Miss Melody & Mobidextrous

Miss Melody is a contemporary Chinese folk singer and songwriter. Born in a small village in Inner Mongolia, she was trained by a local folk singer at an early age, but grew up to a soundtrack of western music that was playing in the background while she was growing up in modern China. She recently began cooperating with Mobidextrous, a producer from the UK, and together they began to experiment with a cross-over style between UK underground electronic and operatic Chinese folk, with stunning results. Their latest work is Huan – a fusion of western downtempo electronica with poetic traditional Chinese folk vocals. Agenda tuned in with Miss Melody and asked her to share with us the artists that inspire her most.

Guo Lanying ??? A renowned Chinese operatic soprano in the 1940s, she is best known for her leading operatic role in The White Haired Girl. My favorite song by her is Lan Hua Hua???, a very sad song written by a former Red Army soldier for his late lover, a rebellious village girl who ran out of an arranged marriage in order to meet her true love.

Zhang Yadong ??? This famous pop producer, songwriter, and composer is often called the “Godfather” of mainland pop music, and is responsible for the successes of many Chinese artists, including Faye Wong ??, Yu Quan ??, Pu Shu ??, Ding Wei ? ?, and Ye Pei ??. My favorite song of his is Bi An Hua ???, Flower on the Other Shore, which was sung by Faye Wong ??.

San Bao ?? This Mongolian musician, whose real name is Na Ri Song ???, comes from a classical and ethnic music background. This multitalented composer, conductor and producer and songwriter has produced music for many Chinese movies. My personal favorite is the theme for the movie The Road Home ?? ???? directed by Zhang Yimou ???.

Song Zuying ??? This ethnic Miao Chinese singer is the most famous soprano in China. She has the best voice I have ever heard, and her special vocal skills make her songs very difficult to sing for other singers. My favorite song by her is Spicy Girls ?? ?, a song about girls who love spices and cannot live without them.

Lin Hai ?? This is my favorite crossover composer of traditional Chinese instrumental and classic western orchestral music. He learned piano and classic music at the age of four, and his way of interpreting western melodic themes with Chinese instruments have won him much praise as the most talented east-west crossover musician. My favorite piece is Pipa Yu ???, a very sad but beautiful instrumental piece for the pipa, which was written for a Chinese movie—Letter from an Unknown Woman ???????? ? directed by Xu Jinglei ???.

Wang Feifei ??? Wang Feifei became very famous for her amazing voice in the late 90s, but worked as a propaganda singer between 2002 to 2008 while looking for her new style. In 2008, she met Hu Xiao’ou ? ??, a music Ph.D. returning from the US, and they started working on a whole new style – Chinese trip hop. Her unique voice combined with Hu’s innovative trip-hop beats made her new album “Fly to Fly” a big success. My favorite piece, Zhui Bu ??, is emotive, soulful and ambient—a must listen for trip-hop fans.

Xiaohe ?? This legendary experimental musician has worked as a soldier (he enlisted at 18), a cleaner, a security guard, and a shopkeeper. His complicated experience gave him a philosophy of freedom few contemporary Chinese musicians are able to convey. He has his own band, his own albums, and his own songs. But he never stops challenging himself with more crazy musical ideas. He is using sampler and delay effects to do improvisational performances. He never repeats himself. He sees music as a gift, a means of getting happiness and freedom. - Agenda Beijing

Miss Melody is a contemporary Chinese folk singer and songwriter. Born in a small village in Inner Mongolia, she was trained by a local folk singer at an early age, but grew up to a soundtrack of western music that was playing in the background while she was growing up in modern China. She recently began cooperating with Mobidextrous, a producer from the UK, and together they began to experiment with a cross-over style between UK underground electronic and operatic Chinese folk, with stunning results. Their latest work is Huan – a fusion of western downtempo electronica with poetic traditional Chinese folk vocals. Agenda tuned in with Miss Melody and asked her to share with us the artists that inspire her most.

Guo Lanying ??? A renowned Chinese operatic soprano in the 1940s, she is best known for her leading operatic role in The White Haired Girl. My favorite song by her is Lan Hua Hua???, a very sad song written by a former Red Army soldier for his late lover, a rebellious village girl who ran out of an arranged marriage in order to meet her true love.

Zhang Yadong ??? This famous pop producer, songwriter, and composer is often called the “Godfather” of mainland pop music, and is responsible for the successes of many Chinese artists, including Faye Wong ??, Yu Quan ??, Pu Shu ??, Ding Wei ? ?, and Ye Pei ??. My favorite song of his is Bi An Hua ???, Flower on the Other Shore, which was sung by Faye Wong ??.

San Bao ?? This Mongolian musician, whose real name is Na Ri Song ???, comes from a classical and ethnic music background. This multitalented composer, conductor and producer and songwriter has produced music for many Chinese movies. My personal favorite is the theme for the movie The Road Home ?? ???? directed by Zhang Yimou ???.

Song Zuying ??? This ethnic Miao Chinese singer is the most famous soprano in China. She has the best voice I have ever heard, and her special vocal skills make her songs very difficult to sing for other singers. My favorite song by her is Spicy Girls ?? ?, a song about girls who love spices and cannot live without them.

