Kevin Shiu

“Best undiscovered DJ”John Digweed, DJ Mag- Nov 2003


The resurgence of club culture has inspired a new wave of music, fashion, visuals, sounds, and people who make the scene what it is. Not since the birth of disco in the mid-70's has dance music become such a predominant part of our social culture. The music is only as good as the DJs and spinsters who put it together for us to enjoy. Kevin Shiu has been at the forefront of this rebirth of club culture in one-way or other for the last 10 years. His magic touch, keen foresight and suave mannerisms have propelled him into headliner status, thus paving his career to enable him to embrace the music he loves to a much wider scale.

Kevin is based in Vancouver, Canada. The West Coast is possessed by a deep progressive vibe, and Kevin is one the key thespians of that sound. His signature style ranges from deep tech house through driving progressive house and remains true to the underground sound that first inspired him: a deep, moody sound with pounding percussion and a mighty hypnotic groove. A high point in his career was when he made a splash in 2001, playing at Nettwerk Records' Winter Music Conference event. Kevin spun with Nettwerk artists DJ Tiesto, Way Out West Chris Fortier and BT, and also got to spin at poolside at WMC 2001. Along with those, Kevin has played alongside such mainstays as Fat Boy Slim (once at Spundae@ Circus LA, and then at the exclusive Molson Canadian House Party in Banff, Canada) Danny Howells, Josh Wink, Jimmy Van M, Taylor, Chris Fortier, Sasha, Mark Lewis, Tall Paul, and Pete Tong amongst others. His recognition has brought him to open for DJ Tiesto (voted number one DJ in the world) every time Tiesto makes a stop in Vancouver. Known as a crowd pleaser (and teaser), and mix mastermind, Kevin has educated and electrified crowds of 100 - 10,000 across the US, Canada and Asia.



While maintaining several residencies in and around Vancouver and Victoria, Kevin continues to forge new ground to which many local djs and abroad have admired and tried to emulate. Being a part of the illustrious VUTAG crew, Kevin's style and sets never go underestimated. It is with the listener in mind, that Kevin programs and builds his lengthy sets. Weaving in and out of the set, it the ebbs and flows and sends the listener to another dimension of space and time where the music unfolds as an epic dream. It was after his dj set that closed out a BT live P.A. in Vancouver, that he was approached by Nettwerk Records to mix the first of a brand new series of North American-profiled dj-mixed cds, much akin to the Global Underground series and many other reasonable facsimiles. He carefully chose the tracks that would withstand the test time, as many of today's biggest tracks can and usually do have the shortest shelf life. The result was Recital 001: Vancouver Mixed by Kevin Shiu released in September of 2001 on Nettwerk Records. A clear representation of his wide spectrum of sounds and styles, Recital 001 displayed songs in a seamless continuous flow that is best heard sitting in your favorite armchair, dancing in your favorite dance hall, or better yet, in the vastness of outer space.

Kevin's upcoming collaborations with John Morgan (half of the Powerplant duo) and Vancouver's own producer extraordinaire DJ Lace will bring to light his very own productions of sound to the public very soon. His current residency at Volume (Vancouver's premiere underground club night, featuring the top Progressive House on the West Coast), displays Kevin's vision, as he is instrumental to help Volume push the boundaries of what is underground and at the forefront of what is to come. With the recent amendment to the city's liquor laws allowing a 5:00am shut down. Vancouver joined Montreal to become the second city in Canada where you can party all the nightlong. This has allowed Kevin the room to extend his legendary sets and to help boost Volume to become busiest night in the city and one of the top club nights in the country. Bringing in such well-known names in progressive music as Jimmy Van M, Chris Fortier, Josh Wink, Taylor and Deko-ze.

It was during Jimmy Van M’s set at Volume where Kevin caught his eye. He recognized his talent and asked Kevin to tour Canada on 2 separate DuMaurier sponsored tours. The first tour was with John Digweed and the second was with Jimmy himself. Both were so impressed with Kevin on these tours that not only did Digweed ask Kevin to submit a mix for his world famous Radio show on KISS FM but he was also asked to join the illustrious Balance Record Pool, an invite only record pool consisting of the top 40 Progressive DJs in North America. Kevin receives around 100 unreleased records a month from this pool, giving him the “professional edge” by being able to play these records 6 weeks before they are released to the general public.

Whether you are reading this in 2 weeks or 2 years, Kevin's cycle is never ending.... his enthusiasm and fervor thrives for good quality electronic dance music. Never to repeat a set, Kevin instills a high standard of quality and professionalism that has made what he is today, an industry standard and a crowd pleaser. It is his positive influence on others and his reputation as a genuine and diligent visionary that has helped put himself and Vancouver on the map.