From Hong Kong to Bristol: A Conversation on Sound, Culture, and Community
Written by Caspar Curtis-Mackenzie
Born and raised in Hong Kong and now based in Bristol, Ginoooo! is a selector, party organiser, and artist who’s building bridges between scenes through music and community. His guest mix for MNRCHY blends classics and deep house tracks with a tribute to local grooves. We caught up with him to talk about the scene that shaped him, his favourite late-night spots, and how music connects people across cities.
Tell me more about the mix and what it means to you.
I haven’t done a proper mix for some time because there was so much going on lately in my life. It felt great to mix some of my recent favourite sounds, and it’s very flattering that you invited me to “represent” Hong Kong, even though I am not sure if I am capable of carrying that name. I decided to mix some old Hong Kong pop boogie tracks alongside some classic tracks to make it fun.
How would you describe the “Hong Kong sound”?
This is a complicated question because our sound is very diverse, just like our people there. We have lots of communities with different sorts of music. What I would say in general is that it’s intense, fast-paced. For instance, hardstyle, hard techno, and psy-trance are quite popular in Hong Kong, but in contrast, you get this sentimental, dreamy, playful side that reflects deeply in our pop music, indie bands, and jazz. Our lyricists and musicians are incredibly poetic.
Some of my favourite DJs and producers, like Xiaolin, Romain FX, and Jeremy Cheung, are great representatives of our sound.
Ginoooo! Playing at CT in Hong Kong
How has the underground scene in Hong Kong changed lately?
The music business, be it underground or overground, is quite tricky in Hong Kong, because we don’t really have enough patrons due to the limitations of our size and culture. It has been hard to survive for small venues that want quality and bigger names, but want to keep the price reasonable.
Just like everywhere else, underground culture has been slowly becoming popular culture. People started to see these cool places with quality, more serious music. It is also related to our political and economic situation; there is a slow shift in focus from a materialistic lifestyle to communities, entertainment, art, and experiences.
Which area or venue feels like the heart of it all right now?
I spent most of my time growing up on Hong Kong Island, so for me it will always be the Central Western District. Personally, my go-to venue for underground music is usually Mihn or OMA. However, I do see a trend of more and more people slowly shifting their party spots to Kowloon or the New Territories.
Who’s doing interesting stuff locally - DJs, collectives, parties?
Way too many of them! But first, I would like to shout out to the community that nurtured me, my second home in Hong Kong: Chez Trente, a hidden jazz bar on Peel Street in Soho. It’s a unique space because it is an international community where everyone lives their other side, which only appears at night. Now they are doing CT music fest, a 3-day family-friendly music festiva,l Nov 21-23, in Cheung Chau, with some of the best local bands and DJs, and I would love everyone who is reading this to go there.
Cantomania is reviving Canto songs; the parties are always dancey —shout-out to my friend Pete. They are doing something incredible because it has helped people in Hong Kong regain a sense of identity. It’s nostalgia, and it’s also an introspective provocation for us to review our local culture since the golden age.
Reach4luv organises parties for underground house music; they invited Fred P. and Musclecars to play at one of the finest underground venues in HK.
Mong Hau Yuet Bui Faan, which means “Win” in Chinese. These guys are the real underground, playing in their studio with records, and they only organise small, intimate parties. Soul, Funk, Rare Grooves, Techno… Everything you want, or don’t know you want.
There are way too many, and I won’t be able to mention them all, so the rest you gotta find out yourselves. Enjoy the exploration!
Ginoooo!’s debut set on Star Ferry in Hong Kong
What do outsiders usually get wrong about Hong Kong’s scene?
I don’t really know much about how outsiders think about Hong Kong’s music scene. Most of the communities are quite accessible. But one thing I realise after coming to the UK is that not many people know about the fantastic nature we have there. We actually have some of the best hikes and beaches within an hour of the city. It’s very magical!
Go-to late-night food spot?
I grew up in Sai Wan, so I usually head to Kennedy Town for that. I love Ho Ho Restaurant for their fried rice and curry sauce, and their homemade dishes are fabulous, great mango desserts, hit the spot every time!
There is also Sun Hing in Kennedy Town, the perfect Dim sum spot after 2 am if you want some local flavours.
Another special venue in my heart is Tenju, an izakaya opened by the legendary techno DJ, Frankie. It’s a sanctuary for some of the most creative locals, and they have the best selection of Shochu. My favourite will always be the Shizo Umeshu. I was never there for food, but when their small bites come out, I can never stop eating.
Last one is the Fishball cart outside Knutsford Terrace - this is one of the places if you know, you know. Their Siu mai with the curry sauce is heavenly when you are drunk as hell at 4 am.
Live Jazz at Salon 10 in Hong Kong
Is there quite a big afterparty scene in Hong Kong, or is it more of a sensible cut-off?
Comparatively sensible. Places like Berlin, you can party for 3 days nonstop if you want to, but for people in Hong Kong, it’s usually 5 am max, and we would go for McDonald's breakfast before getting home.
To overshare a little bit, the night I stayed up longest in HK is actually playing Mahjong with my Uni friends until 11 am the next day, instead of partying. LOL.
Favourite non-party spot that inspires you.
Tai Ping Shan Street. I think they got the 7th coolest district street in 2022. And Tai Hang. Both are great districts with amazing, local restaurants, cafes, boutiques and speakeasy bars. Tai Ping Shan Street has more bookstores, antiques, and galleries. These are places that I would spend a whole afternoon at.
