"Unlike any DJ performance I've ever seen": what it was like experiencing Jeff Mills in Asia

Last month, Jeff Mills just wrapped the Asia leg of his Live at Liquid Room 30th Anniversary Tour, touching down in Shanghai, Jakarta, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur.

The images left behind (professional and phone-shot alike) all point to the same conclusion: those in the rooms were fully in it. Some of the shots were taken from proper cameras, some from phones, because that's what nights like these produce: a mix of the meticulous and the grabbed-in-the-moment, but both capturing the same exact same feeling.

Shanghai kicked things off on May 9 at Bandai Namco's Dream Hall; one of Mills' first-ever Mainland China performances. "I could talk about this show all night, but all I’ll say is this: Jeff’s set was unlike any DJ performance I’ve ever seen. Grateful to have witnessed it and been part of the moment," Ma Haiping, who supported Mills, said to Mixmag Asia. From the images, you can see why; the wide stage, the crowd pressed forward, and Mills in the pocket of his own world.

Jakarta followed on May 25 at ZoO, with Ecilo supporting. "When you see his live performance, you'll understand how big he is and what sets him apart," the Indonesian techno pioneer said. There's not much to add…except images of a packed dancefloor on a Monday night.

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In Singapore, the night at RASA on May 30 opened with a screening of the Liquid Room set documentary before Mills stepped up to play live on vinyl, with Haan and loopinmotion stepping in before Mills took over once more. The RASA team described the evening as "like stepping into a piece of dance music history and experiencing it together in real time".

The tour wrapped in Kuala Lumpur on May 31 at Over & Above, presented by Ohrwurm, with local support from Alam and JonnyVicious. Ohrwurm noted that the energy stayed entirely between the DJ and the dancers; exactly like the early days of their scene.

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"For anyone who grew up in the KL underground scene in the late 90s, Jeff Mills’ set for Ohrwurm felt like stepping into a time machine. He commanded the room with that classic, hypnotic rhythmic layering that defined the original Liquid Room era. What made the night truly special was how the crowd just lived in the moment. The energy stayed entirely between the DJ and the dancers, exactly like the early days of our scene. It was a proud moment for us to see that timeless, focused club energy alive and kicking in Kuala Lumpur today," the Ohrwurm share with Mixmag Asia.

Relive the nights in the gallery of images above.

Amira Waworuntu is Mixmag Asia’s Managing Editor, follow her on Instagram.

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