MASTERMIND
A DRINK WITH ...
ELVIS.T by Iain Shaw
A
s the Acupuncture Records team gets ready for the second edition of their INTRO festival, featuring nearly 40 electronic music artists across three stages, we sat down with the crew’s ELVIS.T to mull over sideburns, the demise of vinyl and what Acupuncture has done to make sure INTRO 2010 will best 2009.
On roots “My grandpa used to sing this Japanese kids’ song to me – that was the first music I remember.” “I got my name from Elvis Presley. Partly because I like his music, but more because of his sideburns. I tried to grow them myself, but it never worked.”
On music “Vinyl is only dead in dance music. Most club DJs don’t play vinyl anymore. But there are still lots of vinyl collectors – I don’t think it’s completely dead.” “Legal or illegal, the Internet and downloads have given much easier access to music, which is a great thing.” “Mickey Zhang and Zhi Qi are the best DJs in Beijing – apart from our own, of course!”
On INTRO 2009 ending early “The cancellation of the INTRO 2009 after-party was disappointing, but it also felt like a wake-up call. Rome wasn’t built in a day. It would have
been too perfect to have pulled an event like that off flawlessly at the first attempt.” “People had ever y r ight to complain. They paid for their tickets and were promised a free after-party after the daytime session ended – that’s why we offered refunds. Blame us, but don’t lose heart. We’re a bunch of adventurers and idealists – we’re not investors calculating risk and return.”
On INTRO 2010 “This year’s after-parties are arranged at different venues around the city – confirmed locations include Lantern, Lan and Coco Banana – so there’ll be no repeat of last year. This year people have more confidence in INTRO.” “M y wildest dream for INTR O this year? Ten-thousand-plus people dancing from noon until the end, then a series of packed after parties around the city. The whole of Beijing, every part of town, partying day and night in the name of INTRO. Hmmm, it’s actually quite realistic – not wild at all! “Last year, a lot of people didn’t come out until late at night, which w a s a s h a m e . We fe e l i t ’s v e r y important to stress that INTRO is a festival, not just a party. A festival is a different concept. The day session is the key, dancing under blue skies and beautiful sunshine.”
ELVIS.T plays INTRO 2010 on May 22.
IS THIS BEIJING’S BRAINIEST BARTENDER? CONTESTANT: SHANE O’NEILL, THE STUMBLE INN SPECIALIST SUBJECT: THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
SPECIALIST SUBJECT
What’s the capital of Haiti? Is it Poloprats? How many players are there on a water polo team? I believe there are six or seven. I should know this. I’m gonna go for six. What’s the most common explanation for why Henry Ford’s Model Ts were painted black? I don’t know. To hide the rust? Where is the smallest bone in the human body located? Is it in the nose? Who’s the only player to have won the Champions’ League with three different teams? Bollocks. I’m going to get shot for not knowing this. Roberto Mancini.
When he escapes prison, the poster on Andy Dufresne’s wall is of … ? Raquel Welch. In which decade did Stephen King write the short story the film was based on? The 1980s. The fictional Shawshank Prison is in which US state? Maryland, I think. No, Louisiana. Why is Morgan Freeman’s character called Red? He jokes that it’s because he’s Irish – in the book he was Irish – but it’s because his name is Ellis Boyd Redding. How many Oscars did the film win? It didn’t win any.
FINAL SCORE: 4/10 Verdict: Shane certainly knows a thing or two about his specialist subject, but he wouldn’t be getting out of Shawshank based on that general knowledge. Parole denied. The Stumble Inn is set to open in Sanlitun Village South in early June.
WIN BEER!
Answers to editor@thebeijinger.com Answers 1) Port-au-Prince 2) Seven 3) Black paint dried fastest 4) Ear 5) Clarence Seedorf 6) Raquel Welch 7) 1980s 8) Maine 9) The character in the book was a red-haired Irishman 10) None
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MAY 2010
PHOTOS: JUDY ZHOU AND SUI
The gents at Vandergeeten will give a Hoegaarden gift pack to the reader who tells us which of our What’s New bars features table football?