In recent months the West’s interest in Chinese youth culture has skyrocketed. From bloggers to a booming art scene, the future of Chinese artistic expression has proven an endlessly debatable subject of interest. Not only are Western bands touring China in unprecedented numbers, China’s own underground rock scene is becoming a force to be reckoned with.

The William Morris Agency set up shop in Shanghai in 2004, and Warner Brothers Records is soon to follow. But, up until now, much of the speculation and judgment regarding China’s own underground culture has come from Westerners, or Beijing-based music professors – not the bands themselves. So, psychoPEDIA contacted Huadong, lead signer of Rebuilding the Rights of Statues (Re-TROS) – a Beijing-based punk rock band that made a splash at SXSW earlier this year, and who has cultivated quite the following in their own hometown. In his own words:

Where do you get most of your music?
Before the Internet became popular in China, one way to get most of my music was to buy "cutted off" CDs – a kind of plastic garbage from the West. All the CDs would be damaged with cracks, but some tracks from these CDs survived. Those tracks became the main way for most Chinese musicians. Now, the Internet is the easiest way to get everything I want.

What are the biggest misconceptions about China and its youth culture?
I don't know. I think the typical life of a Chinese youth is still strange to Western people. Differences and curiosity have created misconception.

What are five young Chinese bands that everyone should know?
I think I can just introduce two bands from China – PK14 and SUBS. The rest are not good enough.

How would you describe China’s (Beijing’s in particular) underground music scene right now?
The underground music scene in China, and especially in Beijing, has become much better than before. 5 years ago the main style of rock music in China was just Heavy Metal or Punk. Now we can meet different bands who play with different styles.

Are most of these bands classically trained in music, or is there a growing ‘Do it Yourself’ mentality?
Some bands are classically trained, but most of them cannot be creative. The bands that have the greatest and most positive influence on the development of Chinese underground music are so called "DIY Bands."

Are all these bands looking for a record deal and huge success?
Yes, they do look for huge success -- who doesn't?

In what ways does the government’s censorship affect the typical life of a Chinese rock musician, and how has it specifically affected Re-TROS?
Our government doesn't care about the China rock musician. There are too many big deals our government cares more about. But we cannot write lyrics against this country, this government, or our lyrics cannot be about erotica, violence, etc...

Is there the same phenomenon in China as there is in Western culture with girls going crazy for rock stars?
Yes, I do think so. History will always be repeated. Girls will always repeat the going crazy for rock stars. But I think this phenomenon in China is nothing about culture, it's just fashion.

What do you think of the media and music industry’s current expressed interest in China?
Exposure rate. Sales volume. Then money.

What was it like performing in the US versus performing in Beijing?
I think the biggest difference is: most audiences in the States are coming to our show because of their curiosity about a rock band from "red China." But that's not a problem to us. Everything is going to change in the future.

Are you excited for the Olympics?
I don't care about the Olympics in China. It's like a bad joke that can’t make me laugh. I plan to learn to smile at this joke next year.

~Alisa Gould-Simon

Watch Re-TROS' video for "TV Show (Hang the Police)."



*To keep up to date with China's underground music scene, check out Beijing blogs like Chaile.org.

First four photos by Rashphoto via Flickr