Hedging Their Bets: Beijing’s Prickliest Rockers

By night, they gig and record like indie rock superheroes, but their daytime alter egos are more mild-mannered. Hedgehog may be one of Beijing’s most successful and beloved bands, but they can’t quit their day jobs just yet. Guitarist Zo (aka Zhao Zijian) tells us what’s keeping his rock career extracurricular.

Why is Hedgehog only a part-time gig for you?
I’m planning to quit my job [as a computer programmer with Sina] in two years. Hedgehog can make money – just not enough yet. The situation is better than before. But we spent a lot of money on equipment and to record our latest record. If the album does well, maybe I can be a 100 percent rocker.

Does being in a band make your day job more bearable?
For Sina, I have to program sh*tty applications that users won’t even like. When I designed the Hedgehog website, it was to help the band. It was so much better.

Which artist do you dream of collaborating with?
Actually, I would like to start a side project soon. Hedgehog has played together for years; we know each other too well. Our style has already become very mature. It’ll be fun to start something from the beginning.

Would such a break be healthy for Hedgehog, to help avoid the kind of tensions that caused [your bassist] Box to quit?
After our big tour in 2009, I had a long talk with Box about the future of the band. He kept mentioning The Flowers, the first pop-punk band in China to sign to a major label. We realized we couldn’t work together any longer. Box joined other bands, and he’s famous now. We still talk and are good friends, but our idea for Hedgehog was completely different.

How has your idea of Hedgehog evolved on your new album, Sun Fun Gun?
We don’t like to play anything from our previous album, Honeyed and Killed. It just wasn’t us – we’re very strong and powerful people, and that was just pop-rock. So the new album is very in-your-face rock ‘n’ roll. That’s why it’s our favorite.

Hedgehog launches its album at Yugong Yishan on June 16. For details, visit www.yugongyishan.com.

Click here to see the June issue of the Beijinger in full.

Photo courtesy of the organizers