Put down your screens: Interview with Liang Yi from Stolen

Ever find yourself wasting time by mindlessly scrolling through an endless stream of images ?  Disillusioned by the modern obsession with digital documentation, Chengdu post-punk/cold-wave band Stolen 秘密行动 are touring their new EP Stealing Our Lenses《我们遗失的视角》, which might make you think twice about updating your Instagram in the middle of a gig. Kiwese caught up with frontman Liang Yi 梁艺 earlier this week for aContinueContinue reading “Put down your screens: Interview with Liang Yi from Stolen”

Zaomengshe Turns 1: Interview with Lydia McAulay

While the Chinese Government plaster the streets with images of the ‘Chinese Dream’ 中国梦, there are quite different dreams being conjured in the belly of the Chengdu underground. Zaomengshe.com 造梦社 is crowd funding website that provides a platform for the local creative community. Co-founder and Marmite enthusiast Lydia McAulay came over for a cuppa to talk about the website’s one year anniversary. The music scene in Chengdu is probably the mainContinueContinue reading “Zaomengshe Turns 1: Interview with Lydia McAulay”

Not just a girl band: Interview with Ming Ming from The Hormones

It’s that time of the month! Local Chengdu indie-rock band the Hormones 荷尔蒙小姐乐队 will kick off their first ever national tour tonight at Little Bar 小酒馆. Bassist and lyricist Ming Ming 明明 invited me over for dinner to talk about vengeful elephants in Yunnan, menstrual cycles on tour and the new EP. The Hormones 荷尔蒙小姐乐队, are a five-piece indie-rock band fromContinueContinue reading “Not just a girl band: Interview with Ming Ming from The Hormones”

Some TING! 听 #005 Terror of the Deep & Mr. Graceless

For a healthy dose of guitar-jangling, tambourine-shaking vibes, crank up the volume with Wellington’s own Terror of the Deep and Mr. Graceless from Beijing. >>>>>Terror of the Deep are an unsigned three-occasionally-four-piece band from the bakery paradise of Newtown, consisting of guitarist/lead vocalist Oliver Dixon, bassist Taipua Adams, drummer William Daymond and Tom Watson (Head Like a Hole, Cassette, Lawrence Arabia)ContinueContinue reading “Some TING! 听 #005 Terror of the Deep & Mr. Graceless”

The 75th Anniversary of Chinese War Refugees in New Zealand

Seventy five years ago, 239 women and 244 children fled the brutal Japanese invasion of Canton and made their way to New Zealand; marking the beginning Chinese family settlement in Aotearoa. Kiwese spoke with Helen Wong from the New Zealand Chinese Association to find out more. Hi Helen! What’s your family’s story in New Zealand? My family are from Jung Seng (nowContinueContinue reading “The 75th Anniversary of Chinese War Refugees in New Zealand”

Don’t Wah Lee, Be Happy: Interview with Barry Wah Lee

Established in 1904, the iconic Asian goods emporium Wah Lees has been around longer than Pineapple Lumps or Marmite (NZ). Kiwese caught up with Barry Wah Lee at the counter of his red and yellow shop to talk about the ongoing challenges facing independent food and Chinese medicine retailers. Hey Barry! The store front says Wah Lees was established in 1904, that mustContinueContinue reading “Don’t Wah Lee, Be Happy: Interview with Barry Wah Lee”

High Fiving the All Seeing Hand: Interview with Jonny Marks

KC Cafe is fucking delicious. So I was stoked when experimental vocalist Jonny Marks of The All Seeing Hand was keen to meet over some mapo tofu 麻婆豆腐, and talk about how he honed his throat singing technique Inner Mongolia. Hey Jonny! What have you been up to lately? (note: this interview took place last month) Hey! We’re currentlyContinueContinue reading “High Fiving the All Seeing Hand: Interview with Jonny Marks”

The Literary Blossom: Interview with Renee Liang

Last month, I managed to catch up with poet, playwright, paediatrician and mother of two Renee Liang while she was in Wellington on locum at Hutt Hospital. Juggling a baby, a chocolate cake and a multi-faceted career, we commenced. Hey Renee! The Chinese name your Yeh Yeh (paternal grandfather) gave you was ‘Literary Blossom,’ as opposedContinueContinue reading “The Literary Blossom: Interview with Renee Liang”