“I love this city, the hills, the harbour, thewind that blasts through it. I lovethe life and pulse and activity, and thewarm decrepitude … there’s always an edgehere that one must walk which is sharpand precarious, requiring vigilance.”- Patricia Grace Raymond is standing at the Courtenay Place bus stop with a box of KFC. It’sContinueContinue reading “chips and four spicy wings”
Category Archives: Speak
Farewell, Steam Hostel
After nearly a decade as the go-to, late-night hangout for musicians, artists and travelers alike, Chengdu’s beloved bar and venue Steam Hostel has closed its doors for the last time. Another one bites the dust — Steam is the latest casualty to fall to the pressure of prolonged business closures and wilting tourism, just weeksContinueContinue reading “Farewell, Steam Hostel”
COVID-19: Uncertainty for the Music Scene As China Reawakens
As China’s new reported COVID-19 cases begin to flatline, cities are finally reawakening after state enforced lockdown since Chinese New Year. But as restrictions lift and the country returns to its usual programming, the future remains uncertain for artists, venues, organizers and audiences alike. “Aren’t you scared?” asked the check-in staff at Auckland Airport. ItContinueContinue reading “COVID-19: Uncertainty for the Music Scene As China Reawakens”
Thoughts on “Blackholes Are Gathering: A Sonic Journey Through China”
A guiding principle of Chinese philosophy is the Yin and Yang — the opposites of Lightness and Darkness. When things reach their most extreme, they start to decline. Likewise when we are at our lowest, we begin to rise. The Hag will always Re-Hag. Adrift in the hectic sequence of conscious and unconscious fragments transmittedContinueContinue reading “Thoughts on “Blackholes Are Gathering: A Sonic Journey Through China””
Is the Chengdu music scene being boiled alive?
For the most part of my days, I do music. I feel incredibly lucky to live in a place where I can run events, play in shows, tour bands, go to gigs, jam with friends, and write about it. In saying that, over the past year, the changes in the way the music scene hasContinueContinue reading “Is the Chengdu music scene being boiled alive?”
angsty rant disguised as poem
This is a poem scrawled in my journal from the upper berth of a hard sleeper carriage aboard the Kunming-Chengdu slow train on 1 February 2015. There are Times There are times when China gets all a bit much. There are times when you just need to get on a train and go 21 hours, in the oppositeContinueContinue reading “angsty rant disguised as poem”
Kiwese on Radio New Zealand
This morning I was interviewed by Jesse Mulligan at Radio New Zealand, you can hear the whole thing here: The Expats: Kristen Ng in Chengdu, China. Though the word “expat” kind of makes me cringe. It brings to mind rich white people who live in private compounds, send their children to expensive international schools and only socialise with otherContinueContinue reading “Kiwese on Radio New Zealand”
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”
KIWESE 