New TV show tunes into success

The reality show, The Big Band, which premiered in the summer of 2019 gave indie bands their chance to shine. Produced by the online streaming platform iQiyi, it showcased more than 30 bands, both established and new.

For music lovers, it was an unforgettable summer.

After its successful first season, the show continued to wow fans with its second season, which broadcast in the summer of 2020. Though the coronavirus pandemic forced many outdoor music festivals and live shows to be canceled, fans still enjoyed indie music by following the show.

With the summer in full swing, fans were disappointed when the reality show was canceled this year.

However, a new reality show came on board, which may compensate for the disappointment.

Strawberry Man, a reality show launched by Modern Sky, premiered on July 16 at online streaming platform Youku. Gathering 24 indie rock bands, the show gathers veteran singer-songwriters, including rapper GAI, whose real name is Zhou Yan, Zhang Bichen, Jam Hsiao and songwriter and producer Zhang Yadong, among the judging panel.

The audiences also have votes, and winners will be able to perform on the main stage of Strawberry Music Festival, one of China's largest outdoor music events, which was launched in 2009 by Modern Sky.

One of the biggest differences between The Big Band and Strawberry Man is that all the 24 indie rock bands are relatively new.

"I hope that all the new bands will pass the old bands," says Shen Lihui, founder of Modern Sky. The former rock singer-songwriter of Chinese rock band, Sober, founded the music company in 1997, hoping to use it as a way to distribute the music of his friends and his own band. More than two decades later, the company has expanded into an international label with hundreds of staff members, and is home to more than 300 artists and bands. It has offices in New York, London and Berlin, besides its headquarters in Beijing.

The Strawberry Music Festival has been held in 29 Chinese cities, and attracted more than 6 million people. Most, 86 percent, of them are people born after 1990. Modern Sky held nine outdoor music festivals across the country from October to December 2020, which drew 160,000 people.

The bands draw lots to decide their turns to battle. Beijing-based rock band Summer Vapour opened the reality show by competing with Peace Hotel, a band from Anhui province.

"We are a young band with our own voices. When we begin to perform onstage, the audiences soon get our vibe," says bassist Yu Jingsheng of Summer Vapour.

"As a songwriter, I write songs which provide the audiences with an immersive experience. Our songs are full of stories," adds the leading vocalist Licy.

The band, formed in 2019, performed their original song, A Little Hill, in the reality show, which captivated fans with their retro dream pop style.

The seven-member band, Yi Shi, stood out from the bands with their unique style of combining rock music with traditional Chinese folk musical instruments, such as suona, gong and drum.

The band's founder and leading vocalist You Miao formed the band along with bassist Lin Quanhong in 2010 and they perform their songs in the Sichuan dialect.

"We've been performing as a band for 10 years though we haven't achieved any fame yet," says You, who is also a veterinarian. "We started with only two people and now we have seven members, who make our sounds colorful and expressive."

Other highlights include Titian, a rock band consisting of the leading vocalist Alip from the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and two Italian musicians: guitarist Armen and drummer Cecche, and Wuhan punk rock band Happy Wheel.

Alip has gained a fan base as the former leading vocalist of rock band, Bear Biscuit. In 2019, he met Armen and Cecche.

"It's interesting to have two young men of my age, who come from a different part of the world, share my ideas about music," says Alip.

"It's exciting to have many new bands in the show. Some of them have not signed to any labels while some are still working on their debut albums. They need the platform to be seen and to showcase their talent," says Ge Fei, CEO and founder of Beijing-based music company, Cao Tai Music, which is home to bands, such as jazz and pop duo Mr Miss.

"The diverse music style of the bands really impressed me. They are young and try to express themselves with their own ideas, which makes their music creative," says songwriter and producer Zhang Yadong, who also was among the judges of the reality show, The Big Band. "There are lots of things for them to learn, such as keeping on writing new original material and working with other people to broaden their visions. I hope that they never lose their passion for music though many of them may have to take on other jobs to afford their lives."