Rock's babbler gets edgy
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Wu Jinhong says it is his early wandering life - like that of an escaped criminal - that keeps alive his muse and his inspiration for music.
And, it is also the reason he changed his name to Zuo Xiao Zu Zhou, a nonsensical word combination, when he came to Beijing from Shanghai 17 years ago.
"The sleepless nights, loneliness and starvation made me strong and allowed me to observe and ponder on life and myself," he says.
He retains his "nonsensical" name, saying many people recognize it to this day and that makes him feel comfortable.
Faced with doing his first solo concert, Wan Shi Ru Yi, "good luck in everything", where he will play more than 30 songs, the rocker says, for the first time, he is feeling nervous. So much so that he locks himself up in a recording room with the eight albums he has produced since founding his band, No, in 1999, and his background score for sixth-generation directors Jia Zhangke (Still Life, 24 Cities) and Ning Hao (Crazy Stone, Crazy Racer).
"I have performed at many live house venues across China and at many outdoor music festivals. So standing on stage and singing to thousands of people is not new to me," he says. "But I want something formal; something to be proud of and I know this (the upcoming concert) is the time."
He has also invited leading Chinese artist and curator Ai Weiwei and theater director Meng Jinghui to help with stage design and other production details.
Li Yanliang, one of the nation's greatest guitarists, is stepping in as music director for the concert.
"We share one thing in common and that is, we have a little monster in our heads which drives us to be audacious and experimental," Wu says.
The concert will be like a portrayal of his past 17 years in Beijing. It will have past works, his latest songs as well as some impromptu collaboration with his artist friends, according to the singer-songwriter.
"It's more like an exhibition of my life till now, how I became Zuo Xiao Zu Zhou," he says.
He is looking into every detail of the concert, even his clothes, which he once dismissed as "just another skin".
"Like many poor rockers in China, I usually dress casually both on and off stage. But for the concert, I have chosen something special, such as a Tibetan robe and a pair of old sunglasses," he says.
His music shares some similarities with Ning Hao's movie, with its black humor and provocative lyrics. His songs often feature monologues and out-of-tune rhythms.
From his debut album, Missing Master, to the recent Big Deal, Wu has received both praise and derision. While some have questioned his ability to sing, others have dubbed his music fake rock. But he has always insisted on sticking to his own conception of what is music.
"Some people always try to define my music, but that is a vain exercise. I am changing and absorbing new things all the time," the 40 year old says.
"There are many singers and songwriters out there. Jay Chou's music is good. It's not a question of good or bad music makers. We are just playing in different worlds."
His popularity has soared thanks to his satire, sharp and funny lyrics as well as his lively rock music. His live performances throughout the country earned him a sizeable following in the mid-1990s, when the Chinese indie rock scene was still in its infancy.
Wu describes I Can't Sit Sadly By Your Side, released in May 2005, as a "nonsensical talking" album.
He keeps a narrative running through the album's 10 tracks, casting himself as a spectator watching closely the people he encounters everyday.
The album was sold for 150 yuan, a high price in the music industry (usually a Chinese singer's CD sells at 30-50 yuan), but the limited 2,000 copies sold out within a short time.
His next album You Know Where the East Is, a double CD, was released in March 2008. Drawing inspiration from world music philosophy and musical elements from Xinjiang's ethnic groups, the album was priced at 500 yuan and won him numerous awards for its production.
"It is not arrogance," he says, explaining the high price. "People who are willing to pay 500 yuan for a CD will listen to it with their heart," he says.
Regardless of whether he does mainstream rock or avant-garde music, Wu has always been a rocker at heart. "I started making music because I didn't want to live an ordinary life. Rock is simple and real, and allows me to hide in a world I create."
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