New Sounds of China Episode 1: The History of Chinese Alternative Music

In the first episode of a five-part series, we provide a short, opinionated history of Chinese alternative music. Moving from the Cultural Revolution to the Jasmine Revolution, we begin with Taiwanese pop imported into late 1970s China, then progress through rock, electronica, hip-hop and alternative tracks, to arrive at the current Chinese music scene just in time for our second episode on Beijing post-punk and experimental music.

Interview clips include commentary from Andrew Jones, an academic expect in rock music of the Tiananmen Square era; Zuoxiao Zuzhou, an avant-garde musician and friend of Chinese dissident Ai Weiwei; and Jon Campbell, author of a book on the history of Chinese rock music.

Paul Kendall, a former music journalist (Time Out Beijing, China Radio International, Billboard) and current Chinese music PhD student presents the show alongside Hu Pan, a Beijing-born rock musician, Peking opera performer, and music journalist.