Young&Dumb is a Japanese-styled indie rock band that features a female lead singer. The band name and music represent the lives of young people who constantly shift between the emotions of sweetness and mourning.
Besides the lead singer, all the members of Young&Dumb are from the same school. In the summer of 2016, the students were planning on forming a band and looking for a lead singer. Li Ke Zhang’s beautiful voice entered their lives and she was chosen to be their lead ever since. In the late autumn of 2016, they formed in Xi'an.
Earlier this year, Young & Dumb released a new single "Lunatic"《露娜蒂克》, and another EP will be released in the fall. The emotional expression and musical composition of their music can be strong and gentle. It can constitute sweetness and mourn simultaneously.
"When all the enthusiasm and anxiety have faded, and only trivial emotions remain, we use these emotions to make music and add to the ordinary or memorable moments in your life."
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 Young&Dumb to talk about some fan-favorite questions!
"HANGOVER"
沉溺于一场最荒诞最疯狂的梦境
Indulge in the most absurd and craziest dream
当浪潮从头顶翻涌而过的时候
When the tide rushes over my head
我向我所有深陷痛苦中的朋友们致意
I will salute to all my friends who are in deep pain
但愿你们 经过这漫漫长夜
I hope that after this long night
还能看到旭日东升
You can still see the rising sun
Meet The Band
Ke Zhang《科长》 Lead Vocals
Xiao Qian《小钱》 Guitar
Yu Xuan《宇轩》 Guitar
Xiao Xun《小逊》 Drums
Xiao Ma《小马》 Bass
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?
Yu Xuan/Xiao Qian/Xiao Xun: “Lure” 《诱》
Ke Zhang: “Lure” 《诱》because it’s the sweetest and mournful song. (She is referencing the band’s Chinese name)
Xiao Ma: “Hangover” 《宿醉》
What is your least favorite thing or struggles with the band?
Yu Xuan: Some run-ins because of differences in opinions and preferences.
Xiao Qian: This situation is somewhat unrealistic, and we need to swap roles.
Xiao Xun: When there is no keyboard player.
Ke Zhang: I haven't thought about that, the band has only brought positive emotions thus far.
Xiao Ma: There is not enough time to rehearse (because most of our time is other work for money).
Tell me an interesting memory of the band.
Xiao Qian: When I perform by myself, I always break my strings. I don't know if that counts as an interesting story.
Xiao Xun: The summer when I was 16 years old, I punched Xiao Qian. After ten minutes, we made up and were still friends.
Ke Zhang: Every day is interesting.
Xiao Ma: I helped the guitarist bring his effects equipment for so long, and later, to prove to others and himself, he finally carries it himself.
Recommend a book, movie, or game.
Yu Xuan: Interstellar
Xiao Qian: I don’t have a lot of book recommendations because I don’t read enough. As for movies, “Us and Them” (后来的我们) and for games, “Princess Connect” (公主连结)
Xiao Xun: Overwatch
Ke Zhang: An animated film by Yuasa Asahi, also a tattoo on my arm, "Spring Festival is Short, Girls Go Forward!"
Xiao Ma: The game Tekken 7
How has your living environment in the city or university affected your music?
Yu Xuan: Not much impact, after all, there is the Internet.
Xiao Qian: University life helped me find my friends and band members who have worked together for many years.
Xiao Xun: I met Xiao Ma and Xiao Qian during college. The impact was huge, everyone had their own music preferences to Japanese city-pop.
Ke Zhang: The familiar environment and people around me have probably influenced me. My life is based on here, so what I express through music comes from here as well.
Xiao Ma: The city of Xi'an let me meet outstanding musicians and the best friends I have today – which are the biggest influences on me. Over the years, we have gradually formed a musical style that only we have.
What do you want your music to bring to others (or how to influence others)?
Yu Xuan: To touch one person at any concert is enough.
Xiao Qian: To give people comfort and resonance in their lives and emotions.
Xiao Xun: I hope people can come to like real music and realize that 99.9999% of Douyin music is garbage.
Ke Zhang: Happy songs can make others relaxed and happy, and occasionally profound music can make people nod in agreement and say “yes.”
Xiao Ma: Let people remember that music can still be played like this (ours).
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