Music Industry Insight: Jaime Welton of Bad Mamasan

For our September Music Issue, we asked a selection of the city's music experts for their take on the current state of the 'scene' here in the capital. Their insight was adroit, humorous and controversial in equal measure. In this blog series we post the interviews in full. Next up, Jaime Welton of Bad Mamasan.

On emerging talent
I have been unlucky as to not see anything really new that excites me about the scene here. Traveling to Western shows lately has really reminded me that this place still has a long way to go in many ways. I think those who stay here too long get their bar lowered considerably.

Most of the new bands I get so unlucky to stumble upon are too out of tune and noisy for me. If they keep at it, maybe they'll get good, but cute, out of tune, bouncy Chinese screaming girls and such is boring to me. Especially ones that keep doing it for eight or nine years and get worse in time.

My favorite band here right now is Crack. A thrash metal band that kicks some serious arse for any country. I'd throw my weight behind them any day.

On Chinese talent going international
Most of what I go see here in Beijing are the more established bands. Some of these could totally go international, but as we all know, the Chinese language simply gets brushed off as novelty when it's abroad - same thing for Western bands here singing in English; doesn't quite speak to the "local locals". We are a novelty to them.