Sound of Ningxia: An Interview with Lidong Band

Lidong Band (立東乐队, formerly known as Migratory Bird) might be strangers to you, but if you’ve been checking out Beijing’s live music venues and spending some time in 2 Kolegas without being hammered, some of the faces in this folk band might be ringing a bell: Liu Miao co-founded 2 Kolegas and hangs around his club a lot, Wu Kejia is the frontman of blues rock band Wu & The Side Effects (吴的反作用), and Malika plays accordion for up and coming folk band Xishan Laoyao (西山老妖), while vocals at the Quebec jazz band Mademoiselle et les Chinois. Together they bring the sound of Ningxia to Beijing.

tbj's Wang Ge talks to lead singer Li Tailin before the band folks it up this Friday.

the Beijinger: Who are Lidong Band?
Li Tailin: Myself on lead vocal and rhythm guitar, Wu Kejia on lead guitar, Malika on accordion, Shi Zhenkai on bass, Liu Miao on drum.

tbj: Where do you guys come from?
LTL: Malika is Canadian, and the rest of us are all from Ningxia.

tbj: How long have you been in Beijing?
LTL: About 5 years.

tbj: How did Lidong Band come together?
LTL: It’s all about the right chemistry really. The band has been together for a year now. Back then Liu Miao, Shi Zhenkai and I had a grunge band called Nucleus (核乐队), which is also performing now. But I’m more into folk music, especially Chinese folk music, so we started working on some folk materials, mostly inspired by songs passed along for generations in our hometown Ningxia. Then we got Malika and Wu Kejia into the band, and they’ve been fitting in pretty well.

tbj: For someone who’s never heard you play, how would you describe you music?
LTL: If music can be described by words, or if words can deliver the same message and emotion as music, no one would ever listen to music or make music any more.

tbj: Who are your biggest influences?
LTL: I don’t think there is a “biggest influence” really, as any good music we’ve been listening to leaves a mark on us. So if we did have a ‘biggest influence’, that means we are just copying it.

tbj: What else do you guys do?
LTL: Liu Miao is one of the founders of 2 Kolegas, Malika works for Microsoft, Wu Kejia works for a TV station, Shi Zhenkai and I are currently unemployed.

tbj: Comparing to Ningxia, what’s good about Beijing and what’s bad about it?
LTL: Beijing is a big city with more people, which brings along more information. My life is centered around Beijing now, and all my friends are here. Ningxia is good because of my memories and my family.

tbj: Describe what you adore about Ningxia folk music?
LTL: Emotions expressed in such a natural and authentic way.

tbj: Personally, do you think folk music should be more about personal emotions or social realities?
LTL: Definitely personal emotions. It’s also connected and shaped by social realities.

tbj: When is your debut album coming out?
LTL: Either in October or November.

tbj: Among the few demo tracks uploaded on your MySpace page, “Wo Bu Shi” (我不是) seems quite unique for its second half – a quite interesting solo with beautiful melody, is it you making that sound or some instrument?
LTL: Haha, glad you like it. It was me. I got the inspiration from Zhao Yiran (aka Zhao Laoda)’s remake of “On the Golden Mountain of Beijing” (Beijing de Jinshan Shang, 北京的金山上), he sang a solo instead of doing it with instruments, it sounded good.

Listen to demo tracks of Lidong Band on MySpace
http://www.myspace.cn/migratorybird

Lidong Band performs on July 10 at Tiny Salt Coffee Club (RMB 40, RMB 30 for advance ticket and students. 8.30pm), on July 26 at 2 Kolegas with jazz newcomer G-Eleven and grungy folks Low Wormwood (RMB 50, RMB 40 for students. 4pm)