China

Shanghai

33EMYBW is a producer and digital visual artist who's known for her hyper-rhythmic, experimental sonics released via Shanghai-born label SVBKVLT.

The artist – real name Wu Shanmin – is at the forefront of a wave of experimental club music coming out of Shanghai, and a prominent artist within the Chinese underground scene. Her distinct sound pulls from traditional folk music and visual influences, with her latest album, 

, themed around time, the porous qualities of the sinian stone and the history of the earth. The artist's notes on the album explore the notion of creating music about ghosts of the Ediacaran biota that "drift from rocky crevices into another dimension, from hole to hole".

So far, the artist has released four studio albums. After the drop of 2018's 

, she quickly garnered praise from the likes of Kode9, Akito and Desto, with Aphex Twin enlisting her for his curated night at The Warehouse Project in 2019. That same year, she released the genre-bending album 

which cropped up across end of year lists at music publications and resulted in her being internationally recognised as one of the most forward-thinking artists to operate within China's underground scene.

Aside from her own music, she's soundtracked exhibitions such as Weirdcore's first solo show in Beijing in 2021, titled 

Her latest LP sees her expand her network, linking up with artists Marina Herlop, Batu, Forrest Gander and oxi peng for collaborations.

As someone who's worked across China's music scene for over a decade, we trust that 33EMYBW has a wealth of knowledge on where to go. Here, she lets us in on her top Shanghai spots to dine in.

Exquisite Fujian cuisine. The overall quality is very high, with some western food concepts incorporated into the tradition, but the balance is just right. The restaurant has a great view and good service. It’s no surprise that it’s on the Black Pearl and Michelin lists – not easy to make a reservation.

I have been eating sheng-jian (local style pan-fried dumplings) since I was a kid, and the taste of this restaurant has not changed much. [It's an] authentic, original flavour. It is the local snack in Shanghai that I most often recommend to my friends. Shanghai Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Project.

Large in quantity and cheap, a must-eat for those who love spicy food.

Tibetan style coffee. The shop staff are all from Tibet, and the store also sells Tibetan handmade products.

Suitable for gatherings of friends as they have limited space. If you can’t get enough of the raw drunken crab, grilled spring chicken and braised prawns, you can order a bowl of re gan noodles.

The presentation is lovely and the cocktails are a must-order. They collaborate with different celebrity chefs frequently, a very unique experience.

I'm glad this one has stayed open for so many years, since there are two restaurants I wanted to write about that closed after the pandemic. Their pasta and desserts always make me happy.

Ban Bu Dian

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