By Sophie Kalkreuth (City Weekend)
Updated: 2007-04-29 10:25

Club dkd is about to reincarnate, and according to Patrick Mai aka DJ SynRG, the new club is "all about curves and flow" with "a heavy emphasis on acoustics and visuals." dkd is undergoing what Mai dubs as "a supreme face-lift." The process involves certain cosmetic adjustments and refinements–like the club's vortex-like stairwell, a visually dazzling deluge–while some definitive features remain unchanged. A resilient veteran of the Shanghai club scene, dkd first opened in 1999 as a small bar on once-hopping Maoming Lu. Its focus on quality electronic music allowed the venue to develop a consistent following among Shanghai's fickle nightlife crowds, which persisted through its 2004 move to Huaihai Lu, and its forthcoming re-opening on April 30.

The most striking aspect of dkd's latest transformation is its exclusive focus on local DJs. "International acts have been done," says Mai. "This city is at the point where we really feel it's time to start investing in local DJs." Creating a vibrant local scene capable of receiving and understanding international acts requires development on a local level, continues Mai. "International acts may draw huge crowds but they don't do much for the scene. We need to first cultivate interest and knowledge of the music through local DJs." For dkd, this not only entails a move away from international DJ acts; the club will no longer feature a team of resident DJs, and instead plans a heavy rotation of various local acts. Musically, Club dkd also plans to diversify, while maintaining its overall progressive flavor. "At peak time we'll always have progressive dance music, but we're not stuck on trance; afterall, a lot of great local DJs are playing music other than progressive trance," says Mai. In further support of the local community, dkd plans to produce more promo CDs and a quarterly magazine featuring local DJs, and launch a new forum-based website that offers space for DJs to promote their music, complete with downloadable DJ mix sets, live sets and DJ profiles.

While paring its musical focus down to local sources, aesthetically, the club is definitely going up-market. The new dkd is sleeker, prettier and shrouds acoustic engineering and sound absorbent materials in a textured, multi-toned design that includes elevated booths, winding stairways and sexy railings modeled to let the sound pass through. Despite a stronger emphasis on aesthetics, fashion, service and design in order to elevate the club experience, Mai insists that dkd's "software" will never change: "It won't lose its soul. Anyone can build a beautiful club, but the soul is on the dance floor."

Club dkd
Re-Opening: Reincarnation April 30
Location: 438 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Chongqing Nan Lu, Metro Line 1 Huangpi Nan Lu Station
Tel: 021-64739449/138-1610-7392/138-1610-7396