After organizing China's first ever drum and bass festival last month, Guangzhou crew Trilithium will be making a whole lot of noise at Shelter tonight.  The three-piece act features MC Savant, VJ Alex and DJ JCC, the first female Chinese DJ in South China.

DJ JCC tells us about the DnB scene in China, her pursuit of a Phd in neuroscience, and what to expect from their Shanghai show. 

What draws you to drum and bass?

When I first heard drum and bass, I didn’t even know that it was called drum and bass. I was introduced to a couple of tracks, and afterwards I just couldn’t stop searching for similar music, which gave me so much energy. Pendulum's famous track 'Vault' made me a fan.   Also, when I started to do lots of crime scene investigations and autopsies for my forensics degree in college, I completely got into drum and bass. People need suitable music for their lifestyle and work.  

Forensics? We also heard you’re working on a neuroscience Phd...   

Yeah, I'm doing research on neuropharmacology, focused on finding treatments against hypoxia-induced neuronal injuries at high altitude, and cellular mechanisms which have remained unclear for centuries.  

Is it hard to find time for both your music and studies?

It’s not that hard to balance them. When I’m not working on science, I just have to give all my spare time to music; and when I’m not working on music, all my spare time goes to science. Thank God I can fully arrange my own time! I’ve been fine so far though – I have equal passion for both things.  

You're from Sichuan but currently based in Guangzhou. How is the DnB scene there? What are you doing to help it develop in Guangzhou, as well as across China?

MC/DJ Savant and I first started to do drum and bass parties in 2007 in Guangzhou. Compared to other major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, we are quite late. And due to the lack of professional DnB promoters in Guangzhou, everything was so hard in the beginning.  

But in 2008, we started our 'Starship Mission' nights at PingPong Bar in Guangzhou. So far we’ve done 10 drum and bass events there with different DJs and MCs, such as DJ Grant Stetski (Canada), DJ Siesta (Shanghai), DJ Eddie (Guangzhou). And we've also thrown several parties at C:union with great artists like Delacrew (Beijing, originally Spain). We have collected lots of fans already and converted many people to DnB, but I'd rather say the scene is just starting, there is a lot more to do this year that's already planned in our Trilithium notebook.   

So how would you describe the growth of DnB in China? 

Well, the drum and bass scene in Guangzhou is just in its early stages. I’d say the DnB scene in Shanghai is the best compared to the rest of China, including Guangzhou.  Looking at the DnB scene in Shanghai can always stop me from thinking of giving up. No matter how hard it was before, I believe if the promoters in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou can collaborate more, the DnB scene in China will get bigger and bigger.  

What will your show on Saturday be like?

We'll start with jump-up and then play techstep, dubstep and hardstep. So the DnB fans will be musically satisfied, and there’s also a whole sci-fi concept in our show! Expect dark, techy, upfront DnB with enough variety to keep you on your feet and enough punch to knock you off them.  

Our crew members are MC Savant and VJ Alex So. Savant is a very talented hip hop MC from North Carolina. He’s been in China for five years now, and he made a big impact on the Guangzhou hip hop scene before making the jump to DnB. Alex So is one of Guangzhou’s most well-known and well-respected photographers. Until recently, he was mostly involved with the art scene, but when our previous VJ left, Alex decided to turn his hand to live visuals, and it’s working out really well.

RMB 50. 10pm. Saturday 16 January. Shelter, 5 Yongfu Lu, near Fuxing Lu.