Yu Yang – The ‘Shine A Light On’ Ransom Note Mix

After serving as musical director for W Shanghai – the Bund and the Shanghai EDITION, Yu Yang co-founded ALTER., a party series that brought together the world’s most forward-thinking selectors and China’s finest in carefully chosen venues. What developed was one of Shanghai’s most sought-after nights and a genuinely strong community around it.

Yu Yang crafts sets that balance introspection with ‘fun’.

Listen and read the interview below:

You’re pretty new on our radar, fancy telling us a little bit about yourself:

Who are you and where are you from?

I am Yu Yang and I am currently in London, via Bali and Shanghai. What am I? hmmm… just like everyone else, I am 70% water and 30% everything else. I mostly run parties and festivals in Shanghai called ALTER., have a fling with Klymax in Potato Head Bali etc. Other than that, I DJ, at parties and for brands.

Where was the mix recorded?

Recorded near Victoria Park in East London

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

Running, walking, pre drinks, whenever you feel like some dance moves, or music journey.

What should we be wearing?

Comfortable dance outfit because you’d need it for some dance moves

What would be your dream setting to record a mix: Location/system/format.

In the jungle, which I am lucky enough to do so in Ubud, Bali.

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

So many! But my personal favorite might be “Call Super – Waterways”. This track is quite different from his previous work – it has heavy synth, dreamy vocal, soft yet deep, emotional and beautiful. I think it’s reflecting a general trend now that artists are moving from energy-driven, fast-paced tracks to vulnerability, which is probably what we need right now when the world is going down.

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

Jane Fitz Houghton 2025 Sunday sunrise set at the Pavilion (I am sure it was recorded) – just perfect sensitivity toward the sunrise energy on the lake – perfect flow, joy and hope, gentle yet emotionally overwhelming. That set is fundamental in helping me understand that every track is a tool, woven into a much bigger story-telling scheme – just per her own bio “It’s not what records you have, but what you do with them, that’s important”. I might have shed a tear or two listening to that set.

If you could go back to back with any DJ from throughout history, who would it be and why?

Jane Fitz probably – I wonder how she channels music & energy like no one else.

What was your first DJ set up at home and what is it now?

First was XDJ RX and Yamaha HS5. Sadly right now I am in transition period of moving so I don’t have a place I call home to have a set up yet. Hopefully it changes soon.

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?

Both are very important for me but if I have to choose, I’d say the track I start on – I particularly like a dramatic opening to capture listeners’ attention and set a tone of the set.

What were the first and last records you bought?

First one was probably Massive Attack – Blue Lines and last one was Skee Mask – ISS009

If this mix was an edible thing, what would it taste like?

Maybe chilli chocolate – easy and smooth in the beginning, then it gets intense and deep before the sense of soothing in the end coming in.

If it was an animal what would it be?

A black cat

One record in your collection that is impossible to mix into anything…

Nils Frahm – Says

Anything else we need to discuss.

Thanks for having me the Ransom Note. Hope you all enjoy the mix…

Tracklist 

Anywayz (Avalon Emerson 14th Life Version) – Austra
吸烟的女人- Raidas
Return of Life – Sam Goku
Waterways – Call Super
Cat Trapped In A Crab Trap (lgor Tipura Remix) – Skatebård/Lauer
Holy Ghost – Morose
DJ Jacuzziy – Ghost Coral
Rave On The Congo – Strontium 90
Catwash – Pep A Cat Up
Temptations and Destructions – Blu:sh
In Darkness – NNHMN
Ambien Baby – Mindkiss
David J Bull – Body Gum
D.D.M. – G.F.X.
Honey Ding – Ding Dialogue
Community Vision (Alex Arnout Remix) – Alison Marks
From The Brink (Aurora Halal version) – Ital & Halal
Calor – Ineffekt
Arpegia (Without You) (Odyssey To Kevin Jee Mix) – The MacKenzie/Jessy
梦中人 – 王菲

Follow on Yu Instagram and soundcloud