Music Industry Insight: Lolly, Maybe Mars

Paul Ryding | Sep 17, 2012 6:00 pm | 3 comments | 1994 reads

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, Lolly of Maybe Mars.

On the best new band
The Planets

On the best band in the last 12 months
Rainbow Danger Club

On the development of the Beijing "scene"
In the past year, many governmental organizations are more involved with the music events, like British Education and French Culture Centre.

The whole atmosphere is getting healthier and more positive.

Many venues have appeared for musicians to perform, before it was live-houses, but now cafes, bars, even restaurants are inviting musicians to do regular performances. Even on a non-weekend day, you can easily find more than five venues with live performances.

On how Beijing stands up against other musical cities
Beijing is a city full of culture, and is also open and international, these are advantages for new music growth.

On getting recognition
It’s not hard, Beijing has too many opportunities for new musicians to show themselves, and quite a broad audience as well. As long as you make music sincerely, you will get acknowleged.

On getting ahead
First, bands need to have a serious attitude and determination for making music, and then it’s self-marketing. During the first period bands need to create their own website and contact venues to promote their music. As long as they are a part of the music sense, everything starts to go in the right direction.

On getting a foot in the door
Do regular performances with plans in mind and focus on cooperation with other bands.

On who new bands need to know
Someone whose words matter in media, but better if not a person who is solely related to music, but has other cross points with art and fashion.

On the most accommodating venues in town
XP、Hot Cat Club

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

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MarshallPlexi's picture MarshallPlexi Submitted by Guest on Tue, 09/18/2012 - 13:55

Being from Melbourne, Australia , we have a very large and strong local music scene. Combination of many types of live venues, pubs, clubs , restaurants , cafes around the city offering live music. Free Street Press Newspapers (Beat & Inpress) every Wednesday available at all Music Stores , Fashion Outlets, CD/DVD Retailers around the city. Each have circulations of over 300,000 copies weekly. These 2 are approx 40+ pages of News, Reviews, Interviews & Large sections in the back of who is playing where that coming week both Local & International Acts. This allows the kids to immediately see who is playing on which day at all venues around town in one paper.

It takes time to establish and grow a scene.You need a combination of all the above to promote and give access to live music for both established and young bands. It also helps if you have Int Acts touring with local bands supporting to get exposure. Beijing is heading in the right direction. Club,Bar & Venue owners need to work together to promote the industry as a whole. Support young bands. It is only through having places to play in front of a live audience that young musicians /bands can hone their skills and get better. Festivals etc also are great and things will develop in the future. Many genre's of music - Electronica, Rock, Blues, Jazz , Folk etc need to develop and grow.I'm sure the local & expate's in Beijing will support it if venues are available around the city to offer these different styles of live music. Once you have a solid live scene you then have overseas acts wanting to come play making it viable for them. When Major Acts come for Australia's Festivals you have spin off gigs where those acts will do solo shows in smaller clubs/bars. Many world class Blues performers have played small clubs in what they call "Sideshows" aside from the large festivals. Indie bands also from overseas. Having the clubs/bars etc works hand in hand with the Festivals to promote live music.

Melbourne's venues also allow the bands to sell their CD's and Merchandise (T-Shirts) etc at the gig,also helping to promote the bands. They employ promoters to promote the upcoming shows at a venue, and also bookers to look for new and interesting bands/performers to book for the venue.

If the everyone supports the local scene and venue owners work together , it will grow which will be great for Beijing. It's a great city of the World and deserves a strong grass roots music scene with world class local bands and performers.

coffeeandtv09's picture coffeeandtv09 Submitted by Guest on Tue, 09/18/2012 - 12:38

Fair criticism of some of the expert's picks, although a lot of them have improved over time. That being said, a cover band is still a cover band. They might be technically proficient, but they're ultimately just part of the scenery.

I guess people probably go out to see the "Beijing Beatles" or whatever, but beyond that I've never known anyone to make any special effort to go watch a band play songs written by other people.

fatboy's picture fatboy Submitted by Guest on Mon, 09/17/2012 - 23:56

I'm a little disappointed this music focus of thebeijinger has not included the Hard Rock Cafe band. I saw them a few months ago and they played a note-for-note Deep Purple's "Child in Time". Singer sang the high-C climax. Those guys, albeit commercial, are better than most of the experts' "best" bands, as the experts' bands miss too many notes. Also, the experts' choices are compromised by their relationship with chosen bands.

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