Interview: Kang Mao of SUBS
BJ punk rock band SUBS live on stage at Windows this weekend - By Ciga, Apr 03, 08
This Saturday, BJ punk rock band SUBS are returning to Shanghers to "break in" -- and in all likelihood destroy -- the newly resurrected stage at Windows Tembo. Joined by SH street punk purists Mortal Fools, SUBS thrash about in post-hardcore waters, and it's gotten them compared to The Refused and At the Drive In since they formed in 2002. All comparisons and classifications aside, however, for the uninitiated this is one of those bands that offers that certain punk rock je ne sais qois that makes them totally undeniable.
If you like anything remotely near punk rock, check them out this Saturday. Don't drop the ball on this. It's free too.
SmartShanghai called up SUBS' lead singer Kang Mao on the phone before she got on the train down here to blah blah blah about touring, their new DIY album, Rolling Stone, and other assorted SUBS stuff.
***
The band was started by me and our guitarist. We met each other in Wuhan. But we were in different bands in Beijing, and we were like "we should start a band while the other shitty bands are playing." Then we started to talk about doing it.
Yeah, I was in an all-female punk band, our guitarist was in a hardcore band. This was in the late '90s. Our drummer was in a grunge band, but all the styles were deeply connected.
We are not a political band, and I'm totally not a politician. It's sometimes depressed living in China, and we are sensitive to that.
They come from daily life, for example, with the 2008 Olympics are coming, we are being driven away. We have strong feelings about it...
We always call ourselves "indie punk." But as far as punk goes, it's more on the spiritual level. There are a lot of different things in our music.
We don't try to think about it otherwise you get locked into a dogma of how something is supposed to be. But from the song lyrics it's still punk. It's ingrained in us and can't be changed.
You could say that. We are brave, rebel, and we don't trust authority. The DIY aspect of living and music is especially important to us. That's all from punk.
Actually, we prefer pure-hearted music with low-fi aesthetic. I especially like going to watch punk shows. But there's less and less punk in China. Maybe it's becoming out-of-fashion lately. There's more and more garage. Punk is being squeezed out.
We're kinda famous in Europe. The audiences there are quite different. Our lyrics are in English, right, so we don't have problem in communication, but our living situation is different. They are more open-minded and happier in Europe, while some audiences here react really differently. They get shocked, start shivering, or even start crying.
It's because our music is from Chinese life. Chinese audiences can understand what we're talking about better. Audience outside of China can't feel it in the same way. Although Chinese audience sometime can't release themselves.
There're actually two different meanings to that. On the one hand, we wan't people to know we are from China, but why we need to say it? You can feel the China in our music. On the other hand, it addresses those people calling us CHINESE band. We don't want our music to be placed on another level. Some people say "Wow, it's a Chinese band, and it's good enough to be like that." We trust our music and you can absolutely compare our band with international bands.
Too many. People coming on stage while I'm singing. Sometimes, I can't even leave backstage after a show to meet our fans. We had performed in Norway, I taught the audience how to say "niu bi," then thousands of people were yelling "niu bi, nui bi!" After we were walking on the street in Finland, there was this dude, kneeling down, and he put up his hands and started yelling "niu bi" at us.
I told them it means "so fucking cool."
I was reading a cover story of Nirvana before the photo shooting. The way we did that shoot was kinda funny. In the original picture I'm not actually wearing any pants. But it couldn't go through in China, so the art director edited the photo and put pants on me.
We're keeping our heads above water. We are all full-time in the band instead of doing commercial events. And no one is doing nine-to-five work.
Based on the music itself, we don't see much good going on. But on the other hand, it's good enough to go on the stage.
I think we are actually laowai in Beijing...
It doesn't matter. I've been here for many years that I've been influenced by what I've seen and heard.
Actually, everything is written in the album. We had an album in 2006, and it's been a year since we started doing this one. For us, we can't take the days without recording. At the mean time, we have plenty of new songs, which are more than what we had before. It's quite expensive to record in Beijing right now -- up to 8000rmb a day. We're signed to American label. The producer is pretty good, but he's famous and busy. So we started to record by ourselves. We don't have much money so we used a 4-track recorder, it's pretty low-fi for recording nowadays. And it's so so underground...
