It was the late winter or early spring of 2010.  I was having a conversation with Michael Ohlsson, the mad genius behind Antidote Asia(among other things), the Shanghai based party/promoters.  Now, I don’t remember much of the conversation.  I can’t even recall if it was in person or email.  All that clearly sticks out is the quote “massive talent.”  You see, at the time of this conversation Michael was preparing for Chongqing’s first Antidote party, and he was telling me about the artist he was bringing here from Shanghai.  A “massive talent” named ChaCha. 

Ever since then(especially after being blown away by her performance at Nuts Club) I’ve kept an eye on ChaCha, eager to hear what she comes up with next.  Thus far, I’m yet to be disappointed.  Whether a song containing a mere sample of her vocals like Kode9’s Time Patrol dub, or the EP she recently released with DJ Wordy, her voice works well in any number of musical settings.  Almost none more so, than in AM444, the duo made up of ChaCha and Dutch DJ/producer Jay.Soul.  Last year the two released the album Eye Wonder, which not only raised the profile of the artists involved, but the Shanghai music scene as well.  The two take to the stage tonight at Nuts Club, and we were fortunate enough to have a few words with ChaCha in the lead-up to her third Chongqing appearance in as many years.  

You’re from Guiyang, which is very different from Shanghai.  How(if at all) has each city had its own influence on you and your music?

ChaCha: Every city has it own beats, but I only can feel it when I travel from one to other, when I stay in a city for a long time, I can’t feel it any more. listening back to my old music, I can feel they are more positive, I think that’s because I was living in a city that has mountains around, I was more close to nature, but now the music I make is pretty dark and deep. The concrete jungle is confusing to human being’s mind… that’s sad, and my music is sad now.
A few months ago you participated in the prestigious Red Bull Music Academy.  For those who aren’t hip to the game, can you tell them what that’s all about, and your experience there?  What you learned there?

ChaCha: Big question! I can talk about it 3 weeks!  Basically if you are a music lover, party promoter, musician, producer, dj, sound engineer or radio dj or you do anything connecting with music, you can apply for it. They pick up 60 people from all over the world and split it to 2 terms, for a 2 week, musical mind-blowing gathering.  Every year the academy is set in different city, during the 2 weeks, all the participants will have the best producers or musicians come to do work shops you even can go to the studio with them to make music, and everyone can team up to share a studio to make new tunes, and every night has parties, with all the participants and lecturers  performing live.  I met so many fantastic musicians and djs from different countries and they really opened my mind. When I came back from Madrid, I felt I have so many ideas of music and I was so surprised that the music I make is changing, It is so different from before.  I didn’t even relize it.

The previous two times you’ve been in Chongqing, we’ve seen the reggae/mc side of ChaCha. What side of you should we expect to see this time around?

ChaCha: This time im not on the stage as “reggae MC ChaCha” , im half of the AM444 project. But actually the music style and live form are more close to the real ChaCha. people might know me from reggae music coz I do it live more often, but I can’t wait to show people in Chongqing another side of me, with my big trip hop, hip-hop, funky soul influenced style. And this time won’t be just one dj and one singer, we will do a good live set as  a real musician team, play keyboard, bass, synth and sound fx box, etc. it will be a proper musical trip for ppl. who come down for us on that night.

In a recent interview you mentioned that this is the album you always wanted to do. Why’s that?

ChaCha: I feel like I have something to say, I have some stories I want to tell, and I have a beautiful view that I want to share, but it can’t be with reggae or dubstep or drum and bass music. AM444 is the perfect project for me to release all the things that I’ve been carrying for years. Me and Jay work so well together, and he gives me big enough space to create the music that I always wanted, so I can be free. I’ve been dreaming to show people what else I can do apart from reggae, and to show people what the real ChaCha sounds like.  I was so honest to myself when I made this album, it was such a beautiful journey.

