Wasted Laika is a punk-rock band from Beijing that debuted back in 2017. This band is composed of five members: a lead singer, two guitarists, a bassist, and a drummer. Within the first three years of their artist career, the band has performed on five national tours and created several DIY projects. In 2019, the band produced and released two EPs: “The Plain of Forgetfulness” and “Little Storm.” In both 2017 and 2018, Wasted Laika won the title for “Best Rookie of the Year” and named “Band of the Year” in 2019. Though they have achieved great amounts of success, these past few years have not been easy for the band, for they dealt with a lot of ups and downs throughout their creative journey. However, the band chooses to see the positive aspects behind these struggles, as they believe that these experiences allow for them to improve and become better artists.
Although the current pandemic has restrained many artists from holding live shows, the band has had the privilege of being able to perform some smaller shows. Since the end of May, the band has been traveling and performing their music. For them, performance is a very natural thing so being able to get back out there has been a blessing.
When it comes to the origin of the band name, one of the band members answered with this:
I guess you can call us a rock band, or an “unusual pop band” if you want. There are so many people who want to be rockstars, but we characterize ourselves as a “Rock 'n' Roll Shooting Star”. I’ve gotten asked by many people “how many Leica cameras have you guys lost?” Well, I never even used a Leica. In 1957, the Soviet Sputnik II satellite carried Laica, a stray dog, into space, where it eventually burned up in the atmosphere with Laica's body. We are the dazzling moment that burned up in the atmosphere.
Meet the Band
Tu Junnan | Lead Singer
Wang Xiaolong | Guitarist
Li Tanghua | Guitarist
Zhao Yanqiao | Bassist
Zhang Yongguo | Drummer
Music Dish x Wasted Laika Q&A
Which song best introduces your music to new listeners?
Junnan: “Parachute”
Tanghua: “Sheep Rider”
Yanqiao: “Don’t Dance in the Toilet”
Xiaolong: “Su Like"
Yongguo: “My Brother’s House is in the Northeast”
What was the most memorable moment when recording the album?
Junnan: Our producer, Pinggong, proposed the idea of adding a sample of a working bicycle in one of our songs. We thought this would sound cool, so we went to an alley and stole a bell from an old bicycle.
Tanghua: When we were recording the bicycle sample, Pinggong actually taught Xiaolong how to ride a bicycle, and then taught him how to properly ring the bicycle’s bell to fit the beat of the song.
During your live performances, what are you trying to express?
Junnan: I want to express the true meaning of our lyrics.
Yanqiao: Simply trying to express the feeling of the sound and vision of our music’s scene itself.
Yongguo: We express the mood and true state of our music.
Which live performance impressed you the most?
Junnan: It was our performance in Chengdu with our friends, Plastic Band.
Tanghua: Our concert at Oula, because Yianqiao tried to smoke on stage, but was instantly scolded for doing so.
Yanqiao: I enjoyed wearing a suit at the Cloud Music Festival last year.
Xiaolong: Every performance.
Yongguo: Our concert in Suzhou.
Who would you swap lives with for a month?
Junnan: Either one of my parents
Tanghua: Qi Mu Nanxiong
Yanqiao: Tang Seng
Xiaolong: Xingjue
Yongguo: My dog
Fan Q&A
Who are your top five favorite bands?
Junnan: I can think of a few: Dead Kennedys, Pixies, Fat White Family, Faust, Bedstars, Dirty Fingers, Hai Pengsen, Spaceman 3, My Little Airport, Waist
Tanghua: Libertines, Strokes, Tokyo Incidents, SRV, and Daft Punk, but in no particular order
Yanqiao: Wasted Laika, Wasted Laika, Wasted Laika, Wasted Laika….
Do you have any recommendations for things to do at home during this unprecedented time?
Junnan: Read works from Flannery O’Connor, Jin Ailan, Pei Yili, and Tan Bo
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