Empress CC! 不言而喻的旅行
For Empress CC!, who grew up in China and moved to London at the age of 16, travelling is not only about locations, but about mental states and spiritual planes. A mathematics student who decided to pursue her master's studies in audio production, she embarked on her music journey after a long period of searching and exploration. After graduation, she released her first album under the Audio Fabrique label. Since returning to Shanghai, she continued to create captivating electronic music that massages your nerves and senses. In addition to being an in demand DJ in the scene, throwing parties and supporting acts like Hodge, Dorisburg, Wata Igarashi and Anna Haleta, she is also director of music school CTRL, devoting herself to the promotion, education, and expansion of Shanghai 's underground community.
Scroll to the bottom for our chat with Empress CC! in EN
怎么参与到上海这个场景的？
CTRL 宣言
你心目中电梯的梦幻阵容是？
Dwig 11-1
Cassius Select 1-3
Randomer 3-5
Can you tell us about how you started out in Shanghai? Had you been DJing or involved in a scene before you came here?
I’m mostly self-taught at DJing since working in CTRL. I had to give people trial classes as amanager at the time. And I remember when I first found Elevator I was going there 4-5 days a week. Mau Mau was giving me opportunities to play and at thesame time made lots of music friends, just naturally developed step by step. I hadn’t DJed before this, only done some production and recording.
Opinions on Shanghai’s scene - from where you came from, or have been to, what are thebiggest differences? Is there anything that seems unique about the scenehere?
In London, you probably get lost in a bigcool club with friends you went with, and your music circle doesn’t get muchbigger over time. Sometimes also you get lost about where to go since there are too many music events happening. Here the underground community is quite small,probably after a couple months of being active, you already know most of the people. It’s a very supportive atmosphere for development as long as you havesomething valuable to offer and want to grow, it’s a cool playground foraspiring artists and performance opportunities are not so hard to get. Also people always come together for really good events, the concentration of goodparty people usually enhance the nights’ vibes. The friendliness of the peopleis definitely the most unique about Shanghai scene for me. It’s like a bigclubbing family.
Can you tell us about your time in England? How did it shape your music/pursuits etc.?
I have spent a long time there studying math, for the longest time I didn't even know I could do music,and if it wasn't for a boring summer internship in an investment bank, Iwouldn't have studied audio production for my masters’, entering this amazing world from then on. I lived in Dalston for the last two years, there were smallclubs next to my house, Dance tunnel, Nest, a bit further Plastic People andCorsica Studios and raves in the South definitely made me love dance music morethan anything. I was also involved in the hippie jamming community with the Passing Clouds people for a while , which was a very transforming experiencefor me, after experiencing how amazingly skillful and incredibly happy they areI decided then if I could I didn't want to work or spend my life in thingsother than music and art any longer.
Who do you respect or look up to inthe local music community?
Knopha,Diamond Lil (HUAN HUAN), Mau Mau, Ilsee, Provoda
Who are your favourite artists right now in China?
33emybw,Dirty Fingers
What was your most memorable night in Shanghai behind the decks, and on the otherside of the booth as a dancer?
Probably the Hodge night, was my first time seeing a full house dancing in front of mecrazy and Mau Mau kept coming up to tell me what Hodge said every time he commented on my set. Random people came up to me telling me they liked what I played after as well, it was a nice feeling. Another time would be 11.5 hours behind the decks in Dragon burn Cacophonia camp, don't think I will break that record for a long time.
As a dancer lots of great nights, Wata Igarashi night was so good, the grace, the details, the flowing psychedelic textures, I was sober the whole time but I think I was seeing scenes of other dimensions in front of my eyes while dancing to his set.
How do you prepare for your gigs spiritually?
I would prepare for it for the period that time allows me, which is quite varied( from 2hrs to 4 weeks) , and when the time comes I’ll inmeditate and sooth mymood, try to get rid of the nerves and let go any insecurities about the set ormyself, then go with the flow and be in touch with the true me as much aspossible, always have either surprises or educational results in certainaspects every time I perform.
What would you put on your magic hospitality rider where every wish can be granted?
Wingman, unlimited high quality juice mix, remote control to the smoke machine.
Could you pick 3 tracks that gives us a sense of your preference in music over theyears? (from early discoveries or influences, to a current favorite?)
Jean Claude Ades - Vallée De Larmes (Pleasurekraft)
GeslotenCirkel - Submit X
Flore– Congos
What were the biggest challenges you faced on your musical journey?
