Josh Wink - Live @ Lola (Shanghai) - 23.09.2013 by Livesetsat on Mixcloud
'Tis a big weekend for one of Shanghai’s most popular clubs, Lola. In addition to ringing in their one year anniversary with three big nights of nnn tsst, nnn tsst, nnn tsst starting tonight -- click here to check out the big ole line-up for the three nights -- they’re also unveiling their new renovations to the Shanghai throngs.
Putting on a more mature face as they enter year two, the club is moving away a bit from the dead-tech, concrete dance club aesthetic that characterized the space before, into a more intimate and comfortable lounge feel -- new couches, redone walls, more lounge space in the dance area (two VIP tables, in fact), redone bathrooms, new lighting fixtures… a fair amount of changes. The move reflects a shift towards posing the venue as a viable weekday night alternative in their second year, while still satisfying the weekend dance, dance, dance crowd. Basically, it’s easier to just relax and have a drink there now.
We’re none of us getting any younger, eh.
SmartShangahi took some photos of the new stuff at Lola and talked to two of the guys behind the space, Xavi and Tony (Easy, not Blunt). Read on for blah, blah, blah about Lola’s first year, their new renovations, their new restaurant, Pepito, and beyond.
***
Xavi: Well, we came here to make a really European concept. Like a European club -- very minimal, concrete, kind of Berlin, that kind of thing. And that’s what we made at the beginning. And, actually, I think that at the beginning there wasn’t too many places like this…
Tony: Yeah, I would say not too many places like it existed then. We were looking for a combination of two things that were already in Shanghai -- one is club, one is lounge bar where you can have a drink. They existed in Shanghai, but I think Lola was like a hybrid. That’s what we try do -- you can have some people just sitting there looking for a great cocktail and you can have someone who is wanting to get fucked up and dance on the dance floor. The sound system is great. The music is never commercial…
Xavi: Yes, and this is now, maybe at the beginning it was more of a club, but this is now where it is still a club with dancing, loud speakers on the weekend, but during the week you can come with your girlfriend and have a drink. We realized we want to have something now that works as a party, but also as a cozy space -- have a drink, nice talk, relax… we’re working on that now.
Tony: Right from the start. Like, we did an opening for friends to test the staff and the operations and the soundsystem, and then right after that from the opening until now it’s been great.
Tony: Definitely Halloween was fucking crazy. It was the first night we were like ‘wow’. This is really pumping. We had like 150 people..
Xavi: Maybe more… like 200.
Tony: Yeah, waiting outside to go in... The terrace was packed. Inside, you couldn’t even go in. Then after that, I would say April was a great month because we saw the potential of the place. We were packed both inside and outside with the terrace. We had nights of 200-300 people outside and 200 people inside…
Tony: Yeah, in April…
Xavi: Yeah, definitely some complaints with the neighbors. It just got bigger and bigger and we had to close the terrace.
Tony: And then we solved that problem. Legally it’s all fine now. Like we go with a guy to measure the sound and it’s under 50 dBs 100 meters away, so we’ve taken care of the problems…
Tony: Yeah, not anymore though. [Laughs.] Well, during the year, we had maybe only three fights.
Xavi: And not really big fights. Controllable. Well, maybe only one was really scary because there was like… blood [laughs]. Yeah, we killed a guy.
Tony: [Laughs.] Yeah, when you have like 500 people things can get a bit crazy… but we stopped having problems with the neighbors and things calmed down a bit, so it’s alright.
Tony: The idea is developed by the three of us -- we are all coming from Spain and European music and clubbing scene [Tony (T.Easy) , Xavi (Frank Costello), and Lola partner, Tony Blunt]. And we have been focused on minimalist tech house and tech sounds -- starting with those styles, but bringing in disco and funk to add to that.
But mainly during the weekends we focus on that sound of tech house and house.
Xavi: House. It’s not hard bpms… like, maybe 124 maximum. And I would say nothing dark.
Tony: And we will keep that for the weekend, that won’t change, but during the week we’re going to have some changes. Like DJs everyday, but bringing in lots of different styles -- funk to disco to nu disco to indie and indie dance. We want to bring in people during the week, because we think this is a nice place to come during the week and have a cocktail. So with this music, it works for people looking to have a drink…
And also this year we’re going to be doing a bigger effort to bring more international DJs, and we’re going to be much more selective with who we’re going to have. We still have our night called “Lola’s Friends”, on Friday night which is all the local DJs we like to work with -- Mia, Razor, Dave K and the guys from Udance, Skinny Babou, Charp...
Xavi: All these people are really, really good…
Tony: And with that we are trying to bring things that are not so regular. We would like to have a little special thing happening and not something that everyone has. So we’re bringing in special DJs and try to do a big event every month with an international known DJs. And also we’re bringing in Alex Martin, the owner of Quatro, he’s coming in to work with us… so four resident DJs at Lola now.
