Episode 29 of STARK REALITY, recorded 5/18/21, features Host James Dier aka $mall ¢hange's exclusive Stark Reality interview with DJ ZHAO.  Born in Beijing and based in Berlin (plus spending some time in LA, NYC and Houston in btw), Dj Zhao is a musicologist and rhythm ambassador, applying historical materialist analysis to the evolution of social music, and bringing a poly-cultural understanding of rhythm to his deeply percussive cross-genre sets. Not restricted by style or convention, Dj Zhao draws from wildly different times and places, connecting the global North with the South, acoustic and electronic, traditional and hyper-modern.

In this episode, Leo (Zhao) and Jim talk about why working ppl should support China, NYC experimental DJ scenes in the 90s/00s, declining arts funding and gentrification in Berlin, growing up in Beijing, anti-communist propaganda in the west, no dancing/anti-rave laws, and even give a quick shoutout to Tommy's Burgers in LA, a late night post club staple. Don't know what's in their chili...and probably don't want to know lol.

To hear DJ Zhao's jacking hard house mix "Harder 3," check out Episode 30 on STARK REALITY PLAYLISTS wherever you get your podcasts.  Check it and his other mixes on his Soundcloud page, he has 'many styles, many styles' as they say on Scenario...