Before Beijing's dance scene was established, karaoke was the only option for the capital's nightlife-loving music maniacs. Fortunately, living in Beijing, it is easy to quickly catch up with new music trends. Now, dance music has gone mainstream, and whatever you call it, it is in vogue in Beijing.

From left to right: DJ Konstanze Wolf, vocalist Ninca Leece, pianist Daniel Kluge, bassist Jeruer Kluge.

"It is surprising that no one has tapped into this trend before, but we are here now, and we want to bring it to Beijing," said Jeruer Kluge, bassist of Club des Belugas.

Kluge and the three other members of Club des Belugas - pianist Daniel Kluge , DJ Konstanze Wolf and vocalist Ninca Leece - are creating waves in the European club scene. And the German group recently made their Beijing cameo for their debut live performance here.

Leading the European club scene with a unique, contemporary fusion of lounge-nujazz, Brazilian percussion and American Black Soul, Club des Belugas's chart-topping hits include Hiphip Chinchin and Gadda Rio, as well as CD of the Year 2006 Apricoo Soul and the first legal international remix of Dean Martin's Mambo Italiano.

"Combing different music styles makes us more creative," the bassist said. "You started to learn by imitating, and then you develop, create and finally have your own music."

But as they dive into the China experience for the first time, they say they are interested in getting to better know the country and its music as well.

"We get to know Chinese music by watching movies," Leece said. "Like the beautiful Peking Opera in the film Farewell to My Concubine and the stage performance by Gong Li in Zhang Yimou's Shanghai Triad. We want to put those rhythms into our music as well. We also want to work with Chinese music producers and singers."

The group was founded by Maxim Illion in 2002. So far, Club des Belugas released three albums - Caviar at 3 a.m. (2002), Minority Tunes (2003) and Apricoo Soul (2006).

They will host a CD release party for their long awaited album The Best of Club des Belugas at C entro this Friday, June 15, at Centro Bar and Lounge in The Kerry Center Hotel.

Afterwards, the group will perform live at Centro every evening from 8:30pm to 11:30pm until September 10.

Catch Club des Belugas at their CD release party at Centro bar, the Kerry Center Hotel. Call Centro Lounge at 6561-8833 Ext 42.