Lin Hai ?? This is my favorite crossover composer of traditional Chinese instrumental and classic western orchestral music. He learned piano and classic music at the age of four, and his way of interpreting western melodic themes with Chinese instruments have won him much praise as the most talented east-west crossover musician. My favorite piece is Pipa Yu ???, a very sad but beautiful instrumental piece for the pipa, which was written for a Chinese movie—Letter from an Unknown Woman ???????? ? directed by Xu Jinglei ???.

Wang Feifei ??? Wang Feifei became very famous for her amazing voice in the late 90s, but worked as a propaganda singer between 2002 to 2008 while looking for her new style. In 2008, she met Hu Xiao’ou ? ??, a music Ph.D. returning from the US, and they started working on a whole new style – Chinese trip hop. Her unique voice combined with Hu’s innovative trip-hop beats made her new album “Fly to Fly” a big success. My favorite piece, Zhui Bu ??, is emotive, soulful and ambient—a must listen for trip-hop fans.

Xiaohe ?? This legendary experimental musician has worked as a soldier (he enlisted at 18), a cleaner, a security guard, and a shopkeeper. His complicated experience gave him a philosophy of freedom few contemporary Chinese musicians are able to convey. He has his own band, his own albums, and his own songs. But he never stops challenging himself with more crazy musical ideas. He is using sampler and delay effects to do improvisational performances. He never repeats himself. He sees music as a gift, a means of getting happiness and freedom. - Agenda Beijing

Miss Melody is a contemporary Chinese folk singer and songwriter. Born in a small village in Inner Mongolia, she was trained by a local folk singer at an early age, but grew up to a soundtrack of western music that was playing in the background while she was growing up in modern China. She recently began cooperating with Mobidextrous, a producer from the UK, and together they began to experiment with a cross-over style between UK underground electronic and operatic Chinese folk, with stunning results. Their latest work is Huan – a fusion of western downtempo electronica with poetic traditional Chinese folk vocals. Agenda tuned in with Miss Melody and asked her to share with us the artists that inspire her most.

Guo Lanying ??? A renowned Chinese operatic soprano in the 1940s, she is best known for her leading operatic role in The White Haired Girl. My favorite song by her is Lan Hua Hua???, a very sad song written by a former Red Army soldier for his late lover, a rebellious village girl who ran out of an arranged marriage in order to meet her true love.

Zhang Yadong ??? This famous pop producer, songwriter, and composer is often called the “Godfather” of mainland pop music, and is responsible for the successes of many Chinese artists, including Faye Wong ??, Yu Quan ??, Pu Shu ??, Ding Wei ? ?, and Ye Pei ??. My favorite song of his is Bi An Hua ???, Flower on the Other Shore, which was sung by Faye Wong ??.

San Bao ?? This Mongolian musician, whose real name is Na Ri Song ???, comes from a classical and ethnic music background. This multitalented composer, conductor and producer and songwriter has produced music for many Chinese movies. My personal favorite is the theme for the movie The Road Home ?? ???? directed by Zhang Yimou ???.

Song Zuying ??? This ethnic Miao Chinese singer is the most famous soprano in China. She has the best voice I have ever heard, and her special vocal skills make her songs very difficult to sing for other singers. My favorite song by her is Spicy Girls ?? ?, a song about girls who love spices and cannot live without them.

Lin Hai ?? This is my favorite crossover composer of traditional Chinese instrumental and classic western orchestral music. He learned piano and classic music at the age of four, and his way of interpreting western melodic themes with Chinese instruments have won him much praise as the most talented east-west crossover musician. My favorite piece is Pipa Yu ???, a very sad but beautiful instrumental piece for the pipa, which was written for a Chinese movie—Letter from an Unknown Woman ???????? ? directed by Xu Jinglei ???.

Wang Feifei ??? Wang Feifei became very famous for her amazing voice in the late 90s, but worked as a propaganda singer between 2002 to 2008 while looking for her new style. In 2008, she met Hu Xiao’ou ? ??, a music Ph.D. returning from the US, and they started working on a whole new style – Chinese trip hop. Her unique voice combined with Hu’s innovative trip-hop beats made her new album “Fly to Fly” a big success. My favorite piece, Zhui Bu ??, is emotive, soulful and ambient—a must listen for trip-hop fans.

Xiaohe ?? This legendary experimental musician has worked as a soldier (he enlisted at 18), a cleaner, a security guard, and a shopkeeper. His complicated experience gave him a philosophy of freedom few contemporary Chinese musicians are able to convey. He has his own band, his own albums, and his own songs. But he never stops challenging himself with more crazy musical ideas. He is using sampler and delay effects to do improvisational performances. He never repeats himself. He sees music as a gift, a means of getting happiness and freedom. - Agenda Beijing

My friend from China, Mobidextrous, just let loose on this gorgeous Transnational Luvstep number featuring Miss Melody!
Sui is a track we wrote almost a year ago. This is the final version and we’re giving it away here before we get serious with a self-release. We’ve enlisted Movie Director Robert Douglas to work on the Music Video which will be ready around October time.

