.
Tickets: 60rmb presale/80rmb on site for one-day pass (ticket hotline 400 610 3721).
How to get there: A bus leaves for Wujiang every 40 minutes from 7am to 8pm at Shanghai Long Distance Central Bus Station (North Square Shanghai Railway Station, 1662 Zhongxing Lu). The bus ride is approximately two hours (38rmb). After you arrive at Wujiang Bus Station, hop on another bus to Miaogang, the small town where Green Country Garden is located. This will take another 40 minutes or so (12rmb).
(This event is postponed. See the details here: sh.asia-city.com/events/article/strawberry-suzhou-postponed-indefinitely)
When: 2pm-11pm, April 30-May 2
Where: Binjiang Park, Nanjing
What: Staged in a massive park by the Yangtze River, this one-year-old music festival is not as famous as MIDI or Strawberry. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth going. The festival features a wide range of Chinese and international acts, many of whom are highly thought of. Plus the location is amazing.
They say: ‘You can not only feel the passion of music, but also experience the beauty of the riverside.’
We say: Bijiang Park is relatively easy to get to. Go for this one if you hate all the hassles on the road.
Don’t miss: Carsick Cars, Cui Jian, Li Zhi, Pet Conspiracy, Subs, Little Dragon, He Yong
Tickets: 80rmb presale/100rmb on site for one-day pass, 200rmb for presale three-day pass (ticket hotline 400 610 3721).
How to get there: Ride the train to Nanjing, and then take Metro Line 1 to Olympic Stadium Station, which is just a few minutes walk to Binjiang Park. Or just hail a cab.
When: 1pm-9.30pm, May 6-8
Where: Century Park, Pudong, Shanghai
What: As the oldest and most influential rock music festival in China, MIDI needs no introduction. However, it’s worth mentioning that this is the much anticipated debut of MIDI in Shanghai (the first attempt to host MIDI in Shanghai failed in 2009).
They say: ‘Just like at MIDI Beijing, the audience at MIDI Shanghai will enjoy a two-hour-long, concert-standard performance by Mr. Big.’
We say: First MIDI in Shanghai? We are in even though there are only two stages (Tang Stage for live music, Antidote Stage for DJs).
Don’t miss: Mr. Big, The Top Floor Circus, Miserable Faith, Good 4 Nothing.
Tickets: 150rmb for May 6; 80rmb for May 7 and May 8; 200rmb for three-day pass (ticket hotline 400 610 3721).
How to get there: Take Metro Line 7 and get off at Huamu Lu station.
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