Don’t Miss LA's “Hidden Gem” DJ Mesmé at DADA Mar 23

As the cold dissipates it’s not just the weather that’s warming up: the capital’s music scene is heating up with the arrival of acts from all over the globe. This weekend, Dada stokes the flames with the arrival of Mesmé, an LA-based DJ who’s been described by Boiler Room as a “hidden gem” in the City of Angels.

Mesmé is one of two aliases – the other being Giselle – and born in Iran, she later moved with her family to Singapore, where she developed an interest in the arts.

This interest would grow and develop over the years until it morphed into DJing, something that’s propelled her to become one of LA’s most sought after young artists in the industry today. Now Mesmé has brought her signature sound with her on tour in Asia. Having stopped off in Kunming and Shanghai, we here in Beijing are going to get a taste of her tunes tonight (Mar 23).

Before Mesmé’s gig at Dada Beijing, we caught up with the artist to ask about her thoughts on China’s scene, a bit more about her music, and whether or not she’ll be vinyl hunting during her time here.

How does it feel being in China for the very first time, and how did your set at Dada Kunming go?
It’s been such a culturally rich and rewarding experience. I’ve also been enjoying putting my Chinese to use. I grew up in Singapore and studied Chinese in school so I have decent conversational skills. That’s been super helpful in terms of getting around. Dada Kunming was a really fun club to DJ at. They have a balanced crowd and great resident DJs. I could tell that they had a keen ear for music but also liked to have fun. It’s the sort of crowd I appreciate.

So before we look forward to Beijing, we’d like to go all the way back to the beginning. How’d you first get into DJing and electronic music?
I’ve been doing music and dance since childhood. I studied piano and ballet. I fell in love with electronic dance music in my teens, because it combined both of these worlds. I started learning how to DJ at around 19 years old.

Your music has been described as “vinyl-heavy blends of moody, atmospheric electronica with acid, electro, trip-hop, and experimental influences.” How did you develop your signature sound and what sort of things are you always looking to incorporate into your sets?
When I was playing classical piano, I was drawn to music that was written in minor keys. A lot of Chopin, Franz Liszt, Rachmaninov and other great composers of the Romantic period. There is just this richness, depth and seriousness to music written in minor scales that spoke to me. A lot of music written in major keys sounded frivolous in comparison, to my ears at least, and I wasn’t really interested in playing them. The exception for me was Debussy—he favored modes rather than conventional Western major/minor scales but his music was complex, and multidimensional, which all worked to stimulate my imagination. Anyway, I think my taste in classical music transferred over when I switched formats to electronic music. I’m drawn to tracks that aren’t necessarily dark but have a rich mood. So, imagine a room that isn’t pitch black, but with dim lights, like a speakeasy or bar. I’m really fond of ambiance and atmosphere. That’s where the magic happens. When I select tracks for sets, that’s what I pay attention to, rather than genres, but it’s always interesting to hear how others describe me.

What’s been the most memorable set or all-around experience of your music career thus far?
I’ve been lucky to have had a few. My first gig after lockdown with Ben UFO was a massive experience. The Wall of Sound with DVS1 and Centrific about a year and a half ago in LA was also an incredible show and one that was really meaningful for me.

Before you set foot in China, did you have any idea of what the electronic music scene would be like here? What stands out for you the most, if anything?
I’d come across the Instagram page of some clubs like Lantern, which I know has since closed, and I am familiar with the work of some Chinese artists such as Ma Haiping. Beyond a few familiar names however, I knew very little about the scene in China, so I was curious to see everything first hand, talk to people on the ground, and learn more. I’ve found the local resident DJs at the venues I’ve played at so far to be very skillful.

So you’ve got an affinity for vinyl thanks to exposure while you were in college in the Midwestern US. Do you plan to do any vinyl hunting while in Shanghai and Beijing? If so, what’ll you be on the lookout for?
Yes, I was really interested in finding some local record stores and someone actually pointed me towards Uptown RnB in Shanghai, which apparently has a selection of house and techno music as well. I’ll be popping by there to see what I can find. I’m not looking for anything specific. I usually like to just dig through the bins and pick out whatever I’m drawn to. Then I just listen to them all and filter my selections from there. The cool thing about digging for music at record stores around the world is that you’ll find a lot of unexpected gems. When I dig for records online it tends to be a lot more targeted.

Now, looking forward to the set on Saturday, what can people expect to hear when you step up to the turntable?
Lots of thumping drum work paired with vocals and atmospheres. It will be peak time so I want it to be banging but also true to my style.

You can catch Mesmé tonight, Saturday, Mar 23 at Dada Beijing. The show kicks off at 10pm with Mesmé set to take to the tables from 1-3am. Tickets, available at the door, are RMB 90 before 11pm and RMB 120 after 11pm.

DADA
Ritan International Trade Center, Block A, floor B1 (Nanyinfang Hutong @ Chaowai Shichang Jie), Chaoyang District
朝阳区日坛国际贸易中心A座B1层(南营坊胡同@朝外市场街 ）

READ: 65 Events and Happenings in the 'Jing This Weekend (Mar 22-24)

Images courtesy of Toxic Entertainment