Do you remember when ‘drum’ and ‘bass’ were scary words? Chances are you were partying in Hong Kong in the 1990s, when to get a fix of the rinse, you may have found yourself burrowing deep into the city’s underground. We would never have guessed in those inglorious days that Hong Kong’s drum’n’bass scene had so strong a future ahead of it. It's a future that was jumpstarted in the early millennium with Yumla’s pioneering regular d’n’b nights, and is being honoured this fortnight with a showcase event by Magnetic Soul.

After catching up-and-coming DJs at monthly open mic night Speak Up, Magnetic Soul founder, Cookie, says, “I realised that there’s some pretty good untapped talent that doesn’t get much of a chance at exposure in Hong Kong. I decided to put this event together to give all of these guys a chance to show their stuff, all in one night. I want to bring attention to the fact that [our] drum’n’bass scene is notable, and has grown significantly since we first started.”Cookie is clearly not alone in his view. The Future Sound of Hong Kong (FSHK) follows another shout out event, the Original Jungle Sound of Hong Kong, hosted last fortnight by promoters Heavy and Kongkretebass and headlined by DJs from the city's legendary Whitelabel crew.

The line-up for FSHK includes Macau’s Saiyan and N1D, ArNe, DJ Redman, Re:Flex, DJ IAMHAYES, and MC Capas – seven d’n’b and dubstep devotees who hail from all over the world, and are busy making marks on our town. Asked why they represent the future sound of Hong Kong, Saiyan and ArNe both say they are one of the many leading the way forward. But they also point out what could still hold us back. Says Saiyan, “We need more music education and radio support to make the people seek out different, [high] quality sound. [Only then] can a real clubbing culture be created.” ArNe adds, “We need to really develop a Hong Kong sound, and this can only be done if more people actually produce records and put them out, as well as play them live, and DJ."

Redman assures, though, that "the jungle scene is in good hands” and hopes to see Asia take off in the next couple of years. “There are more and more people opening their ears to the rinse,” he observes, “and with inspired, motivated people behind pushing it I think we’ll be just fine.” So, whether you're an optimist, pessimist, junglist or not, hang up the fear and step into the future.

Samantha Leese