Psych Rock Extended Family: Interview with Gate to Otherside Ahead of Their May 13 School Bar LP Release

Kyle Mullin | May 8, 2017 10:00 am | Add a comment | 1618 reads

Most bands write love songs, but few live out romantic fairytales quite like Gate to Otherside. At least that’s how it sounds when you hear about the Beijing psychedelic group’s origins.

Two years ago Sun Heting, a seasoned drummer for beloved Beijing bands like Carsick Cars and Birdstriking, was on a date with his girlfriend, Jiang Mengyang, who is a formidable guitarist in her own right, having played for the local troupe Free Sex Shop. As they chatted away Jiang came upon the idea of switching their instruments and starting a band of their own. To explore their musical dynamic, they later held an informal rehearsal for which they played songs by The Vaselines, a legendary Scottish alt-rock band that was also started by then lovebirds Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee.

“Jiang really loves The Vaselines, I only think they’re okay,” Sun says with a laugh, ahead of the March 25 release date of Gate to Otherside’s album Dragon Bus Terminal. He adds that, within two months of those early rehearsals, the pair realized they wanted a third member to help give their songs a fuller sound.

They turned to Sun’s friend Alex Turner, an expat from Ohio, who frequents many of the same live houses and parties. Turner saw it as a chance to have fun with his friends and as an opportunity to get more band experience, which prior to that was next to nil. Not everyone shared his excitement – Turner says another friend told him “You’re so fucked. You’ve not familiar with bass. You’ve never played in a band. And the first thing you do is get in a band with a couple?”

However, Turner says he doesn’t get caught in any Fleetwood Mac-esque drama or petty lovebird squabbles. “They have their ways of communicating that are obviously borrowed form the relationship, so sometimes I’ll have to summarize or reinterpret what they’re getting at for myself. But that’s about it.”

After settling into a groove and signing to local label Maybe Mars, the band set to work on Gate to Otherside. It features thrillingly kaleidoscopic guitar playing from Sun that is refreshingly restrained and strategic, compared to other psych-leaning bands. Jiang and Turner also add subtle depth and rhythm to the tunes that will leave them lingering in your mind and humming along long after you’ve heard them. Ricky Maymi, of veteran San Francisco psych rockers The Brian Jonestown Massacre produced the album, because he’s a longtime fan of Chinese indie rock and has brought many Maybe Mars bands on tour over the years.

Sun is not only proud of the album – he also feels blessed to have formed a band so organically with his lady and his best friend. It makes writing, recording and performing together feel like an extended family reunion between uncle Alex, Mom, Dad and their new baby LP. Or as Sun puts it: “The new album gathers all our talents and hard work, it’s like our child.”

This article first appeared in the March/April issue of the Beijinger.