music | Snow Pavilion

26th Jul, 2020 The Untamed: Music as A Form of Healing and Kungfu

In part one of my article on Chinese philosophies of music as explored in The Untamed, I looked at the role of music in cultivation and zhiyin culture. In the second part, I’ll be discussing concepts surrounding music as a way of healing, and in extending this further, as a form of kungfu.

Posted in Culture and tagged china, Chinese, cosmology, culture, Five Elements, healing, music, philosophy, TCM, The Untamed

19th Mar, 2020 The Untamed: Wenling Practices and Zhiyin Culture

If you like your Asian historical dramas, Eastern magic fantasy, or Kungfu shows, you’ll have seen, or been watching, or at least heard of, The Untamed. With gorgeous costumes, props, sets; fantastic script, filmography and storyline, a great cast, and queer representation to boot, no wonder this mainland Chinese series, an unexpectedly domestic hit, has also achieved unprecedented global popularity. Originally a Xianxia (genre featuring humans interacting with supernaturals) web novel named Modao Zushi by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, the series is steeped in Chinese culture. One of the central themes that really stands out is the multiple roles of music in the story. (Heads up, this article contains spoilers).

Posted in Culture and tagged china, Chinese, culture, guqin, Mo Dao Zu Shi, Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, music, The Untamed, web novel, Xianxia, zhi yin

24th Aug, 2019 Raising Inner Demons: Chinese Black Metal in Europe

I explore the Zuriaake’s live presence and the representation of Chinese indie music in the West.

Posted in Commentary and tagged black metal, china, Chinese, concert, goth, gothic, heritage, indie, live performance, metal, music, Pest Productions, representation, review, Zuriaake

12th Dec, 2015 12 Christmas Gift Ideas for the Sinophile

My English partner once told me, that China should re-Christen themselves the East Pole, claim Father Christmas as one of their own, and tell the children of the world, that he’s just moved closer to where the toys are made.

As we hear sleigh bells on the horizon, I know a lot of you will be facing Christmas with a mixture of excitement and dread, with many of you still hunting for exactly the right gift to spoil your loved ones and friends. Interest in Chinese culture have grown in recent years, and I hope this gift guide may help inspire anyone shopping for a sinophile!

Posted in Commentary and tagged Ben Chu, Big Trouble in Little China, book, Chinese, Chinese Fairly Tales, Chinese Whispers, christmas, classicist, culture, Donnie Yen, fantasy, film, Folio Society, Geek, Genjing Records, gift, ginger, indie record label, Ip Man, JING, John Carpenter, music, POP!, punk, review, Sci-Fi, sinophile, tea, Terracotta Distribution, urban adventurer, Victo Ngai, vinyl

22nd Nov, 2015 Peking into Chinese Opera

This weekend sees a brief season of Chinese opera at Sadler’s Wells. I thought I’d write a little about this traditional musical genre.

Posted in Culture and tagged china, Chinese, Chinese opera, culture, Farewell My Concubine, film, Lin Ying, manhua, Mei Lan Fang, music, Peking Opera

18th May, 2014 China Underground – A Translated Sample

An interview with the band Vagabond Street, by John YingLing, for his upcoming documentary, China Underground.
I’ve translated about 3 hours of interviews for this project, which is now heavily into post production (but could still do with more funding). This will be one of the video programe available to accompany my talk “Peking Into Punk”.

Posted in Translation and tagged china, China Underground, Chinese, documentary, film, Guangzhou, indie music, music, pop culture, punk, rock, Vagabond Street