Alarmingly honest, paradoxically silly and serious, kung fu inspired—Dragon Turtle shines brightly as an ‘other’ creature in Shenzhen’s music world of cover bands, post rockers and acoustic singer songwriters.
Since early 2014, Dragon Turtle has played in Shenzhen’s largest underground rock shows, including the Tunnel Rock Show and Honey Lake Music Festival. That’s PRD sat down with Adrian Blackstock (drums), Ian Heraty (guitar) and Curt Zimpfer (bass) to discuss children’s stories, kung fu and their upcoming performance at Rock ‘N’ Soul’s Rock Show this Saturday.
You’ve all been in other music projects in Shenzhen. How does your creative expression in Dragon Turtle differ than those other projects?
CZ: This is the one band where we have equal creativity.
AB: In other bands, it’s cover music or just playing a supporting role in a main songwriter’s band...We co-wrote most of Dragon Turtle’s songs.
Why did you name your band after a mythical creature from Chinese lore?
AB: We had some Hong Kong dollars and saw the dragon turtle on the 50 dollar bill. We were inspired by its powers. It can fly, swim, [has] super defense and attacks. And we’re…into kung fu movies.
You call yourselves a ‘kung fu’ band. What does that mean?
AB: We started with two members and the idea of trying to do more with less, which is an important element of Wing Chun kung fu.
How did the band form?
IH: Adrian and I lived next to each other…We would play music. Charlie [my roommate], told me I needed to be in a band. It was the pressure from Charlie. I didn’t want to just have a band. When I saw the dragon turtle, it inspired me as something I could creatively build around.
What are you trying to achieve musically and as a band?
IH: We’re not just about music. We’re about visual, audio, taste, fashion, physical movement, philosophy—everything.
CZ: We’re trying to make music…diverse, groovy and fun that everyone can relate to. We approach every show differently with stage antics, new outfits…We have some songs that are groovy, but the message is very personal to us.
AB: And we take kung fu solos every time.
What can we expect from your set at the Rock concert on Saturday?
CZ: Expect a good time.
Do you think the rise of underground rock shows in Shenzhen, in which you’ve been active members, is evidence of a maturing music scene in SZ?
AB: I wouldn’t say “mature.” I’d say “growing.”
IH: It’s very DIY. It’s very punk.
How do you write songs?
CZ: A lot of our music is about everyday experiences, like getting b*tched out on the metro or a disagreement with your boss.
AB: It’s usually a line that becomes a song.
At a previous show, you claimed most of your songs were true. Did one of you really almost get arrested for a sexual massage like the character in “Sexual Massage”?
AB: Not any of us in the band, but one of my friends almost got arrested for one. The police came into the massage place, and he had to be really quiet.
Why do zombies eat bread in your song “Zombie”?
IH: Anything that sustains you but doesn’t give you full nutritional value is bread.
CZ: When I heard the line: “The whole f-ing world is a zombie,” it made me think of people walking around glued to their cellphones.
You’re the only Shenzhen band that writes children’s stories. How did that start?
AB: They’re not all children’s stories.
IH: Children’s stories are just another outlet to be creative...Everyone one of us has written a Dragon Turtle story. There’s no connection to the stories except they all have a dragon, a turtle, and a snake. We don’t stifle each other’s creativity.
Listen to Dragon Turtle at dragonturtlesz.bandcamp.com
// Rock ‘N’ Soul’s Rock Show featuring Dragon Turtle, Pokemon Dad, Chocked Zone and Mighty Orphans, Jan 10, 9pm, RMB30. Room Bar, Splendid China.
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