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Discovering a brand new voice
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-07-18 08:09
Escaping the bubble of cheesy Chinese pop and cover band songs, Shanghai's music scene is looking to get more in sync with the city's growing international flavor. Years of Western influence are increasingly visible in pockets across Shanghai in the form of live rock, punk, heavy metal, jazz and soul music, giving new life to the underground music scene. Local ex-pats are leading the Western music front by adding modern flair and rhythm to the city beat. Meanwhile, Chinese musicians continue to evolve outside the world of Mandarin pop, embracing music from the West and integrating these styles with their own to create fresh sounds in the city. Having released their debut album Dashijie (named after a Line 8 metro station) two months ago, Shanghai ex-pat band Monroe Stahr - made up of artists from Italy, Hungary, Ecuador and the United States - described Shanghai as something of an open keyboard. "It's all just beginning," said lead vocalist and guitarist Nicky Almasy. "Everything is new and fresh, and we have an opportunity to shape the scene and be a part of it." "Places like the US and the UK have already developed their music scenes," he added. "But here, there aren't a lot of pop-rock bands, so there really is a chance to make it." Being in Shanghai also gives the group a shot at some of the more developed Asian markets, like Japan. And as the city's scene continues to mature, it could eventually lead to opportunities on the world stage, he said. African-American soul singer Lucius Clark looks at Shanghai as a musical stomping ground that is giving him the chance to be a solo artist instead of just a backup singer in the United States. "Shanghai is still growing so much and that is the best thing," said the 26-year-old from Mississippi. "You get to bring your own stuff to the stage and they welcome you." "When you come to a city like Shanghai, which is still developing its scene, it makes you want to do your best, blaze a trail, be the guy who sings soul music - and it's all part of that feeling of creating something new." But pushing ahead in a scene that is still trying to define itself is not without challenges. "The plan is to have a band here and lay down the basics, and maybe even be a pioneer rock group (in Shanghai)," said Almasy. "There is definitely a market for it, but it's very hard to sell at the moment." Branding a larger scene in China is also tough. Concert promoter Steve Sybesma from the United States knows this well. He started bringing Western music concerts to China five years ago with his company China West, but was forced to shut down when profits flat-lined due to lack of demand. "It's difficult to find international artists that are well-enough known in China to sell tickets," he said. "There are only a handful of them." With less than 20 international music stars making appearances in China every year, it is a hard market, especially when big names like Kylie Minogue and Kanye West failed to fill stadiums earlier this year. Nonetheless Chinese audiences are growing and it is not just the ex-pat population supporting such shows. Successful concerts have seen Chinese make up about 40 percent of the demographic, said Sybesma. The key lies in being selective regarding future concerts, he said, adding that popular artists such as Norah Jones, James Blunt, Black Eyed Peas, The Roots, Ziggy Marley and Linkin Park all did well with their China tours. "The scene has advanced, but not as much as I would have liked for it to have," said Sybesma, who now heads up a new arm of concert promotion at Ato Ato Integrated Media, a Chinese production company. "Still, it has come a long way," he added. "You can now find a pretty good variety of Western music here, and it's not just Mariah Carey anymore." "It's still a niche market, and it will be for a long time, but young people are accepting more Western music, or looking for alternatives to Mandarin pop music, so that shows that a lot of influences are coming in." Another sign of change is Pepsi's Voice of the Next Generation (baishi qunyin), a Chinese band variety show that launched just weeks ago in Shanghai under Ato Ato. Auditions for the contest, which offers a recording contract in the United States, saw 6,000 bands turn up, most of which weren't Mandarin pop bands, but more rebellious rock, punk, heavy metal and hip-hop groups. Since John Denver first hit the Chinese airwaves in 1984, the country has begun opening its ears to Western music. A major milestone was reached when the Rolling Stones were welcomed to China after the SARS epidemic blew over in 2006. However there are limits, as evidenced by the paucity of venues featuring live shows in Shanghai. These are restricted to a few spots like Yuyintang or Live Bar (xinchang), which can be compared to New York City's CBGB, and a handful of bars with live acts such as LOgO and JZ Club. But every little bit counts, according to local music critic Fei Qiang. The 38-year-old believes Western influences are positively transforming Shanghai's music scene. "The biggest contribution from Western musicians, from those who tour China and those who live here, is the cultural exchange they provide," he said. "It helps local artists gain techniques and gather or settle on a style of their own." "They first learn by mimicking these Western musicians," he added. "Then later they use what they have picked up and tailor whatever works best to fit their music." One such product of the city's burgeoning East meets West vocals is Chinese musician Coco Zhao. The 32-year-old from Hunan province has a respectable following in Shanghai, owing in large part to his unique blend of Western jazz and Chinese musical elements. But audiences took time to warm to Zhao and his music. He said Shanghai still needs more time to adjust. "As Shanghai gets more international, people are realizing there isn't just one way of being, they are seeing there is more than one way - and that same concept applies to music," he said. "Everything has to go forward like this, and if you believe in it then there is always hope." (China Daily 07/18/2009 page1) |
