Teng Boon
Hidden under DJ Teng Boon's pale skin and Caucasian-looking face is a cute and quirky Chinese guy - and one of Hong Kong and Shanghai's favourite party makers and dance-floor shakers.
The half-Chinese, half-Dutch house music aficionado was born Jef Cheah in Ontario, Canada, 34 years ago. His stage name was given to him by his Chinese grandmother. He'll be appearing at Klong Bar & Grill's full moon party on Tuesday to mark Mid-Autumn Festival.
Cheah says he was inspired by the likes of Derrick May and Jeff Mills. 'Back around 1985, they'd be scratching and cutting up early house and techno with hip-hop beats,' he says. 'That got me so excited that I got into hunting down all the records I'd heard on the radio. And since then, I've never looked back.'
After moving to Hong Kong in the early 1990s, Cheah secured what was then one of the hottest residencies in town, at Club 97. Soon after, he started hosting an R&B/acid-jazz weekend show on Commercial Radio, organising dance parties featuring international DJs, wrote a monthly column in now-defunct streetzine Absolute, and got gigs around Asia.
Having been involved in the rave boom of post-colonial Hong Kong, Cheah is regarded as a veteran of the local scene. He's shared billing with the likes of Basement Jaxx, Dimitri from Paris and Sasha, been the show DJ for Karen Mok Man-wai's 2002 concert tour, and played in such hotspots as Beijing's Club Vogue and Tokyo's Liquid Room.
Cheah has been based in Shanghai since last year. His latest project is his Rock Star DJ agency, China the mainland's first such outfit. 'We represent 15 DJs - foreign and Chinese - from all over China. The DJs here are actually very talented,' he says.
DJ Teng Boon, with DJ Penguin, Sep 28, 10pm until late, Klong Bar & Grill, 54-62 Lockhart Rd, Wan Chai, free. Inquiries: 2217 8330.
