Beijing Sounds In Flux: Interview with Chui Wan

Chui Wan may have dazzled post-punk fans with their psychedelically experimental 2012 debut, White Night, but the Beijing four piece have pushed their avant-garde limits even further on their eponymous follow up. These new reaches of experimentation are no better encapsulated than on the track "Beijing Is Sinking", which features esteemed noise rock vet Li Jianhong.

“Li’s guitar playing added so much power to the song,” Chui Wan guitarist Liu Xinyu says of the elder noise rocker’s contribution to the lead single, adding: “While playing with him, it felt like every instrument was going to explode!”

Ahead of Chui Wan’s June 6 album release party at Yugong Yishan, Liu and Yan Yulong – the violinist, vocalist, and overall mastermind of the band’s boundary-pushing sound – tell us about toying with violins, digging for offbeat samples, forging a bond with a legend from England’s post-punk scene, and more.

Yan Yulong, what did you enjoy most about collaborating with Li Jianhong?
Yan Yulong: "Beijing Is Sinking,” is actually the first song we wrote for the new album. We rehearsed twice with Li before recording to make sure we had some understanding of his amazing improv style. Then we finally recorded all the instruments together at once, with no overdub, and accomplished it all in one take.

What prompted you to use a violin in a noise rock band? 
Yan Yulong: My parents made me learn. Chui Wan is influenced a lot by 20th Century avant-garde music. I want to give traditional instruments new sounds, and find new ways to play them.

Liu, what do you admire most about Yan's violin playing?
Liu Xinyu: I like the drones he makes with acoustic violin and an organ. It is comfortable, mild, and detailed. Yan is a musician with many ideas. I like one song he composed years ago, I can't remember the name. It’s what I like to call "indoor decorative music,” because it’s really natural. When it’s on it just amuses and makes you feel comfortable.

What has been the biggest highlight of your US tour?
Liu Xinyu: The bass player from Bauhaus, David J, came to our show at the Austin Psych Fest. We got to know each other that night and we gave him one Chui Wan's CDs. The next day, our tour manager got a message from him saying “You guys are haunting me with this music!” He also expressed interest in playing with us someday.

Your band has been praised for using creative samples. Which is your favorite, and how did you use it?
Liu Xinyu: Our first album had a song called “Berber". We got the samples from Yang Fan’s video and audio database. Then we added a lot of unrelated sound in: a closing a door, a truck speeding by, the sound of rain, even an alarm ringing. We wanted to build an absurd dream.

Chui Wan’s eponymous new album hit shelves on May 15, but the band will host a release gig for the new full length on June 6 at 9.30pm at Yugong Yishan. Tickets are RMB 80 at the door, or RMB 60 presale. The latter can be purchased by calling 6406 9941 (Mon-Fri 1pm– 6pm), or by clicking here. Fore more information, visit Yugong Yishan's website here.

Photo: Maybe Mars