Melding Beats in China: Ghanaian DJ Amin Brings His Own Special Mix to Beijing's Music Scene

The Beijing music scene has just had an Afro-injection thanks to the newly released singles (listen below) by China-based Ghanaian disc jockey DJ Amin. The resident DJ of the Matrix Night Club in Wuhan, Hubei province, is set to release his much-anticipated debut album later this year. The 26-year-old has also had residencies at clubs V2, True Color, Lenest, V House, and Vibe.

DJ Amin’s love of beat-making and hip-hop began after failed attempts by his mother to shift his focus from music to concentrating on his homework. He found his passion in high school, first helping to select songs for prom and dance nights, which lead to a warm reception from his peers and instilled in him confidence to pursue music as a career.

Fast-forward to 2008 and his professional career really started to take off, after he agreed to DJ parties deemed lackluster by his peers. He soon began to receive calls to DJ at private parties, events, and special ceremonies before progressing on to major events. In his home country of Ghana, he turned down a chance to be the house DJ at a local radio station in order to pursue ambitions that landed him in the Middle Kingdom.

Since 2009, DJ Amin has been giving China's clubbers a reason to get up and dance. He first landed in Nanchang, before moving to Beijing, and has now settled in Wuhan. That doesn't mean that he doesn't return to the capital every now and then, though – he has returned to play the Wild Wasted Wet pool party, as well as the White Winter Party, The Backyard Party, Jungle Fever, Face of Wuhan, Nigerian artist D’Prince Show, the Porsche 2015 Model Official Launch in Jiangxi, Green Land Fashion Launch in Hubei, and many more.

He has played for famous artists such as Sisqo, Soulja Boy, Joey B, Nigerian sensation Iyanya, and Kcee. 

His biography flier describes how in previous years: “Chinese people were only exposed to their own genre of club music and weren’t open to innovation. Foreigners accepted and loved his brand of music instantly, while Chinese people slowly warmed up to the new trend.”

Amin has an eclectic ear for music and hears a myriad of elements that the casual listener may not even notice. He prides himself on bringing that attention to detail into his mixes, blending different beats and rhythms.

He describes his music as “coming from a long way, blending all kinds of cultures into one, featuring Afrobeat, pop, hip-hop, and a little trap or house.” 

In addition to his first album, which will drop soon, Amin already has two singles available on iTunes – "Summer Time” and "Show Me" – released via his own label Frendz Entertainment. He has expressed his hope that his fans in China enjoy listening to those songs as much as he enjoyed composing them.

In 2011, Amin was the executive producer for the singles “The Thing” by Atumpan and “Rap Song” by Tintin and Redkard, “Kumkumcha” by Tintin & Redkard feat. Atumpan, KORA Award-winning artist Praye, and up-and-coming Ghanaian rapper Strongman before embarking on his solo project. He has recorded 15 singles so far, though he is most happy with the two that have made it onto iTunes. Amin tells us that the hardest part for him is cutting tracks he spent months working on due to limited space.

He has brought in talented producers including Peeweezle, Krumpbeatz, Dmd music, Classic Music, Berthiot, and Mic Smith to help with the album. His productive working relationship with the likes of famous African artists Mr Eazi, MC Foster of Noisemarkers, MC Apple of Blackbusters, Farida Carprice, 2k (Bwoui Face and Vman), and The Thrill has ensured that he has gotten some of the best artistic talent to chip in too. 

Amin finishes by saying that he thinks that China lacks music like the stuff he is putting out, adding, “That’s what I’m trying to change, with the hope that China will support me in changing the game."

Whether you catch him in China's clubs or you download his music for your daily commute, DJ Amin is sure to make you groove to his hypnotic blending of sounds. You can follow him on his Pyro page here. Keep an eye out for his debut album, due to be released later this year. 

This post is paid for by Frenz Muzik.

Photos courtesy of DJ Amin