UK Garage has transitioned from a very niche sound, primarily heard in a few London clubs, to a truly global phenomenon. This is fitting, as it is a distinctly British export with ties to various music scenes, most notably appreciating the works of Todd Edwards and others.
Having experienced numerous phases of renewal and transformation, UK garage is currently thriving and is in high demand worldwide.
The influential label Garage Shared focuses on discovering new talents within the UKG and broader bass culture, highlighting the diverse variations of the sound.
The latest release from Garage Shared has a distinctive twist; it is likely the first garage compilation in the West that features an entirely Chinese lineup of artists. Among the producers included are LiMiT, CLV, Cury & Atonity, A$UKA, and Kanetaker, among others.
This reflects the influence of British club sounds on Chinese dance floors and suggests the potential for a collaborative creative dialogue, as the interest continues to grow.
Clash writer Andrew Moore spoke with several of the featured artists to get their recommendations on upcoming producers to watch.
Kanetaker – Chace (Shanghai)
I chose Shanghai because it's a city where global sounds and local identity frequently intersect — fast-paced, vibrant, and rich with hidden depth. One artist from there who greatly inspires me is Chace, a producer and DJ who has redefined the sound of Chinese electronic music on the international scene. His early work was influenced by UK garage and house, but what makes him distinctive is his blend of polished, Western-influenced production with subtle emotional depth and a clear Chinese essence.
Chace’s tracks are polished and ready for the club, yet they always contain deeper elements—a melodic nuance or rhythmic variation that suggests introspection. His music reflects Shanghai’s character as a hyper-modern city with a rich cultural background: sharp, fashionable, but never shallow. As one of the few Chinese producers to gain recognition with global labels and festivals at a young age, Chace embodies a new generation that confidently bridges Eastern and Western influences.
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LiMiT – Chacha / Faded Ghost (Shanghai)
Shanghai is a place where cultural clashes ignite continuous artistic reinvention — tradition intersects with modernity, and the club scene flourishes in the gaps. An artist who inspires me from this city is Chacha, also known as Faded Ghost. She’s a vocalist and producer who merges UK dub, garage, and bass music with haunting atmospheres and soulful reflections.
What makes her unique is her capacity to navigate both experimental and emotional soundscapes — crafting textures that feel both intimate and expansive, grounded in heritage yet futuristic. The rapid, neon-alive environment of Shanghai directly influences her music, which evokes the sensation of wandering through smoky streets at 3 AM.
Her collaborations with international musicians have also helped connect China’s underground with global bass networks, establishing her as a crucial figure in cultivating a distinctive Chinese perspective in UK-influenced genres.
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Atonity – Howie Lee (Beijing)
Beijing is a city where tradition, subversion, and creativity converge — a place that continually redefines what Chinese art and music can be. An artist who significantly inspires me from there is Howie Lee — a producer, sound artist, and visual innovator who has been at the forefront of China’s experimental electronic music scene.
What distinguishes him is his blending of ancient Chinese aesthetics, field recordings, and folklore with contemporary club rhythms and unpredictable textures. His music transcends genre, fusing bass music, ambient sounds, and traditional Chinese influences into a deeply personal and avant-garde experience. You can sense Beijing’s rich cultural contrasts and revolutionary spirit in his work — it’s restless, thoughtful, and constantly evolving.
Howie Lee does not just create music; he reshapes our understanding of sound and identity in a globalized context.
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ASUKA – Radiax (Beijing)
Beijing’s underground music scene flourishes beneath a veneer of tradition and formalism, creating a unique environment for sonic exploration. An artist who inspires me greatly from this city is Radiax — a pioneering electronic producer known for his immersive, bass-driven soundscapes. What sets him apart is his careful construction of rhythm and space — often intertwining halftime, dubstep, and deep techno elements into compositions that are both futuristic and emotionally resonant.
His tracks often possess a cold, metallic quality, coupled with an underlying warmth that evokes feelings of urban solitude in sound. The contrasting atmosphere of Beijing — between ancient structure and contemporary chaos — is profoundly reflected in Radiax’s music, which feels both grounded and ethereal.
He symbolizes a new wave of Chinese producers who are breaking through genre barriers while remaining connected to their sense of place.
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CLV – Carta (Shanghai)
Shanghai is a city that thrives on speed, spectacle, and global interconnectedness — where youth culture evolves in real time. An artist from there who deeply inspires me is Carta, among the first Chinese electronic producers to
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UK Garage has evolved from a very niche sound, found in a handful of London clubs, to a phenomenon with worldwide reach. In a sense, this development is only fitting - a