In Shanghai’s local music scene, five years is a lifetime. Defying all odds by still going strong, Uprooted Sunshine celebrates their remarkable fifth anniversary this month with a China tour alongside Jamaica’s legendary Clive Chin. The city’s reggae sound system currently includes a cast of selectors Drunk Monk (UK), Blaise Deville (Switzerland) and dji (Canada) and MCs Esia (France), Cha Cha (China), Arminda (Portugal) and Didje (Tahiti). They took time off from practice to sit down with TALK to reminisce on their half decade of positive vibes and shed light on their future plans.

How did Uprooted Sunshine come about?

It started in 2005 when one of our original members, DJ Yo, started a reggae night at Eager Beaver called ‘Sunshine Is’. A few weeks after this initial event, someone posted on the Smart Shanghai forum asking if anyone would like to start a reggae night – Drunk Monk and dji replied. This in turn resulted in an event at C’s Bar called ‘Uprooted Sounds’. After a few months we combined the two parties and that’s where ‘Uprooted Sunshine’ comes from. Over the next few years the crew has evolved with people joining and leaving.

How many members in total have you had over the five years?

Currently there are seven, but altogether there have been 12 of us, from all over the world. Some people have called us the Wu-Tang Clan of Shanghai; others say we are the United Colors of Benetton. [Laughter]

How would you describe your music?

We play any kind of Jamaican or Jamaican-influenced music, from roots and rock steady all the way up to jungle and dub step. Basically, there is ‘Uprooted Sunshine’ which is the name of the crew and then we do two parties: ‘Shanghai by Bus’ and ‘Sub-Culture’. ‘Shanghai by Bus’ is more rootsy – reggae and dancehall – and ‘Sub-Culture’ is all the newer electronic styles which have mutated from dub step. This anniversary tour will focus on the reggae side of things.

How do you continue to keep things fresh?

It helps that we are all really good friends and get along. We just like being together. Also, we have new blood joining the crew all the time. Everybody pushes their own ideas, but we still work really well as a group. Reggae doesn’t need to be new all the time. Reggae is a special genre of music – it’s timeless. It’s not like most musical genres that go in and out of fashion. No matter how old it is, reggae still feels fresh today.

Why do you think your parties work so well in Shanghai?

Everywhere in the world there is a reggae scene, in pretty much every country. It might be small, but there is a scene. It’s a very organic type of music. It resonates for some reason with people – it’s generally happy music. People who may not listen to reggae at home still come down to our parties because they love the vibe. When they are here they have a wonderful time.

Has the local music scene embraced you?

When we started at C’s it was mostly expats, but through the years more and more locals are getting interested. Cha Cha is really important for us, she is the one singing up front and who can communicate in Chinese directly with the local crowd. She helps us cross-culturally translate reggae’s message and really connect with Chinese speakers.