Finding where I belong and where I want to go. Although I could say this is the passion and career I want to stick to in this life, I do go through periods when I am not so inspired production wise, or DJing too much and don't wanna listen to any music and find everything boring. Frustrations of not being good and proficient and flexible enough to be at ease and in flow all the time sometimes get to me as well.
If you could time travel and give yourself two pieces of advice when you were juststarting out, what would they be?
I don’t tend to regret anything but only thing I would say to myself may be wasteless time because there is so much beautiful music and endless possibilities toexplore.
What do you use to produce? Do you have a favorite piece in your tool kit?
Mostly Ableton for production, hardware including TC Helicon Vocal Synth, Kaossilator,MicroKorg, Electron Analog Four, TB 303, Olympic field recorder. Favourite hardware would be the TC Helicon vocal unit, transforms your voice in such coolways, and my favourite software synth is Strobe by FXpansion.
How did you start CTRL?
It was started 7 years ago by Dominic , Conrank and two other people as aelectronic music studio. Then they made the music school part to be moreprofitable. I only joined 2 years ago and became the boss a year ago. Sincethen I have taken on the mission for the school to head in the new direction ofa hippie electronic community.
What was the most difficult thing you have to overcome when it comes to running CTRL?
Hardest probably would be to find constant stream of new quality students. Also many ofthe amazing people that have come through have left Shanghai or lost touch, Iguess to keep it vibrant and going really need some sort of resilience and non-stopdrive, passion.
Any goals or future plans for CTRL?
I want to make a series of cultural education workshops/interviews/broadcasts with the school. Although electronic music has developed to a quite popularstate in China right now but in my opinion it may have been too fast. Theresult of this is that most kids don't really know the history of it and how genres evolved into each other, and the mass don't really have a mature tastefor truly outstanding electronic music. I want to make this series to spreadthe knowledge of the OGs and hopefully in the smallest way reduce the impetuousness（浮躁）of most party goers.
How do you balance the roles between being an in demandDJ and running CTRL? Do you enjoy one over the others? Which role demandsmost of your time right now?
Time management that subjects to my own energy level and desires. I know which kindsof gigs would take me roughly how much time and energy. I do turn down ones Ifeel would take too much energy that I don't want to spend or wouldn't like thevibe. Anything I have to do for CTRL I’m always happy to do. I wouldn't say Ienjoy one over the other, rather having to balance both is quite a fulfilling combination for me. When doing CTRL work I always feel more grounded working towards longer term goals and when DJing I always enjoy myself on a personallevel.
What does this mix represent?
The mix consists mostly of tracks that I quite like but find a bit hard to play ormix well, I guess it represents a challenge to myself to be a smoother unexpected DJ.
You have transitioned quite a bit from difference genres, can you tell us amemorable moment that made you want to explore something else than the one youwere into at the moment?
During my trip in Cambodia at the end of Nov, I was hanging out at a beach bar called Last Hippie Standing, I was staring into the sea below the stars while behind me at a handmade stage full of fluorescent 3D structures, a quiet hippie was squatting there playing an eccentric and eclectic collection of Psychill, DnBand Jungle all night, with two locals sleeping on the couch and a lovely dognext to us. The reverb and ambience of the space was so magical. A sense of universal peace washed over me. I guess wanna explore Psychill, Dub and 140BPM music more for sure now.
What was the best advice you've received in the industry?
What a DJ plays is always right when their self is really into it.
Where would you like to see yourself as an artist in 5 years?
Making exciting comprehensive releases with labels I respect (or have created my ownlabel) , making collaborations with more visual projects, involved in some interesting music projects in Europe or otherwise internationally, being able to establish a clearer identity as a musician.
What does music mean to you?
Spiritual salvation and religion beyond time and space. Lighthouse on the seemingly hopeless struggle ocean of life. Instant dissolver for all social inhibitions. Bond for people and souls.
Pick three artists for your dream line-up of a night at Elevator. What's the time table?
Dwig 11-1
CassiusSelect 1-3
Randomer 3-5
What other creative outlets do you practice besides music?
Drawings in my own time and part of a crew to do wall murals and big paintings for music venues and events.
(How)did your other creative outlet shape your music in anyway?
Visual expression and sound creation I believe are related, my best productions I feelalways felt hints of picturesque and vividness, I guess painting and drawing with a clearer and clearersense of style and logic have in a way made my music production more effective with a natural flow.
How do we find you in the digital world?
soundcloud.com/mogu_e
www.mixcloud.com/empresscc
ins:eva2ss
在大年初一的夜晚
Empress CC！又会和她的朋友Mau Mau，Michael Cignarale，和Theory of Noise
一起开启怎样的农历新年旅程呢
敬请期待