E14: DJ Chen Brings The Heat & Drops The Beats At K-Pop Club Night

Get ready to turn up the volume on this episode of BibimPOP with Sean! Sean sits down with DJ Chen, the man behind the beats that make K-Pop Club Night an unforgettable experience.

In this episode, we dive into Andrew’s journey from his roots to the DJ booth, discovering what sparked his passion for music and what keeps him inspired as we groove into 2025. He shares stories of his journey to the turntables and reveals what makes his signature style so unique.

But that’s not all—DJ Chen takes us behind the scenes of K-Pop Club Night, a nationwide phenomenon bringing K-Pop stans together for nights filled with pulsing energy, crowd-pleasing tracks, and unforgettable vibes. From BTS and Blackpink to Seventeen and aespa, he breaks down the tracks that ignite the dancefloor and how he keeps the party going all night long.

Plus, Sean announces an exciting giveaway for K-Pop Club Night in Salt Lake City on February 15, where DJ Chen will be spinning live! Don’t miss your chance to be part of the K-Pop magic.

Whether you're a K-Pop superfan, a music lover, or someone who lives for good vibes, this episode is for you. Tune in, subscribe, and get ready to dance! 🎶

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome to Episode 14
• 1:27 Introducing DJ Chen
• 13:21 What is K-Pop Club Night?
• 22:39 Your Exclusive Invitation to K-Pop Club Night
• 28:28 Subscribe, Follow, Like, & Share

Transcript

Hello Pop Tarts, and welcome to this episode of BibimPOP with Sean, where pop culture ate Pop Tarts I am two over the moon, over the stars. Tomorrow buy together reference txt did you get it? My K-pop fans out there. Anyway, I truly truly am over the moon for this episode. Today we've got an electrifying guest joining us, a master of the turntables, a curator of unforgettable vibes, and someone who's been setting stages alight coast to coast.

Yes, I am talking about DJ Chan, who performs for K-pop club night events all across the country. What is K-pop club night you might ask? Well, we are going to get into that. Let's jump right into this episode, because I am not going to make you wait any longer for this interview. It is two good. We are going to talk about who DJ Chen is, get the scoop on K-pop club night, and talk some of our favorite tunes by the most popular K-pop groups out there like BTS, Blackpink, 17, Aespa and more.

Here we go!

All right, here I am with Andrew Chen, DJ extraordinaire. I'm so excited for this opportunity for us to chat today. First, I know you live in the Los Angeles area and just want to check in with you. How are things going? I know the area has been really impacted by the Los Angeles fires. How are you? Thanks for the intro, Sean.

Thanks for having me on BibimPOP. Of course. Me and K-pop club night. First off, fortunately, where I currently located my place and my housemates and my friends are all okay. Fortunately, I do know a couple friends that did have to evacuate, but fortunately they're all okay. Fortunately, their homes and places of residents are also okay as well.

Fortunately. So yeah, it's been really crazy to just see everything happen in real time and I personally just got back to LA on Sunday, so I saw everything when I was still in new Jersey, which is where I'm from. So I was still seeing everything. The initial start of everything from from the East Coast. So it was definitely very surreal seeing all that from afar.

And I just made sure to check up on all my friends and really just make sure that, everyone was okay. Good. Oh, I'm so glad to hear you and your loved ones are safe and that they're doing okay. I'm sure for your friends that were evacuated, that was a very scary experience. You know, like when I was, like, watching TV, reading the articles, looking at images, it really looked like, you know, something from, like, Armageddon times like very scary.

And so I'm glad to hear that you're safe and okay. Also, you are from new Jersey. I am from new Jersey as well. Originally. What part of new Jersey are you from? So I'm from Edison. So growing up we said central that I went to college in Philly, and then people said central Jersey didn't exist, so. Right. Yeah.

You're right. I'm still very much like when I'm introducing myself to other people, I just say I'm from North Jersey, because if you do actually like, look on a map, Edison's a little bit more north, but deep down I'm like, yeah, central Jersey. But you know, there's that whole today. Where are you from, Andrew, I got you. I'm from central Jersey as well.