Lai Chi Kok and Shum Shui Po have great local stores and cafes as well, if you know where to look. The people there inspired me a lot because they stuck to a craft they know well and love and consistently produce quality products, whether food, clothes, or drinks. You can find art and craftsmanship there.
This is cheesy, but a slow hike to the peak inspires me, too, not only because of the majestic nature, but also because I can see the whole city centre skyline. One thing that is special about HK is that it’s the only major city in the world where you can see skyscrapers, the sea and the mountains all at once. Can’t get it anywhere else! It’s a unique scenery I can never appreciate enough.
Are there differences between nightlife in the UK and Hong Kong?
Quite different.“In HK, we are expected to spend big. It’s glamorous and fancy. Sophisticated and well-made cocktails everywhere. Clubs charge £20 and everyone would still pay for it, despite the music. There are underground clubs that put on beautiful music from time to time, but the value is not as good as it is in the UK. However, people will sweat for it; it’s one of the most open-minded crowds that I have seen when you reach those venues. Just that it’s usually familiar faces you will see, as the music community isn't as big as in the UK.
In the UK, particularly in Bristol, people prefer pubs and get pissed on beer, and in clubs, they usually know what they want and what they’re going to get, so they measure value precisely. Yet the community is so diverse, so it’s easier for organisers, venues and selectors to bloom.
One thing that I definitely felt was that the pace was much faster in HK. I would check the time at 10pm, and after a few drinks, it just magically became 5 am. While in the UK it feels much slower and we usually call it at 1/2 am. I have no idea why.
Underground Jazz Group - Fountain De Chopin performing in Hong Kong
Are venues struggling to survive in Hong Kong right now?
Definitely the case. During COVID, everyone thought it's gonna be alright after opening up. But it didn't. People are starting to go party in Shen Zhen instead, or they have left the city.
I spent most of my adult years having my nightlife in Central, Lan Kwai Fong and Peel Street. LKF has changed drastically, with fewer and fewer cool bars and clubs, and now it's just commercial places. Peel Street to me is still a cool place to go, yet all the bars there are not particularly thriving because of the change in people’s spending patterns.
A lot of communities, underground especially, need locals to support to continue doing what they do. They usually face significant financial pressure, and there isn’t much profit for them. If we want to enjoy music and have amazing people around us, just get some more drinks and go to their parties, connect with the people there, and don’t merely be a consumer. Just being there for them is a massive support to our local culture.
What’s next for you?
I have just newly moved to Bristol, at this moment I am trying to start my career here in experience design and event organising, hopefully helping out the music communities here. I am currently connecting with more DJs who enjoy music similar to mine to organise something in the near future!
Someone’s in town for one night - where are you taking them?
It depends on whether I'm on a date or just hanging out with friends. HAHAHA.
I will start with a dinner at Dai Pai Dongs, the classic Oi Man Shang. Afterwards, we will get some nice cocktails from The Savoury Project for their unique savoury Asian flavours. Then, Peel Street to see my great friends from Honey Hot, that’s my spot for years. Go next door to CT for some jazz, maybe Salon 10 for a boogie or Mihn if we are feeling some techno. But honestly, everything could happen in a place like HK, so we will have to see where the night takes us!
What’s the weirdest or most beautiful thing you’ve seen at a Hong Kong party recently?
I got simple pleasures. The night before I left Hong Kong, my friends and I went to Ping Pong 129, a gorgeous Gin Parlour next to where I live. Frankie was playing some classic Cantonese tunes, and I looked at everyone who was dancing and singing along. That was quite special, just because I felt we were united in a way we haven’t been for some time, maybe since the social movement in 2019.
I also saw videos of Fabsab (Pete) playing for Cantomania. He started a trend where he and people in the crowd would take off their clothes to a rather romantic, pop/R&B song, “Tinted Windows” by Kaho Hung. That’s really weird and hilarious for me, but I haven’t seen it with my eyes yet.
Local DJs - Pete aka Fabsab (Left) and Gum (Right)
When you come back from a trip, what’s the first thing that reminds you you’re home?
Just seeing the Victoria Harbour again. The Star Ferry drifting, the lights of the skyline, beautiful mountains, the sea breeze kissing my face and that undescribable scent. Sometimes it’s my people - just seeing those smiles and hearing them shout “屌 (Diu)!” - that reminds me I am home.
What song reminds you of Hong Kong?
Recently, I went to Cairo for a friend’s wedding. The DJ played a credit card advertisement song called “YUU” by George Lam, a cover of Billy Joel's “Uptown Girl.” That shit used to play in our supermarket on repeat, annoyingly. This is exclusively something for people who actually lived in HK would understand. It’s so hilarious —we heard it in Egypt, and everyone from Hong Kong went mad, while everyone else had a deep look of confusion on their face.
A more serious answer, that isn’t a Canto song, would be “Take The 'A' Train” by Duke Ellington. It’s busy, a lot of swing, a lot of jazz. Hong Kong is a place that makes you buzz, makes you sweat and dance and laugh so hard you don’t want to leave. There are definitely some elements of nostalgia you can see from the street that you can’t see anywhere else. The architecture, the calligraphy, the street art… Everything is full of character and rich in flavour.
do jeh (Thank you)
Ginoooo!’s story is a snapshot of a city in motion - a mix of nostalgia, energy, and identity that keeps evolving. His MNRCHY guest mix captures that pulse, bridging Hong Kong’s vibrant nightlife with his new home in Bristol.
Listen to the mix and shop the limited MNRCHY x Ginoooo! tee.
