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Chinese Underground

September 6, 2010 LifeStyle, people

Not sleeping at night megacities, lively motorway, the gray skies of smog and restless rockers in tight leather pants. Photographer Matthew Niderhauzer showed the reverse side of the urban boom in China.

1) “Hip-hop, rock and punk is not music of the West, and the music of the city”, – explains Matthew Niderhauzer, a photographer who spent two years in China, behind the scenes and on tour, watching the rise of underground China. Trio «Hedgehog» were unheralded musicians, not yet famous in 2007 after incendiary concert at the Beijing club «D-22″. (Matthew Niederhauser, Christina Larson)

2) When we hear about the new face of China, we imagine skyscrapers and highways, which every day becomes more and more, but this is only one aspect of urbanization. Meanwhile, social conflicts and the growing gap between rich and poor in the major cities of China in much the same social upheavals in London and Manchester in the 1960-70s, respectively. And if in London because of the effects of urbanization were born «Clash», «Sex Pistols» and «Joy Division», then in modern China are very popular groups such as «The Scoff», «PK 14», «Demerit», «New Pants» and pictured here «Snapline». (Matthew Niederhauser, Christina Larson)

3) But even in a country with a population of 1.3 billion underground musicians have nowhere to turn. China’s media, particularly television and radio are controlled by the state, and disaffected rebels there do not favor. To produce a newspaper or make a record, you need formal permission of the Communist Party. Therefore, live concerts are needed for young groups, such as air. (Matthew Niederhauser, Christina Larson)

4) Do Niderhauzera there are dozens of portraits of musicians on the background of easily recognizable red walls of the dressing room «D-22″, the Beijing club, one of the few rave places of the capital.Among other hot musical dots Beijing – «Mao Livehouse» and «Yugong Yishan». (Matthew Niederhauser, Christina Larson)

5) “tradition” of Chinese culture, a country with a huge, historically a volatile area, by and large, a myth. But the current modernization, as noted Niderhauzer, creates a kind of homogeneity: in the southern Changsha, Harbin in the north and built the same shopping centers and parking. Dissatisfaction or confusion in regard to the changes – sources of modern urban concerns. (Matthew Niederhauser, Christina Larson)

6) to tour the country, where the track either just opened or never paved, not so simple. In 2008 Niderhauzer rode around China with a group of «Demerit». Photo taken at a concert group that night had moved from city to city by train in economy class by dragging a piece of equipment. They stayed in the cities of 10 million, went to the local club, often the only, and played for a handful of grateful listeners. “Dregs of society”, famous song Demerit, can be called an anthem of protest: “What s ** I must be faithful to you? / We do not want to be victims of greed / hate you because you have no future / People are dying of hunger / No way, we are powerless … Send me to work, send me to fight / Send me to die for you / hate you because you have no future / we just dregs of society “.(Matthew Niederhauser, Christina Larson)

7) The Chinese underground attracts more attention and fans, and therefore has a bad reputation. In 2006 and 2007 at a music festival in the open near Beijing have gathered thousands of fans. “It was then that power and worried”, – explains Nidukhauzer. Last year the Ministry of Culture of China has taken all measures to avoid participation in Beijing “Festival of the Big Sky” foreign musicians and local groups Rebuilding the Rights of Statues («Fighting for the Rights of Monuments”). (Matthew Niederhauser, Christina Larson)

If some of the Chinese underground musicians sing openly about the hopelessness of urban and public pressure, then there are those whose spontaneity and immediacy with which they set the foundations of logic and your feet do not mind, can not fail to excite. In the photo – two members of the group «Second Hand Rose», combining rock and traditional Chinese melodies. (Matthew Niederhauser, Christina Larson)

9) Group «PK-14″ has a special place in the pantheon of the Chinese underground. It was formed in 1999 in the city of Tianjin in the east. Frontman Huey Yang Song said that Tianjin reminds him of Manchester: “This is a cold, gray, depressing. But residing in Beijing hurt to return home for a more subtle reason: “The city was quite different, and life goes on, and it catches the eye … I do not know whether this is good or bad, but it’s true. To achieve something, you need to go through this painful period for China, cruel time of the state. (Matthew Niederhauser, Christina Larson)

10) Ask the Chinese musicians about their idols, and in response you hear the familiar names: Bob Dylan, «Clash», Woody Guthrie, «AC / DC», «Joy Division». Y Yang Hai Song from «PK-14″, which last fall during a tour of the United States traveled to Washington, his head did not fit that he is at home post-hardcore band «Fugazi»: «It is encouraging not only their music, but and philosophy. For us, DC – is a special place. “ Nevertheless, according to the singer, what is happening in China – is not just an imitation of Western music trends, and unusual eclectic mix of styles and traditions. (Matthew Niederhauser, Christina Larson)

11) Center for the musical life of China – Beijing, not Shanghai. While in the capital are the best museums and universities, not so civilian clothes, as it may seem, notes Niderhauzer. In the Chinese capital lives a famous Chairman Ca, an artist whose madness was decorated with posters of the best club. (Matthew Niederhauser, Christina Larson)

12) Yang Hai Song from «PK-14″ tells about the creation of one of the best songs, «Red River» («Red River”): “The two argued. One says that we should cross the river, it will be better. And the other replies: “Hardly. I doubt that we shall be changed “. His fans (see photo) understand that we are talking about changes in China. (Matthew Niederhauser, Christina Larson)

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