And there is such a thing as central Jersey. What was it I was going to say? I'm like, it exists, right? I know yeah. Everyone's like, choose you're there, North or south. I'm like, no, no, no, no. I grew up in the Princeton area, so not too far from Madison. You know what? Pass through Edison on the way up to New York on the new Jersey transit.

And yeah, love it. And actually, my family goes to Edison all the time when we want good Asian food. It's the Korean barbecue. I mean, you know, whenever we need some good Asian food, we're in Edison. Edison's is, like, so awesome. Well, that's that's good. You got to spend some time back east. I miss it so much.

Oh, right. Well, before we get into your very exciting life as a DJ, we would just love to get to know you better on BibimPOP with Sean. So tell us about your background. We know you grew up in new Jersey, but what other interests and hobbies? And what has you excited as we go into 2025?

Yeah. So growing up in new Jersey, love sports as a kid, I played basketball and volleyball. Kept that going through middle and high school, just rec leagues. But outside of sports and playing video games, I I'm an avid still am. I don't play as often. I'm an avid Mario Kart fan. Growing up I was only able to have one console.

My parents only let me have one console, so I. I ended up actually choosing the Wii over the what the Xbox 360 and the PS3 at the time. So so many good games smash the core of Mario Kart, Mario Party, we sports, you know, the whole nine Super Mario Galaxy. That was really fun. Yeah, I'd say those for sure were my main interest growing up.

I was also a band kid. I played trumpet for about 7 or 8 years. I was pretty average, honestly. But then I started from home and when I switched to trombone, all I needed for me was a bigger mouthpiece, and that led my abilities in band throughout the you know, the last three years of high school, I was so much better, and it was nice being able to take on like leadership roles and, you know, being in the top ensembles, which I'm very grateful for.

My band director, for him pushing me to be like, hey, like, you should look into low brass because I feel like you would do better. So I can't thank him enough for that. And then I would say getting into deejaying. I also started, my freshman year in high school. So I was 14 when I first started, and I went to just a regular public high school, and one of the after school extracurricular clubs was actually called DJ club, and Deejay Club was manned by two upperclassmen at the time.

They were amazing. They taught all the basics of DJ and setting up the equipment mixing start from front to back up and down, and it was perfect timing for me because I got into dubstep and EDM around seventh eighth grade, through, funny enough, Mario Kart. Like watching montages of Mario Kart gameplay on YouTube and, you know, YouTubers at the time was kind of like Call of Duty or whatnot.

People would put music in the background of their, you know, highlights. And a lot of the Mario Kart montages that I saw at the time featured dubstep. So artists like Adventure Club, excision, Skrillex, of course, like old school, like monster Cat days. Yeah, it was the whole nine Fox pavilions. So I'd say that's what's then my interest in EDM and deejaying.

Skrillex was my main inspiration till this day. Scary Monsters and Nice Bro. It's by far was the record for me that started it all. And then through that I got more and more into EDM and started listening to more artists shout out Pandora and the recommendation radio. At the time it was free. So yeah, yeah, to listen to so many different artists.

And then what got me interested into DJing was actually seeing on YouTube their live sets from festivals like Ultra and Tomorrowland and EDC. And I was like, wait, that looks really cool. I like, I love to learn how to do that one day or try to figure it out. So I'm going from middle school and high school. Timing was perfect being in the DJ club.

Yeah, that's how it all started. And I'd say it has me excited as we go into the new year here in 2025 would be obviously my main thing right now is this Kpop club night tour that I'm very blessed to be on and have been given the keys to. Lead K-pop club mate for the year, which is incredible.

My contacts and the team have given me a lot of trust into leading this, which is incredible. And outside of the tour, which I'm super excited about, it's just also growing my brand even more as a DJ here in LA and outside of LA and really pushing more content and more. There's more of me outside of, you know, just K-pop, which is incredible as my background is, as being an open format DJ.

