What has rock music or punk music got to do with techno music? A lot, as it turns out. Many techno DJs in Taiwan and China are former rockers. Find out why in this episode of BPM Ecstasy. Discover why DJs on both sides of the Taiwan Strait evolved from rockers to techno DJs. Hear firsthand from legendary Chinese DJ Zhang Youdai how he discovered actual rebellion to be in the form of making people feel happy rather than the anger of rock music. Heavily influenced by the movie “Trainspotting” and Swiss student DJs who were holding “Cheese Party” raves, Zhang recounts his journey to creating his own techno music parties. Discover how DJs from both sides of the strait worked to develop China’s techno scene as Zhang and his friend (former rock guitarist) Weng Weng, along with Taipei’s Elvis T. created China’s first electronic music label, Acupuncture Records, and organized China’s first electronic music festival, Intro Festival. From rockers in China to rockers in Taipei, we meet Elvis T.’s friend Lujiachi, who has become part of a new wave of DJs reviving the techno music scene in Taiwan. Lujiachi charts his journey from nu metal to punk and experimental music, then finally to techno, where he discovered a different way to express rebellion through music. Besides the punk-rock nature of techno music, clubs in both Taiwan and China suffer difficulties. In Taipei, it could be a small audience or inherited cultural values, whereas in Beijing, other influences cause clubs to struggle. Learn more about how DJs in each city work to change attitudes and how punk roots mean techno still survives and thrives.