Die! Die! Die! 来！来！来！Hold the press, New Zealand noise-rock / post-punk trio Die! Die! Die! are returning to China for the first time in five years for a ten date tour!
It’s a sweltering Thursday afternoon here in Chengdu and I am still nursing a strained neck induced by overly aggressive head banging at the first annual Punkfest CDC 成都朋克音乐节 at Morning House 早上好 last weekend. Speaking of overly aggressive head banging and sweatiness…
Die! Die! Die! are such a great band. Their live show is an almost cathartic experience, the relentless thrashing and collision of flying bodies, the unpredictability of vocalist/guitarist Andrew Wilson as to when he will careen off stage. Just thinking about Michael Prain’s drum intro to A.T.T.I.T.U.D. makes me feel like sporadically pogoing into people.
The band first toured China back in 2011 with Tom from This Town Touring, paving the way into the unknown for other NZ acts to follow. This time, with London-import Rory Attwell (Test Icicles) on bass duties, the band will be brought over by Beijing-based punk tour overlord Nevin Domer from Genjing Records and Maybe Mars for ten dates across Taipei, Hong Kong and the Mainland.
With the new high speed rail from Guiyang to Chengdu making things possible, the Die! Die! Die! train is storming west to play Guiyang, Chengdu and Chongqing, plus the main southern and eastern centres! YEAH!!
DIE! DIE! DIE! CHINA TOUR 2016
09/07 (WED)
Revolver, Taipei Support: Slack Tide, Wayne’s So Sad NT500 (presale and student price) / NT600 (at door)
09/08 (THU)
Focal Fair, Hong Kong
Support: SECTS, The Bollands
150 HKD
What do Nova Heart and Hedgehog have in common? They’re both from Beijing and both have Shi Lu 石璐aka Atom as the driving force on drums!
Kiwese got the chance to ask Atom a few questions about what it’s like being a drummer in two of Beijing’s most well-loved indie bands.
Atom playing with Hedgehog. Image from Creative Asia.
KIWESE: Hey Atom! How did you first join Nova Heart in 2012? It seems like the band has known each other for a long time, and you used to play with Box in Hedgehog [刺猬乐队].
ATOM: Yep, Box and I were good partners in Hedgehog. I was initially part of a special Nova Heart concert in 2012 and was really shocked and surprised by them. I love electronic and synthesizer music so much, and there weren’t many bands like them in Beijing at the time – if there were, they were all 80s new wave or experimental.
“There is some dark and sunken evil power within Nova Heart. I immediately fell in love with their music and can’t rid myself of it.”
Can you tell me about the electronic equipment you use in Nova Heart? How has using electronics with the drum kit changed your performance style?
I use a DAW [digital audio workstation] live on my Mac and a Nord drum pad for some songs. It’s different from playing drum sets in a rock band – I have to listen to the click in my monitor earphone when I play in order to be precise and steady. If it’s not exact, you will hear the kick drum sound like a short delay or double rhythm, which is awful, isn’t it?
When I see Nova Heart performing, you all look like you are having so much fun! What are your most memorable moments from touring with Nova Heart?
There are a lot of funny moments touring with Nova Heart. The last stop on this tour was in Wuhan. Before we got ready, I rushed to the stage and asked our guitarist: “Yan Shuai, are you feeling ready?” He replied: “Wow! There is so much distance between the stage and life! I was digging mud from my toe in a hotel ten minutes ago, but now I’m like a rock star standing on the stage!”
Atom playing with Nova Heart at Yugong Yishan. Image from Live Beijing Music.
I remember during another show, Box had some trouble with his bass, so the rest of us played a jam. But then there were some electronic problems, so we began to send some signals and waveforms to communicate with the aliens. I started a drum beat first, Yan Shuai came in with some outer space guitar effects and solos. Then Helen started to sing. I really adore her jam ability, she is like a colourful beautiful feather, floating lightly in space, smoothly in every and any direction.
