MICKEY ZHANG
From meager beginnings, to a vibrant future, the Chinese dance scene was pioneered by the efforts of DJ Mickey Zhang. Debuting at Club Orange in 1999, the city's then first and premier techno club, Mickey emerged as a pioneer in the development of China's techno scene, securing Beijing the position as the country's center for dance culture. Weekend parties at Beijing illustrious Club Vogue established Mickey as a growing force in electronic music -- praises from local and foreign club goers alike positioned him as one of the most coveted DJs on the circuit. Soon after, in 2000, Mickey joined a team of promoters as their headlining DJ. This team, organizers of the PLUS, Goldfish, and MICRO events, would sky-rocket Mickey as a leader of the Beijing techno scene. He quickly became a favorite; his funky techno rhythms and minimal-techno beats mesmerizing Beijing's dance crowd. Although this marked Mickey's experimental period on the decks it would solidify his reputation as a DJ that could communicate with and read a crowd. His music progressively moved from funky techno to harder techno and minimal house supporting the likes of Laurent Garnier, Paul Van Dyk, Takkyu Ishino, Ken Ishii, Frank Muller, Fumiya Tanaka, Claude Young, Mijk Van Dijk, Electric Indigo and Angela Flame. By 2001, Mickey had teamed up with Technasia's Kiko Su and China Radio International to produce China's only national dance music program, PLUS Radio Concepts, further pushing techno culture into the nation's psyche. Busy in the clubs and on the radio, Mickey's passion still remained the music. In 2003 he independently produced his first album that was launched via Modern Sky Records. As the first local DJ to release an album in China, this chill-out CD received rave reviews and was yet again another groundbreaking venture for Mickey. Mickey's passion for the music and his undying drive to fuel a scene in which others can experience this music makes him undoubtedly the leader of techno in China.