Meet Andrew Bull, aka DJ El Toro, a Hong Kong and Shanghai club legend for over 50 years. Originally from the UK, he's known for seamlessly blending London disco with cutting-edge electronic beats. From iconic venues like The Scene to founding Canton Disco, Andrew's influence is unmatched. Recently honored by Studio 54's Ian Schrager, he continues to captivate audiences worldwide with his dynamic sets. Now, he's part of an exciting new project, "The Aubrey After Dark," celebrating Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong's 60th anniversary, where Andrew collaborates with other nightlife visionaries.

 
HKclubbing: Hello Andrew, could you tell us more about The Aubrey After Dark concept?

Andrew: The Aubrey After Dark mission is to open The Aubrey up to a dancefloor-friendly crowd on Fridays and to forge a unique link between classic Hong Kong nightlife – and Mandarin Oriental’s historic part in it – and the world of up-to-the-minute international glamour tribes and emerging global creative trends.

HKclubbing: With Cosmo Webber as the curator in residence, how did both of you connect and come together for the project?

Andrew: Cosmo and I have known each other for a long time. During my Canton Disco World Tour in London last summer, Cosmo 'warmed up' for my DJ set at the Martinez Bar in Soho. That experience gave me a glimpse into what Cosmo and his crew are about and showcased Cosmo's deep connection with the evolving global party scene. My immediate thought at the time was that we needed this energy in Hong Kong and Shanghai in the post-Covid landscape, so when this opportunity at the Mandarin came up, partnering with  was an obvious choice.

HKclubbing: What inspired you to put together such a program for The Aubrey?

Andrew: After being introduced to Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong by Jeff "Teng Boon" Cheah of Music Styling, I was tasked with creating a vibrant Friday night party solution for The Aubrey. The Aubrey After Dark program, the direction, and the team we’ve assembled stem from that initial brief.

HKclubbing: Can you explain the type of music direction we should expect for each night?

Andrew: Cosmo Webber is skillfully curating our music direction with the vision to deliver a fresh sound for Hong Kong in 2024. With DJs being brought into Hong Kong regularly from the States and Europe, expect a mix of classic sounds and emerging genres that, in many cases, might defy categorization. The main answer to the ‘what kind of music to expect at The Aubrey’ question is what it will NOT be: overtly commercial, EDM-type material. Our guests at The Aubrey After Dark may expect some house and disco genres ‘all the way through to the more ‘get up and boogie’ tech-house grooves. The range of music provides something for everyone to enjoy and discover.

For specifics on our current confirmed 24th & 31st May line-ups, you may deep dive here:  

HANK KORSAN  - MAY 24TH 
SKINNY MACHO - MAY 31st 

HKclubbing:With the launch on the 24th May 2024, how frequent and for how long will the series go on Fridays?

Andrew: Rather than ‘a series’ of events, The Aubrey After Dark program represents a long-term upgrade to ‘nightlife mode’ for The Aubrey venue that is intended to become a regular, dazzling feature of Hong Kong’s nightlife scene. Sitting atop the iconic Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong has never been a bad option at any time in history. With The Aubrey After Dark now launching on Friday evenings, this hallowed location proves itself yet again as a true beacon of Hong Kong fabulousness re-invented.

HKclubbing: With Hank Korsan and Skinny Macho already confirmed on the schedule, can you share with us the full schedule and dates?

Andrew: All I can tell you is our core in-house team of Andrew Bull, Cosmo Webber, and Marina Bullivant are hard at work curating some serious DJ bookings, musical collaborations, glittering events, and happenings - all packed with ‘wow-factor’ for The Aubrey’s coming Fridays. Make sure you connect with The Aubrey on all social media channels, so you don’t miss out on any announcements going forward.

HKclubbing: What Hong Kong DJs have you got planned for each of the Friday nights? Will you be spinning for us too?

Andrew: As DJ El Toro, I am contracted to play every Friday with Cosmo Webber as The Aubrey After Dark backbone DJ team. You can expect established and up-and-coming local and international DJs and performances to be carefully curated to play alongside us every single Friday. Negotiations are still ongoing, so there are no specific names to share with you yet, but do expect the unexpected! Each Friday’s line-up will be published a week in advance, at which time our table bookings and reservations will also open.

(Photo Credits: PR Company)