Amber Chen (26), a master student of information science, is gradually conquering the music world as Ambu Bambu. As a DJ and producer, she has already toured China, and this week, she will perform for the first time at Eurosonic (ESNS).
Amber will perform twice on Friday and hopes her sets will surprise people. ‘I think it would be really cool to tour Europe’, she says. That’s why she hopes the showcase festival, where thousands of music professionals from across Europe gather, will also lead to conversations with bookers.
‘It’s a bit of a cliché in the DJ world, but I would really love to play at Berghain in Berlin someday. But festivals like Sziget in Hungary or Dekmantel Selectors in Croatia also seem fantastic to me.’
First international tour
The Dutch student with Chinese roots had her first opportunity to showcase her talent abroad last year — in China, no less. ‘That was the first time I had ever toured abroad, so it was pretty exciting’, she says.
Just as thrilling was opening the Boiler Room Stage at the renowned DGTL festival in Amsterdam. ‘When I heard I got that gig, I literally got chills. That’s a bucket-list moment for many DJs.’
A pandemic hobby
Amber discovered her love for electronic music in Groningen. During her bachelor in artificial intelligence, she frequently attended parties, such as those hosted by the Groningen-based collective KopjeK. At first, she went just to dance, but she soon began talking to DJs and producers.
In 2020, while everyone was in lockdown due to COVID-19, her boyfriend bought a turntable for fun, as a way to stay occupied. ‘I discovered that I really enjoyed DJing’, she says.
She slowly started developing her own style. ‘At first, I mixed all kinds of music together, but now I prefer creating a cohesive set. I also have a better sense of which artists I like and which tracks blend well together.’
Collaborations
Amber hopes to incorporate her Chinese roots more into her music in the future. For instance, she would love to collaborate with Canadian-Chinese DJ Ciel. ‘Besides thinking her music is amazing, I feel a connection with her because she’s also of Chinese descent and lives in another country.’
She is also learning to create her own music rather than just using tracks by others. ‘It’s such a different way of engaging with music. I can completely lose myself in it’, she says. ‘For example, I think it would be really cool to use traditional Chinese instruments in my tracks.’
Finishing her master
What about her master in information science? She hopes to complete it by this summer. ‘But I find working on music much more enjoyable than studying’, she says, laughing. While her music doesn’t always align with her studies, she still encourages other students to pursue their passions.
‘If you’re passionate about something, it’s never wasted effort or time’, she says.
Ambu Bambu will perform twice on Friday, January 17. Her first set will be from 10:45 to 11:15 p.m, at the outdoor stage MEET@AIR on the Grote Markt. Her second set will be from midnight to 1 a.m. at the Academie Minerva.