Beijing’s indie psych-rock outfit Nova Heart have returned to Australia to play a run of dates through June & July, teaming up alongside Triple J Unearthed winners The Cairos.
Since their last visit here in summer, supporting Canada’s Half Moon Run, Nova Heart have been heard wafting over the radio airwaves across the nation, thanks to their stunning single ‘My Song 9’.
Seeing that Nove Heart are in the country, we though who better to educate us about the world of Chinese rock n roll than actual Chinese rock n rollers? So without further ado we present the ‘5 step guide to Chinese Rock N Roll’ with Nova Heart’s Helen Feng.
Band Everyone Should Listen To
ZIYUE 子曰
Most people when they write about Chinese bands, they write about the ones like me that have a lot of access to western countries, or speak or sing in English or signed to labels run by foreigners or have foreigners. It just dawned on me that almost nobody has every written about this band, even through from what I know, they were one of the most influential for the Chinese music scene in the late 90’s early 2000, and one of the few that are both great musicians and truly original. They are definitely not a hipster band, and have never tried to be. If you look at them, they look like a bunch of middle aged musicians, and this band unfortunately has been on semi-permanent hiatus for quite some time.
Album Everyone Should Listen To
Rock N’ Roll Compilation by China Fire (1987) 摇滚中国火
Since we’re going historical, we might as well talk about this compilation album which was released by a Taiwan based label “Rock Records” in 1987. They were really the first major rock record label in China, and in ’87 they released a compilation of young artists they had signed.
The album featured some of the most important names to this day in China rock history, Black Panther, Zhang Chu, Tang Dynasty, Cui Jian and was a super hit in China at the time. Most of the artists on the album were recording songs for the first time for this compilation, and for a brief period of time, rock music was king in China until everything changed in 1989. Then the world crashed down, Rock Records went eventually out of business, and many of these artists went below the radar for quite some time. All until recently when Rock is again, king, well sort of. More like an elderly uncle of the King Game Of Thrones style. You might not love the sound, but if you ever want an origin story here it is.
One Song Everyone Should Hear
Cui Jan – ‘Nothing To My Name’ (一无所有)
Well if you want to take the most important track in China Rock history it would be the track released by Cui Jian “一无所有” which means “Nothing To My Name.”
Once this rich drunk guy out side of club was being abusive to some beggar kid. Me and my friend confronted him. He started to pick a fight with us cause he thought we were small, but just then a bunch of my musician friends showed up completely unaware of what was going on, just saying hi. When he saw this he bolted. Jumped into his friend’s beamer and sped off before anyone knew what happened. Later I got into a taxi cab, and the taxi driver started playing this track really loudly on the way home. When I got out he said, “I saw what you guys did back there and the ride’s free”. I think that says it all.
Best Live Acts
2nd Hand Roses, PK14, White +, RETROS, Zi Yue, Mountain Men and Nova Heart
That’s a hard question. Haha, I like to say Nova Heart, but I guess that would be a retarded answer. To be frank, I’ve seen a couple of good shows here or there, but none that was just heads and shoulders above everyone else. Maybe my best live moments have come from, 2nd Hand Roses, PK14, White +, RETROS, Zi Yue, and Mountain Men.
They all have at one time or another put on a flawless show which really reached out to the audience and frankly shows where I had a good time at. There are others in the Metal and Punk category that are pretty great, but I’m not a good judge of Metal or Punk.
Favorite Upcoming Act
The Big Wave
The Big Wave is a pretty keen new act, though I think they’re still maturing. There’s also a bunch of acts coming out of Chengdu, a city in the West known for ridiculously spicy food and Pandas.
Nova Heart Tour Dates
JUNE
THU 19 – THE GREAT NORTHERN, NEWCASTLE NSW
FRI 20 – TRANSIT BAR, CANBERRA ACT
SAT 21 – GOODGOD SMALL CLUB, SYDNEY NSW
SUN 22 – THE BRASS MONKEY, CRONULLA ACT
THU 26 – HERITAGE HOTEL, BULLI NSW
FRI 27 JUN – PIRIE SOCIAL CLUB, ADELAIDE SA
SAT 28 – DING DONG LOUNGE, MELBOURNE VIC
SUN 29 – BEAVS BAR, GEELONG VIC
JULY
THU 3 – THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY NSW *Free entry
FRI 4 – ALHAMBRA LOUNGE, BRISBANE QLD
SAT 5 – THE SPOTTED COW, TOOWOOMBA QLD
SUN 6 – SOUNDS OF SUNDAY @ BROADBEACH TAVERN, GOLD COAST QLD
SAT 12 – SOL BAR, MAROOCHYDORE QLD (*Nova Heart not appearing)
For more info visit www.nova-heart.com
