One Man and His Uke: Courtney Wing on His Beijing Show

Canadian multi-instrumentalist Courtney Wing hits Beijing on Sunday night as part of JUE. His show is being dubbed one of the not-to-be-missed performances of the festival. We took the opportunity to ask the Vancouverite about his live performances, his influences and his strange penchant for bin-dipping.

Your live performances have been described as both ‘stripped-down’ and ‘grandiose’. What can we expect for your JUE performance?
Well, I'll be performing with the same set-up that I mostly play with when I’m immersed in the creation of song, and that's with a very stripped-down set-up. Just me with a couple of guitars and a ukulele – my battle tools of songwriting. The only real difference is that I won't be 'stripped down' in my underwear which is how I often am at home while writing in the morning hours. Haha.

Who is the primary influence in your music?
Those who pass through my life at any given moment, sharing great bouts of laughter and creative and obscene ideas about all angles of life – mostly my good friends and sometimes fresh strangers.

What do you think is the key to writing a good song?
Patience, heart, perseverance.

You’ve been described as ‘nomadic’. Of the places you’ve traveled to, which has most influenced your music?
Generally the most obscure and unusual places I pass through in life. It could be in the back of a taxi with my uke in hand, or in a lobby entertaining a group of old ladies who have asked for a song, or on-hold on the telephone with an annoying utilities company.

We read somewhere that you like to salvage things people throw away in their trash! Have you managed to salvage anything in Beijing?
Just the leftovers from most delicious Chinese meals I eat. Yum.

Courtney Wing plays at Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar on Mar 18 as part of the JUE Music+Art Festival.

Photo: courtneywing.com