Tony: Yeah, because these are special events, like the one next Tuesday with The Ice Cream Truck guys… these are special bookings, more of less once per month, and we will charge entrance because the size of the club -- it’s the only way to make it work. For these big events because we are doing the effort to do something different, we ask the people to do the effort too…
Tony: Well, we wanted to give a new face to Lola. It’s been a great year and we know for people and us as customers we know if you go every Friday and Saturday to a place you might get tired of it. So a new face helps. The two main things is a change in the lounge and a change on the dancefloor to bring more people during the week and make it more cozy and more comfortable. To make it a place where you can actually spend two hours and have a cocktail… before we though maybe the lounge was a little bit cold and we think that people maybe will be more happy to be here for an hour or two on a Monday or Tuesday.
And on the dancefloor we also believe that sometimes it was a little scary. People were coming at the beginning of the night and seeing this big dancefloor when maybe they just want to sit. And then it would take a while for people to get to the dancefloor. But now we can sit more people in that area and it feels like something is happening in that area. And then we have these VIP areas…
Xavi: I think it’s growing up a lot. Growing up very fast. When we started last year it feels like there was only a few places -- maybe Logo and Mao and something else. Only a few places. And now in the last month there is like five new places. I think it’s good for the city. Different styles and cultures. And a lot of the new places are working with similar musics…
Tony: I would say that Lola is great and everywhere else is shit. [Laughs.] No, it great in Shanghai. I think we are very happy and it’s been a year of success.
Xavi: Yes, for our part at Lola I can say that the owners are DJs and we care about the music and the culture we are coming from and the sound system, which is, I can say, one of the best in Shanghai. And we are special, I think, in the city…
Xavi: Well, we have a new cocktail menu...
Tony: [Laughs.] Yeah, we only serve Gin Tonics now… we rock in Gin and Tonics… no, now we have the original menu that George Nemec designed but we’ve added on way more… now we have 30 cocktails and variations on mojitos and things… and yes, a special Gin Tonics section.
Tony: November 1. On Yongjia Lu. Pepito.
***
'Tis a big weekend for one of Shanghai’s most popular clubs, Lola. In addition to ringing in their one year anniversary with three big nights of nnn tsst, nnn tsst, nnn tsst starting tonight -- click here to check out the big ole line-up for the three nights -- they’re also unveiling their new renovations to the Shanghai throngs.
Putting on a more mature face as they enter year two, the club is moving away a bit from the dead-tech, concrete dance club aesthetic that characterized the space before, into a more intimate and comfortable lounge feel -- new couches, redone walls, more lounge space in the dance area (two VIP tables, in fact), redone bathrooms, new lighting fixtures… a fair amount of changes. The move reflects a shift towards posing the venue as a viable weekday night alternative in their second year, while still satisfying the weekend dance, dance, dance crowd. Basically, it’s easier to just relax and have a drink there now.
We’re none of us getting any younger, eh.
SmartShangahi took some photos of the new stuff at Lola and talked to two of the guys behind the space, Xavi and Tony (Easy, not Blunt). Read on for blah, blah, blah about Lola’s first year, their new renovations, their new restaurant, Pepito, and beyond.
***
SmSh: So what kind of concept did you guys have one year
ago when you started the place? What do you want to add to the Shanghai
club scene?
Xavi: Well, we came here to make a really European concept. Like a European club -- very minimal, concrete, kind of Berlin, that kind of thing. And that’s what we made at the beginning. And, actually, I think that at the beginning there wasn’t too many places like this…
Tony: Yeah, I would say not too many places like it existed then. We were looking for a combination of two things that were already in Shanghai -- one is club, one is lounge bar where you can have a drink. They existed in Shanghai, but I think Lola was like a hybrid. That’s what we try do -- you can have some people just sitting there looking for a great cocktail and you can have someone who is wanting to get fucked up and dance on the dance floor. The sound system is great. The music is never commercial…
Xavi: Yes, and this is now, maybe at the beginning it was more of a club, but this is now where it is still a club with dancing, loud speakers on the weekend, but during the week you can come with your girlfriend and have a drink. We realized we want to have something now that works as a party, but also as a cozy space -- have a drink, nice talk, relax… we’re working on that now.
SmSh: In the past year Lola has been one of Shanghai’s
most successful new club. Massive attendance on the weekends,
consistently at capacity. Did it take off right from the start?
Tony: Right from the start. Like, we did an opening for friends to test the staff and the operations and the soundsystem, and then right after that from the opening until now it’s been great.
SmSh: What have been some of the bigger nights? The ones that stand out?
Tony: Definitely Halloween was fucking crazy. It was the first night we were like ‘wow’. This is really pumping. We had like 150 people..
Xavi: Maybe more… like 200.
Tony: Yeah, waiting outside to go in... The terrace was packed. Inside, you couldn’t even go in. Then after that, I would say April was a great month because we saw the potential of the place. We were packed both inside and outside with the terrace. We had nights of 200-300 people outside and 200 people inside…
SmSh: So you must have had issues with the neighbors then with those kind of numbers. What went on with that?
