Founded by singer Qiu Ye, Chinese rock band Zi Yue is returning after a lengthy hiatus with a stop in the capital. Translating directly to “Confucius says,” Zi Yue first formed in Beijing in 1994 and since then have left an undeniable impression on the Chinese rock scene, bringing an innovative take on the genre with their blend of Western rock influences and traditional Chinese folk elements. We catch up with Qiu Ye before the band's special performance at Tango on March 2.
That's: Thanks for taking the time to talk with us! We'll get right to it. You're coming back from a hiatus, with Zi Yue's last tour in 2015. What has the band been up to since then?
QY: From 2015? Not too much. We took a break because Zi Yue has always been a representative of non-mainstream music and I felt that we were being marginalized by the market so I wasn't very active in seeking other business opportunities and cooperations. The band didn’t develop and grow as usual. In the past two years, I mainly just tidied up my physical condition and regular life. I was happy doing some boring things and enjoyed myself for a while.
What made you decide to start touring again? What are you most looking forward to?
This year, after recovering a little, I have the desire to get back on stage to express some accumulated emotion. The most important thing is to be able to build a very good band. With the support and help of the performance company we're working with, all of us musicians have been brought together and are getting back into performing.
You formed in Beijing in 1994. What would you say has changed most about the rock scene here since you first started?
It's frustrating. I don't really like nostalgia because I think it's a sign of aging, but as a musician, it's hard to surprise the market these days. The excessive pursuit of commercialization has corroded a large number of young musicians. It seems that the roar of rock has been exhausted. It's no longer as bold and independent as it was then, and there is not as much creative freedom. I think the next big genre here will be hip-hop.
Do you find yourself looking to the past or embracing the present state of the music industry?
I like to be part of a live band because of its humanization. I'm a classic musician. Nowadays, most music is made by machines, which have no soul. A computer has no originality. In my opinion, most new music is just a pleasant sensory stimulation, and there are few works with truly genuine expression. It's all about the needs of the market and the market is the killer of imagination. I think creativity is gradually fading.
You have two full-length albums under your belt, the last one being released in 2002. You've also released your own annual track at the end of every year since 2006. Do you see any bigger projects on the horizon for Zi Yue in the future?
The annual track has become somewhat of a diary. It's kind of like homework for myself. It's a non-commercial activity that is a reflection of the times and changes that I have experienced in the past year. As for the future, we want to make every effort to create an unforgettable stage presence for Zi Yue and continue to perform.
You're returning with a special performance in Beijing. What can audiences expect from your much-anticipated show at Tango?
I hope this show can rekindle the passion of the past and present in many different ways to the audience. It has both retrospect and prospect. It's moving and lively music. I hope that everyone can enjoy something unique brought by Zi Yue.
Sat Mar 2, 8pm; RMB180 (presale), RMB220 (door), RMB388 (VIP); Tango, see event listing. Buy tickets here.
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