So playing everything again from like EDM to hip hop and R&B, etc., etc. so, yeah, just I'd say those are the two main things I'm most excited for. That is so awesome. Okay, I love that you took us through your journey into deejaying. And first of all, I have to say I love the reference to super Smash.

I am such a fan. So fun. Like brings me back. And I bet that you take a lot of your experience from band. And I'm sure that like musically, that has an impact on your deejaying career as well. And how cool to have a DJ club in high school, I it's making me reflect. I was an assistant principal at a high school for five years.

As you were talking, I was like, that would be so awesome. Like, I feel like so many youth are really interested in like a pathway into that music career. And DJ is such an accessible opportunity for so many youth, and we just have to give them the opportunity to practice and to learn. And the fact that you had that in high school, I think is just so, so, so cool.

I'm just thinking here as you're talking about and you mentioned like Skrillex and again, throwing me back, I love it. Every deejay, you know has a different style. You know, when I think about no two DJs are the same. Tiesto is very different from DJ Pauly D right. So how would you describe your style as a DJ. Yes.

So I would say my style is definitely more on the open format of that mobile DJ club deejay set up as my background. Also, a good perk of me starting so early was learning how to read the crowd, which honestly, I would say outside of the technical skills and be matching and transitions and phrasing, you need to know how to read the crowd and song selection.

And sometimes song selection is even more important than the more technical aspects, depending on what John Ray you're playing. But obviously you need to have those key fundamentals of DJ. But I'd say what stands out about me is just my collective experience over these past. Now, ever since I got my first paid gig, now in ten years, but from when I initially started deejaying, it's been a lot.

Yeah, it's been like 13 years now. Wow. So getting all that experience, playing all different types of events, you know, young and old birthday parties and sweet sixteens weddings. I've done a couple of weddings and opening for other EDM deejays, or playing most of EDM festivals, and also now K-pop club. Now, I'd say all my experience that I've done up to this point, it's all played a factor and also me just understanding of the nuances as well of, you know, being a performer and being a headliner essentially on tour.

So I'm very flexible. And also I've learned so much over the past so many years and taking all those experiences and bringing it into one, I'd say that's what's made me stand out, because I could do, you know, faster club style mixing versus other genres of music where it doesn't require necessarily as much mixing or quick, quicker mixing?

I'd say. And I would say also what makes me stand out is my experience working in the music industry, as I've worked both at talent booking agency Wasserman Music in New York, as well as an event producer slash promoter, Insomniac Events here in LA. So having that industry experience as well, learning the business and working very closely with big names and players in the industry and really seeing how everything comes together, I'd say that's what's given me a great leg up just because, just not understanding the nuances and how the business runs really, when I meet other talent buyers, managers, artists, hospitality coordinators, especially on this tour, you know, understanding everyone has a role.

And I think professionalism 100% has been a huge factor as well. Being on this tour and my experiences in the past have really led me to this. That's so cool. And I absolutely love how you painted this picture of how you've had all this different, diverse experience in the music industry as deejaying all the way from, you know, doing wedding events to doing festivals and being involved in like the grander scale of the the industry and I bet that does like give you a lot of context in terms of, you know, when you're doing different events, what to do, how to kind of figure out the crowd and create the experience, the whole experience that they're going to have. Well, let's talk about K-pop club Night a little bit more. If you are liking this content and discussion, please remember to subscribe. Follow, like and share BibimPOP with Sean.

So recently I learned about this incredible event as a K-pop aficionado and fan that takes place across the nation. K-pop Club Night. And one of the intentions of this episode is to really understand K-pop club night better. So as a DJ for K-pop club night and again being the the one like the single one who really creates the whole environment for K-pop club night events.

How would you describe what K-pop club night is to someone who doesn't know? Yes, so I would say K-pop Club Night in a nutshell really is a K-pop DJ dance party with the energy of being at a live concert. So getting that concert energy in a nightclub or concert venue setting, that's what K-pop club night is. And the fact that we play K-pop the whole night.

So usually our shows are four hours long. So that's really what K-pop club Night is. Is high energy, a great mix of different groups and artists across all the different generations of K-pop from first to fifth, the current gen boy and girl groups, soloists, and even some Karen B and K hip hop as well. So that's that's what K-pop is.

