As international agents and festival organizers meet in Beijing for a showcase festival, many Chinese bands unknown outside of the country will make their sounds heard around the world.
Sound of the Xity - the China Music Conference and Showcase Festival will be held in Beijing from April 3 to 7, with performances by more than 60 bands and two days of conferences on the music industry.
Participants will include Jason Mayall from Japan's Fuji Rock Festival, Annette Tripodi from WOMAD (World of Music, Arts & Dance), and Christoph Borkowsky from WOMEX (the World Music Expo).
"We expect that Chinese bands will get opportunities for overseas tours through Sound of the Xity, and international bookers will get to know more about the Chinese music scene," says Zhang Ran, CEO of SX Music, the festival presenter.
Sound of the Xity was inaugurated last year, when 56 pop, rock and world music acts performed in Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an.
Jung Hun-lee, artistic director of Korea's Ulsan World Music Festival, selected two Chinese bands, Whai and Pet Conspiracy, to perform in Ulsan after seeing them in Beijing.
"Whai is a rock band with Chinese aesthetics, while Pet Conspiracy combines Chinese and Western music styles and is of international caliber," says Lee, who is also coming to this year's festival.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Harrison Ford on a 'Stars Wars' Reunion
Harrison Ford thinks the much-anticipated Star Wars reunion will happen after all, as he explained in a recent interview with Chicago's WGN 9 News. "I think it's almost true. I'm looking forward to it," said the actor who portrayed space cowboy Han Solo in the original trilogy. "It's not in the bag yet, but I think it's happening."
Rumors of a cast reunion have been circulating since Disney purchased Lucasfilm and the Star Wars franchise last October. With J.J. Abrams attached to direct, the in-progress Episode VII is slated for a 2015 release, with two more installments plus stand-alone films planned for the future. Ford, along with his co-stars Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher (Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, respectively), have all expressed interest in reviving their beloved characters.
In a recent interview with Bloomberg Businessweek, series creator George Lucas mentioned he'd already signed the trio to return before the Disney deal went down. "We had already signed Mark and Carrie and Harrison – or we were pretty much in final stages of negotiation," Lucas said. "Maybe I'm not supposed to say that. I think they want to announce that with some big whoop-de-do, but we were negotiating with them."
Rumors of a cast reunion have been circulating since Disney purchased Lucasfilm and the Star Wars franchise last October. With J.J. Abrams attached to direct, the in-progress Episode VII is slated for a 2015 release, with two more installments plus stand-alone films planned for the future. Ford, along with his co-stars Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher (Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, respectively), have all expressed interest in reviving their beloved characters.
In a recent interview with Bloomberg Businessweek, series creator George Lucas mentioned he'd already signed the trio to return before the Disney deal went down. "We had already signed Mark and Carrie and Harrison – or we were pretty much in final stages of negotiation," Lucas said. "Maybe I'm not supposed to say that. I think they want to announce that with some big whoop-de-do, but we were negotiating with them."
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Spider Man Musical Lawsuit Gets Court Date
U2's Bono and the Edge, director Julie Taymor and the other producers of the Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark will meet in court on May 28th to settle a legal battle over the infamous show.
Taymor, who co-wrote the script and was the musical's first director, initially filed suit against the show's producers, plus composers Bono and the Edge, in November 2011 after they fired her from the disastrous, injury-prone show in March, the New York Times reports. Taymor filed a copyright suit claiming the producers were making money off her ideas and script and that she was owed $1 million. The producers countersued, claiming she had been fired for breach of contract.
Judge Katherine B. Forrest set the New York court date after four days of closed-door sessions that failed to produce any sort of settlement over copyright control and profits, despite coming to terms in principle in August. What's more, last February, both parties reportedly settled their dispute over Taymor's firing, with the producers withdrawing their breach of contract claim and allotting Taymor full royalty fees for her work.
Taymor, who co-wrote the script and was the musical's first director, initially filed suit against the show's producers, plus composers Bono and the Edge, in November 2011 after they fired her from the disastrous, injury-prone show in March, the New York Times reports. Taymor filed a copyright suit claiming the producers were making money off her ideas and script and that she was owed $1 million. The producers countersued, claiming she had been fired for breach of contract.
Judge Katherine B. Forrest set the New York court date after four days of closed-door sessions that failed to produce any sort of settlement over copyright control and profits, despite coming to terms in principle in August. What's more, last February, both parties reportedly settled their dispute over Taymor's firing, with the producers withdrawing their breach of contract claim and allotting Taymor full royalty fees for her work.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Academy Award winning composer Tan
Academy Award-winning composer Tan, who heard the duo's arrangement on one of their CDs, says that he was surprised that Chinese songs and the guitar could be a perfect match.
For Wang, the guitar comes to life in a blend of Chinese and Western music elements.
Barrueco also composed a song, a new transcription of composer Chen Yi's China West, which was originally written for two pianos. It will be recorded on Beijing Guitar Duo's third album, which they plan to release this year.
"My father kept telling me that the sound of guitar is the most beautiful sound in the world," recalls Wang, who came from Qingdao, Shandong province.
A turning point for her came one day in March 1992. Her father took her to Beijing Concert Hall, to see a guitar performance by 15-year-old Yang Xuefei and 14-year-old Bai Pu - a magical program of Bach, Paganini and Tarrega.
Afterward, the little girl told her father: "I want to be like them, playing such beautiful sounds."
