Liu Donghong Looks Back on 20 Years in BJ's Music Scene

Think of him as China's answer to the West's spate of mysterious, minimalist classic rock troubadours like Leonard Cohen and Rodriguez. Though Liu Donghong got his start far later than those world-famous legends, he's very much considered an esteemed elder statesman in his hometown's music scene. He and his bandmates in Sand spent many a night in the mid-'90s playing at Houhai bars, hoping to hit it big. Since then their straightforward rock has taken on folkier elements, and his new song "Then Consumers We Turn Out to Be", sports rambly vocals that border on spoken word, along with underlying Latin rhythms.

He gigs with less frequency these days, playing quiet sets at intimate venues like Jianghu here and there. But this weekend, Liu and Sand are slated for a more hyped set at Mogu Space on Saturday (Feb 10). Below, the enigmatic songsmith shares a few stories about his humble beginnings, mulls over the state of Beijing's music scene, and reveals plans for the next phase of a career that has already spanned 20 years.

Liu got his start playing humble Houhai bars in the mid-90's

We got our start in the mid-'90s, and though I had written some songs and my friends wanted to join me in a band, none of us were trained in music yet, and we had a hard time finding instruments. We had to settle for secondhand and even fourth-hand instruments, especially our drums.

Now Beijing has changed so much. Musicians can use much more expensive instruments than before.

Liu's 20-year catalogue is widely eclectic, his latest songs branching into spoken word and Latin vibes

Once a friend sent me a gift, and I brought it to my gig. I played in a very cozy tiny place called Rockland in Houhai. Twenty people made the place very crowded. I shared the gift with everybody there – whatever their color, whatever their gender, we cut it into pieces and we ate it. The gift was a piece of well-cooked donkey meat. I thought it was delicious, though maybe not everyone thought so [laughs].

Beijing is my hometown, but it doesn't feel homey to me at all. It’s more like a [pauses] … a very big brothel. And it’s been made bigger and bigger. It's not a home for anyone, it's all about shallow pleasure. There are many lonely people in Beijing, and they need to go somewhere and see someone other than their anxious bosses. They want to kill their boredom. Shows provide an escape. You can always meet new friends at a gig like mine.

Liu hopes to provide an escape for Beijingers stressed by the relentless grind of big city living

I have quite a few new songs that need to be finished. They are bluesy, acoustic, slow, and moody, talking sorts of songs. Like always, it’s almost impossible to define or label these songs. What I can tell you is that I will always say meaningful things with each and every word I sing. And people will have to listen carefully to pick up on all the nuances.

I just put one of my songs on Bandcamp (naoniu.bandcamp.com/releases), and I will surely upload more soon. I’ve had several domestic tours over the years, but I want to step over the borders and tour the world, as a songwriter, a wanderer, and an independent person.

Liu Donghong and Sand will perform at Mogu Space on Feb 10 at 9pm. Tickets are RMB 80 at the door, RMB 60 advance. For more information, click "Read more".

Photos courtesy of Liu Donghong, Mogu Space

---

Top Stories This Week:

• New Sanlitun Sandwich Shop Hotpress Impresses

Beijingers Are Buzzing About: