Shanren Present "Drinking Song" Video Shot in Southwest China

Earlier this year, Beijing-based indie folk band Shanren (literally "Mountain Men"), traveled across China's Yunnan province to take in and film the rich indigenous musical traditions. The band members, whose own songs mix folk melodies with rock and world music influences, visited rural villages of Yi, Lisu, Nu, Tibetan, and Wa minorities. While joining the villagers in song and dance, they found the music so tied up in the drinking culture-downing copious amounts of the local equivalent of moonshine, fiery homemade liquor distilled from rice or sweet corn-that they turned the boozy footage into the video for their "Drinking Song." 2,000 miles southwest of Beijing and home to 26 of China's 55 official ethnic minority tribes, Yunnan is thought to be the inspiration for the fictional Shangri-La of James Hilton's novel Lost Horizon. As the home province for three members of Shanren (the fourth is from neighboring Guizhou), the remote and colorful province, tucked between Tibet and Southeast Asia, continues to inspire artists. Based on a Yi minority folk song, the lyrics to "Drinking Song" translate to, "you have to drink whether or not you want to." As the band found, when you're a guest in a rural village, that's pretty much your situation-the hospitality can be overwhelming! Album due out on China's 13 Month record label early next year. March 2012 North American Tour! Canadian Music Week appearance and additional dates to be announced For more information, please contact Jennifer Conrad (North America) at jenniferannconrad@gmail.com and +1-347-564-8137 or Sam Debell (Asia) at unitysam@gmail.com and +86 152-1027-0868. High-res photos and Chinese-language materials available. Shanren Links: Facebook Myspace Douban Press Quotes: "...known for its eclectic style-songs move fluidly from electronica to reggae to metal-and arrangements inspired by traditional music from the country's ethnically diverse southwest, a melange of loose falsetto harmonies and twangy pentatonic lutes." -The New York Times "Although the ethnic sounds of Yunnan are at the core of their music, their membership stretches out to Kunming and Guizhou, covers three ethnic minority groups, and incorporates a polyglot of world music and modern rock influences-Afro and Caribbean sounds, rock proper, reggae, even some death metal, 'cause why not." -Smart Shanghai "These south-western boys, whose name means 'mountain men', mix minority instruments and perky plucking with a hippie-jam band feel." -Time Out Beijing

Shanren Present "Drinking Song" Video Shot in Southwest China

Earlier this year, Beijing-based indie folk band Shanren (literally "Mountain Men"), traveled across China's Yunnan province to take in and film the rich indigenous musical traditions. The band members, whose own songs mix folk melodies with rock and world music influences, visited rural villages of Yi, Lisu, Nu, Tibetan, and Wa minorities. While joining the villagers in song and dance, they found the music so tied up in the drinking culture-downing copious amounts of the local equivalent of moonshine, fiery homemade liquor distilled from rice or sweet corn-that they turned the boozy footage into the video for their "Drinking Song." 2,000 miles southwest of Beijing and home to 26 of China's 55 official ethnic minority tribes, Yunnan is thought to be the inspiration for the fictional Shangri-La of James Hilton's novel Lost Horizon. As the home province for three members of Shanren (the fourth is from neighboring Guizhou), the remote and colorful province, tucked between Tibet and Southeast Asia, continues to inspire artists. Based on a Yi minority folk song, the lyrics to "Drinking Song" translate to, "you have to drink whether or not you want to." As the band found, when you're a guest in a rural village, that's pretty much your situation-the hospitality can be overwhelming! Album due out on China's 13 Month record label early next year. March 2012 North American Tour! Canadian Music Week appearance and additional dates to be announced For more information, please contact Jennifer Conrad (North America) at jenniferannconrad@gmail.com and +1-347-564-8137 or Sam Debell (Asia) at unitysam@gmail.com and +86 152-1027-0868. High-res photos and Chinese-language materials available. Shanren Links: Facebook Myspace Douban Press Quotes: "...known for its eclectic style-songs move fluidly from electronica to reggae to metal-and arrangements inspired by traditional music from the country's ethnically diverse southwest, a melange of loose falsetto harmonies and twangy pentatonic lutes." -The New York Times "Although the ethnic sounds of Yunnan are at the core of their music, their membership stretches out to Kunming and Guizhou, covers three ethnic minority groups, and incorporates a polyglot of world music and modern rock influences-Afro and Caribbean sounds, rock proper, reggae, even some death metal, 'cause why not." -Smart Shanghai "These south-western boys, whose name means 'mountain men', mix minority instruments and perky plucking with a hippie-jam band feel." -Time Out Beijing

China Music News - Ku6 Beijing move; Chinese Taipei Professional Baseball; NetDragon & China Mobile; Xinhua Music Portal

A new rumor had started to circulate that video portal Ku6 was going to move its Games and Music Operations from Shanghai to Beijing. Some Ku6 insiders recently confirmed the rumor, saying that employees willing to relocate will retain their position and salary level while receiving a 2000 RMB housing subsidy.

The official reason for this move is to improve coordination and communication of the Ku6 team. However, there's another rumor that the real purpose is to shutter the Shanghai departments, involving over 40 employees.

The rumor caps a difficult period for Ku6 since it reached an asset purchase agreement with entertainment media company Shanda that was completed on Aug. 17th 2010. Shanda has been trying to exert control over Ku6 since the start of the 2011. On March 14th, Ku6 founder Shanyou Li resigned as CEO while remaining on the board of directors. In May, Shanda's attempt to layoff 150 Ku6 employees, causing the resignation of Ku6's VP and Head Editor, followed by the departure of Shanyou Li from the Board of Directors and replacement of six senior management positions in Ku6 by Shanda executives.

While Ku6 subsequently promised no additional layoffs, the fact that most Shanghai employees are registered residents and unwilling to relocate means they will most likely end up "on the bench".

Across the straits, the Music Copyright Society of Chinese Taipei (MUST) and the Association of Recording Copyright Owners of the R.O.C. reached an agreement with the Chinese Taipei Professional Baseball League (CPBL) after two years of negotiations to pay copyright fees for the music played during games starting in 2012.

In order for the baseball fans to hear more pop songs during the game instead of boring CPBL songs, CPBL will be the first sports organization in Taiwan to pay music copyright fees. Even though there is no regulation in the Copyright Law for the open use of music by professional sports, CPBL wanted to take the lead. The move represents big step according to a CPBL officials, as it will benefit sports fans most while respecting Taiwan music copyright owners.

Looking to back to the mainland, NetDragon's subsidiary Boyuan Wireless has signed a strategic partnership agreement with China Mobile's Wireless Music Base. This partnership will provide over 30 million smart phone users with better music products and also promote legal music use in the mobile Internet arena.

Boyuan Wireless CEO Hongzhan Chen noted that Boyuan's 91 Mobile Platform is the biggest mobile app platform in China, with over 80% and 50% market share of the iPhone and Android markets respectively. Meanwhile, China Mobile's Wireless Music Base is the largest legal music distribution platform, accounting for the most music sales and user interaction in China. The partnership is likely to resolve several copyright issues in the mobile sector.

Let's move to some lighter news in China. Xinhua News Network Corporation (CNC) launched a Folk music website WOW Music on December 19th. The move into the entertainment field represents an important step for Xinhua, a media giant in China that has been working to establis itself as one of the world's leading multimedia news agencies.

From stories to pictures and audio to video products, "China's first folk music portal" will be a stage for introducing Chinese folk culture heritage to the world and "turn these resources into cultural soft power", said producer Xiaomeng Hu.

Source: MusicDish*China

Still Grindin Productions Releases "Superheroes" Feat Juan Rogelio, Big Boy Plat & The Real John May

"Superheroes" offers the first peek into the upcoming release The Futuristic World Suicide. Produced by D. Still and Thee Lost Symbol of Still Grindin' Productions, the song descends upon the metropolis with a triumphant fanfare, the type that conjures up images of caped crusaders looming large over crime-infested cities. The fanfare is cut short in favor of shiny synth riffs that sparkle and dance throughout the track. Juan Rogelio, Big Boi Plat, and The Real John May are a trio of lyricists that form a six-armed swagger beast full of boastful bars and cinematic scenarios. High-pitched chords ride a tambourine wave and a drum sequence that knocks for several city blocks, providing the perfect accompaniment for these emcees to examine their unusual abilities. It even spills over into where the vocal hook should go, so that there isn't a memorable chorus, but a comparison of superhero powers and seeing where orators fall on that list.

A pair of remixes offer alternate moods and both of them work well. The first remix features a dark bass line that wobbles and wiggles its way through static slaps and added percussion. Warm keys light the path for the other elements to follow. The Matrix Mix strips the production bare to low, menacing tones and metallic toms that reflect off the walls. Percolating electronic pulses gurgle underneath the surface and make tiny explosions, resulting in sonic splashes all over the beat. It's clear that Rogelio, Plat, and May have partnered themselves with stellar producers, which make their lyrics sound all the better. While they may not possess superpowers in the comic book sense, there's no denying their chemistry on the microphone. If you can imagine Batman driving through Gotham and digging the scene with a gangster lean the entire time, then you have juststumbled upon the vibe that "Superheroes" attempts to approach.

http://www.stillgrindinproductions.com

KC Jockey's Tribute To His Homeland, "A Better Jamaica"

"A Better Jamaica" by KC Jockey by musicdish

KC Jockey's "A Better Jamaica" is a promotional track and a smooth groove of a song that has depth and meaning. The mid-tempo reggae single is infused with a just a hint of R&B and soul, and bursting with the hope for a new day in KC Jockey's much loved homeland of Jamaica, one without violence, poverty, and hunger. "A Better Jamaica" is a very likeable song which fulfills its purpose of fueling oneness, peace, and love for and between all Jamaicans. KC Jockey has a wonderful voice that greatly accentuates the message of "A Better Jamaica," which is both musically and lyrically strong.

http://www.kcjockey.com
http://www.myspace.com/kcjockeywaite
http://www.facebook.com/officialkcjockeyfanpage
http://www.facebook.com/kcjockeymusic
http://www.twitter.com/kcjockey