In another interview, your label mate Downstate had nice things to say about a new AM444 song he was able to listen to. Can you tell us a bit about that? Is there a new direction or feel to the music?

ChaCha: Jay and me are making our new AM444 album now, and since I got back from Red Bull Music Academy I started to record new songs for this album.  I’m growing in the music world I have to say.  Still growing, and I hope I never stop growing.  I can’t say what exactly learnt from RBMA, but my music will tell you the difference.  We both want the new album to step forward,  if all the new songs still sounding the same as the last album, there is no point to continue doing it. From music style to singing style, even the angle of lyric writing , the new album is going to present you a more mature AM444.

I read somewhere that you like to see more locals at your shows because they can truly understand and relate to your music.  That being said, do you look forward to playing at places like Nuts where unlike Shanghai, the crowd is mostly Chinese?

ChaCha: For sure!!  My music represent me, the real me, the real ChaCha who only exists on the stage. If you understand my music, you will understand me deeply. I’m a stranger of this world, but when I’m singing, I open my heart.  I write my songs with my soul, so if you feel touched, you are connecting me, then I don’t feel im lonely any more.

AM444 @ Nuts Club, Friday, March 2.  
21:00
¥40
PDP & Dj Drunk Monk(UK) in support

Happy Thursday everyone.  I hope the drab weather isn't turning everyone else into a zombie like I think it is me.  Today’s not bad, but with rain claiming much of the next week's forecast, the metaphorical brain-rot promises to slowly eat away my soul.  It is in due time then, that this weekend Chongqing will see an influx of just that.  Soul.  

On Friday night, the soul comes two ways, as it creeps into both descriptions of singer ChaCha’s beautiful voice and the name of her collaborator, Dutch DJ/producer Jay.Soul.  Together, the Shanghai based duo make up the trip-hop outfit AM444, who last year released the album Eye Wonder to critical acclaim(it was one of the few albums I’ve purchased on itunes over the past few years.  Its that good).  This will be ChaCha’s third Nuts Club performance, but only her first as AM444, and if the previous two shows are anything to go by, I’d be willing to bet this will be one to remember.  Local beatmaker PDP is in support and DJ Drunk Monk, who has a knack for rocking parties until the early morning, will take to the decks to close out the night.  

And on Saturday, Nuts will play host to a double-header of sorts, with two distinctly different, but equally intriguing happenings.  Firstly, at 20:30 is the band XiBan.  Though very much a Chinese band, XiBan would be best described with the oh so general label of “World Music.”  The band, with members from China, France, and the US, combine elements of Shanxi Opera, Beijing and Jiangzhou drumming, Tibetan and Yellow River singing, with elements of Indian, Australian, and modern electronic music, playing everything from bells and buckets to guitar and didgeridoo.  A definite must-see for the hippy in all of us.

Directly following Xiban is the appropriately named ‘After Party,’ which in its own could serve as a headlining show featuring Berlin based producer and creator of “extra-terrestrial future beats,” Doshy.  Apparently he was traveling in Chongqing at the same time that a friend of his happens to be here for the month, working her day job as a doctor, developing pharmaceuticals.  This friend also just happens to be JCC, one of China’s best drum n’ bass DJs and the creator of 嘈!ChAos, Guangzhou’s longest running D&B/Dub-step party, who will DJ alongside Doshy at what promises to be an all night throw-down of bass-heavy beats and “synth wizardry.”  And might I remind you, it’s FREE.

What a night folks! Last saturday (feb. 18th 2012) was not only the one-year anniversary party of popular expat dive Da Rasta, but also the latest live outing of Chongqing band No.2 Story (二号事件- Erhao Shijian) and opening act A South Adventure (南方奇遇- Nanfang Qiyu).

