Xiaolin (曉霖) is our programmer’s favourite artist of the year, hands down. We’ve linked the live set that we’ve listened to most this year, so you can hear for yourself why we felt like we should invite her to the forest.
The classically trained DJ, producer and former concert violinist from Hong Kong draws from a myriad of influences, ranging from synthfuelled 80s cantopop, gritty electro and earthy Japanese percussion to sculpt her ethereal, yet deeply grounded sound.
Her live sets display a fine tuned versatility, accommodating a broad range of moods and textures depending on the context. From ambient oriented shows with live violin, to visceral peak time energy, the sonic breadth she covers makes it difficult to comprehend how it’s all performed live. But the complexity is never lost on the crowd.
At the heart of her practice is an instinct for how to move you, whether it’s through meditation or bone shaking power.
