Listen: MHP on new album and the art of techno
Despite being known as the ‘Shanghai son of techno’, MHP still works full time at a State-run museum planning exhibitions. The fact that MHP, or Ma Haiping, has held down a full-time job while being one of the leading electronic producers in Shanghai over the past decade tells you something about the passion he has for his craft – and how little money there is to be made in quality electronic music in China. Born and raised in Shanghai, it’s been nine years since he first attended techno night VOID, before joining the crew a couple of years later alongside Scot Cameron Wilson (Shanghai_Ultra), the pair united by a love of Kraftwerk, Blade Runner and, of course, techno.
Things have changed a bit since that show at the old LOgO (a club that was consigned to history after shuttering for good last month). ‘Previously, parties were very small, but they were very lively,’says Ma. ‘At that time in Shanghai, nobody was willing to play techno in bars, everyone played electro house. Techno wasn’t the fashionable electronic style that it is now – many thought it was just an archaic ’80s, ’90s style.
Nearly a decade on and VOID is practically synonymous with the genre in Shanghai, while MHP has established himself as one of the city’s leading lights when it comes to homegrown electronic music talent. Having released individual tracks and EPs for years, including The Chinese Connection on renowned Detroit techno label Cratesavers International, last month saw him unveil his debut full-length album on Douban’s D-Force imprint. The nine track Folding Traces brings together music crafted from 2010 to 2015, and sees MHP meld dance floor-orientated techno with powerful basslines and dreamy synths for a sound that at times verges on space disco territory.
‘Folding Traces is essentially full of dance music vibes, except for the last song “Melbourne Sunlight”,’ says Ma. ‘This track features [traditional Chinese string instrument] guzheng player MindyWang, combined with synthesisers and samples of conversations from the streets of Melbourne. I hope Chinese listeners will like this album, because this is specially created for them. We put a lot of thought and effort into it – I hope there are at least a couple of songs that will be memorable to everyone.’
Although his studies were in fine art, Ma discovered the possibilities of musical creativity early on. ‘At the end of the ’90s, I heard that Shanghai had a radio show called Landiao Zhi Ye [Blues Night]. Aphex Twin and Plastikman were among the first to be featured, after which I also heard [Beijing-based nightlife stalwart and DJ] Ni Bing’s Future Mix and thought that techno was really amazing. After reading some books and discovering techno’s origins in Detroit, I became fascinated by it.’
While the connection between fine art and the gritty world of Detroit techno may not seem immediately obvious, Ma maintains that his art training and music inform one another. ‘My music is focused on the thoughts and feelings of the audience when they listen – how the sounds inspire certain images in their heads,’ he says. ‘This is closely related to my arts background. When I compose I might not start from the melody or the beat, but first consider the final message that the melody can express. A lot of people who study music from a young age fail to understand this. In fact, you could say I draw pictures and produce films through my music.’
You’d struggle to find anyone more passionate about techno than MHP. He’s been spreading his love of the music like gospel, and sees it as something that shouldn’t be confined to the nightclub. Last year he did a number of experimental electronic shows and improvisational performances at places such as the Power Station of Art, a venue quite removed from his regular haunt The Shelter.
'Different music is meant for different audiences and places. An arts organisation like the PSA will have an audience wanting to observe and listen. My impromptu experimental music is meant for a type of stage performance, while at The Shelter I assume the role of a DJ and have the responsibility of hyping up the dance floor. Other than the music itself, the audience will want a party experience.’
Since 2008, he’s also been teaching a new media and popular culture course at the Fudan University Shanghai Institute of Visual Art. ‘I feel that young people in China are very curious and interested in electronic music but they have no idea where to begin learning about it,’ he says.‘Some of my students are also in the music industry now.’ In addition, Ma runs the Youjun nights at DADA, a platform to ‘showcase the complete picture of China’s techno music’ and a spin off from his online radio show of the same name, which seeks to introduce Chinese producers and artists to new audiences.
With such a prominent role on the local scene, it’s perhaps unsurprising that he’s been given the ‘Shanghai son of techno’ tag. But what does he make of it? ‘In China, a lot of people claim to be thetechno master, the DJ king… but to be honest, I find these useless terms distasteful. I believe that people should be humble when it comes to things they are passionate about – but becoming a son of music is definitely a good thing.’
MHP is playing with DJ Shufflefmaster at Arkham this Friday 27 May.
Tickets are 80RMB (50RMB presale).