From Hackney Raves too an MBE: The DJ Bringing Sound to the Deaf Community
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A pioneering DJ,born deaf after a birth complication,has transformed the UK rave scene and beyond,creating inclusive spaces for the deaf community and earning national recognition for his groundbreaking work.
From a childhood fascination with the energy of London’s underground rave culture to founding the world’s first rave by and for the deaf,his journey is a testament to the power of music and the importance of inclusivity.
A Life Shaped by Silence and Sound
The DJ, who prefers to be known as DJ Chinaman, navigates the world with a unique perspective, deeply connected to both silence and amplified sound. He is adept at hearing aids, lip reading, and fluency in British Sign Language. “when I take my aids out to sleep, you could fire a gun next to my ear and I wouldn’t stir,” he explained, highlighting the stark contrast between silence and the amplified world he accesses with technology.
A Lifelong Connection to the Beat
Growing up in Hackney, east London, the allure of raving began with glimpses of older cousins returning from all-night parties. This sparked a passion that culminated in his first rave experience on New Year’s Eve in 1993. The sensory overload – the lights, the smoke, the “throbbing beats, the bodies moving joyfully as one” – was instantly captivating. He quickly became immersed in the scene, spending weekends at raves held in unconventional locations across the country.
Fuelled by wages earned from warehouse work, he began collecting UK garage and reggae records, eventually learning to DJ. Though,despite a decade of dedicated raving,he noticed a striking absence: other deaf people. Attempts to include friends from a deaf social group were met with resistance. “Nah, that’s hearing culture,” thay said. “It’s not for us.” He recalled even being turned away from a club by a bouncer due to his deafness, but this only strengthened his resolve to create a space were deaf individuals could experience the same joy he found on the dance floor.
Deaf Rave: A Revolution in Inclusivity
Driven by this desire, he launched Deaf Rave in May 2003 at the International Students House in central London. The event drew an astounding 700 attendees, a testament to the unmet need for inclusive nightlife. Recognizing the visual nature of Deaf culture, he incorporated deaf dancers and breakdancing performances.”I cried that inaugural night,” he shared, deeply moved by the overwhelming sense of community. “Everyone was constantly hugging – not because of any pills, but because of the pure joy of being immersed in deaf community.”
Deaf Rave wasn’t simply about replicating a hearing rave experience; it was about creating a space where deaf people were the majority, fostering a sense of belonging often absent elsewhere.The event also became a catalyst for connection, with many attendees forming lasting relationships and even starting families.
Expanding the Reach and Impact
Deaf Rave has since grown exponentially, performing at major festivals like Glastonbury and Boomtown. He has expanded his team, welcoming artists like MC Geezer, a deaf rapper who seamlessly blends British Sign Language with his lyrical flow.The initiative has also extended beyond performance, consulting on innovative technologies like vibrating floors at nightclubs, including Fabric, and haptic vests that translate music into tactile sensations.
A particularly poignant moment came with a performance in Shanghai, acknowledging his own mixed heritage – a quarter Chinese, with Vietnamese, Guyanese, and English roots – and his moniker, DJ Chinaman. In 2024, he received an honorary master of the arts from Falmouth University, followed by the award of an MBE earlier this year. “The shock knocked me sideways,” he admitted, but the honor has further fueled his commitment to supporting deaf identity and culture.
A Future Focused on Inclusion
The work continues to evolve, with a focus on education and outreach. Deaf Rave now hosts DJing workshops for deaf children in schools and is preparing for a Deaf Rave family day festival in London. “Whether we’re in the clubs, or in the classrooms, the deaf must be heard,” he affirmed, encapsulating the core mission of his life’s work. His story is a powerful reminder that music, in it’s many forms, truly transcends boundaries.
