Sinophone Music in 2024: It’s A-Live!

Last year, I said that Sinophone music was haunted by death and disappearance, but it was also the year when Chinese bands could again tour the world. This year, it’s about the same: we lost one of the most important figure of Chinese rock and roll, Liu Yuan 刘元, who passed away at 64. He was a renowned saxophonist, playing for Cui Jian, a pioneer of jazz in China, a brilliant producer. He opened the CD Cafe in the 1990s, a live venue for the rock community and the nascent punk scene. In 2006 he opened the East Shore Jazz Cafe in Houhai, probably the best place to see jazz performance in Beijing. 2024 was also a very good year for live music (at least for me). I saw a lot of Chinese, Hong Kong and Taiwan bands touring the Sinophone space, sometimes stirring up geopolitical controversies, but it was always fascinating. More than the release of new songs and albums, this year was for me a re-discovery of Sinophone live performances. That’s why this year’s “best-of” is titled “It’s A-Live” – a testimony to the first Ramones record I bought – a statement of the importance of live music, and the creativity of Sinophone bands despite all the difficulties they face. So, as always, here’s a list of the songs and live performances that defined my year, in no particular order. You can find the Spotify playlist here:
As always, you can find other very good 2024 lists, as Michael Hong’s Top 40 Mandopop Albums, Top Cantopop Singles, and the always brilliant Jake Newby did an episode on China Talk listing the best Chinese songs from 2024.
Liu Yuan 一路走好
Unfortunately, Liu Yuan left us at 64 this year. Liu Yuan was a Chinese rock and roll legend, son of a famous suona player, himself trained as a suona musician. He co-created with Cui Jian the band Qi he ban, and ADO. He famously played the suona for China’s rock and roll anthem “Nothing To My Name” (一无所有), and the saxophone in Cui Jian’s subsequent albums. He introduced jazz sonority in Cui Jian’s song and in Chinese rock in general. Liu Yuan famously added in the 1994 song “Balls Under the Red Flag” (红旗下的蛋) a three-minute-long saxophone solo segment at the end. He opened several cafes and live venues for the rock and roll community when the bands couldn’t perform legally, and the Beijing punk scene owes a great debt to Liu Yuan as well. David O’Dell recorded some live performances of the nascent Beijing punk community at CD Cafe (below the first all-female rock band from the 1980s, Cobra, performing at CD Cafe). Liu Yuan also donated his record collection to the Heidelberg University, and I greatly recommend this introduction by Barbara Mittler and Andreas Steen.
N.Y.P.D. (南洋派對), G.A.I.G.A.I. (Hong Kong)
This year was particularly productive for the new legends of Hong Kong’s mo lei tau indie music. They released a 52 songs album using AI. A lot of hilarious variations of their “hit” song “美之” (Mee&Gee, a famous thrift store in Hong Kong), so you can sing “屌你老味GIORDANO你老味BOSSINI” for 2 hours. They also released a Buddha machine with remixes of their single “Easy Lighter” with, among other, the Taiwanese duo Mong Tong, and an EP entitled “冷氣機滴水” (“dripping A/C”). And of course, they performed live this year – even if they were not invited for this year’s Clockenflap.
Serrini, Rage in Peace (Hong Kong)
Talking about Clockenflap, the experimental Cantopop diva Serrini was invited again to perform at the biggest Hong Kong music festival this year. It was a very emotional and joyful moment of communion for Hong Kong Cantopop fans. Thanks to Serrini, we can say that Hong Kong Cantopop is not dead (yet).
XIAOWANG 小王, Kachakacha (China)
If there’s only one Chinese underground band to remember this year, it would be Xiaowang. The all-female DIY punk band released their first album, Kachakacha this year, filled with rage, feminism, and anti-misogynistic anthems. You could say that Xiaowang is the worthy successor of Hang On The Box, but they are way more than that. Josh Feola wrote a very good article on the band if you want to know more.
Wasted Laika 丢莱卡, “白夜狐步舞” (Yonghegong)
My favorite Beijing punk-rock band released a single in the last months of 2024, promising a new album soon. “白夜狐步舞” is, as always, a nostalgic song, while the MV (posted on their Instagram) is clear about the political message the band tries to convey. Hopefully, we will get a full album soon (and a world tour, finger crossed).
Young Dan 回春丹 controversy (and the single “亮闪闪”) (Guangxi, China)
Like I mentioned in a press review earlier this year, the indie-rock band Young Dan or 回春丹 was caught in a middle of a geopolitical controversy when they went to perform in Taipei. Before arriving in Taiwan, they sent a Weibo message saying they were coming to “Taiwan, China” (中国台湾). Of course, they were welcomed by angry Taiwanese after their performance at Legacy Taipei – and their subsequent show was cancelled. Their only single released in 2024, “亮闪闪”, is the soundtrack of the mobile game King Pro League.
