Since bursting out of the D-22 scene (the generation of bands associated with the now-defunct livehouse of the same name), Da Bang have been one of Beijing’s most reliable indie acts. While they’ve changed their lineup several times over the last decade, frontwoman Pupi remains undeterred.
“Every song is created at a time when every person has their own unique energy. But that changes naturally over time,” she muses. “We just go with the flow.”
After months of jamming and rehearsing, new members Liu Shuang (guitar) and Dayang (bass) are undergoing trial under fire as Da Bang wrap up a mini national tour culminating with a hometown show at Modernsky Lab on Jan 6.
“I’m curious to see how our chemistry with the new guys will be on tour,” Pupi says. “We’re playing a lot of new songs that we haven’t recorded yet, so people can only hear them at our live shows.”
Audiences won’t turn up completely devoid of expectation, however. This new incarnation of the group has already released the single, ‘Nobody Will Live Your Life For You Except Yourself,’ which showcases a harder sound than that heard on their last release, the widely acclaimed 2012 EP, Celebrate.
“This song was the first one we created with the new guys,” Pupi explains. “[It signals] a new start, a new and simple sound with a simple truth: Nobody will live your life for you except yourself. You need no reference – you can be anything you want to be.”
It’s an attitude that Da Bang have carried throughout their career. Initially named A Bigger Bang, the then dance-punk group’s ferocious live shows earned early accolades like a Red Bull Music Award, a record deal with Modern Sky and sponsored tours of Hong Kong and Taiwan.
While their music has evolved over time, the band retained an adventurous spirit while touring Europe for the first time last year.
“It was awesome,” Pupi says. “We played to thousands at one of the biggest music festivals in Barcelona. We also performed at a restaurant in the countryside of France where we had to stop playing because the next-door neighbor – an old man in his pajamas – ran on stage, took my microphone and said ‘too loud!’ in French.”
The singer hopes to return to Europe and promises a longer national tour after the group release their next album.
“We now have enough songs,” she promises. “After this tour, we will get down and deal with the details. I think [the record] will come out this year.”
While Pupi laughs at the idea of being an elder statesman for the wenqing, or hipster, generation (“that term doesn’t mean anything to me”), she admits that Beijing’s music scene has changed drastically since Da Bang first emerged.
“The market is growing crazily but the scene is getting boring,” she says. “When we started, there was a lot of cooperation between artists in music, art and design. These days in Beijing, it’s hard to talk about things without money. There are more opportunities but also more limits.”
Fri Jan 6, 8.30pm; RMB100 (advance), RMB120 (door); Modernsky Lab.
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