Beijing Underground's Djang San Sheds Light on the City's Music via Summer Music Days, Jun 19-24

It's shaping up to be a busy summer for Djang San. Having been involved in last week's Grand Slam at Yue Space and the recent Loreli Affordable Art Market, the French singer-songwriter has now set his sights on a week of gigs at various livehouses around Beijing as part of what he calls the Beijing Underground Summer Music Days from Jun 19-24. And as if that wasn't enough, the musician has also helped to plan a Rock Night at School Bar on Jun 20 and a poetry night in conjunction with Spittoon at DDC on Jun 27 to cap it all off (see more details at Djang San's website here).

Other musicians slated to take part include hotly buzzed Beijing indie pop duo Nocturnes, Beijing hard-rockers Swarrm, Polish metalheads Scream Maker, a slew of punk acts like The Sino Hearts, Oldy Baby, and visiting punks Neuroot from the Netherlands, and many, many more including, of course, the zhongruan-wielding Djang San and his band. Below, Djang San tells us about his inspiration for putting on these events as well as the sea changes he's seen in Beijing's arts scene over the past 20 years that he's resided here.

What inspired you to work on/coordinate all of these events?
I first came to Beijing in 2000 and I've always been interested in the extraordinary energy existing in the music and art scene in China. Living in Beijing has inspired me to release more than 40 albums in the last 15 years and to collaborate and play with many artists and musicians based in Beijing.

Having done many events over the years under the Beijing Underground banner (an idea I created a few years ago), mostly on my own, I figured it was time to get several people and organizations in Beijing together. I wanted to create an event that allowed several communities to share their passion for music and art in the Chinese capital. I contacted Temple and Rock Against Jams and we agreed to create a whole week of music at Temple at the end of June, from the 19th to the 24th, with music every night, and maybe one of the best periods for music in Beijing as most people are preparing to go on holiday and are thinking less about work.

Why do you think these events will appeal to Beijingers?
The events are happening in five different venues. So far we have gigs set for Yue Space, Temple, School, and DDC. It's all explained on the website. More events might be added later so if you don't want to miss anything please check back regularly.

These events are a representation of the bustling art and music scene in Beijing. It will appeal to Beijingers because it's all a part of their city, a city that is the center of art and music in China. The goal of the Beijing Underground is to support the existence of the art and music scene in China and the Chinese speaking world and to make it appealing and apparent to the rest of the world too.

What genres will be covered at these shows?
All kinds of music styles are represented, from electro, to experimental, to rock, to metal, to punk, and more. If you want to know more about the artists and bands, there are presentations and interviews with them on the website too.

Concerning music there's a mix of different bands and artists in the events, there are also DJs. It demonstrates a small spectrum of everything that can be found in the Beijing scene, and that's why there we asked these different places and artists involved.

The series of events is in full swing now, so how do you think it's been going thus far?
The Grand Slam and the Loreli Affordable Art Market on Jun 3 already went very well. The Grand Slam competition, for which I was one of the judges, showed a side of modern poetry that isn't well known in China, which was pretty cool.

The next event with Spittoon, on Jun 27 at DDC, "Spittoon presents Spittunes", will have local musicians and poets collaborating to create music to back poetry by Chinese poets.

It's been a tough year for Beijing in terms of culture and lifestyle, with many venues being closed down and many events being canceled. Tell us about how this series of events can help cheer people up with some oh-so-rare good news.
I think the good news is not so rare [laughs]. I see music and art life in Beijing and China as an ocean: sometimes the waves are high and sometimes the sea is calm. Ever since I have been in China I have seen a phenomenon of cycles in the music and arts scenes, where sometimes things were amazing and sometimes nothing happened at all. Old venues close, and new ones open. When I first came here the music venues were mostly around Sanlitun and Jingmao Daxue. Later that center moved to Gulou. What's next?

Whatever happens most artists in China will come to Beijing to make it. And foreigners interested in art and music in China and wanting to be a part of it will settle in Beijing. Art and music run deep into the veins of Beijing and Beijingers, and it will always be a part of the city!

The remaining Beijing Underground events (which may be subject to change or expansion) can be found in full here. As they currently stand, they are:

Part 3, Jun 19-24: Temple Music Week (including French night, experimental night, metal night, punk night, new sensation night)
Part 4, Jun 20: School Rock night at School Bar
Part 5, Jun 27: Spittoon presents Spittunes at DDC

More stories by this author here.
Email: kylemullin@truerun.com
Twitter: @MulKyle
Instagram: mullin.kyle

Photos: Courtest of Djang San, Charles Turner