Welcome to the New Year in one of the most exciting cities in Asia. Taipei’s night scene has come a long way in the last few years. It’s become a weekend clubbing destination for people from throughout the region and a regular stop on the map for international DJs. With so many choices of clubs, especially in the Xinyi District (信義), it’s astounding that they are always full. But there is always room for one more, so once you’ve recovered from New Year’s Eve, prepare yourself for the grand opening of Elektro featuring none other than Diplo (real name: Thomas Wesley Pentz).
Elektro enters Taipei as the successor to Spark, which abruptly shut down last month. The new club has a similar operational strategy: Vegas-style bottle service with Vegas-style presentation. In what is a reflection of how massive Taipei dance music industry has become, the musical direction of the club will join many others in the area and will be centered on EDM, which means you can expect to see regular international bookings to fuel the club’s vibe.
First up is Diplo, who plays his first solo show in Taipei in more than five years. The US DJ, rapper and Mad Decent record label founder has since formed Jack U with fellow dance music bigwig Skrillex (real name: Sonny John Moore). He also championed the twerking movement and has been immensely busy collaborating regularly with artists like Beyonce and Madonna, who credits him on her upcoming album Rebel Heart. It proves that there is a fine line between what’s considered pop music and dance music. But he’s balancing it in a way that is both tactful and admirable to everyone in the industry.
Photo courtesy of the Windish Agency
Diplo is without a doubt one of the biggest names in the industry and a spontaneous stop in Taipei is a great start to what should be a bustling year for our growing city. We can only hope that police in the won’t have an equally as bustling year.
■ Diplo plays tomorrow night 9pm at Elektro, 6F, 12 Songshou Rd, Taipei City (台北市松壽路12號6樓). Admission is NT$1,600 and includes two drinks.
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