It's just a it's just a hello, good time. That's a lot of fun, crazy energy and an amazing crowd and environment and a very welcoming and open environment where no matter who you are, how old you are, ethnicity, religion, whatever you represent, everyone comes together and everybody has an incredible time just enjoying the music that they love, which is K-pop.

I that honestly like you just sold it to me like I am so down I want to go. I'm definitely going to go. I feel like people need that in our lives right now. You know, when I think about the world, there's just a lot of stress and a lot of pressure and just a lot of expectation that people are feeling.

And to have an event where people can go to this space that just is inclusive of everyone, where people can just get down, have a good time, dance the night away. We need more of that. And especially in like a K-pop space. That's so, so fun. I want to know. So what are some K-pop songs or artists that you notice that really just get the crowd hyped?

Yeah, honestly, there's there's so many count, so many to count. But I would say from the top of my head definitely can never go wrong with Ateez. They have really popping off, across the country, across all my stops. 80s is huge. Like, of course BTS's can't Go wrong Seventeen. All of the NCT, you know, groups. Yes, subunits.

Yes. And also the Seraphim new jeans, of course. Aespa they've been killing it. Blackpink, of course, and even throwing it back to Super Junior, Shinee, Girls Generation, Big Bang 2NE1. You know, we got them all. And no matter what, I feel like a great music is great music. But I'd say from the top of my head, oh yeah, of course, like txt, there's just so many, so many great groups and yeah, all those for sure.

They're always crowd pleasers. So good. I feel like you just named all of my friends because I just listen to all of them all the time, nonstop, on the way to work, on the way home, to work, on the way to the gym. Yeah. I'm constantly listening to everyone you just named. I am so excited. So I'm going to give you the names of some K-pop groups, and I want to know what your favorite song to play at K-pop Club Night is by those groups.

So let's start with a big one that we all know and love BTS. I'd say I really love playing Micro Steve. Yes, just the energy everybody knows the lyrics. It's just it really takes the night up a whole nother level. And that's I like to use that song to really bring up the energy during the night. And when I play, my thought process is like, all right, we're about to take it up another level, bringing the energy up.

And that's a great song to segue into, a faster, harder tempo as well, with, you know, the trap elements, of course. Oh. So good. Okay. I have to tell you, Mic Drop was the first song I ever heard, and that's that's what got me hooked. It was actually probably the first K-pop song I ever heard. And so my mic drop, like, just lives in my core memory, and I just.

Oh, I'm so glad you said that. It's so good. Such a great beat. I mean, like you said, the tempo. It's just like you're just ready to go. I just, so good, so good. All right, how about this one tomorrow? By together or TXT. Oh, there's so many good ones with TXT I'd say recently I like Deja Vu from the newer EP.

I'd say Deja Vu. I also really I like playing tinnitus a lot, but I just want to be all right. Yeah. Just, Afrobeat Amapiano. Oh my gosh, just, that vibe. It's it's great. And really, it's a cool, chill vibe. Also. I'll see you there tomorrow. The latest that UK garage house see beat. Yeah. They got so many great records too.

And I'll say Sugar Rush right. Oh yes. Well that that's a great one. Yeah. Yeah. They've got, they've got some great hits. Another one that I really like is chasing that feeling. That one's kind of throwing that back a couple of years. But I love that song. It's just like a good, like high energy fun. Very like bubblegum pop type of song.

That's awesome. All right, here's the next one. Blackpink. That by paying for me personally, they were the group that really got me into K-pop and really diving deeper into it and making me become from like a casual listener to a fan back in 2020. So Blackpink has a very, very special place in my heart. I would say can never go wrong with DDU-DU DDU-DU.

Oh, yes. Classic. You know, that's the song that got me into K-pop. And after watching that music video, I was a fan. I was like, yeah, this is this is it, right here? Yeah. Also, I like BOOMBYAH. I was also one of those other songs, again, that it's meant to be played at a club. It's electro house.

