New Sounds of China is back for Episode 2 on The Nanfang.
Episode 2 is titled Maybe Mars, which is one of the most well-known record labels working with Chinese bands. Here’s what you’ll hear:
Following the sweeping historical introduction of episode one, we tighten our focus in episode two, and feature the music of just one record label, Maybe Mars. But what a label! Since 2007, Maybe Mars has been generating attention well beyond the domestic Chinese market, with its acts and attitude gaining coverage in publications as highly regarded and diverse as The Wire, Time Magazine, The New Yorker, The Guardian, and The Wall Street Journal.
Rather than simply heighten the existing wave of adulation, we assess the reasons behind the phenomenal success of Maybe Mars, as well as its sister venue, D-22, located in the happening Beijing university district of Wudaokou. In between experimental, post-punk and plain old punk tracks, we talk to New Yorker Michael Pettis, the man behind the label, who combines previous Wall Street banking experience with connections to avant-garde artists such as Glenn Branca, Blixa Bargeld, and Elliot Sharp. We also interview two artists on the label: Zhang Shouwang of Car Sick Cars, China’s answer to Sonic Youth; and Chen Xi of the dark and brooding Snapline.
As always, the show is hosted by Paul Kendall and Hu Pan. You can listen to it here.
Past episodes of New Sounds of China can be found here.