Massive big ups to Jarome at ProSoul in Beijing for turning a rough bit of quartz into a diamond.

Cheng Shu Duo Nian – Having been asleep for many years
Qing Xing Shun Jian – All of a sudden I wake up
Huan Mie Yi Qian – Before the dream is over
Xuan Li Yong Yuan – I thought the colorful world could last forever
Ni Wo Zhi Jian – Between you and me
Huan Jue – There’s just a delusion
Zong Shi Duo Nian – Even though its been many years
Po Mie – When it’s broken, it’s broken
Wo De Tai Yang – My Sun
Man Tian Xin Guang – There were many stars in the sky
Mei You Xin Guang – For me there was no star
Wo De Tai Yang – My Sun
Mei You Xing Guang – There was no star in my sky
Man Tian Xin Guang – But now there are many stars - http://generationbass.com

I really love a wide range of musical styles, but when I heard about ‘Post-dubstep Chinese pop’ and ‘Chinese folk-step’, I have to admit I felt a little bit out of my depth. On the cutting edge of this East-West fusion is a DJ called Mobidextrous, and I asked him about his musical past, his current project with bewitching singer Miss Melody, as well as cocktails in Beijing.


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What’s your background – how did you end up in Beijing?

I wanted to come to China because based on my reading and research it looked like the most fear-inducing place to live and to do business. I own and run a medium sized Executive Search firm and also thought that there would be talent shortages as the big multinationals and local firms battle to expand. I chose Beijing because Hong Kong was too much like England and the arts and music culture seemed a bit more fresh and gritty than Shanghai. I like the straightforwardness of the people here.

How long have you been known as Mobidextrous?

Since late 2009 when I got into producing music. My other alias is Mikey Dee. That’s the name I DJ under around China.

What was the one thing nobody told you about China before you came here?

No one told me that you could legitimately pass for fluent in Chinese to most cab drivers and many other locals simply by saying “Ni Hao”.

How did the team of Mobidextrous and Miss Melody get together?

We got together at the grimiest, darkest and most underground nightclubs in Beijing, most of which have since cExercise/”>Losed [nothing to do with me, haha] where I used to play pretty percussive tribal house beats. She began to MC/Improvise over these beats in a kind of operatic and folk-style and it just worked. We’ve been writing songs and performing together since about May of 2010.


What is the biggest challenge for you in getting your music accepted in China?

To my surprise, there’s a lot of enthusiasm amongst local people here for *new* and interesting music. There’s a huge amount of face to be had for local club owners and festival organisers having an “international” DJ on the roster, so finding work was easy.

Tell me about your biggest musical success.

After we put our single “Huan” out recently (Youku, Youtube), a friend of ours came back from Thailand excited because she’d heard our music playing in a high-end shopping mall out in Bangkok. For me that’s a hundred times more meaningful than some of the big festivals I’ve performed at in front of thousands of people [INTRO, ZOO, STRAWBERRY] because the music we make here in Mandarin can travel beyond even China’s borders.

Has DJing brought you to Shanghai? Any places you love/hate?

Yeah I did a guest spot at M1NT. Horrible place. Melody and I would love to do a show at the Shelter though [hint].


Your music with Miss Melody is a true crossover of styles. Who would you say are your biggest musical influences?

We like a range of stuff. Portishead, Massive Attack, Chase and Status, Diplo… and Melody’s singing has been compared to Kate Bush and Julie Cruise which kind of makes sense as it’s a bit operatic or breathy on certain tracks.

What social media services do you use to get your music ‘out there’?

The list is long. I could run a consulting service advising on Social Media here and in China. Soundcloud has been great, places like YouTube, Bandcamp, Ourstage, Reverbnation as well as obviously Facebook and Twitter (@mobidextrous @missmelodycn) but the most promising locally looks like it’s going to be Weibo which we’ve just started tinkering with. In the next 8 weeks we should have a pretty swish central website which will be a pillar for promotion, we’re having it designed by a guy who’s done work for Visa, Google, Mountain Dew and other big brands.


What are your short term plans for this project? And long term?

We’ve just got enough material together for serious live shows, so that’s something we’re planning to do in late summer. A tour would be a nice diversion but the terms have to be right. It’s a well known fact that almost no one makes money out of record sales any more so we’re probably going to approach selective brands for sponsorship opportunities. Longer term I’d like to have a hand in getting Melody more recognition not just locally but internationally too, we’ve got a deal which I can’t say too much about which should be a catalyst for that.

What is ‘Now Playing’ on your iPod?

I’m listening to Muse, on repeat. For Chinese music It’s all about a cool band I recently discovered called Acid Live. Those guys are sick.

What’s your favourite…

Convenience store?
7-11 is the pinnacle of convenience.

Bar?
Got to say LAN in Beijing because it’s so over the top.

Delivery food?
Fried Jiaozi with peanut and cabbage. As greasy as possible. Sounds disgusting but there is no better comfort food.

Movie?
Old Boy. I love those freaky Korean films.

Cocktail?
Mine’s a bucket of dry martini with marginal olive dirt. Your shout Oli, yeah?

No chance. - http://www.djod.co.uk