There's a, you know, EDM be, you know, there's a rise, there's a drop, it's heavy and you hear the subwoofers going in at the club. That song is meant to be played at a concert or a club, so I'd say those two for sure. But again, they have so many hits, so many. And, you know, I just want them to come back together and do another world tour.

I love Blackpink, you know, a fellow K-pop stand actually sent me today or last night sent me last night a video of when he was at a Blackpink concert. He was sitting front row. And obviously this was, you know, months ago, but he was front row and recorded like the best video of them singing Don't Know What to Do.

And oh, it was so good. The Korean that is so fun. And it's just like, yeah, I love that one too. So that was good. All right. The next one here 17 yes. Oh 17 they've been also around for a hot minute. And they're legends themselves at a super can never go wrong with super. Super is great I do nice I usually do that or very.

Yes. Oh you know good classic. Yeah I like to throw in those two I would say those are my two most played from the record with DJ Khalid love money fame. Yeah. That's also I want to build up the energy here. You know towards the end of the night. Still have a cool groove. I'll bring that record in.

But yeah, they have so many hits hit, hit, yes. But also going to be played at a club again, high energy around that 125 bpm range. And yet that record is meant to be played at a club. So they got yeah their discographies massive. Oh yeah. Yeah. Hit after hit like hit. You know actually I, I think I was introduced to 17 from a YouTube recommended video that popped up and it was when they performed hit for Ellen DeGeneres show, and I was like, oh, who is this group?

And I immediately fell in love. I think probably one of my favorite songs by them is hot. I think that one's such a good one. And the choreo in that is so fun. Hot, hot. Oh so good. All right, last one, last one. How about aespa? And also shout out aespa their discography as well. All of these groups as well.

It's just like hit after hit after hit aespa lately definitely Armageddon and Supernova. You know the duo from the same EP bangs every time they they go off supernovas. Claudio, especially during that dance break, is super catchy. You know, I love playing those records. And also whiplash. Whiplash again, I love, you know, that house influence, that UK house influence.

So it's just again, a record, you know, records that are meant to be played at a club. And as soon as I heard that intro for whiplash, I'm like, yeah, this is this is going immediately. Obviously it's going on the playlist. Regardless, that record is perfect for, K-pop. Them. It's so true. I feel like with so many of their songs, it's just like they take that confidence level and they boost it all the way up.

Their songs like just give you that energy and I love it. Yeah, supernova. Such a hit. I mean, whiplash. So good. Okay, well, again, you you've got me ready to go to K-pop club night right now. Like, I want to go tonight to dance to all of these songs. I am so excited.

Right. So. Okay. K-pop club night tours all over the country. I mean, they've been to Toronto, New York City, Washington DC, Orange County, and more. And you're going to be deejaying at the K-pop club night in my region of Salt Lake City, which I'm very excited for. On Saturday, February 15th. Have you played in Salt Lake City before and what are you looking forward to with this event in particular?

So I have not played in Salt Lake City before, but it is not my first time in Salt Lake City. So also another backstory about me. I actually used to work for Eric Nam on his there and Back again 2022 North America tour. So I was acting as his executive assistant for not just him, but also for the whole tour crew and the team.

So working very closely with his management and management, working closely with Eddie, his brother, who manages him, working with alongside him the tour manager and as well as just helping out the whole crew, the band, the dancers, all the folks back at house running, sound and lights. So he actually played back in 2022. He played at The Complex.

Yeah, yeah, that show was insane. Initially, he was actually going to be he was booked for one of the smaller rooms, but then the demand was so high they, you know, upgraded to them the main room. And at that time he had not played in Salt Lake City. He even said to me and also to the team, he was like, man, I did not know I had this many fans in Salt Lake City.

Just like water. Who would have thought, you know, Salt Lake City, Utah. It's very interesting. Stay. And of course it's a huge city. But yeah, just that region as well does not get many, very few, if any, you know, K-pop or Korean artists coming into town. So this will be my second time in Salt Lake City, but my first time performing.

