Music in the House that Red Built

Stunning views of the Lujiazui skyline and French style have made Bar Rouge one of the city’s go-to party spots for over seven years. That’s an age of near Biblical proportions in Shanghai’s nightlife scene. Two of the resident DJs El’se and Keint share their views on DJing, Shanghai and The Bund’s pièce de résistance.

How did you start DJing?

Keint: I began playing at a small bar in Marseilles playing one date and built up from there – one bar after another. It all happened quickly. I got my first residence at a club in Corsica called Acapulco. While I was there I got to be the warm-up DJ for bigger acts like Justice. After that I got a call to play at another big club in Corsica as part of the Calvi on the Rocks Festival.  

El’se: I loved parties when I was young. I loved the music. So after high school, I went to sound engineering school. I played for fun with friends in Paris and then I eventually worked my way up to a residency at club called Hotel Costes. 

Do you think it’s easy to get work as a DJ?

E: It really depends on the city. It’s easier in Shanghai than in Paris to get a gig. Everybody loves music in Paris, and everybody knows about everybody else’s music. You can’t get by just mixing other people’s music. You need to be doing your own thing. And even then, people know about it almost instantly.     

As a DJ, you’ve got to be able to read the crowd. What’s it like for you?

E: It can be difficult. It depends a lot on the night. On some nights at Bar Rouge, customers don’t always come expecting good music or they might not care. Those are the toughest nights. You have to work to make people enjoy it. If I’m playing warm-up for a big DJ coming through, then it’s easy. The people are already there to hear the music. 

K: It’s a feeling. You look for reactions. For people at the tables, you have to check to see if their feet are moving to the rhythm. For people moving towards the floor, a shake of the head means you’re doing a good job.

What kind of music do you like?

K: I’m a big fan of rock and roll – 60s, 70s, 80s. I’m also a big fan of slow electro like Aeroplane. Then there’s old school house stuff from the late 1990s mostly. I also like African house. I like music of the jungle. 

E: I have less of an affinity for rock. I’m really in love with old school hiphop – NWA, Wu-Tang Clan, that kind of thing. I’m also really into indie dance music.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen in Shanghai?

E: It’d have to be when Boyz Noize came. It was amazing to see him doing his warm-up in front of the crowd and see that nobody in the audience knew who he was. During the show, you had 100 people on the stage dancing. There was no security. I was shocked this kind of thing could happen in China. It’d never happen in Europe.

Best shows at Bar Rouge?

K: My favorite night was when Felix the House Cat came. He’s an old DJ, and he did a really great set that night of happy house.

E: My favorite night was A-Trak and Congo Rock. I was doing warm-up for them that night. A lot of people in the audience didn’t like it. It’s hard to understand what he was doing unless you could see him scratch. It’s less accessible.

Some people say that DJing isn’t a real job, or that it’s easy. Every time I see DJs, you guys look exhausted. What’s your take?

K: It’s a real job.

E: In some way it’s really easy. We do what we love. We get paid to play the music that we like. But as for what it does to your health, that’s tough. If you look at us, I think we get older faster than people who do other jobs. In bars in Shanghai you can smoke, so you’ve got to watch how much you’re smoking and how much you’re drinking. You have to be careful not to overdo it. But after all that, it’s really not that hard.

What’s the best part about Bar Rouge?

K: The musicians…

E: The views on the terrace. When you see it, you realize you really are some place else. Of course, it’s only one per cent of Shanghai. It’s superficial, but it’s still beautiful.

What’s your favorite bar drink?

E: Vodka tonic.

K: Vodka on the rocks.

You’re stuck in hell where they only play one song over and over. Choose your poison.

E: I can’t do it. There’s too much to choose from. I mean, maybe one hip hop song, one indie dance song, one electronica song. But I can’t choose just one. 

K: Queen. ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.