Showcasing new artists, writers, and musicians based in China.
Showcasing music, podcasts, performances, and other listenable material in China.
November, 2015
“I had a poetic challenge to write in the voice of someone who is very different from myself, and I picked a 70-year-old white Australian man.”
Poetry by Judith Huang
Judith Huang delivers a few pieces of her poetry at the Spittoon Poetry Night on November 22nd at Mado.
Posted Nov 25, 2015
About Judith Huang:
Judith Huang is a Singaporean writer, translator and editor. A recipient of the Foyle Young Poet of the Year Award in 2001, 2003 and 2004, her poetry has been published in journals and anthologies at home and abroad. She graduated from Harvard University in 2010, and is a member of the Signet Society of Arts and Letters. Her online portfolio can be found at www.judithhuang.com.
Loreli was able to record Judith reading two of her poems at the Spittoon Poetry Night. Spittoon meets once a month at Mado bar in Baochao hutong.
The Paper Tigers
The Paper Tigers talk to Loreli at their first gig about why they are like the United Nations...and reveal their nerdy side in the process!
Posted Nov 19, 2015
Photo by Michael Hamilton
“We just want people to fucking dance!”
About The Paper Tigers:
The Paper Tigers are Beijing's "hottest new indie rock band," and they are preparing to take China by storm. With an explosive and "danceable" sound reminiscent of The Clash and The Cure meets Block Party and The Arctic Monkeys, the band's original new music is the creation of experienced and successful musicians from four continents forged together in Beijing's booming underground scene. Hailing from China, the US, Europe, and Australia, the band's four members boast award-winning musical experience in their home countries and abroad that includes international touring experience, a swag of big name supports, high rotation radio play, film clips broadcast on national networks and record sales topping 10,000 units. Bringing that experience together in Beijing to create something new, their first packed out gig in January this year prompted a flurry of interview requests and gig offers. Having spent the past few months writing and refining their songs and live show, the band is making a highly anticipated return to the stage in the lead up to the release of their debut EP, which they plan to back up with a national tour across China.
“I’ve played in bands before where in the back of my mind I’ve had a sneaking suspicion that the songs I’ve been playing are bad songs but now I know when I play that I feel like they’re good songs and when it’s going well, it’s a good feeling.”
Macondo
Macondo talk to Loreli about being an international post-rock band with members from four different continents and how awesome their name sounds in a Columbian accent.
Posted Nov 12, 2015
Photo by Michael Hamilton
About Macondo:
Starting in 2014, Macondo is a cosmic 4 piece post rock outfit hailing from 4 continents. Their brand of music can be described as an infectious blend of hardcore, and electronic psychedelics. They are an attack on the senses, you have to watch them to experience it. Loreli caught up with them at their September 19th gig at Mao Livehouse, but sadly the Beijing music machine rocks much faster than we can keep up with and the Macondo lineup has already changed. At the time of recording, we got to hear from these guys:
Matt Byrne - Drummer (England), Sebastian Fernandez - Bass (Columbia), Gerald van Wyk - Synth (South Africa), Scott Slepicka - Guitar (United States of Minnesota)
Now, bassist Sebastian Fernandez has left the band and some guy named Fred has taken his place. Sebastian's spine-tingling Columbian pronunciation of "Macondo" will be missed but you can hear it in the interview below. You can check out the new Macondo lineup at Temple Bar on November 21st.
“I was like this is cool, I didn’t know there were bands making music in China.”
An Exit Interview with Jonathan Alpart
Jonathan Alpart, host of The Sound Stage at China Radio International, talks to Loreli about covering the Chinese rock scene and why he has decided to leave China.
Posted Nov 4, 2015
About Jonathan Alpart and The Sound Stage:
THE SOUND STAGE（音你而乐）was the world's longest-running show with an exclusive focus on Chinese underground and independent music. This program gives you a fresh and intimate perspective into the lives of a new generation of musicians as they wrestle for control of their future in a rapidly modernizing China. Oh, and the music’s fantastic! So listen up, because China is getting LOUD!
The Sound Stage was produced by Jonathan Alpart（潘佳朗）for China Radio International in Beijing, China. It was a video series of 100 episodes with each episode featuring an original music performance and interview with one band. It was also a weekly radio show broadcast on major FM stations across China - the only show in the nation dedicated to playing music of this kind.
Jonathan left China in October, but was able to give Loreli's Amy (who also happened to be Jonathan's coworker at CRI) an exit interview about his time covering the Chinese rock scene. Below you can also find an example of The Sound Stage video show. All episodes are available on YouTube.
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