As the owner of Destroy All Monsters and a resident at Darkroom, Ralph Zuckermann is a pretty important cog in Asia’s underground electronic music scene.
An ex-pat from Germany, Ralph settled in Asia some time ago and is now firmly based in Hong Kong, where he’s earned a reputation for his long, winding sets and his passionate dedication to pushing discerning sounds in the region. It’s proved a remarkable journey for him thus far, and with his Destroy All Monsters label beginning to make traction outside of just Asia, we thought it a good time to pick the brain of the man who produces using solely his surname.
Here’s what happened when we checked in with recently…
When did you first become involved in electronic music and what was it about the sound that you so adored?
The fall of the Berlin wall made me do it. I still remember that bizarre moment sometime in the early 90ies when I listened to that incredibly loud kick hitting the concrete walls (sic!) of Tresor. I walked out after 15 minutes deaf, thinking to myself “this is ridiculous!”
What was your highlight of 2017?
Before I was playing a NYE gig 2017 at The Mansion in Shanghai an English girl came to the bar, embraced ingenious Korean DJ Radio Revolution and I and said: “You guys are 2 really nice looking older men“…
You’re living in Hong Kong at the moment, what was it that brought you to China in the first place?
I was touring in China since 2009 before thinking of moving there because of a job offer beginning of 2014. When Dada club in Beijing offered me a residency too, I was sold.
What is your favorite thing about the music scene in Hong Kong? And the least?
A small, but very dedicated scene of enthusiasts and music heads. Some of my best ever moments around electronic music happened over here (some twisted sweet stuff has to do with it, and it’s not what you think). On the downside, a city so commercial, it might never understand the intrinsic value of the arts, let alone of techno…
Tell us more about ‘Darkroom’, your club night. What inspired you top start it and what sort of difficulties does one run into when running a night in Hong Kong?
I started a Darkroom night at Lantern in Beijing with Boflex. Then moved the concept to Elevator club in Shanghai (probably my most preferred dancing shoe spot in China), and finally brought it to Social Room in Hong Kong. It’s meant to be a night for the darker end of electronic music, independent of the genre. Think of if as Groove Noir. Thanks to great Ocean, the music director and the cool crew of Social Room it’s pretty much plain sailing – in the dark.
Musically and personally, what’s been the highlight of your life in Asia?
Unable to hear music on my iPhone in airplane mode on any Chinese airline. Other than that, playing the Great Wall, doing Boiler Room China on a rooftop (!) in Beijing, spinning really weird shit at Sònar Festival Hong Kong, but especially every weekend I spent at Elevator club in Shanghai. Meeting a loot of music nerds and very cool, helpful people. Guys, I love you all!
What do you see as the future of the house and techno scene in Asia and Hong Kong and China specifically?
Ha! Since everything that’s not in the charts is considered ‘underground‘ in China it will either take another generation or, never really take off (except for the huge following of EDM and trap and all that crap). In the rest of Asia it’s also a niche culture and there are some cultural hurdles that right now block it from getting bigger. I’m a little agnostic about the outlook I must say. But that also makes it the more worthwhile, you’re taking part in something that is not being taken for granted and if people are enthusiastic about it, they are into it for real.
About the label, what motivated you to kick off Destroy All Monsters? And who are the monsters and why do you want to destroy them?
Destroy All Monsters is all about cool Techno that is fringe, unheard off, or simply tries to think and sound a little differently. Destroy the monsters of the same culture that makes most of the current Berlin club scene so boring/ foreseeable/ caught up in revival loops. Creative destruction, but or once, not in that neoliberal business sense.
Do you sign local Asian artists to the label as well as international guys? Are there any Asian artists you think we should be looking out for?
We will focus more on ourselves, actually. Negativ Dekadent, my partner in crime and I will focus on our upcoming albums, his 4th, my 2nd. Apart from an EP with Dr. Nojoke in February there probably won’t be so many more EPs coming before we bring out the long players. But I can recommend some Chinese producers for sure: Elvis T, Hu Yang, and Shao Yan Peng to name but a few. Sign them guys!
Did you make any new years resolutions? And what are your hopes and dreams for the year ahead?
Since Chinese New Year is coming up in February, I still have some time to think about it!
Watch out for Dr. Nojoke’s Crazy EP, which drops soon on Zuckermann’s Destroy All Monsters label
