SmartShanghai | Event Preview: Frexh

Event Preview: Frexh

By Sarah Hammer, Jul 28th, 2010 | In Nightlife

On August 6 and 7, is FREXH, a two-day showcase of "emerging" international and Mainland artists, working in a variety of fields: visual arts, music, fashion, food, and booze. They're hosting the music and fashion content of the showcase over at Mao Livehouse, and then they’re traversing the city, taking over the first floor at 5 on the Bund for an evening of booze, food, and visual arts alchemy. It's a fairly involved two-day affair, pairing internationally touring bands and DJs with some of Shanghai’s higher profile F & B personages.

And you can get you tickets for either day or both right here.

SmartShanghai caught up with on of the organizers of Frexh, Brian Yang, erstwhile host of Shanghai Rush on ICS, to talk fresh. More info at their website.

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SmSh: Maybe you could start by introducing the concept of Frexh. What's it all about?

Brian: FREXH is a showcase of emerging innovators in the fields of fashion, music, food, and art. We have taken fresh talents in these disciplines who are both international and mainland based, and will be presenting them in a fun and interactive way. It's an opportunity for the people of Shanghai to experience new raw talents. We are also taking proceeds from Frexh and donating it to Wokai, a charitable organization that helps rural entrepreneurs in China with loan capital. They are an outstanding organization who deserves to be highlighted for what they are doing.

SmSh: Who is involved in the organization of Frexh? Who's behind the scenes?

Brian: Well, it basically started with a skeleton crew of me and one other person. After working on Shanghai Rush last year, I came up with the concept of Frexh as I came into contact with so many innovative people here. I come from New York where there are an equal amount of innovative people. It seemed to me that Shanghai is a place where it is so cutting edge now and people are willing to try so many different things, that for creators of fashion, food, music, or art, it was an ideal place to present their goods. I love innovation and forward thinkers for it's these people who add colour to life. And this includes an organization like Wokai. There are several people now helping to run Frexh including seasoned Shanghai event planners, a video editor most recently with the Sundance Channel who came in from New York, a webmaster, and quite honestly, just friends and their friends who have started pouring in asking how they can volunteer in some way from translation help to art curation.

As a benefit, Frexh isn't organized as a huge commercial entity. Our operation is still razor thin - just a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. And, oh - where oh where would I be without our culinary coordinator Kelley Lee [Shanghai restauranteur -- Cantina Agave, The Alchemist, Boxing Cat, iiiit]?

SmSh: Can you introduce what you have planned for the "Music" night of Frexh at Mao Livehouse?

Brian: The genesis of Frexh actually came from PaperDoll, a New York City based band who in the last few years have really taken to rolling up their sleeves and touring around entertaining people with their music. To me, they're the hardest working band in the US. They expressed an interest in playing in China and basically became our anchor to build this event around. They've been labeled as sounding like The Killers with Pat Benatar as the lead singer. They are energetic and their sound is infectious. Shanghai -- be prepared to add PaperDoll songs to your iPod after you hear them.

We also have Beijing-based Kelly Cha coming over. We found Kelly through alive not dead, an online community dedicated to helping artists founded by the team behind Rotten Tomatoes. Kelly sings in both Mandarin and English so her sound is really interesting. Frexh may seem very Western in bent, but the idea was to help mainland or Shanghai based innovators too. We're in China after all and I feel both Western and Eastern creators can learn from one another, so this event is really for everyone.

Blended into the evening will be 3 fashion shows - one male designer named Bo out of New York who has an urban flair, a female designer Grace Sun, who works between New York and Shanghai, and then Flora Cheong-Leen, who is a Beijing based designer opening up a new store here at Xintiandi. Flora just happens to be married to the American actor Russell Wong, who is working lots now in Chinese films including the upcoming remake of What Women Want starring Andy Lau and Gong Li, and is also a judge on China's Next Top Model.

Finally, we have three sizzling DJ's to spin us through the night. They range from trip-hop to techno house to hip hop genres. This night is going to be high energy. The free beer from 8-9pm should help too, so arrive early!

