[photo by ryry9379]

This post is the third of a 3-part series on Underground Electronic Music in Shanghai.

Listening to underground electronic music in Shanghai, it is nearly impossible to hear any influences from China or Asia, as this form of music was started in the west, and its most well-known geographic centers are locales such as Detroit and Germany. In some of the more experimental electronic music, there are occasionally elements of China or Shanghai to be found, for example, recordings of street or subway sounds. However, overall there is no Shanghainese or China electronic sound that has emerged as of yet. Read More

Almost every night of the week, it is possible to find a live jazz performance in Shanghai, whether it is at one of the major jazz clubs like JZ Club or at one of the hotels who host jazz bands. Performers who are touring around the world often stop by Shanghai and play at one or multiple jazz venues before moving on. Along with these daily performances, Shanghai’s jazz community comes together on a grander scale for jazz festivals that have grown in popularity over the past few years. Read More

While the clientele at most jazz clubs and bars tend to skew towards the more elderly (30-60 years old), there is a still a following among younger jazz fans and musicians. Many of these younger jazz fans in China are exposed through other types of music that have elements of jazz in them. Read More

C’s Bar is an underground bar with cheap drinks and graffiti all over its walls, and made its name as the home of Antidote’s parties.

Venues in Shanghai that feature electronic music are by and large divided into two groups: 1) venues that play almost exclusively electronic music and are more focused on commercial dance music and 2) venues that cater to more underground electronic music and often host other types of underground music (i.e. hip-hop, rock, etc.). Read More

Shanghai’s clubbing and dance scene has always been known as one of the most vibrant in Asia. However, the more underground electronic scene is also very active and growing in Shanghai, with a number of DJs and music producers gaining significant notoriety. The clubbing and underground electronic scenes often overlap, sharing venues, attracting similar crowds and drawing influences from similar music. Below are some of the most prominent and active electronic musicians and collectives in the Shanghai scene. Read More

Shanghai has a long and well-known association with jazz, dating back to the “golden age” of the 1920s and ’30s when western musicians came to play in places such as the Metropole Club. While some connection to Shanghai’s jazz history exists, the current jazz scene in Shanghai seems much more cutting-edge and experimental with both Chinese and foreign musicians involved. Read More

At most Shanghai rock shows, the crowd is made up of fans between the ages of 17 – 40, with a significant university population represented. Read More

One of the major impediments to Shanghai’s rock scene is the lack or unreliability of live music venues in the city. Because official government regulations require licenses and approval for public gatherings and live music performances, the bureaucratic process and most importantly, cost, to go through the proper channels is too burdensome for the vast majority of live rock shows. This obstacle, combined with the relatively small crowds that come to rock shows, has lead to a scene that can only count on a few venues for regular live music. Read More

While the underground or indie rock scene in Shanghai has had its ups and downs in the last few years, it still continues to grow, largely due its passionate musicians and fans.  Read More