Signing to independent label Maybe Mars and being named ‘Newcomer of the Year’ by the social media platform Douban are two ways to win quick attention. But now it’s time for Hiperson to deliver.
After months of accumulating hype, the Chengdu quintet have unleashed their debut album No Need for Another History and are preparing for a national tour to support it. Guitarist Liu Zetong is sensing the spotlight’s glare.
“I feel like I’m in class and the teacher has just called on me to answer a question,” he jokes during a break from rehearsals. “A little nervous, at a loss for what to do, but very stimulated.”
It is rare for newcomers to generate such excitement before a major release. Their youth may go some way to explaining their allure – it is each of the early twenty-somethings’ first time in a band. Since forming at university three years ago, Hiperson (which consists of guitarists Liu and Ji Yinan, bassist Huang Rentao, drummer Wang Boqiang and commanding frontwoman Chen Sijing) have been taken under the wing of domestic rock vets like Wang Wen’s Xie Yugang.
The young upstarts have also featured in the Chinese edition of documentarian John Yingling’s highly acclaimed The World Underground series, which covers emerging music scenes across the globe. But it is arguably the approval of Maybe Mars that has mustered the most attention.
“We were deeply drawn to Maybe Mars and hoped to be like one of their bands: genuinely young, dynamic, sensitive, adept at communicating and willing to sacrifice for the sake of music,” lead singer Chen explains.
As the driving force behind stalwart domestic acts like Carsick Cars and Duck Fight Goose, the label seemingly tipped Hiperson for success by signing them late last year. The label's CEO (and PK14 frontman Yang Haisong) recorded and produced the band’s album No Need for Another History, which will be made available in double-vinyl form.
“We wanted to structure the album as a timeline, beginning at the immature and reckless period from when we first started,” Liu says of the album.
It is a remarkably self-assured debut. Disregarding the standard verse-chorus-verse format for something more unpredictable, the disc adds to the group’s growing promise as the keepers of the Mainland post-punk tradition established by acts like PK14 and RE:TROS. Yet their intensity and penchant for anthem-tune group “whoa”-ing is reminiscent of early Arcade Fire.
When playing live, the poetic and charismatic Chen demands attention on stage. She’s been dubbed ‘the female Yang Haisong,’ which she is less than pleased about as the moniker may “take attention away from the music.” However, she shares his passion and commitment to Mainland indie rock.
The band’s other members are also keen to promote the scene in their native Chengdu, where they broke out at the forefront of the city’s rock explosion, alongside like-minded peers like The Hormones and Stolen.
“Chengdu’s a great place for bands,” Liu says, praising acts like rockers Daredevil and folkies Gajin. “It’s very inclusive and there are plenty of opportunities for different types of music.”
“If you’re interested in rock music, get involved in the scene,” Chen implores, while shouting out like-minded young groups like Xi’an’s The Fuzz, Henan’s The Fallacy and Beijing’s Birdstriking. “If you want to be in a band, start one as soon as possible.
“If you’re young and want to be an artist in China, you will encounter three questions: How do you support yourself? How will you handle your family and society’s reaction? And do you have the passion? As long as the answer is ‘yes’ to the third question, then you will be able to solve the first two.”
> June 27 at XP; No Need for Another History is available at downloads.maybemars.org
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