Music Industry Insight: Clement Berger, Temple

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, Clement Berger of Temple.

On the best new band in the last 12 months
WHAI (original, unique and sooo good!)

On the development of the Beijing "scene"
More and more new bands with different styles are coming up. Everyone is trying to do something different and personal by mixing different music genres.

For example: WHAI is a mix of folk, rock and electro but in a very experimental way. Devils at the Crossroad plays a mix of grunge, blues, punk and stoner rock. Rowling Bowling is starting to play Psychobilly over Rockabilly (no one plays psychobilly yet in China except them). Jungle Mice Project are into electronica live music, mixing dub elements with rock sound, making it dubstep sometimes.

On the future of "the scene"
I am pretty sure that more and more foreigners will come here to check out the Chinese rock scene which is becoming more and more famous all around the world.

On how Beijing stands up against other musical cities
Beijing isn’t actually that different from other foreign cities, you've got many different music genres, good and crappy bands are everywhere, but most of them are trying to do something original and unique, and not play only for money. The main problem for Chinese musicians is the foreign recognition because just a few believe about the Chinese rock’n’roll scene.

On the main obstacles for new bands
Getting good gigs in nice venues with a good sound system or getting booked in festivals. In a word, getting famous.

On influences
Most of Chinese rock bands always have this traditional Chinese folk music influence, what we call: northwest rock.

On getting ahead
Personally, I would say to be original, but you have an audience for all kinds of music so it depends on what your influences are and who you are targeting.

On getting a foot in the door
Play what you have to play and play it good.

On who new bands need to know
Probably Badr from Beijingdaze, he’s one the best music critics of Beijing in the past few years.

On the most accommodating venues in town
Depends on the style of music, of course, but I would say mainly 2 Kolegas and Temple!

On pitfalls to avoid
Plagiarism.

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