Club owner, .TAG, Hakka Bar, Yitong

Manager of .TAG Club, Hakka Bar and Yitong Coffee + Records, Ellen Zhang has been relentless pouring energy into the Chengdu electronic music scene for over a decade. Since trading her office job for the dancefloor, this proud ‘original raver’ started out as a bartender, then promoter, and is now a vital force behind some of the city’s most legendary dance establishments and parties—constantly working to develop local club culture and artists into the future.

Producer, Steam Hostel

Chengdu-based HeLing (a.k.a. Mao Mao) is the founder of BianLi Music and co-founder of Steam Hostel. With over ten years experience in the music industry, HeLing has been involved in hundreds of creative projects and events in live, club and online spheres, as well as mentor to many of the city’s rising young talents. In 2018, he created ‘Another Language,’ an audiovisual video performance series that showcases some of China’s most exciting musicians and artists. Former guitarist of bands including Sound Toy and Wednesday’s Trip, HeLing has since come to prominence as an electronic producer, appearing at some of the country’s most reputable electronic music events and releasing Another via Crater Records in 2020.

DJ

Tobias Patrick is a record collector, DJ and constant in Shanghai’s dance music scene. He has spent the last two decades immersing himself in club music - and has picked up one or two tricks along the way. Raised on Germany’s Techno and House Sound of the 1990s, his musical style is raw, groovy and ever-changing. After establishing one of the first minimal techno parties in Germany’s Ruhrgebiet - Monomusik, he went on to become a resident at Essen’s Goethebunker from 2006-2010. He has been DJing and organizing parties across China and Asia ever since. In Beijing, he was a resident of Haze, Migas and Dada and part of the Dim Sum Disco and 3 Discoteers collectives. He lives in Shanghai and frequently performs across the region.

Deputy Consul General, Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Chengdu

Sebastian Dern serves as Deputy Consul General at the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Chengdu, where he works on economic, cultural and public relations. Prior to joining the German Foreign Office, he completed a Master’s in Business Administration and Civil Engineering in Germany, China and the US.