Wayne Liu (Taiwan)
Last year, Wayne Liu, one of Taiwan’s foremost punk rocker, passed away too soon. This year, his friends collected his songs and released his first posthumously solo album, which was awarded the jury’s award at the Taiwan Golden Indie Music Awards. After listening to the album, we can feel more than ever the metaphysical sadness that characterized Wayne’s music.
Jurat T.T, 创作30年纪念专辑
The Xinjiang psychedelic rocker (I talked about him in RadiiChina several years ago) Jurat T.T recently released a new album, 30 years in the making. It contains the first songs he ever composed, heavily inspired by early Beyond and Pink Floyd. The newly recorded tracks show where the Uyghur rocker came from, his inspiration, and the road he traveled until now. The single “Fake”, sang in Uyghur, also released in 2024, reminds me of the early Jurat, from his first album Sans Famille.
Sorry Youth 拍謝少年, Noise Appartment 噪音公寓 (Taiwan)
The prodigy of Taiwan indie rock (in Taiwanese) released a new album this year, 3 years after their last acclaimed album. This new album is more pop-oriented, and features a duo with the Taiwan songwriter, LGBT+ activist and DPP supporter Enno Cheng, “共身軀完全放予去” (Let the Body Speaks).
Wellsaid, Regretopia (Hong Kong)
The post-hardcore Hong Kong band Wellsaid released a beautiful album this year, Regretopia. The album was recorded in Taipei, and the single “Lighter Head” features a guitar solo by Pillof Yau of the Taiwanese indie outfit Super Napkin. Wellsaid also invited the Wuhan band Chinese Football to perform in Hong Kong, and opened for them. I highly recommend their new album.
Fazi 法兹, “東方101與未來馬場” (Oriental 101 w Future Prairie) (Xi’an)
The great post-rock band from Xi’an released this year an album remixing their favorite past tracks. It’s an all new take on their old songs, almost a completely new album. They also toured the world extensively – they performed a very energetic and vibrant show at Clockenflap this year.
Carsick Cars, Aha (Beijing’s D22)
The Beijing post-rock veterans are back, eleven (!) years after their last album 3. It may be a by-product of their (short) apparition in The Big Band season 2, but it’s something so beautiful that I don’t care about any possible financial reasons behind their reformation. There is something deeply nostalgic when I hear Zhou Shouwang’s voice. It almost makes me long for a Zhongnanhai cigarette. Then I remember I quit smoking, and we’re not in 2007 anymore, a lot of things changed, and Carsick Cars too. The album is available on their Bandcamp.
Wang Wen, All Yesterday’s Parties (Wang Wen 25th Anniversary Live Collection) (Dalian)
For their 25th anniversary, the post-rock legends from Dalian released a live collection album. As they states in their Bandcamp website, “It’s not a celebratory birthday tribute; instead, it serves as Wang Wen’s reflection on the past”. Wang Wen’s music is magnificent, but Wang Wen’s live performances are something out of this world.
No Nonsense Collective 無妄合作社, 開往天堂的海盜船 (Taiwan)
The indie-punk Taipei collective 無妄合作社 released a new album this year, very much influenced by reggae (and pirate songs).
88 BALAZ 八十八顆芭樂籽, Legend of the Romantic Baseball Warriors 浪漫野球戰士列傳 (Taipei)
Everybody knows the love of Taiwanese people for baseball – particularly this year, since the Taiwan team won the Premier12 final against Japan. But not everybody knows the love of punk-rock legends 88 BALAZ for baseball (and beer). This new album is dedicated to Baseball (and beer).
Leah Dou, 空中飛人 (In Transit)
The daughter of Faye Wong and Dou Wei released a jazzy and complex album this year, about traveling and long-distance love.
Catscare – and My Little Airport (Hong Kong)
One of my favorite discovery this year, the post-emo, post-hardcore superband Catscare, consisting of Nicole from My Little Airport, Nic from The Lovesong and Leo from N.Y.P.D. The band have not released any song yet, but their live performances are incredible. Speaking of My Little Airport, they did a three days consecutive concerts (sold-out) in Hong Kong this year, and released a new single, “威士忌”. We have to be very strong (if we want to do something very wrong).

Hiperson 海朋森 Asia Tour and Chen Sijiang (Chengdu)
No new album or even single for my favorite Sichuan post-punk band. But they did tour extensively Asia this year. I saw them both in Taipei and Hong Kong in 2024. It was perhaps my favorite concerts this year, particularly the one in Taipei, extremely beautiful and emotional. So even if they haven’t released something new this year, I include them in my list (like last year), and you know why? Because I can.