We had very, very deep and strong feelings during the recording. I can tell you that the place we did it in was freezing. It was winter. At that time, emotions were high. It wasn't like having a milkshake, wearing high heels, and singing punk rock in a warm, comfortable place.
It's much better than we had expected. Yet, you can hear it's totally different and special from studio recording.
Most of the time, our guitarist starts the idea. Then we'll perform together to make the melody. Sometimes we could come up the idea by someone just playing the guitar while we are taking a break. Then we'll do some editing after that. Like our track "Red Hair." This song came about while we are rehearsing which only took us few hours to write it.
Of course! But you can't get it any where else except at the show. We are releasing 1,000 all over the world. As we have to keep some for our tour outside of China, we're thinking about limiting it to 500 copies for the China tour. Besides, it's a reason for people to get back to live show. That's the life of rock music. So you can't get it in a CD store. We've already had problems with people who make fake CDs coming to our shows to buy up tons of CDs. So, we're limiting them to five CDs per person, so that people from other cities where we are not playing can get them from their friends.
We have some plans. First we are thinking about the cooperation with the current company. Then we are going to release DVD this autumn. It's a live show DVD.
We're planning to have some good shows this year. Also we want to release a new album in the mean time. Our guitarist is confident about releasing a new album. Since we've got this DIY album, he has faith in that way of doing it. But I still think we need to wait a little bit until the DVD is released. It
If you like anything remotely near punk rock, check them out this Saturday. Don't drop the ball on this. It's free too.
SmartShanghai called up SUBS' lead singer Kang Mao on the phone before she got on the train down here to blah blah blah about touring, their new DIY album, Rolling Stone, and other assorted SUBS stuff.
***
How did you guys start playing music?
The band was started by me and our guitarist. We met each other in Wuhan. But we were in different bands in Beijing, and we were like "we should start a band while the other shitty bands are playing." Then we started to talk about doing it.
So you were in other bands before?
Yeah, I was in an all-female punk band, our guitarist was in a hardcore band. This was in the late '90s. Our drummer was in a grunge band, but all the styles were deeply connected.
A lot of your lyrical content speaks out against social rules and conformity. How much of a role do your political and ideological beliefs play in the song writing?
We are not a political band, and I'm totally not a politician. It's sometimes depressed living in China, and we are sensitive to that.
Where do your ideas for lyrics come from?
They come from daily life, for example, with the 2008 Olympics are coming, we are being driven away. We have strong feelings about it...
I've read the SUBS labeled "punk" and "post-hardcore." Do you consider yourself a punk band?
We always call ourselves "indie punk." But as far as punk goes, it's more on the spiritual level. There are a lot of different things in our music.
Are music genres something that you think about?
We don't try to think about it otherwise you get locked into a dogma of how something is supposed to be. But from the song lyrics it's still punk. It's ingrained in us and can't be changed.
Do you subscribe to the "punk" lifestyle?
You could say that. We are brave, rebel, and we don't trust authority. The DIY aspect of living and music is especially important to us. That's all from punk.
You said on your blog that all the band members listen to different kind of music and the music you make is different from what you listen to. What do you like?
Actually, we prefer pure-hearted music with low-fi aesthetic. I especially like going to watch punk shows. But there's less and less punk in China. Maybe it's becoming out-of-fashion lately. There's more and more garage. Punk is being squeezed out.
So now you're on a China tour but you were in Norway last year. What was that like touring Europe and how does it compare to playing in china?
We're kinda famous in Europe. The audiences there are quite different. Our lyrics are in English, right, so we don't have problem in communication, but our living situation is different. They are more open-minded and happier in Europe, while some audiences here react really differently. They get shocked, start shivering, or even start crying.
Is that because of the different culture?
It's because our music is from Chinese life. Chinese audiences can understand what we're talking about better. Audience outside of China can't feel it in the same way. Although Chinese audience sometime can't release themselves.
Your 2006 tour of Norway carried the sub-headline, "Why must we say we are made in China?" Can you talk more about that?
There're actually two different meanings to that. On the one hand, we wan't people to know we are from China, but why we need to say it? You can feel the China in our music. On the other hand, it addresses those people calling us CHINESE band. We don't want our music to be placed on another level. Some people say "Wow, it's a Chinese band, and it's good enough to be like that." We trust our music and you can absolutely compare our band with international bands.
