Orchestra of Spheres in China | EP. 1 Beijing

 in It’s finally here… Beijing, baby! In the first instalment of our five-part China tour series, Orchestra of Spheres reunite with Lady Lazer Light in Beijing and wreak havoc at School Bar, Temple Bar and Brother’s BBQ Tribe in Feijiacun. For those who prefer Vimeo, click here! Featuring interviews with Nevin Domer of Genjing Records,ContinueContinue reading “Orchestra of Spheres in China | EP. 1 Beijing”

The Rise and Demise of Morning Bar 早上好

Rumours have been circulating for months now, but the demolition of Morning Bar 早上好 on Minzhu Lu has finally become a reality. Kiwese looks back on the old venue and forward to the new, ahead of Chunyou 春游 2016 this weekend. When people ask where I learned to speak Chinese, there are two truths – I studied at Victoria University of Wellington, BeijingContinueContinue reading “The Rise and Demise of Morning Bar 早上好”

Jams at Submarine Bar

There are plenty of places that run weekly/spontaneous jam sessions in Chengdu. Submarine Bar down in Yulin is one of them. Here’s a little ditty I shot and edited for the buddies down at Submarine Bar last night. The chick in the hat was doing an acoustic singer-songwriter type thing early on, then as the night grewContinueContinue reading “Jams at Submarine Bar”

Lady Lazer Light Casts A Spell Over China: Interview with Erica Sklenars

Wellington! 惠灵顿! Erica Sklenars a.k.a. Lady Lazer Light is in the capital this week for two talks about her art residency in Beijing and touring with Orchestra of Spheres around China. Kiwese caught up with her ahead of tonight’s first talk! The last Lady Lazer Light show I saw before moving back to China was in collaboration with long time pals OrchestraContinueContinue reading “Lady Lazer Light Casts A Spell Over China: Interview with Erica Sklenars”

The Biggest Losar: Solo Travels to Larung Gar

It was a fairly sudden decision to travel to Larung Gar Buddhist Academy in Garze, Western Sichuan, for Chinese New Year, informed by the news there would be no tutoring for a week. “What are you planning for Spring Festival?” I asked on a Tuesday over dinner at my student’s house. “Actually, we’re going to Lhasa.” ChopsticksContinueContinue reading “The Biggest Losar: Solo Travels to Larung Gar”

Responding to Brian Rudman’s Push for More Nationalism and Less Dragons

Yesterday a friend of Kiwese sent through this opinion piece: ‘Why focus on other cultures and not our own?’ by NZ Herald columnist Brian Rudman. I eyeballed it somewhat carefully – any article that opens with possessive pronouns around culture and a cartoon dragon engulfing a white, flag-waving, Fred Dagg figure in a wife beater warrants several deep breaths through theContinueContinue reading “Responding to Brian Rudman’s Push for More Nationalism and Less Dragons”

Food Cravings: Wellington Edition

Summer in Aotearoa, Winter in China… It’s around this time each year, Kiwese gets homesick for the beach, friends and whanau, and home food… Don’t get me wrong, I love the food in Chengdu. But sometimes, it’s like faaa I’d smash a potato top pie… From what I’ve heard, the food landscape of Wellington has changed a lot over theContinueContinue reading “Food Cravings: Wellington Edition”

Losing My Shit Over Polyswagg

Earth has borne witness to unstoppable forces of nature – earthquakes, volcanos, hurricanes and The Royal Family. TW: extreme fangirling Crowns UP! The Royal Family are so fucking badass. I’m hooked. Tautoko these bitches all day – literally. Maybe a little too literally… For the past 48 hours I’ve been on a very real YouTube marathonContinueContinue reading “Losing My Shit Over Polyswagg”