Lastboss (China)
Lastboss is a China based music project exploring electronic music in a variety of forms. Through workshops, performance, collaboration and content creation the project aims to share a passion for creativity, music, and technology.
From its roots in Manchester, UK , the project has had significant active periods both at home and abroad. In London 2004-2008, the unique free party scene became home for regular appearances and events including extensive work with scene mainstay @badsektarecords. In Japan, 2008-2009, the project regularly appeared with the ‘Dogwalt’ crew at their Shinjuku breakcore parties. Lastboss was also crowned ‘Laptop Battle Tokyo’ champion during this period.
For the last decade, however, the project has been based in China. Highlights include performing at the Hoodootechno Aquaticism festival in sumptuous Yangshuo, releasing cassettes via Guangdong based Jyugam_label, providing mixes for Vogue+, doing workshops and contributing to the Beijing based UnicatAttack! Project.
The project continues to seek out and manifest opportunities for creative expression and collaboration.
DJ Boring (US/Japan)
Step into the world of DJ Boring, the real DJ Boring. With a journey that began as far back as 2009, he has evolved from a radio DJ and experimental beat-maker for the experimental electronic rap ensemble, Basshunter64, at the University of Georgia (USA). DJ Boring’s story is one that spans continents and soundscapes, having called Asheville, North Carolina, New Delhi, India, Beijing, China, and now Tokyo, Japan home. DJ Boring continues to produce beats of all styles, amass a heady vinyl collection, and spin everything from house and techno to club favorites, pop and hip-hop beats. Must see to know, not so boring after all.
Links:
djboring.bandcamp.com
soundcloud.com/djboringsongs
https://www.youtube.com/@therealDJBoring
mixcloud.com/djboring
facebook.com/djboring
Murals (Czech Republic)
Murals is a project by producer and drummer Cyril Kaplan (known for projects like Vložte kočku, “Kaplan Bros., and Mutanti hledaj východisko) and digital painter Frances Sander (associated with Lunchmeat label and the Tagtool crew). Cyril and Frances crossed paths nearly ten years ago when they began collaborating during performances of Cyril’s band, Vložte kočku. Frances accompanied the band’s individual songs with large-scale paintings created on the spot during the performances. The relentless dynamics of the electro-rock concerts didn’t provide Frances with sufficient space to develop individual themes and emphasize specific details. Therefore, within the Murals project, Cyril and Frances opted for a different approach. Instead of adapting the painting to the tempo and content of pre-prepared music, Murals’ music began to draw inspiration from the characteristics of Frances’s paintings.
The melodically and harmonically minimalist electronic compositions are influenced by the brush strokes’ rhythm. Individual instrumental layers gradually build into increasingly colorful wholes. Cyril’s melodic electronics with a post-rock structure thus create a soundtrack for the emerging image. Over the past few years, Murals have performed at several festivals (such as In Zentrum and Shining Vary), completed a residency at Prague’s Cross Club, and managed to prepare their first audio-visual EP, which is set to be released in autumn 2023 on the London-Beijing label, Daftpop sound.
Shattered Pieces (South Korea)
Seoul-Based Producer / DJ with a mix of powerful bass and emotional synths, Shattered Pieces take the audience into a whole new world of melodic bass and dubstep.
Producing since 2020, Shattered Pieces fell in love with the bass music scene. Inspired by Illenium, JVNA, Nurko, and many other bass music artists, Shattered Pieces emerge the sounds of powerful growls along with the emotional sounds of supersaws and other tonal layers of atmosphere. His creation of soundscape touches deepest parts of people’s minds and give them pure joy.
Now in 2023, he takes another step for the bigger scene of music industry, seeking for new opportunities and more audience.
His journey starts from here.
Discography:
Loooooongish Cat (China/ UK)
Since the summer of 2020, the glitch’d out tape mashing techno beats of Loooooongish Cat have been swirling around the dance floors of Beijing and beyond! The Loooooongish Cat demonstrates what can be done with a pile of old cassette tapes, a 4/4 drum beat, and some old video game samples. The Loooooongish Cat takes no prisoners, so get involved in the feline fine party!
https://linktr.ee/loooooongishcat
Discography:
‘Realizer’ by Loooooongish Cat & Davecoin (12″/digital, 2023, Adeen Records/Daftpop Sounds)
‘Psytrance Won’t Save Your Marriage’ By Loooooongish Cat ft. Xiao Fei Electric(digital, 2023)
‘Forest’ by Loooooongish Cat & Davecoin (cassette/digital, 2022, Nurture Records)
‘Climbing Trees’ by Loooooongish Cat (digital, 2021, Lovebang)
Guiguisuisui 鬼鬼祟祟 (UK)
Guiguisuisui is a band which merges heavy psych with traditions and mythologies from the Himilyan regions to create ‘phurba psych’. Since it’s founding in 2012 the band has gone through various incarnations, releasing albums and EPs on a variety of labels, and touring relentlessly in China, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe (UK, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Hungary). In 2016 they were presented with the ‘Band of the Year’ award at City Weekend Beijing’s annual awards show as well as being featured on the cover of 通俗歌曲 (‘tong su ge qu’) magazine.
