DJ Zhao
For this week’s show, we hand over the controls to Berlin’s DJ Zhao. Originally from Beijing, China, Zhao moved to Berlin via Los Angeles and New York. He’s one of the most original DJs in Europe right now, with a truly uncategorisable sound that includes elements ranging from bhangra and cumbia to kwaito and dubstep.
Says Zhao: “My musical project is basically about destroying borders. I think it’s all bull to say ‘East versus West’, because it’s all one culture: everything is influencing each other, and it’s a global culture. I’m very much wanting to connect so-called East and so-called West, and also ancient forms with modern forms. I like to trace the roots of modern club music and dance music, to ancient forms, be they Arabic, Hindu or African.”
At the start of the show, while Zhao sets his equipment, we’ve got four warm-up tracks from the Friday Ripple:
Katibe5 - Bgdag (Lebanese Underground)
Mix n Blend - Morphed Code (African Dope)
Eli Ffi and Laylo - Mardia Soldado (Benny Beats remix) (National Geographic Music)
Mokobe feat. Manu Chao, Amadou & Mariam,Tiken Jah Fakoly, Fou Malade - Politique (Jive/Smbe Europe)
Then we’re onto Zhao’s set, which looks like this:
Gordon Odametey - Flying Gods (DJ Zhao Edit) (United One Records)
Unknown recording vs. Unknown recording (DJ Zhao Mashup) (self-released)
Sindhi Music Ensemble - Thari Lok Geet vs. Badawi - Jihad (DJ Zhao Mashup) (self-released)
Can - Ethnological Forgery Series No. 7 vs. Sibot - Famon Nigiri (DJ Zhao Mashup) (self-released)
Walwale' - Mann Koudoud Toa Yaa Naas (DJ Zhao Edit)
Chemirani Rizzo Montanaro - Ballo Tondo (DJ Zhao Edit) (Al Sur/Discovery)
Unknown Moroccan recording (DJ Zhao Edit)
The Bug - Bomb Starter vs Unknown (Turkish Psych) (DJ Zhao Mashup) (self-released)
Nicky Skopelitis - Tarab Dub (Wasteland Mix) vs Tetine - Slum Dunk (DJ Zhao Mashup) (self-released)
King Midas Sound - Too Long Dub (Hyperdub)
Carlo Rizzo - Speranza vs. Sideshow - Bottletop Dub (DJ Zhao Mashup) (self-released)
Schoch Va Gado - Yulduz Usmanova vs. Daniel Savio - Tough Guy Music (DJ Zhao Mashup) (self-released)
Easy & The Center Of The Universe – Hamada (Harmönia)
Unknown - Pressure Sliding vs. Mesak - Moto-Gucci (DJ Zhao Mashup) (self-released)
Mapaputsi – Life (Ghetto Ruff)
Underground Resistance - A Thousand Questions (Somewhere In Detroit)
Spikiri feat. Hugh Masekela - Spiyanko Bonus Beats vs. (Burundi) Chant d'enfant accompagne d'un arc musical umuduri (DJ Zhao Mashup) (self-released)
Audiofly X - Sweeter Than vs. Frances Bebey - Bameda (DJ Zhao Mashup) (self-released)
Frances Bebey - Africa Sanza vs. Basti_Grub-oma vovo (DJ Zhao Mashup) (self-released)
Alazar-Humouresque vs. Fast Vision Soul-Babatunde (DJ Zhao Mashup)
Scarab - Fall of The Towers of Convention vs. Foiledtorsos - The Specialist vs. Dead Can Dance - Saldek (DJ Zhao Mashup)
DJ Rams – Suave (New Style)
Mulatu Astatke & The Heliocentrics - Gubulye vs. African Lady Soul Feast Drum Dub (DJ Zhao Mashup) (self-released)
Bollywood Brass Band - Ramta Jogi vs. Bengamiddle - Manbass (DJ Zhao Mashup) (self-released)
Jon Balke & Amina Alaoui-Itimad vs. L-Wiz – Smogged (DJ Zhao Mashup) (self-released)
It’s all streaming right now on the Radio Wave Jukebox, under Friday Ripple > 16.4.2010.
Hear more from DJ Zhao, and download some of his mixtapes, here.