I punched out at 9 and immediately ran to Nuts, where I got to see the tail end of South Adventure’s set. Unfortunately, I paid little attention as I was busy recalling the events of the previous thursday with fellow showgoers. A few minutes later, my eyes were drawn to the stage as the main act stepped in. For fans of the genre (any combination of the words metal, hardcore and emo about describes it), it was a very good show indeed. To start with, the members of the band are all well known in the local music scene and there was visible mutual love in the room. Technical ability and talent were also part of the equation so, to the untrained eye, it was as good as it could get in a Chongqing livehouse. My half-trained eye, however, couldn’t help but notice how much they could benefit from a little direction… N.2 Story have a knack for pleasing (or pleasuring, if the rumors are true) their crowd and they can scream loud enough for you not to mistake this for lowly commercialism. We hope to see this act develop into an underground sensation in the near future…

Da Rasta’s 1-year anniversary bash

I followed a crowd of foreigners through the small alley between Shazhong and Hanyu Lu to attend what promised to be the party of the month. Over its yearlong history, Da Rasta has gathered a loyal clientele and almost all of it was there… which made movement a near impossibility. Local celebrities danced to the music of Dj’s P (aka Ya Boy) and Goodweed and all in attendance received a clever gift: a keychain bottle opener.

Congratulations to Shapingba’s premier foreign devil spot, we wish you another year of breaking windows, chairs, bottles and the barriers between people. Jah bless.


By LeManager

This weekend is full of event and entertainment options all around the city.  Here is a quick rundown of some that might be worth checking out...

Tonight(Friday) in CIqikou "Tangcu Laowai,"  Chongqing's newest ex-pat pop band will be debuting a handful of new material at 16 Bystreet Music Bar. Check out the video of their performance at Nuts Club a few weeks back...

Saturday Night is jam-packed with events all over town.  At the Sheraton Hotel on  Nan Bin Lu, the Chongqing International Women's Organization are hosting their 7th annual Christmas Ball.  The Dinner, Dance and auction is held every year to raise money for Chongqing area school children.  

At CiCi Park it's the DJ/VJ duo B-Side.  Apparently VJ Sonar keeps it old school and uses a VCR to provide the visuals, while DJ PAncake Lee lays down the Soundtrack.  It should be pretty cool.

And at Nuts Club on Saturday Chengdu garage/grunge rock band The Hit will play, followed by Dalian post-rock band Spiral Cow, and the indie-rock stylings of Which Park. 

**disclaimer** The writer of this post will be DJ'ing at the Tangcu Laowai event, creating a conflict of interest.

We here at CQ Scene have yet to write about Ciqikou(Chongqing's "old city"), because we honestly never thought we had to.  Pick up any guide book or check out any tourist website about Chongqing, and Ciqikou is sure to be amongst the 'to-do' list.  Ask any local to recommend places to check-out, and chances are Ciqikou will be one of their suggestions.  And though the main drag of the old city is campy and post-modern, we agree that it is worth checking out, as a stroll off of the beaten path can not only offer a glimpse of genuine(not your Hongyadong) old-school Chongqing architecture, but also lead you to some decent shops, cafes, and one cool ass bar.  

That bar being 16 Bystreet Music Bar.  A chilled out, cafe-esque bar just above the waterfront, with ample terrace space making it one of the best places in the city to enjoy a cold beer in the summer.  And as the name suggests, it is in-fact a music bar, and serves as an intimate venue perfect for, but not limited to (there's a hip-hop show there this Saturday) folk/acoustic(ish) shows.  

There is a good selection of domestic and imported beers starting at 15 RMB, and proper cocktails starting at 30 RMB. 

To get there, walk through the main entrance of Ciqikou and take a right on the main strip toward the water.  Walk down the first flight of stairs you come to and take a left on the restaurant terrace just after the Perfect Time Youth Hostel.  You will walk past quite a few tables before the bar will appear on your left.   

横街16号音乐俱乐部 
磁器口 嘉陵江边 龙隐门往左50米，穿过两个馆子的雨棚就到 ； 或者：宝轮寺大门对面巷子下梯坎到江边