WHEN throwing out numbers, you might as well tout the right ones. As
far as the right numbers go, you cannot argue with number one.
It seems that not a week goes by in this city without a top something or
another DJ taking to the decks in one of the myriad nightclubs scattered around
town. This week, however, the ante is raised as DJ Mag's numero uno electronic
musician Paul van Dyk returns to Shanghai on Saturday to spin his chart-topping
hits at G Plus nightclub in Xintiandi.
To those in touch with the music, these rankings are inconsequential - the
music is usually enough to endear itself to fans.
It is a different case for event promoters, however, as they need to do
whatever they can within their power to ensure healthy returns on the often
significant investment in luring top talent to these shores. The difference in
20 spots on the ladder can oftentimes spell the difference between a punter
making a trip to the Bund or to Xuhui District.
Van Dyk, whose real name is Matthias Paul, has been at the top of the heap
two years in a row. The veteran has been involved in the industry since 1991 and
has consistently been a significant creative force in the electronic dance
scene.
Unlike director Martin Scorcese's Oscar win earlier this week, ranking number
one in the DJ Mag Top-100 poll in 2005 was far from honorary for van Dyk as his
ongoing popularity was cemented last year when he retained the crown.
Van Dyk has taken it all in stride. "It's a great honor," the East Berlin
native told Guestlist in a phone interview last week. "At the same time, I've
always been passionate about what I do and I'm always trying to be as good and
as energetic as ever. It hasn't changed my approach."
The superstar producer is currently promoting his latest album, "In Between,"
due out later this year.
A contentious issue that has been troubling
artists around the world lately is the protection, or lack thereof, of
intellectual property rights. Netizens have been able to access large databases
of music online and share them anonymously, in essence stealing someone's hard
work. Often described as a victimless crime, most people downloading music
illegally do not see pinching pennies from bloated record companies as a serious
offense.
Artists such as van Dyk, understandably, have a different take on the matter.
"If artists don't make money they usually have to get a day job," the
35-year-old said. "When that happens the music either dies or gets boring."
"What needs to be done is to make people enjoying music realize that it costs
money to make it too."
The musician, who refuses to be pigeonholed as just a trance DJ, once had to
secretly listen to radio programs from across the wall and empathizes with fans
who may not be able to purchase the latest releases.
"A lot of the best tracks are only released on vinyl, and not everyone has
turntable decks. Things have changed now, however. People can go to a Website
like vonyc.com and choose the latest and best. It's so quick that new tracks are
on the site before the record labels even promote them."
Tracks can be sampled on the Website and purchased for about 1.29 euros
(US$1.71).
Since DJ Mag launched its annual Top-100 poll in 1997, only a few individuals
have been crowned as king of the disco. Although the list tends to favor trance
musicians, van Dyk is adamant his style is far from typical. "There is just as
much techno and breakbeats (in my music). What is impressive is that I have seen
it grow from a small subculture to one of the biggest music forms in the world."
Tickets are 200 yuan pre-sale and 250 yuan at the door.
Address: 5/F, 6 Block South, Xintiandi
Tel:
021-6385-6998
