In Shenzhen’s original music scene, post-rock bands appear like the city’s skyscrapers: slow buildup with an epic conclusion. Yet only one of them is just women: the demure Salty Air.
Made up of guitarists Iris He and Patty Zhuang, bassist Jane Ye and (the perhaps misnamed) String Chen on the drums, Salty Air met through mutual friends and connected over their love of post-rock. They formed in August of 2014, intentionally as an all-girl band. Some might call it gimmicky, others daring in a male-dominated world. We asked He to expound on the band’s process, name and aspirations in anticipation of their upcoming set at the Honey Lake Music Festival.
Why did you choose the name Salty Air?
As a coastal city, Shenzhen’s air feels moist and salty, and post-rock music makes us think about the sea – vast and quiet. Salty Air is like wind coming from the sea, enlightening our imaginations.
What appeals to you about post-rock music over other kinds of music?
We think post-rock music creates an emotional atmosphere and conveys strong feelings. No matter if you feel happy or sad, you’ll find yourself standing in the middle of whichever scene the song creates.
What do you hope to achieve with your music?
We hope our band will be together as long as possible and be able to play music any time we want. We want to put out an album in the future and have our own tour, too.
What are some of the favorite songs you’ve written?
‘First Rays of the Morning Sun,’ ‘All the Goodliness I Can Think About is You,’ ‘Desire’ and ‘Tempo.’
What is the songwriting process like for you?
Our guitarists will write down the structure of the song. Then the others will add their thoughts when we have our practices.
What inspires you to write songs?
We are always inspired when we hang out with the people we love… Also, thinking about nature when we listen to our favorite band’s music – like the ocean, the forest and the sky. The process feels like some kind of meditation.
> See Salty Air with AV Okubo, Nasty Ray, Arkaik, the Friendly Cannons, Dirty Curtyy and Lazy Cat at Honey Lake Music Festival on Dec 5, 2-10pm, RMB100 early bird, RMB120 presale, RMB150 at the door. No. 4, Xiangmihu Holiday Resort, Hongli Xi Lu, Futian District, Shenzhen 深圳市福田区紅茘西路香蜜湖娱乐城4号 (136 0252 6285, shenzhenfestival.com)
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