In The News: Perhat Khaliq, Low Bow, Chinese Reggae, Chai Mi & thruoutin

Here’s some articles floating around the web to tear into – including a look into one of Uyghur’s rising rock star – Perhat Khaliq. Also, an interview with lo-fi trash blues duo Low Bow, an piece on Chinese influence on Jamaican music, and a closer look at a multimedia project between Chai Mi and thruoutin.

Beige Wind, who runs the website the art of life in chinese central asia (as well as contributing to BeijingCream) has been a great window into the music scene in Xinjiang – his most recent exposé was on Uyghur rock star Perhat Khaliq, whose recent spot on The Voice of China had the internet doing backflips. Love the reaction shots of the Chinese judges. Beige goes on in great length to Perhat’s upbringing and the influence his and his wife’s music has had on Chinese youth in West China and beyond. Just goes to show – the musical gap between different regions across China is slowly getting smaller.

Reggae music influenced by Chinese? Say it ain’t so. According to the recent article, ‘Chinese pioneers of Jamaican music to be honoured’ from Jamaica Observer (hat tip to Shanzhai Laowai for the link), that’s exactly the case. In it they state how Chinese-Jamaicans played a fundamental role in the development of the music in Jamaica, as indentured workers who learn the trade and made business opportunities at every turn. So essentially, they made contemporary Jamaican music profitable – neato.

Genjing Records, is cranking out the goods – their latest interview tracks down the two behind Low Bow, the lo-fi trash blues duo who released shit tons of material the last two years. And though the band’s de facto leader is off sulking about Chengdu, the band still has plenty to say, and hint at the possibility of a tour soon enough.

Last, a quick look at inside the multimedia collaborator between animator Chai Mi and electronic artist thruoutin – The Sparrow and The Raven’ – over at China Music Radar. Also included is a little video preview of the project/performance at Zhejiang Art Museum. I’ve talked to plenty of art and architect geeks who went gaga over thisthing, so it’s no surprise the project is expanding further and further. Read up on it here. Kudos.