Do you have any interesting tour stories?
Too many. People coming on stage while I'm singing. Sometimes, I can't even leave backstage after a show to meet our fans. We had performed in Norway, I taught the audience how to say "niu bi," then thousands of people were yelling "niu bi, nui bi!" After we were walking on the street in Finland, there was this dude, kneeling down, and he put up his hands and started yelling "niu bi" at us.
Do they know what "niu bi" is?
I told them it means "so fucking cool."
What was it like being on the cover of Chinese Rolling Stone?
I was reading a cover story of Nirvana before the photo shooting. The way we did that shoot was kinda funny. In the original picture I'm not actually wearing any pants. But it couldn't go through in China, so the art director edited the photo and put pants on me.
How's life in Beijing?
We're keeping our heads above water. We are all full-time in the band instead of doing commercial events. And no one is doing nine-to-five work.
What do you think about the music scene there?
Based on the music itself, we don't see much good going on. But on the other hand, it's good enough to go on the stage.
Is Beijing your city now?
I think we are actually laowai in Beijing...
Are you sick of getting asked about BJ all the time?
It doesn't matter. I've been here for many years that I've been influenced by what I've seen and heard.
Can you talk about your latest album?
Actually, everything is written in the album. We had an album in 2006, and it's been a year since we started doing this one. For us, we can't take the days without recording. At the mean time, we have plenty of new songs, which are more than what we had before. It's quite expensive to record in Beijing right now -- up to 8000rmb a day. We're signed to American label. The producer is pretty good, but he's famous and busy. So we started to record by ourselves. We don't have much money so we used a 4-track recorder, it's pretty low-fi for recording nowadays. And it's so so underground...
Your band is known for explosive live sets. How do you approach capturing this on an album?
We had very, very deep and strong feelings during the recording. I can tell you that the place we did it in was freezing. It was winter. At that time, emotions were high. It wasn't like having a milkshake, wearing high heels, and singing punk rock in a warm, comfortable place.
How's the sound? Is it different from usual recordings?
It's much better than we had expected. Yet, you can hear it's totally different and special from studio recording.
How does everyone play the role while making music?
Most of the time, our guitarist starts the idea. Then we'll perform together to make the melody. Sometimes we could come up the idea by someone just playing the guitar while we are taking a break. Then we'll do some editing after that. Like our track "Red Hair." This song came about while we are rehearsing which only took us few hours to write it.
Will the CD be available on Saturday?
Of course! But you can't get it any where else except at the show. We are releasing 1,000 all over the world. As we have to keep some for our tour outside of China, we're thinking about limiting it to 500 copies for the China tour. Besides, it's a reason for people to get back to live show. That's the life of rock music. So you can't get it in a CD store. We've already had problems with people who make fake CDs coming to our shows to buy up tons of CDs. So, we're limiting them to five CDs per person, so that people from other cities where we are not playing can get them from their friends.
What are you recording plans in the future?
We have some plans. First we are thinking about the cooperation with the current company. Then we are going to release DVD this autumn. It's a live show DVD.
What's next for SUBS?
We're planning to have some good shows this year. Also we want to release a new album in the mean time. Our guitarist is confident about releasing a new album. Since we've got this DIY album, he has faith in that way of doing it. But I still think we need to wait a little bit until the DVD is released. It
- Long Yu: China's Maestro in Chief
- Finding love in Shanghai
- Gubei Focus: Eat, drink, shop and play in the wild west
- DJ Shimon takes Shelter
shanghai.talkmagazines.cn
- Feb 5 » Hearts & Minds
- Jan 26 » Bachelor Party Suggestions
- Jan 19 » The Flood Gates
- Jan 5 » Goin’ the Distance
- Dec 11 » Friends or More
SmartShanghai presents:
Hassle free ticket purchasing and delivery for Shanghai's cultural and concert events.
More of SmartTicket here »
Hot selling:
April 16-18
Formula 1 GP
The highest class of auto racing returns to Shanghai with all your favourite racing teams and celebrity drivers. Head on down to check out the fastest cars on earth.
Details & prices »March 6
Peking Opera - Notre Dame
The Shanghai Peking Opera troupe presents their rendition of The Hunchback of Notre Dame starring Shi Yihong, Dong Hongsong and more.
Details & prices »