Wild about jungle

DJ ARKHAM is one of Hong Kong's few drum'n'bass activists. After 10 years of hard work, he says local people's reception towards drum'n'bass music is becoming more positive.

'Whenever I play, the dance floor fills up pretty quickly. You find more people dancing than standing at the bar - this can only be a good thing.'

Arkham learned to be a DJ when he shared a flat with another DJ. 'He was a guy called DJ Quest, a well-known hip-hop DJ. I was listening to a lot of hardcore then, which eventually evolved into what's today known as jungle or drum'n'bass. I was persuaded to buy some records and use his decks.'

Despite being a drum'n'bass DJ, Arkham is interested in a variety of music, from Portishead to Prodigy.

He also has his own philosophy about music: 'The main thing is that you understand where the music comes from,' he says. 'Music is often a means of escape, and if listening to a track can evoke my emotions, whether it be excitement, relaxation or just general head-nodding the producer of the track has done his job.'

Arkham is busy preparing a regular drum'n'bass event called Red Label which will take place at a yet-to-be-named new bar. 'It will be the first of its kind in Hong Kong,' he says.