How independents slip their discs

• Source: Global Times
• [09:17 September 01 2010]
• Comments

Experimental music

Miniless Records, which focuses more on experimental music, was formed in 2006 by Han Han, the frontman of Duck Fight Goose.

It was initially intended to consolidate the scenes in less musically developed cities like Nanjing or Hangzhou, but is now based in Shanghai. Miniless has produced around 15 CDs over the past four years and has undertaken a number of tours.

"To be honest, we are not commercially successful," Han said.

"But I believe Miniless has already become some sort of token in many young people's minds. We don't, however, try to throw the word 'counter-culture' in their faces. It's shallow and boring to us."

Han said that in addition to financial and media support, the Shanghai scene requires a larger pool of local musicians. "What we need are bands, young people who think they can make different music. That's the backbone of a scene."

Newby echoed this view. "Some of the groups in the city are still pretty raw. Shanghai has some great bands, but there simply aren't that many, so any label has to only sign one or two bands actually capable of putting out a CD, or attempt to develop the others."

Most of China's big labels are based in Beijing and the capital is also the easiest place for independent labels to thrive.

"The Beijing labels are heavily involved in music festivals and help to organize the scene. Beijing is the cultural center of China and has many, many bands. Shanghai has a long way to go. It might take 20 years to catch up and this may never happen," said Yan.

The comparison of the scenes in Shanghai and Beijing is, however, something of an anathema to Newby: "The idea that Beijing has a better music scene than Shanghai becomes something of a self-fulfilling prophecy - bands like 24 Hours leave their home city to go to Beijing to develop their careers, not Shanghai."

Newby thinks that while Shanghai's music scene is growing, "it could probably do without constantly being compared to Beijing. It's a different city, with different things going on and a different crowd. It'd be great to have a music scene with the infrastructure and the labels that Beijing has in Shanghai, but that's a way off yet," he said.