Keeping the show on the road

Independent movement

For the country's indie musicians, the pandemic has left them jobless as financial problems mounted with the loss of income from tours. On Feb 4,2020, Modern Sky, one of the biggest record companies of China, which is home to over 100 indie rock bands, launched an online streaming program, titled Hi, I Am at Home Too. More than 70 indie music groups, including pop rock band New Pants, joined in the first round of online performances, which received positive feedback from the fans. Then from Feb 22 to 28, 2020, nearly 100 acts, including Chinese-American rapper Victor Ma, and pop rock band Dada, joined in the second round of online performances. The total number of views exceeded 2 million.

"We would often perform at small live music venues in front of fans, who sang along with us and cheered loudly. When performances moved online, I spent some time adjusting to the new way of interacting with fans," says Cao Shi, founder and lead vocalist with Chinese rock band Black Head, who also joined Modern Sky's online streaming program.

As well as singing and playing guitar, Cao also shared his daily life at home during the lockdown, such as cooking and exercising.

"It feels more intimate when I communicate with the audience online. It's more like talking to my friends. I like reading the messages fans tap out on the screen. I also respond to their questions. It's a fresh experience for us," says Cao.

The pandemic also became a source of inspiration to indie musicians. On Feb 25, 2020, singer-songwriter Peng Lei, the frontman of Beijing-based rock band New Pants, released a new single, Just Dance, Wherever You Can, on social media platform Sina Weibo, hoping to bring cheer to fans with its upbeat message.

In the music video, the singer-songwriter performs with his guitar against the backdrop of his living room and balcony. The video was viewed more than 1.2 million times, and the lyrics record Peng's existence at the time, which was just like that of many people, who had to stay at home to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, and his longing for life to return to normal.