In dialogue: Hans Nieswandt, Steve Hui (Nerve)
All eyes on me! The changing role of the DJ in modern pop culture

Accompanying programme of Goethe Disco

Sat, 10.08.2024
7:30 PM - 20:30 Goethe-Institut Hongkong Library

In conjunction with the Goethe Disco Night, Goethe-Institut Hongkong is hosting a DJ dialogue titled All Eyes on Me! The changing role of the DJ in modern pop culture with German DJ Hans Nieswandt and Hong Kong DJ Steve Hui (Nerve). The event will be held right before the disco party on August 10, 2024 (Sat) from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM in the library of the Goethe-Institut. Conducted in English. Admission is free but registration is required.

FREE REGISTRATION (limited seats, first come, first served)

Hans Nieswandt and Steve Hui (Nerve) will explore how the DJ's position has shifted from a behind-the-scene curator to a central, highly visible performer due to technological advancements and the rise of platforms like YouTube and social media. As one of the great US DJs, Derrick Carter, recently said: "It used to be that the DJ watched the people dance. Now, the people watch the DJ dance." The discussion will also examine how this transformation has impacted dance culture by moving the focus away from the music and social interaction towards the DJ as a "popstar" figure.

Notes from our speakers:

Hans Nieswandt
The first time I was paid for DJing was in 1983. I was 19 years old then. DJing was in many, many ways very different back then - technologically, but also in terms of the social role of a DJ. Before the arrival of YouTube and social media, you had to go to a club or a festival to see a DJ at work. Only very few people would dare to stare at the DJ for a whole set, up close. It was usually people who had their own aspirations to become a DJ and wanted to learn the technique... But now everybody is watching as if that was the most exciting thing to see in a club - not your friends, not potential new friends, but a person on stage who raises their hands, so everybody can do that too...

Steve Hui (Nerve)
I started to djing on vinyl a little bit in around 2006. Kind of gave up because it's too difficult and the cost of buying vinyl is huge. Digital djing provided me a second chance to learn how to dj. I started djing more and more by using Traktor from 2007. I can really connect to our conversation topic "All eyes on me! The changing role of the DJ in modern pop culture". Nowadays DJs not only play tracks, but also dance in front of the streaming camera, as an important part of the experience. In the upcoming DJ dialogue I will also share some experience on the djing in HKCR, the online radio station...