Hiperson’s lead singer, Chen Sijiang, as been experimenting with music by herself this year. You can find two demos on her Bandcamp. Even with the weird sound experimentation of Sijiang, you can still feel Hiperson’s poesy creeping through every words.
Gong Gong Gong 工工工 and Mong Tong, Mongkok Duel (Kowloon?)
The two best Sinophone experimental electronic duos joined forces for a new album, Mongkok Duel. The two bands, from Taipei and Beijing/Hong Kong, regularly perform together, as in Hong Kong this year for an incredible sold-out concert.
C.S.B.Q. (Changsha)
Another concert I really loved is C.S.B.Q. live in Taipei. The Changsha punk band rocked the Revolver with their working-class anthems and punk spirit. The spiritual children of SMZB also released several new singles in 2024, including “雕像”.
Aberration 越轨 (Wuhan)
Another great underground band toured Taiwan recently, this time from Wuhan: Aberration 越轨. The Wuhan punk band features among others the singer Liang Zhan (ex-SMZB and Los Crasher) and guitarist Tu Dou (SMZB). The spirit of Lumo Road is still alive.
Wutiaoren 五条人 (Haifeng)
The Haifeng band had a great year. Their shows were sold-out (I saw them in Shenzhen, The Big Band effect is real), they participated to the last Jia Zhang-ke movie, Caught By The Tide 风流一代 where they appeared a minute or two, and they released a new single “Can’t help falling in love” for the movie I Love You, to the Moon, and Back (穿过月亮的旅行). Expect more accordion and plastic sandals in 2025.
South Acid Mimi, 圣代元音 (Yunnan)
The psychedelic electronic trio South Acid Mimi from Yunnan released in December 2023 their new EP – which I didn’t include last year because it was released after the publication of my list. So I’m adding them to this year’s list, and they deserve it. It’s a trip.
Dummy Toys, War Is Nightmare (Qingdao)
Another album I forgot to mention last year, was the second opus from the Qingdao all-female punk band, Dummy Toys, entitled War Is Nightmare. Dummy Toys also embarked in a long tour in 2024, performing in Europe and China. The feminist, socially-engaged and anti-misogynistic sound of Dummy Toys is exactly what we need. Without any doubt, the best street-punk band from China.
Joyside, “新年” (School Bar)
On December 30, Joyside released a new single, “新年” (New Year), for the new year. Does it mean we’re going to hear from them in 2025?
Denise Ho, “本世紀最怪” (“The Strangest Misadventure of All-Time”) (Hong Kong)
It’s a tradition in this annual list to feature the new single by Denise Ho. The Cantopop diva released this year one song (in Mandarin), “本世紀最怪”. Denise cannot perform live concerts, saying venues won’t accept bookings. And even when she managed to organize a very small live-streamed gig, Hong Kong police came to harass her, citing noise complains.
Anthony Wong, “石沉大海” (Hong Kong)
We can’t mention Denise Ho without talking about Anthony Wong, from the experimental duo Tat Ming Pair (a book on the Cantopop legendary band was published this year). Anthony Wong released several singles this year, including “石沉大海“.
當代電影大師 Modern Cinema Master, 你在注視那遙遠的地方 (Taipei)
The children of Touming Magazine 透明雜誌 (it’s literally the name of one of their songs) are probably the most interesting post-rock band from Taiwan at the moment. The new album 你在注視那遙遠的地方, full of post-adolescent trauma, is an excellent introduction to Modern Cinema Master’s unique sound.
Lonely Leary 孤独的利里, 间冰期 Inter Ice Age (Beijing)
Here’s the third studio album of the Beijing’s dynamic rock trio. Passenger On The Eve was one of my favorite 2020 album. The post-punk geniuses keep the good work in Inter Ice Age, released in late October. In December, Lonely Leary embarked in a long national tour to defend their new album.
East Asian Hardcore Live
As I said, it was a great year for live performances, and especially for the hardcore community. Guangzhou-based hardcore DIY labels organized a great show, inviting SPIT! from Taiwan for their first show ever in Guangzhou. They also partnered up with Hong Kong local organizations to set up a day long hardcore festival (“Blank Slate”), featuring bands from China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan (including L-Schema and Toxic Bald). Asian Punx and Hardcore Unite!
OpenEdition vous propose de citer ce billet de la manière suivante :
Nathanel Amar (1 janvier 2025). Sinophone Music in 2024: It’s A-Live! Scream For Life. Consulté le 19 février 2025 à l’adresse https://doi.org/10.58079/13031