Tony: Yeah, in April…
Xavi: Yeah, definitely some complaints with the neighbors. It just got bigger and bigger and we had to close the terrace.
Tony: And then we solved that problem. Legally it’s all fine now. Like we go with a guy to measure the sound and it’s under 50 dBs 100 meters away, so we’ve taken care of the problems…
SmSh: You guys had to have actual bouncers is that correct?
Tony: Yeah, not anymore though. [Laughs.] Well, during the year, we had maybe only three fights.
Xavi: And not really big fights. Controllable. Well, maybe only one was really scary because there was like… blood [laughs]. Yeah, we killed a guy.
Tony: [Laughs.] Yeah, when you have like 500 people things can get a bit crazy… but we stopped having problems with the neighbors and things calmed down a bit, so it’s alright.
SmSh: Maybe you could discuss the musical direction of
the place… what kind of music did you originally want to bring and what
will change with year two?
Tony: The idea is developed by the three of us -- we are all coming from Spain and European music and clubbing scene [Tony (T.Easy) , Xavi (Frank Costello), and Lola partner, Tony Blunt]. And we have been focused on minimalist tech house and tech sounds -- starting with those styles, but bringing in disco and funk to add to that.
But mainly during the weekends we focus on that sound of tech house and house.
Xavi: House. It’s not hard bpms… like, maybe 124 maximum. And I would say nothing dark.
Tony: And we will keep that for the weekend, that won’t change, but during the week we’re going to have some changes. Like DJs everyday, but bringing in lots of different styles -- funk to disco to nu disco to indie and indie dance. We want to bring in people during the week, because we think this is a nice place to come during the week and have a cocktail. So with this music, it works for people looking to have a drink…
And also this year we’re going to be doing a bigger effort to bring more international DJs, and we’re going to be much more selective with who we’re going to have. We still have our night called “Lola’s Friends”, on Friday night which is all the local DJs we like to work with -- Mia, Razor, Dave K and the guys from Udance, Skinny Babou, Charp...
Xavi: All these people are really, really good…
Tony: And with that we are trying to bring things that are not so regular. We would like to have a little special thing happening and not something that everyone has. So we’re bringing in special DJs and try to do a big event every month with an international known DJs. And also we’re bringing in Alex Martin, the owner of Quatro, he’s coming in to work with us… so four resident DJs at Lola now.
SmSh: Are you charging entry fees for that?
Tony: Yeah, because these are special events, like the one next Tuesday with The Ice Cream Truck guys… these are special bookings, more of less once per month, and we will charge entrance because the size of the club -- it’s the only way to make it work. For these big events because we are doing the effort to do something different, we ask the people to do the effort too…
SmSh: Maybe you can discuss the renovations. What’s the reasoning behind the changes?
Tony: Well, we wanted to give a new face to Lola. It’s been a great year and we know for people and us as customers we know if you go every Friday and Saturday to a place you might get tired of it. So a new face helps. The two main things is a change in the lounge and a change on the dancefloor to bring more people during the week and make it more cozy and more comfortable. To make it a place where you can actually spend two hours and have a cocktail… before we though maybe the lounge was a little bit cold and we think that people maybe will be more happy to be here for an hour or two on a Monday or Tuesday.
And on the dancefloor we also believe that sometimes it was a little scary. People were coming at the beginning of the night and seeing this big dancefloor when maybe they just want to sit. And then it would take a while for people to get to the dancefloor. But now we can sit more people in that area and it feels like something is happening in that area. And then we have these VIP areas…
SmSh: So looking back a year on running a club in Shanghai, what do you think about the nightlife in this city?
Xavi: I think it’s growing up a lot. Growing up very fast. When we started last year it feels like there was only a few places -- maybe Logo and Mao and something else. Only a few places. And now in the last month there is like five new places. I think it’s good for the city. Different styles and cultures. And a lot of the new places are working with similar musics…
Tony: I would say that Lola is great and everywhere else is shit. [Laughs.] No, it great in Shanghai. I think we are very happy and it’s been a year of success.
Xavi: Yes, for our part at Lola I can say that the owners are DJs and we care about the music and the culture we are coming from and the sound system, which is, I can say, one of the best in Shanghai. And we are special, I think, in the city…
SmSh: Anything to add?
Xavi: Well, we have a new cocktail menu...
SmSh: Is it now just 20 pages of Gin and Tonics?
Tony: [Laughs.] Yeah, we only serve Gin Tonics now… we rock in Gin and Tonics… no, now we have the original menu that George Nemec designed but we’ve added on way more… now we have 30 cocktails and variations on mojitos and things… and yes, a special Gin Tonics section.
SmSh: And the restaurant?
Tony: November 1. On Yongjia Lu. Pepito.
***