For Wang, the guitar comes to life in a blend of Chinese and Western music elements.
Barrueco also composed a song, a new transcription of composer Chen Yi's China West, which was originally written for two pianos. It will be recorded on Beijing Guitar Duo's third album, which they plan to release this year.
"My father kept telling me that the sound of guitar is the most beautiful sound in the world," recalls Wang, who came from Qingdao, Shandong province.
A turning point for her came one day in March 1992. Her father took her to Beijing Concert Hall, to see a guitar performance by 15-year-old Yang Xuefei and 14-year-old Bai Pu - a magical program of Bach, Paganini and Tarrega.
Afterward, the little girl told her father: "I want to be like them, playing such beautiful sounds."
Friday, March 15, 2013
The Boss plays a note of caution on economic sway
Bruce Springsteen is playing a note of caution about his political influence over Australian economic policies.
Springsteen and his E Street Band opened their Wrecking Ball Tour to enthusiastic reviews in Brisbane, the hometown of Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Wayne Swan, who revealed in a speech last year that The Boss had long been his political inspiration.
Swan said the New Jersey-born working-class hero's musical railings against inequality echoed his own public battle against Australian billionaire mining tycoons who oppose his tax reforms.
When told at a news conference Thursday that Swan had cited his musical idol as an influence on his center-left government's economic policies, Springsteen urged caution.
"Really? You better watch out there," Springsteen joked. "I'm not sure how good I am with my money."
He added, "I hope it's been a positive influence, that's all I can say."
Swan was named by banking magazine Euromoney as the world's finance minister of the year for 2011 for helping steer Australia clear of recession during the global economic meltdown. He is attending the final two-week session of Parliament in Canberra before he releases his annual budget blueprint on May 14 and has revealed that the annual ritual involves him playing Springsteen's hit single "Born to Run."
Springsteen and his E Street Band opened their Wrecking Ball Tour to enthusiastic reviews in Brisbane, the hometown of Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Wayne Swan, who revealed in a speech last year that The Boss had long been his political inspiration.
Swan said the New Jersey-born working-class hero's musical railings against inequality echoed his own public battle against Australian billionaire mining tycoons who oppose his tax reforms.
When told at a news conference Thursday that Swan had cited his musical idol as an influence on his center-left government's economic policies, Springsteen urged caution.
"Really? You better watch out there," Springsteen joked. "I'm not sure how good I am with my money."
He added, "I hope it's been a positive influence, that's all I can say."
Swan was named by banking magazine Euromoney as the world's finance minister of the year for 2011 for helping steer Australia clear of recession during the global economic meltdown. He is attending the final two-week session of Parliament in Canberra before he releases his annual budget blueprint on May 14 and has revealed that the annual ritual involves him playing Springsteen's hit single "Born to Run."
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Modern singers lack stamina
Modern-day singers lack commitment and stamina compared to previous generations of performers, the music director of London's Royal Opera House said Wednesday.
Speaking at the announcement of the company's 2013-2014 season, Antonio Pappano said singers "are either weaker in their bodies or don't care," and need more periods of rest than previous generations.
His comments come in the wake of several high-profile pullouts from Royal Opera House productions this season.
Later, Pappano told the BBC that young singers are "faced with tremendous pressure ... PR pressure, image pressure, but also vocal pressure."
He also said modern productions, which are often filmed for broadcast, demand more rehearsal from performers. Travel and promotion duties also take a toll, he added.
"They are expected to sing more in the rehearsals, the rehearsals are longer, cutting of operas, which used to be a big tradition, is no longer seen in a favorable light," he said. "So they are singing much longer versions of the operas, even the popular ones. Maria Callas never sang a whole 'Traviata' in her life."
Speaking at the announcement of the company's 2013-2014 season, Antonio Pappano said singers "are either weaker in their bodies or don't care," and need more periods of rest than previous generations.
His comments come in the wake of several high-profile pullouts from Royal Opera House productions this season.
Later, Pappano told the BBC that young singers are "faced with tremendous pressure ... PR pressure, image pressure, but also vocal pressure."
He also said modern productions, which are often filmed for broadcast, demand more rehearsal from performers. Travel and promotion duties also take a toll, he added.
"They are expected to sing more in the rehearsals, the rehearsals are longer, cutting of operas, which used to be a big tradition, is no longer seen in a favorable light," he said. "So they are singing much longer versions of the operas, even the popular ones. Maria Callas never sang a whole 'Traviata' in her life."
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Smashing Pumpkins to Play SXSW
Add one more band to the list of big names playing SXSW: the Smashing Pumpkins will hit downtown Austin on Saturday, March 16th, for Red Bull's showcase, Sound Select: 120 Hours. Also on the bill are the Sword and Girl in a Coma. The show will happen in downtown Austin, with the exact location being revealed the morning of the show via the Twitter handle @rbsoundselect. Tickets will be free.
The Pumpkins will kick off their U.S. tour supporting last year's Oceania on April 29th in Melbourne, FL, part of a six-month world trek that hits Japan, Mexico and more.
Green Day, Dave Grohl’s Sound City Players and the Stooges are among the other major acts hitting Austin for SXSW this year.
The Pumpkins will kick off their U.S. tour supporting last year's Oceania on April 29th in Melbourne, FL, part of a six-month world trek that hits Japan, Mexico and more.
Green Day, Dave Grohl’s Sound City Players and the Stooges are among the other major acts hitting Austin for SXSW this year.
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