When a party is called the Antidote, it begs the question — to what?
“To the boring music you hear at shopping malls, dentist offices and mainstream nightclubs — which is all the same crap now, right?” says organizer Michael Ohlsson, better known as DJ Ozone.
Tonight is the Taipei debut of the Shanghai-based Antidote party, and it will be a break from the usual featuring an eclectic lineup that kicks off with electro-punk band Go Chic, followed by global beats, house and drum ’n’ bass.
“I like to have a diverse selection of music. If it’s all house or all hip-hop all night long it gets boring and you get the same people every time,” Ozone says Tuesday in a phone interview from Shanghai. “Antidote is all about breaking the norm, experiencing something different musically, and getting silly.”
As Ozone, Ohlsson plays everything “from electro-punk and indie-rock to African souks and Bhangra/Bolly-funk.”
Joining him tonight will be former Taipei resident and house DJ Ryan Wiens, aka Trix, who moved to Shanghai three years ago.
Trix says he tries to “cram every style I’ve ever heard in … using computers, jamming out so I can play three to four songs in one go, grab songs that I grooved to when I was 7 or 17, and throw them together with electronic tracks.”
It’s music with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD — tracks that are “basically really choppy, cut-up beats and vocals, snippets that are twisted and manipulated,” Trix says.
Tonight’s party is all about crossovers and music that’s remained just outside of the mainstream.
“Now with mash-up culture and trends like nu-rave/electro clash, or with post-punk bands using crunk influences, African electro producers grabbing rock samples, and solo laptop acts going berserk on stage — it’s gotten interesting again. It’s the natural reaction after two decades of stale house music and formulaic hip hop,” Ozone says.
Trix also plays tomorrow night with Marcus Aurelius at the Freak Show party in Vibe. For that party he’ll switch to his alter ego, which he says is all about “shaking that booty ghetto style.” Playing at Vibe, says Trix with a wry gleam in his eyes, “is a dream come true.”
The Antidote happens tonight at VU Live House in Ximending (地下絲絨), B1, 77, Wuchang Street Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市武昌街二77號B1) and features Go Chic and DJs Trix, D.Soto, Ozone and Funkstar. Cover is NT$300 and includes one drink. From 10pm until late. The Freak Show is tomorrow at Vibe, B1, 155, Jinshan S Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市金山南路ㄧ段155號B1). With Cap 10, Marcus Aurelius and Trix. Cover is NT$400 and includes one drink. Starts at 11pm.
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