In 2012, Zhang Wei left Buyi Band (with which he played for 12 years) and founded his new band, WHAI, and became the lead singer. WHAI can be described as one of China’s original psychedelic bands. Although WHAI has been established for 8 years, the band has always been low-key and mainly focused on creating music instead of marketing. Whether it is WHAI's music, band name, or their distinct impression, the band gives off a soothing and calm aura.
WHAI's new album is about to start production. The new album is planned to be produced by Howie B, who has collaborated with Björk, Massive Attack, U2, among other bands. Howie B has produced Trip-Hop / Break-beat style remixes for Siouxsie’s and basnshezy’s band albums. During the production of the album for U2 and as the fifth “member” of U2, he produced a DJ set for the band. In 1994, he founded his own music label, Pussyfoot, and joined Skylab, the top group that year, and produced an album for Björk in the same year. In addition, Howie B was also a resident DJ for the famous London club, Fabric.
Behind the Music is a Q & A series that follows mainly new bands in efforts to show the lives behind the music-making. This issue of Behind the Music features WHAI to talk about some fan-favorite questions. In this Q & A, you can feel that WHAI's Chinese psychedelic style is actually derived from their own Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism.
有儒释道自省自知自识之意
Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, self-reflection, self-knowledge
Meet The Band
Zhang Wei《张巍》Lead vocals
Beibei《贝贝》DJ
Gui Xian《龟仙》Bass
Wang Bing《王冰》 Drummer
Q&A
If you had to choose a song to introduce your own band to a first-time listener, which one would you choose and why?
Zhang Wei: "Happy & Triste" 《欢乐与忧伤》
Beibei: "Happy & Triste"
《欢乐与忧伤》
Gui Xian: "Happy & Triste"
《欢乐与忧伤》
Wang Bing: "Shark" 《鲨鱼》
What do you like to do other than music?
Zhang Wei: Researching the cultural and historical differences between the East and the West.
Beibei: Studying and Oriental Philosophy.
Gui Xian: Mountain climbing, cycling, swimming, watching movies.
Wang Bing: Sleeping.
What do you do backstage while waiting for a show to start?
Zhang Wei: I personally like to stay calm and quiet and think about the next thing to do or take a break.
Beibei: Concentrate in a peaceful environment, gathering my energy.
Gui Xian: Concentrate in a peaceful environment, gathering my energy.
Wang Bing: Stay calm and quiet to be more focused on what to do next.
What are three things you can't live without?
Zhang Wei: Sunlight, air, water.
Beibei: Air, water, sunlight.
Gui Xian: Water, music, food.
Wang Bing: Sunlight, air, water.
What is your least favorite thing or struggles with the band?
Zhang Wei: We used to struggle in the past, but not anymore. The previous problem was dishonesty, but everyone became open and it was no longer an issue.
Beibei: We don’t have any right now.
Gui Xian: We don’t have any right now.
Wang Bing: No band to play with.
How has your living environment affected your music?
Zhang Wei: When I was young, I liked extreme sports and experienced a lot of street culture. I began to yearn for a free life and free ideas. I slowly discovered that I was actually limiting myself. After this, it took a long time to start, develop, practice, experiment, test, and finally, put these influences into the music. I could hear the difference and the changes I have made. Then, I repeated this process again and again to take my music to the next level. With each step, I understood my truth bit by bit, and then I began to see myself more and more clearly.
Beibei: I grew up in a special yet ordinary period of China in the 1980’s – this era is like the beginning of contemporary China. On one hand is the foundation of cultural traditions and on the other hand is the speedy innovation. Music is what guides me and helps me understand the world and time and space.
Gui Xian: In 2003, I came to Beijing with only a piano and excitement. There, I watched music festivals, lived with friends who played music from my hometown and discussed our views on music every day, learning from each other, and gradually forming our own views on music.
Wang Bing: I was born in the Jiaodong Peninsula, and I didn't study a lot in school. Fortunately, I no longer was trapped in a narrow mindset and my understanding of music became simpler and purer.
What animal best describes the band?
Zhang Wei: Eagle
Beibei: Shark
Gui Xian: Shark
Wang Bing: Lion
What do you like to wear for performances?
Zhang Wei: Black shirt
Beibei: Black dress, high heels
Gui Xian: Black T-shirt, leather clothes
Wang Bing: Short-sleeved T-shirt
If you can choose any other band to perform with you, which one would you choose?
Zhang Wei: The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, or Nirvana
Beibei: Nirvana or the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Forest from the Three Kingdoms Period
Gui Xian: Nirvana, The Doors, or Nine Inch Nails
Wang Bing: Scorpions
Do the band members like similar or different music styles? How has this affected the band's creative process and your results?
Zhang Wei: Different. Because of this, we have the opportunity to learn from each other and generate new ideas. We share the same stage and platform, but we can play freely and live freely.
Beibei: There are similarities and differences. This allows us to produce collisions of different ideas in the same song. We find commonalities in different languages. By making our music purer, we create an environment that allows us to learn from each other.
Gui Xian: As a band, we tend to have a lot of similarities, but individually, we also have our own tastes. When we make music, we will rehearse and ideas will fly everywhere until everyone is comfortable and likes the final result.
Wang Bing: Similar, but we focus more on learning.
WHAI's new album is about to start production, so be on the lookout for their upcoming releases!
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