Witnessing the Energy of China’s Youth Culture and Everything in “Between”
Two years ago, I found myself in a basement in Xiamen where I experienced first-hand the future of China. What I witnessed had nothing to do with GDP projections, trade wars, politics or scandals. The future I was witnessing was raw, electric, creative, unapologetic and sweaty as hell. I knew at that moment, I had to move to China to be a part of the cultural tsunami that was about to crash onto the world’s shores; changing the global landscape as we know it in its wake.
Rewind the story a couple of weeks and I’m in Shanghai. I was halfway through a six-month work assignment when a friend of mine invited me to dinner with two unassuming visitors, Roy and Tata. Over dinner, these new acquaintances casually told me about a small company they had created together called Between. How they had manifested their passions for skating, fashion and music into a multifaceted company that included all three; a skate shop, a fashion line, a radio show and DJ squad. The casualness in which these two spoke about their company gave me the sense that it was the real deal. No sales pitch, no bravado. The quiet confidence was intriguing.
Roy and Tata were a bit of an enigma and Between’s pursuits and interests resonated with my own passions so I was compelled to make a trip down to Xiamen and see what was happening for myself.
The day of my arrival I met up with Roy and Tata to set up for one of their infamous Between parties. Between had flown in a handful of their DJ peers and were hosting a party in their hometown of Xiamen.
As we came around the corner to the venue we walked upon an obstreperous mob of youth. This frenetic scene was one of the local’s favorite skate spots. The polyrhythmic cadence of the decks clapping the concrete came to a skidding halt when Roy and Tata appeared. The enthusiastic kids ran up to them to shake hands and say hello. The admiration the skate community had for the Between godfathers radiated through their faces and the Between calligraphy adorned across their sweaty shirts and the scuffed skateboard decks.
As we proceeded into the venue, the confettied cigarette butts and scars in the concrete landing of the entrance were proof that the entrance had been adopted as an extension of the skate park in front of the building.
The venue was moderate and unimpressionable, with exposed ceiling piping, fans and vents with a couple of framed photos of old jazz musicians hanging crookedly. But against the far wall were turntables and speakers and that’s all anyone needed to care about. The space was a perfect canvas for a party.
A few hours later the doors opened and the crowd began to flood in. Though the audience was almost exclusively Chinese, it was a convergence of many different tribes; the skaters, still sweat-drenched and gleaming road rash from the day’s session, the hip hop heads, the indie kids, the kids from the barber shop we had seen earlier in the day, and others who appeared to be coming straight from work and ready to cut loose after a long day.
It was refreshing to see a place where all walks of life were under one roof. It was less about playing dress-up and displaying social status, and more about exploring new music and expression.
After the doors had opened and the house music had died, the DJ crew took to their position behind the turntables like a group of preachers taking the podium in front of a congregation eagerly awaiting the gospel of music. Once the music started playing, what transpired was a super saiyan-level energy field that I have ever only experienced a handful of times in my life.
Similar to the eclectic make-up of the crowd, the DJs all had their own style of music they were spinning; hip-hop, house, electronic, and soul. Unlike many shows, where each DJ had a set, these DJs alternated every couple songs acting as a well-oiled Jazz ensemble; feeding off each other’s energy and musical ideas and taking us all along the ride with them. And like any good congregation, the audience voiced their approval with non-stop dancing, cheers, exclamations of excitement, and shots of liquor.
At one point during the night I was able to lift myself from the music and the tequila that was coursing through my bloodstream and have an amazing moment of clarity and observation. Before me was a group of new Chinese entrepreneurs, creators, and cultural pioneers. The Between group had broken away from tradition and pursued their personal interests and passions and turned it into a viable business. They had rejected the norms and pressures of the society to write their own story and to live their lives out the way they wanted.
In China there are not many examples like Between. Yet here they were against all odds, speaking to a new generation. Showing them that you can be creative, you can start your own brand, you can display interests in things that are different, and that’s OK, because being different is fucking cool.
So how does this constitute a cultural tsunami? This new generation of Chinese youth are unlike any generation this world has ever seen. They are willful, hopeful and well educated (most are at least bilingual). This new generation is hungry for new information, they travel the world, and they know no boundaries. When you pair this willpower and hunger with a license to be creative, and the rich culture and traditions that China has, you are destined for a cultural force that is unlike any other.
As this cultural force begins to emerge, you may choose to embrace it, to learn from it, and to participate. Those who choose this route will find themselves in the middle of exciting and inspiring times of rich exchange. Those who decide to try and ignore or dismiss it, will be left at the wayside.
