Forged from the isolated, windswept hills of Aotearoa, melded by the breakneck BPM of modern-day China. Kaishandao (Mandarin for “machete”), produces a distinctive sound of complex origins and eccentric imperfections, chopping a lost and found cultural heritage into a playful blend of dystopian dance music.

As a guitarist and hardware producer who resonates with both the push of the mosh pit and the fluidity of the club, Kaishandao’s sound embarks on a rough and tumble journey through time and place, exploring the sonic realms between lo-fi and hi-fi.

Kaishandao’s off-kilter approach to music production began with early experimentation in reverse recording, half-speed manipulations and sampling with a guitar and a 4-track cassette recorder as a teenager.

Today, her live set is as likely to dip into reverberating oceans of shoegaze or krautrock as it is slice vocal harmonies from a sassy RnB banger — re-contextualizing a background of divergent influences and experiences for the open-minded dancefloor.

Inspired by the DIY spirit, urban hippie lifestyle and party stamina of Chengdu’s multiplex underground, Kaishandao is an active member of the scene as a musician, writer and organizer, performing across vital venues, festivals and label nights for the past several years, as well as running the touring label Kiwese and co-founding Chengdu Community Radio.