A longtime staple of Hong Kong’s nightlife scene, Ryan Li has been at the decks since his teenage years and is now a resident at Club SOSO, spinning a likeable brand of pop and R&B. Owner of the company Devotion to Music, Li offers private DJ lessons to those he deems have the potential to break into the business. We sat down with the well-respected and sought-after sifu of some of the best DJs around town to see how he spends his weekends.

Thursday
I normally start with a nice drink with my friends at Bahama Mama’s Caribbean Bar (4-5 Knutsford Terrace, Tsim Sha Tsui). It’s a good place to relax and have a smoke outside. Or I head down to Jimmy’s Kitchen (Shop C&C1, Kowloon Plaza, 29-39 Ashley Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui) for some food. Their steaks and oysters are amazing! This is a classic vintage eatery that has been around for the past 50 to 60 years. I start my residency at Club SOSO (10/F, 1 Knutsford Terrace) at around 11pm and I finish at around 5am. I would say Club SOSO is one of the best clubs in Tsim Sha Tsui. We have a mostly Chinese crowd though. We’re pretty unique as we do a ladies night on Tuesdays. I normally spin a mixture of R&B, dance, pop, stuff like Lady Gaga…the usual.

Friday
I usually just have a nice dinner at The Derby (80-82 Morrison Hill Rd, Wan Chai). I like to eat here a lot just because my family owns the place. Then I start DJing here from 10pm to 1am. I also remix music videos according to the set list I play on the night, so you get both the music and visuals combined together. After spinning, I may head down to Aqua Spirit (30/F, 1 Peking Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui) to chill. It’s on the 27th floor so you get an awesome view of the Hong Kong skyline. The crowd’s a little more mature… mostly businessmen. I think Why Club (Basement, 8 Minden Ave, Tsim Sha Tsui) and Club Lala (La Lavande Lounge Bar, 3/F, China Insurance Bldg, 48 Cameron Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui) are cool hangouts too.

Saturday
During the day, I like to chill with my apprentice DJs, cruising around town in my car and finding good locations to go fishing. I love sunbathing in the summer too. Beaches like Tai Long Wan are nice and peaceful. Then we’ll come back into town and hang out at somewhere like Roadside Bar (2A Hart Ave, Tsim Sha Tsui). After spinning my regular set at Club SOSO, I tend to come back into Central and finish the night at Volar (38-44 D’Aguilar St, Central). After all, where else in town can you party until 7am?

Wild Saturday Night at Club SOSO Every Saturday Ladies $210, Men $300

Interview: Fiona Ng