SmSh: Can you talk about what will go on in the Dining night the next night?

Brian: Our food & art event the next night will have a distinctly different flavor than Friday but it's still "fresh". Kelley Lee has helped to orchestrate a collection of some of Shanghai's top establishments who will be preparing tasting sized portions from stations set up around the room. Kelley's own upcoming Alchemist will be showcased in addition to some great teams from Madison, Azul, Osteria, Mi Thai, Avalon, Simon's Test Kitchen, and Hamilton House amongst others.

Signature desserts will be presented by the House of Flour Chocolate Lounge, Amedei Chocolates, and Sweet Ever After. Wash it all down with whatever your poison -- and that includes water from FIJI, juices from Element Fresh, or coffee by Arabica Roasters. A free flow of California wines from Just Grapes, Vedett or Liefman's beer, and other cocktails with Ice Fox vodka, Tequlia Correljo, HM Whiskey/dark rum, or Dalmore single malt whiskey will be ready for the thirsty.

And of course there will be the visual element to the evening whereby artwork by seven various artists from the world over will be exhibited. The art is all for sale with 5% of each sale getting further donated to Wokai. Beware -- the photos, prints, and paintings that will be on display just might find their way into your flat after Frexh. They are all very impressive. And did I mention that after the night ends around 10 to mosey on over two blocks away to the Hamilton House for the official after party? Your wristband from Frexh will enable drink specials!

SmSh: What sorts of people are you expecting will come to Frexh?

Brian: Frexh is really for everyone. Whether you are a local or someone from abroad, if you enjoy music, fashion, food, and art, Frexh is for you. We have taken great measures to incorporate both Chinese and international creators and I feel the audience should reflect that. Frexh is for someone who wants to experience something different, something fresh. I don't know many people who don't enjoy food, clothes, music, or art, so I think so long as those are things up your alley, you're looking to have a good time, and you don't mind contributing towards a good cause, this will hopefully be your summer event to attend!

SmSh: Is this a one-off event or do you have more planned?

Brian: We definitely started Frexh with the idea of being a regular thing. Whether that means annual or a series of events, we shall see. I think so long as creators keep creating and there is always a noble charity trying to change the world day by day, there will be the need for something like Frexh to exist.

SmSh: So a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the non-profit org, Wokai. What are they all about?

Brian: The website response to this question is: Wokai is the first person-to-person internet platform that allows you to provide rural entrepreneurs in China with loan capital. You choose the borrower you want to support, make a tax-deductible contribution, and watch their repayments and progress over time.

My response, especially after meeting their founders and hearing their story from their own mouths, is that Wokai is an amazingly passionate organization that is taking the approach of collecting donations from anyone around the world to pool together to help below the poverty line entrepreneurs here in China get out of the vicious cycle of destitution. If you get to see the video on our website about them, it will all make sense as to what it is they exactly do. At the risk of sounding like a cheeseball, the first time our editor showed me the cut of Wokai's interview, I kind of got choked up. It's always inspirational when I hear of different groups helping those who are less fortunate, but Wokai's approach fits in exactly with the spirit of our event. Pooling together small sums of money in a microfinancing fashion via the internet and allocating it to someone like a mushroom farmer who is trying to get her two kids into school? That's fresh.

SmSh: How do you feel it differs from other arts / music / dining / fashion showcases in town?

Brian: I have been around Shanghai for a few years now and have attended many events. I think what goes on here is tremendous and I absolutely applaud all the showcases that happen here. I think Frexh is probably different in that we have combined these various elements together on one platform. With Frexh, you get to hopefully delight your senses in various ways all at once. Our innovators really are fresh too. The bands, DJs, and fashion brands you will see at Mao Livehouse are a collection of both rising and established talents I know people will take to. The food and beverage and visual feasts we will have the next night will also have something for everyone. I also know people in this town love to have a good time. I dare say these days even more than the people in New York. I've always felt that if you can direct energy and resources in terms of having a good time towards a worthy cause, it's a no-brainer.