2010 Nov 22 Strong, Deep, But Not Crazy: Hanggai Return to Beijing
Although Hanggai is a genuine Beijing band, we hardly see them in town these days. Touring around Europe and showing the world rock music Mongolian khoomei style has kept them busy. But finally they’re back in Beijing with their fittingly-titled new album, Juan Zou De Ren (He Who Travels Far), which has already been feted by many international media outlets, including the Guardian.
If you don’t want to call your friend in Europe to find out what their new songs sound like, you’d better get ready for the album launch at Yugong Yishan this Wednesday, because the band will be back in Europe in two weeks.
While front man Ilchi has been busy responding to the curiosities of the Western world, he squeezed in some time to speak to the Beijinger about grasslands, the new album and playing heavy metal venues in Europe.
Tell us about your new album.
We present a new kind of music in this album; it's a combination of many different elements. We can call it traditional Mongolian music with the feeling of rock & roll. It’s released world wide and has gained compliments from many international media outlets.
Most people don’t understand your lyrics. What are they talking about?
I think the music is the most important. There are many things that lyrics can’t explain, but the melody can bring you the feeling. The story in our music is deeper than the lyrics. The lyrics talk about stories, love, horses and the change of seasons, but the music shows contradictions and conflicts.
Your music reminds people about grasslands and freedom. How do we get those feelings in the city?
Like I’ve said about our music, on one hand it shows a desire for the grasslands, on the other hand it talks about the conflicts in the cities. So you can say that our music wants you to forget about your troubles in the city, and also helps you to release the pressures of urban society.
What’s the dark side of Hanggai?
I don’t know how to answer this question properly. But if you go back to your homeland after many years, it is not the same anymore, and people are not the same as when you left. Can you understand that kind of feeling? Maybe there are too many things that disappoint us.
What gives you inspiration?
Our main inspiration is from the traditional folk songs. I think the most important thing is to find what your ancestors have left you – they are like the blood in your veins. Our creations are just following our ancestors’ steps and putting our feelings about our own era into it.
What is your attitude towards traditional Mongolian clothes?
We wear traditional Mongolian clothes at many shows. It’s part of the Mongolian culture, we should keep it.
Any taboos on the grassland?
There are some. You cannot pat others’ shoulders, because there are three holy lamps on each Mongolian’s shoulder – people will go to the darkness if the lamp is extinguished. And you should leave the horsewhips and guns outside of the yurts; it would be disrespectful to the hosts otherwise.
Tell us about your tour in Europe.
We have had many shows in Europe in the past two years. We don’t only play on the world music stages but also on rock stages, pop stages and even heavy metal stages – including at the world’s biggest heavy metal festival Wacken, Europe’s biggest music festivals Rockilde and Sziget, and also the worldwide famous Womad Festival in England. There are people who love us at all our shows.
What are the differences between Hanggai and other Mongolian musicians?
Everybody in Hanggai has a rock and roll background, and also respective understanding or experience of the grassland culture. I think that’s how we make this kind of music.
If Hanggai is a kind of liquor, what should it be?
I think it should be something strong and deep, but not anything crazy, whisky probably.
What do you want to do but haven’t done yet?
There are many things we want to do. Such as plan a new album. Maybe we can finally have a week of real holiday in Thailand after our tour there in February next year. Haha.
Teach us some Mongolian!
San bai noo means Hello in Mongolian.
November 24 (Wednesday)
Hanggai's Album Launch
Blackwater warms up, Hanggai khoomeis rock & roll. RMB 50, RMB 40 (advance). 9pm. Yugong Yishan
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