Review: Hiperson – Live at Zhenghuo, Chengdu

Review: Hiperson – Live at Zhenghuo Art Space, Chengdu Saturday 25 October 2020 *** There’s something special about seeing a local band play a packed out show on home turf, and in Chengdu, few are more beloved than five-piece rock band Hiperson 海朋森. The atmosphere surrounding Hiperson’s homecoming show in Chengdu last Saturday was suitablyContinueContinue reading “Review: Hiperson – Live at Zhenghuo, Chengdu”

Hiperson Reconstruct Narratives on Bildungsroman

On their third full-length album Bildungsroman, released last month via Beijing tastemakers Maybe Mars—Hiperson’s incisive, kinetic reconstructions of post-punk, art rock and noise manifest with bright, new sonic self-awareness. “We want to discuss the urgency of now,” says Chen Sijiang, lead singer of Hiperson. We’re sitting in the courtyard of Yishan, a long-running retro antiquesContinueContinue reading “Hiperson Reconstruct Narratives on Bildungsroman”

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”

From Dog to Pig

Happy New Year everyone. Chinese New Year feels like a grace period, a second shot at beginning again. All the shops are closed, the streets are empty. It’s as if the past hazy month since New Year’s was actually just a gaping hole in the space time continuum which gets miraculously gobbled up into theContinueContinue reading “From Dog to Pig”

2017年4月4日|百鬼夜行 100 SPIRITS

100 SPIRITS draws near. In the dark night of Tuesday 4 April, this beastly display of souls will be unleashed!! For one night only, the ancient tomb of Jah Bar will mutate into a crazed crypt crawling with ghosts, as the stage alter is graced by five of Chengdu’s most forward-thinking and innovative live acts.ContinueContinue reading “2017年4月4日|百鬼夜行 100 SPIRITS”

Far Out Distant Sounds in New Zealand: Interview with Ricky Maymi

Owing to the wondrous power of the innernette, I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Ricky Maymi for a few years now. Known to many as guitarist of the notoriously volatile Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Imajinary Friends, Maymi is also synonymous with the promotion of Chinese indie rock abroad, specifically the Beijing bands that emerged inContinueContinue reading “Far Out Distant Sounds in New Zealand: Interview with Ricky Maymi”

Favourite Releases 2016

The other day, while sunbathing on the lawn of a Melrose flat, my friend and I began thinking about the diminishing human element involved in post-internet music consumption. When I was at high school, I basically lived at Slow Boat Records and Real Groovy – music havens where I’d browse for hours, listen to CD posts, purchase records, get recommendationsContinueContinue reading “Favourite Releases 2016”

Favourite Gigs 2016

Construction and redevelopment has seen Chengdu’s cultural landscape (read: the places we go to drink alcohol and listen to music) change dramatically. But as old places close and new ones emerge, great shows from bands, performers, DJs and collectives continue to entertain and inspire. Along with the loss of Bowie, Prince and George Michael, we lost manyContinueContinue reading “Favourite Gigs 2016”