Discography:
’33 Trees 三十三树’ by Guiguisuisui (cassette/ digital, 2020)
‘Charon’ by Guiguisuisui (cassette/CD/ digital, 2019)
‘Asura असुर’ by Nekroma (CD/digital, 2019, Daftpop Sounds)
‘Nekroma’ by Nekroma (cassette/CD/ digital, 2017)
‘Wu Xing《五行》’ by Guiguisuisui (CD/digital, 2016)
‘Guiguisuisui/ Torturing Nurse Split EP’ by Toturting Nurse and Guiguisuisui (cassette/digital, 2016, Nasty Wizard Recordings)
‘Airpocalypse Blues: Live in Beijing’ by Guiguisuisui (digital, 2016)
‘GUIGUISUISUI & Black Science’ by Guiguisuisui and Black Science ( cassette/ digital, 2015, Nasty Wizard Recordings/ Hell Is Now Love)
‘Write Me A Death Letter’ by Guiguisuisui (CD/ digital, 2015, Metal Postcard Records)
‘The GUIGUISUISUI Show Live at Utero’ by Guiguisuisui (digital, 2015)
‘The Court of King Necro’ by Guiguisuisui (7″/digital, 2014, Genjing Records)
‘Black Books EP’ by Guiguisuisui (7″/digita, 2014, Metal Postcard Records)
‘A Cult of Bipolar Personalities’ by Guiguisuisui (digital, 2013)
‘it’s a HARD MODE when you’re ON THE ROAD with dem particle board blues’ by Guiguisuisui (CD/ digtial, 2013, Kitchen Table Recordings)
‘Nineteen Below Zero’ by Guiguisuisui and The Electric Shadows (digital, 2013, Metal Postcard Records)
‘Dongbei Delta’ by Guiguisuisui and Hunter (digital/CD, 2013)
The Slow Blade (UK)
“The slow blade penetrates the shield” – Dune
The Slow Blade is the alias of Dann Gaymer (Ravages, New Age of Decay, Peachy Carnehan, Round Eye, Guiguisuisui, Nekroma, Loooooongish Cat, Daftpop Sounds), a British born artist who spent around 15 years lurking in East Asia and touring the world, having played in over 20 countries, and released dozens of albums and EPs. The Slow Blade sound is a culmination what a strange trip it’s been so far, somewhere between early Beck and Hasil Adkins: anti-folk and blues punk, mixing in live looping of trip-hop beats and mangled tape samples to create a backdrop for growls, howls, harmonica squeals, and a one stringed skateboard guitar (‘The Diddly Board’). It’s a wild ride with a Dartford ruffian, so get on board.
Discography:
‘Sinful Ways’ by The Slow Blade (limited edition lathe cut 7″/ cassette, Daftpop Sounds)
‘Dirty Dartford’ by The Slow Blade (cassette/digital, 2020, Daftpop Sounds)
‘Zai Sheng 再生’ by The Slow Blade (7″/digital, 2020, Daftpop Sounds)
‘Remain’ by The Slow Blade (cassette/digital, 2020, Daftpop Sounds)
Peachy Carnehan (China)
Straight up rock with no grease including past and present members of Shanghai’s Gou Shen狗神，Scorpion Prisoner 69, and Round Eye. Think something along the lines of Roky Erickson and MC5 with a dash of soul. Toss in a little Jabbers era GG and The Frogs to make for a party right up the snootsnout.
https://peachycarnehan.bandcamp.com/album/peachy-carnehan
Discography:
‘Peachy Carnehan’ by Peachy Carnehan (12″/cassette/ digital, 2022)
RAVAGES (China)
Fuzz trash scoundrels RAVAGES – featuring members of Boss Cuts, SHA!, Poetry x Music and the Slow Blade – were founded in 2020 in Beijing, China. Drawing upon garage and psych sounds of the 1960s, RAVAGES released their debut album in 2021, a “psychedelic roller coaster ride coated in layers of fuzz,driving organ riffs and mischievous fun” (Live China Music). The album and their two follow up EPs are available on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp and all Chinese music platforms.
https://the-ravages.bandcamp.com/album/seven-to-the-four-ep
Discography:
‘RAVAGES // PizzaFace Split EP’ by RAVAGES (cassette/digital, 2023, Daftpop Sounds)
‘Seven to the Four’ by RAVAGES (cassette/digital, 2023, Daftpop Sounds)
‘The Ravages’ by RAVAGES (cassette/digital, 2021)
New Age of Decay (UK)
New Age of Decay is a collaboration between musician The Slow Blade and writer NotAnotherPoet, two British artists who met in Beijing, China. The pair attempt to bring poetry and music together through their rhythmic and humorous compositions.
Discography:
‘New Age of Decay & Poetry x Music’ by New Age of Decay and Poetry x Music (10″ lathe cut)
‘New Age of Decay’ by New Age of Decay (booklet/digital, 2021, Daftpop Sounds)