Entertainment
Xian Ke Blends Ancient Chinese Instruments With Modern Rock
For Chinese music duo Xian Ke, traditional Chinese opera and ancient instruments are not simply elements added to rock music. They form part of the m...
By Wavers Multimedia
The duo, made up of singer-songwriters Wang Pushi and Wen Haoyuan, recently released its debut album, All Things End, Yet Nothing Ends. The eight-track record combines rock with traditional Chinese opera, ancient instruments and theatrical influences.
The band's name comes from a line in The Book of Songs, an ancient Chinese collection of poetry dating from the 11th to 6th centuries BC. The phrase reflects the idea that everything has a beginning, while few things are carried through to their conclusion.
That idea also shaped the album, which took more than three years to complete. Work began in 2021, with the musicians writing, arranging and recording songs before deciding which material would make the final record.
One song was eventually abandoned after reaching about 80 percent of its arrangement because the musicians felt it was not working. They chose to start again rather than include a piece they were not satisfied with.
The finished album contains eight songs that Xian Ke considers complete expressions of what they wanted to create.
The musicians' backgrounds also influence the band's sound. Both trained at the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts. Wen studied theater, while Wang is a Kunqu Opera performer who works with the Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre.
Their experience in traditional theatre has shaped the way they approach songwriting and performance. Wang sees himself as a theatre director within the group, while Wen takes on the role of writer.
For Wang, performing with Xian Ke is also different from traditional opera because the band's music allows him to express himself directly rather than portray a character.
Although Xian Ke is often described as combining traditional Chinese opera with rock, the musicians are increasingly reluctant to treat that description as a formula.
Instead, they see traditional theatre as part of their own artistic background and a natural influence on the music they create.
The result is a sound that brings together older Chinese musical traditions and contemporary rock while giving the duo room to explore new musical directions.