10 New Music Releases From China: Eddie Beatz, Lamu Yangzi & More
New Music, formerly Yin (音, ‘music’), is a monthly RADII column that looks at fresh Chinese music spanning hip hop to folk to modern experimental, and everything in between. This month, we introduce you to new music from Cacien, Default, NOUS Underground, and more!
We’re just about reaching the mid-point of the summer. If you’re in Shanghai (and many other parts of China), your experience of quite possibly the best season of the year has been limited at best.
With that being said, let us redirect you through the majesty of some excellent new music. We’ve got quite a varied selection this month, with folksy indie rock rubbing shoulders with ambient electronica and grunge music alongside laidback lockdown beats.
As always, don’t forget to check out the latest episode of SoundCheck, where Wes Chen, host of hip hop podcast thePark, and Bryan Grogan talk about their favorite tracks of the month.
1. Default — ‘The Plain’
‘The Plain’ is Default’s first new music in two years, since the release of their EP Can You Hear the Whistle Blow, a release which signified a new direction for the band, away from the noisy shoegaze sound they had previously been known for.
‘The Plain’ is full of natural imagery. The track seems to sweep around a natural landscape, with the lyrics referencing strong naturalistic imagery like footprints, a lighthouse, and a compass. There are moments when the movement of guitars and chanting backing vocals resemble the indie folk sound of Fleet Foxes, and other moments when vocalist Edine’s transitions sound like the indie pop of early Jenny Lewis with Rilo Kiley.
2. Cruel Buddhist — Lockdown Loops
Henry Robinson, aka Cruel Buddhist, captures the vibe of Shanghai’s lockdown with this collection of daily improvisations and beats released on the Shanghai label Eating Music.
Anyone who has experienced the government-issued rations boxes will recognize the meaning behind song titles like ‘Cabbage,’ ‘Bok Choy,’ and ‘Honeydew,’ while the redolent bass of these three songs gives a sense of being firmly pinned down by the gravity of the city’s situation. Conversely, the song ‘Hwi Noree’ references a character in the Dune universe and is rich in spacey synths that emphasize some brief joyous escapism.
3. Cacien — Garlica Princess
Cacien recently returned to China from New York armed with her debut album, Garlica Princess. The title references the intense energy of Cacien’s style and how people tend to react in one of two ways, either loving or hating it.
The title track sees Cacien dedicate the song to herself and features lyrics like “è’œ (garlic) is everything, I can never get over it.” She also seemingly captures the current zeitgeist on ‘emo,’ where she pours out her feelings of depression. The album, taken in totality, is a strong representation of Cacien as an artist and will surely prove popular.
4. NOUS Underground 2022 Cypher
Xi’an’s NOUS Underground are one of China’s best-known hip hop collectives, alongside the likes of Chengdu’s CDC. Pact is the most famous of the group, and has had a pretty big year, with his EP Story of a Village released last May, followed by collaborations with the likes of Eddie Beatz, Zhang Yanqi, and more. Read More...