So I'm super stoked. And it's very much a full circle moment as that was now, what, three years ago, which I can't believe 20, 22 or 3 years ago, but I'm really excited to be as well. Also, personally, one of my good friends from High school, he's originally from Salt Lake City, but he moved to Jersey for high school and we went to high school together, and he was also a DJ as well.

So we're so we were and also in band, so oh my gosh, no way. We're very close in high school. And then he moved back to Salt Lake City for college and still lives there. So he actually saw one of the ads or a post from on socials and he hit me up. He's like, hey, I saw you were coming to Salt Lake.

I'm like, you know, I'd love to come. I'm like, yeah, bro. Like, let's catch up. And last time I saw him was again, three years. Funny enough, three years ago when I invited him, when I was working with Eric Nam to that show, and he and him and his friend had a phenomenal time. So, yeah, really stoked to be in Salt Lake and yeah, it's such a great city.

I just remember driving in and just seeing the, just the environment and also just like the mountains. And it was just very picturesque. That's what I remember. Yeah, definitely beautiful here. So cool that you worked on Eric Nam's team. Love that. Love Eric. And really cool that now you get to come back. Kind of like you said, that full circle moment I just want all the listeners to know I am going to be announcing a K-pop Club Night giveaway, so make sure you're following me, BibimPOP with Sean on social media for more information about how to score free tickets to K-pop Club Night.

And if you don't live in the Salt Lake City area, there's no need to panic. Can you tell us where, in terms of other cities, that K-pop Club Night will be coming to? Yeah, we have so much lined up currently announced, so I'm going to be in Birmingham, Alabama, as well as New York City. And but just listing out all the wonderful cities and you're able to see me specifically, I'm gonna be in Orange County, Huntington Beach if you're in California, Dallas, Boise, Idaho, Columbus, Ohio, Salt Lake City, of course, Orlando, la.

Seattle, Detroit, Nashville, Boston, Albuquerque, and many, many more. So we have so much lined up and I am super excited to go to all of these wonderful cities and more to be announced. And you can find all that info out on K-pop club Nikon on our website, and yes, on our socials as well. Instagram K-pop Club Night. Just follow us and stay tuned for more announcements.

We got a lot coming up. So exciting! DJ Andrew Chen, you're traveling the whole entire country. I am so excited. Thank you so much for taking time to join us for this episode of BibimPOP with Sean. One of my hopes through this podcast is that I can just create some great energy around the K-pop space, and just highlight it into more mainstream pop culture.

This is where K-pop belongs, and as a DJ, you are doing that same exact great work. Where can my listeners also follow you? What are your social media handles? Yes, of course, my Instagram at DJ Chen, official DJ and official. Also, if you go on my Instagram, I have a link in my bio to my Linktree where all of my socials DJ mixes, edits, videos are all in one place as well as links to all of my upcoming shows.

So I would say that's the best one stop shop to get all my info. But yeah, I'd say Instagram is the best source to get all that unofficial. Awesome. Well, deejay Andrew Chen, thank you so much again for joining us today. I will see you at Sound Well in Salt Lake City on Saturday, February 15th. Yes. Thank you so much, Sean.

Thank you so much for having me and us K-pop club night. And yes, shout out, BibimPOP. And I'm looking forward to seeing you as well next month. Literally less than a month away. So I'll see you there. Can't wait. Bye.

All right, all right, pop Tarts. That is a wrap on this episode. I am so glad DJ Chen could join us today. Thank you so much for listening. Remember to stay tuned for the next episode and subscribe! Follow, like and share BibimPOP with Sean as a reminder about our episodes dropping. They will release once a week, most likely in the middle of the week, and I will post on social media when you can expect episodes to drop.

And also do not forget I will be announcing details for the K-pop Club Night giveaway soon, so stay tuned for that. More information will be posted to the social media channels. Make sure to follow me on those social media channels for updates @bibimpopwithsean on Instagram and YouTube and @bibimpopsean on X, formerly Twitter, and you can always check out my podcast website bibimpopwithsean.buzzsprout.com.

Thanks so much for listening to BibimPOP with Sean as you know where pop culture ate.