This week, Shanghai’s experimental promotion group, S.T.D., brought legendary guitarist Jorma Kaukonen to Yuyintang for a special acoustic performance. This man has been touring the world for the last 40 years with his storied bands, which include Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna. Here’s what he had to say after the show.
How did your life-long love affair with the six string begin?
I never really thought about the guitar until I was about fourteen or fifteen years old. A friend of mine...[read more]
As mentioned previously, I attended Peter Hook's Q&A on Friday night and as expected, I was very impressed. Not only should the people of Central Studios get big points for laying out cans of cold Tsingtao and a delightful array of Japanese nibbles, but I also commend the man himself. Peter answered questions from the (very intimate) audience with humorous, unpretentious and off-the-cuff answers.
Case in point: When someone asked him to pinpoint what it was about the Sex Pistols...[read more]
Why do you think Strip and Browhaus have been so attractive to the Shanghai population?
Our services are so highly needed in Shanghai because there are so many expats here who have been waxing since the age of 15, 16. There are salons that do waxing but they don't specialize like we do. Also, many of our customers have heard of us first in Singapore and trust our standards of hygiene.
Which has proved more popular: Strip or Browhaus?
I would say Browhaus....[read more]
What is meditation about and what are the benefits of using it as a way to quit smoking?
The main function of meditation is to help us relax and feel calm. I think the purpose of smoking for most people is to find relaxation. Meditation will help the whole body and mind reach a peaceful state, and also allows us to control the mind and emotions. So when we do meditation, we are in a totally mild mood, and this will...[read more]
The National Drummers of Burundi are just one of the performers appearing at the World Music Shanghai festival on May 21 and 22. Rarely venturing out of Africa, their unique style of drumming combines element of dance, and is performed during important national celebrations and visits by foreign dignitaries.
What does your unique style of drumming involve?
The performance responds to the rhythm of the warriors to encourage them to victory. For the performance, first of all, there is a scout who...[read more]
Is Fratelli your first restaurant? What possessed you to create one?
Yes, it is. I run an Italian brand of men's garments and got to know many Italian friends. By accident, I met someone who is the CEO of a famous condom brand. We became friends and he told me there is not only fashion culture in Italy, but also wine culture. It was then that I started on the wine business. In my opinion, a good way to promote wine...[read more]
Where are you from originally and do you like living in Shanghai?
I am originally from Mexico City, so I am used to living in a big, busy city. I love the stress of it, the traffic, the noise and the people - it's very familiar. Having lived in Europe for the last 10 years, I can see many similarities between Shanghai and European cities like Brussels. The Bund also reminds me of Chicago.
Where did you first learn the art of...[read more]
What is it like to balance full-time jobs and the band?
Morgan Short: It's hard. We practice after working all day and it's tough to fit the touring stuff in between jobs, but we think we're really awesome, so we keep doing it.Devin Gallery: But Morgan can wake up at any hour of the day he wants. Jordan and I are teachers so we're up at six in the morning, [Morgan] rolls into bed at 3!
What's the worst show you...[read more]
Has it been a long process creating Cvrve?
We already kind of had the concept of what we wanted to do and we were just trying to find the best venue. And this really fell into our lap - there is no more prominent building than Shanghai Centre and there's no more prominent position in Shanghai Centre than the nose of the building. It's a space that's been absolutely screaming for something to be done for such a long, long time.
Why...[read more]
What is your background in the F&B industry? Have you always had an interest in food?
Aida: Yes, I have always had an interest in food and I think that the restaurant scene in Shanghai is very vibrant right now. Before moving to China, I was involved in the management of nightclubs in Japan, and I felt that there was an opening here for a restaurant that offers more than food and drink - somewhere that people can gather to listen...[read more]
What's your background in the music industry?
After graduation, I formed a band, but our music was so specialized back then we had trouble getting a recording contract. I decided that the only way to release our music would be to set up my own record label, Soma Records. Mao Livehouse is a joint project that Soma Records set up with Bad News, a Japanese record label, and MSI, a music equipment company.
How has the live music scene in Shanghai changed...[read more]
What are your ambitions?
At the moment, we are full-time musicians and we intend to build careers in the music business. We are not interested in fame but we want to be successful. It doesn't matter if it takes five years, 10 years or even longer.
What kind of music do you listen to and what other artists influence your work?
We are inspired by bands like Faithless, Pet Shop Boys and Madonna. We also listen to jazz, electro pop, indie pop, and...[read more]
You have been earning your living from writing since you were 23; in what ways would you say your writing has changed over the years?
I've got better at plot (which was never my great strength!). I plan more; I shape the book before writing it, the way an architect plans a building.
What would you say are the biggest influences on your writing?
My life experiences and the books I read.
Your writing encompasses a broad range of mediums. Do you...[read more]
You first picked up a guitar at the tender age of six. What inspired you at that time to become a musician?
My father and my mum, they care about the Catholic Church. My mother was singing in the mass and my father at that time was taking care of the music in the mass. Every time he had to find someone to play guitar and every day the guitarists would change, and he started to get tired of that. So...[read more]
What is the meaning behind the name, Fount?
The Chinese name is fang (匚), which means "the majesty that comes from the East". It's very lucky in feng shui terms and is particularly relevant since Japan is in the east too. The English meaning of "fount" is like flowing water. We use it to make our business better; like a fountain, it never stops flowing.
For you, what are the essential ideas behind this project?
High-end, classy, unique, elegant and exquisite. I...[read more]
What made you want to open an izkaya-style eatery in Shanghai? A particular love of Japan?
Actually, it happened to be that I met my girlfriend who is Japanese in Shanghai. Also, I have several business partners that are Japanese. At the same time, I am a big fan of Japanese cuisine and we go to Japan for food with my girlfriend quite often.
Prior to this project, you've participated in the creation of a Spanish eatery and a cocktail haven. How...[read more]
This Friday and Saturday starting at 8pm, Beedees, one of the hangouts for local musicians to play and imbibe, is hosting a two-night benefit concert in support of the cross-cultural initiative Shen Hai. In honor of Shen Hai and in the hopes of building a stronger, more diversified artistic scene in Shanghai, these concerts will be nothing short of a cultural mash-up festival. We interviewed Beedees owner Jeffery Davis to get the low down on his bar and what's in...[read more]
What are some of the differences in Ed Banger you have witnessed since joining in 2004?
I suppose the way it has grown into a bona fide label, slowly but surely. All the music is a lot more diverse than people sometimes allude to. It's too easy to talk about an Ed Banger 'sound' as I don't think there really is one. With Justice, something really happened that marked, albeit in a small but important way, popular music culture, if in...[read more]
When did you first pick up a rugby ball?
Before playing rugby, martial arts, track and field were my sports. When I came to Beijing in 1993 to join the China Agricultural University I remember the first day I went to the training pitch around nine o'clock in the morning. That was my first time touching a rugby ball and that is how my rugby career began.
When did you realize that this is what you wanted to do for a career,...[read more]
You've been heralded as China's finest ever player and an ambassador for the sport here. Ever get recognised on the street?
No, the Chinese rugby scene is not very large. Some friends joke by saying those who play rugby in China should know Johnny Zhang and if they don't they don't really like rugby.
All that tackling and no padding: have you ever had any serious injuries?
Training is hard and is always accompanied by exhaustion, sweat and injuries, but all sports need...[read more]