You have recorded seven studio albums with Hedgehog, what was it like recording the new Nova Heart album 《新星的心》with Italian producer Rodion at Wong Studios Berlin?
Very different. I have never recorded an album like《新星的心》. Rodion let me play a whole song first, then try to play another rhythm with a different picture and emotion in my imagination. Then he cut and mix the different parts into a whole new song. I was so surprised when I finally listened to our song after it had been mixed. It’s unbelievably creative. The feeling is fresh and wonderful!
I thought it was amusing that the Red Bull poster on stage said “新能力” (New Talent) when you guys have been performing in bands for like ten years. In saying that, are there any new bands you’ve seen this year that have particularly impressed you?
You mean Chinese bands? I like The Big Wave [大波浪]. They are quite young but powerful, insane and have loads of potential. Sometimes I play drum pad as a guest for them.
How do you balance your commitments to both Nova Heart and Hedgehog?
I’m so interested in playing music, I think it’s easy to being a musician in two bands. I have energy to play in other bands, more bands even, and have a lot of other things to do.
WATCH: Interview with Atom in 2008 for SexyBeijingTV
What advice do you have for young, aspiring musicians in China and New Zealand?
Do what you want to do, follow your heart from beginning to end, trust yourself all the time, and your love will set you free.
Feel the sweat-dripping, head thrashing angst of post-punk/experimental local heroes P.K.14 and Die! Die! Die!
>>>>>P.K.14 formed in Nanjing in 1997 during the Rotten Generation movement. Their permanent move to Beijing in 2001 and regular slots at D-22 could be said to have sparked the rite-of-passage pilgrimage to the capital that has seen the Beijing music scene grow over the past few decades. Frontman Yang Haisong 杨海崧, who is the only remaining founding member, leads the formidable quartet of guitarist Xu Bo许波, bassist Shi Xudong 施旭东 and drummer Jonathan Leijonhufvud with their dance-inducing, razor sharp rock music laden with the flying saliva of disillusioned youth and urban life.
Check out their albums 上楼就往左拐 Upstairs, Turn Left (2001), 谁谁谁和谁谁谁 Whoever and Whoever (2004), 白皮书 White Paper (2005), 城市天气的航行 City Weather Sailing (2008) and last year’s incredible 1984 (2013), arguably their finest album to date, to see why P.K.14 are often hailed as the most influential, enduring, ground breaking indie band in China. P.K.14 are signed to Maybe Mars and are part of the Tenzenmen whanau.
Check out this Vice piece on them, includes interviews and subtitles.
Video for ‘Behind All Ruptures’ from City Weather Sailing (2008)
‘1984 II’ live at Yugong Yishan in 2012!
>>>>>Die! Die! Die!are about as abrasive as the name suggests. They are a three-piece noise-pop/post-punk/hardcore band from Dunedin, Aotearoa, the home of Flying Nun, their former label. Guitarist and vocalist Andrew Wilson and drummer Michael Prain are the original members of the band, while Michael Logie (formerly of the Mint Chicks, F in Math) has been onboard as bassist since 2012. I’ve seen them a bunch of times over the years and they never fail to put on a fucking incredible show.
A.T.T.I.T.U.D!! Live in 2008. From the band’s Facebook.
Big Stage at Campus A Low Hum 2010, the first time I saw Die! Die! Die!
Video for ‘Crystal’ off their upcoming album S W I M, out 15 August!
Their first release, Die! Die! Die! EP (2005) was followed by the full length album in 2006, along with Locust Weeks EP (2006) in the same year. The band have toured relentlessly through Europe and the US with the albums Promises, Promises (2008), Form (2010) and Harmony (2012), with another tour lined up for S W I M, which is set to be released on 15 August.
Die! Die! Die! L-R: Michael Prain, Andrew Wilson, Michael Logie. From their Facebook.
P.K.14 and Die! Die! Die! have a link through the notorious, now defunct D-22 in Beijing!
Die! Die! Die! were one of the first Kiwi bands to officially tour China, back in 2011 with the help of Tom Matessi from This Town Touring.
