We chat to Dutch DJ Shinedoe ahead of her Beijing show

The Amsterdam-based DJ and producer reminisces about her first trip to the capital

I played about 16 years ago in Beijing – I think that me and a girl I came with called DJ Celeste were the first female DJs from abroad to play in the city. Some guys from Amsterdam wanted to make a documentary about the electronic scene in Beijing, so they invited us over. The first thing I noticed was the air. It was black, polluted. Like a dust cloud.

The plan was to play three venues, but one show got cancelled. It was around June 4...I didn’t understand exactly what was going on, but the police stopped the party. I hadn’t even put any records on – someone else was DJ-ing when they said they couldn’t play anymore. It was peaceful, not done in a rough way, just some officials talking to the promoter.

The other party was interesting – I was playing and there was an MC on too. I was doing a techno set while the MC was guiding the audience, doing movements while everyone copied them. It was really bizarre. I played a track by Jeff Mills, 'The Bells' – the audience felt that it was something fresh.

At one point the music stopped, the lights went on and suddenly there was a bingo, lottery-type thing. I was like, 'What’s going on?' while people were winning umbrellas and other stuff. That was great.

The other place I played was a small bar. People went crazy for the music, holding onto the DJ booth. It was groovy, a feeling...they were open to it. It was a great experience, and intense.

I’m looking forward to seeing what’s changed in Beijing. Back then there were not so many foreigners. Also, as a black woman, people found me interesting. It was okay, some wanted pictures with me but they were always polite, I didn’t feel it was offensive; they were just interested.

How has my music changed since then? The main thing in music is soul: that’s important, always has been, then and now. I’m not focusing on style; if I like it, I play it. Back then I played much faster compared to now. I like to keep the flow and not make it in a straight line.

Many things have changed. Now it's all social media, marketing...I wonder if the purity gets clouded. I’ve had dance hits underground, but one track called 'Phunk' went overground on the radio and Steve Angelo from Swedish House Mafia remixed it.

A lot of people said: 'You have to make another one like 'Phunk", but when I make music I don’t plan it. I jam and create sounds and something comes out of it. That's how I make music: from the heart.

Shinedoe plays Beijing this Friday night. For full event details, hit 'Read more'.

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