Daniel Wu Announces the Launch of New Design Lab at Shanghai International Film Festival

On June 19th, film star Daniel Wu introduced the launch of a new brand innovation design lab, “ZUHAUS,” on Instagram and Weibo. This came shortly after his 48 hour stay in Shanghai for the Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) — the largest film festival in Asia. Daniel referred to the launch as “a new endeavor” that traces back to his “design roots.” Wu has a longstanding interest in design, and holds a degree in architecture from the University of Oregon.


Daniel Wu

Image via Instagram.


The launch was announced at the festival after bringing together “some old friends.” The Chinese American actor, director, and producer shared that the goal of ZUHAUS is to facilitate collaborations between domestic and international brands to come up with new brand concepts and product designs. ZUHAUS is already working with Baud Audio, a Swedish headphone maker, as part of its first international collaboration. With ZUHAUS, Wu is looking forward to more exciting cross-cultural collaborations.


For more on Daniel Wu and his other projects, including sci-fi graphic novel Evermind, check out RADII’s interview with him from last fall.


Banner image via Daniel Wu on Instagram.

New Chinese Music: Summer Jams from Chestnut Bakery, Cola Ren, and More

This month brings an exciting spread of new music from everyone from established cult favorites like Chestnut Bakery and Liu Ge, to newcomers like Fujian indie pop whiz kids Puppy’s Bone and Guangzhou-based producer Cola Ren, who burst onto the scene last year. As the music scene readies itself for a wave of venue closures, it’s inspiring, as always, to see musicians getting their work out there for posterity in official releases — Editor.

Chestnut Bakery – Sun Melting, Rain Drizzling

While Chestnut Bakery are far from prolific, the Shenzhen-based band has garnered cult-like status in the shoegaze and dream pop scene in China, amassing legions of fans both at home and abroad from their light-footed, emotionally-ripe Galaxie 500-evoking sound. Nearly ten years after their debut, the band returns with a new EP — Sun Melting, Rain Drizzling — which finds singer Rye and company tapping into their well of nostalgia-driven melodies. Dialing back the reverb, their latest seems more inspired by the neo folk resurgence here in China, restrained yet crafted with grace and lush production that swells with emotion, slowly pulling you under its spell.


Cola Ren – Forest Drone

Guangzhou-based producer Cola Ren returns with her latest batch of humid grooves and lushly assembled melodies on Forest Drone, released with Munich-based electronic label Qeone. Like the artist’s debut EP Hailu from last year, there’s a fluidity to the rhythms in play here — a mix of downtempo, ambient, breakbeat, and techno — allowing textures to weave in and out of their sonic world at ease. The results are refined, delectable, and inviting. And in case you missed out on Hailu, you can now jump headfirst in Hailu Remixes, a compilation of remixes from a cast of top-notch musicians including Xiamen/Shanghai’s Knopha, Seoul duo Salamanda, and UK producers K-LONE and Al Wootton.


Zhang Xingchan 张醒婵 – No, no!

Essentially a calling card for the magnitude of paths singer Zhang Xingchan will have laid in front of her soon enough, No, no! is an audacious and beguiling debut. The multi-talented Wuhan-based musician, whose previous credits included singing for alt-pop outfit trigger, has drawn comparisons to a wide range of avant-pop touchstones, from Japanese icon Ringo Sheena, to Mando pop singer Wu Qingfeng, chamber pop trailblazer Sufjan Stevens, and indie pop genre-smashers Iruka Porisu. Xingchan is a singular talent with a deft command of melody, a rich lyrical touch, and a jukebox-like musical sensibility that seamlessly weaves between noise, jazz, electronica, alt rock, and pop with the pep of a kid in a record shop. The album’s fragmented nature might turn some off, but for those willing to take the leap, it’s heaps of fun.


Alone Together – Today I’m getting a bob

Emerging Shanghai noise pop band Alone Together burst onto the scene with their big-hearted, swoon-worthy debut EP, Today I’m getting a bob, released with freshly-minted Shanghai label Tears Collection. Yuck-invoking, Sarah Records-aspiring indie pop that hits that jangly 90s alt rock sweet spot with a bullseye, there’s nothing particularly original about Alone Together, but boy does it sound good to the ears, crafted with a keen awareness of what makes the genre so endearing. The perfect summer break-up album.


Liu Ge 刘舸 – My Loneliness is Like a Snake 我的寂寞像一条蛇

Liu Ge — the wiry frontman of cult favorites The Molds — brings his bedroom pop sensibilities to the forefront on his solo debut My Loneliness is Like a Snake 我的寂寞像一条蛇, released with SpaceFruity Records. With a retro touch that would feel right at home in a low-budget Wes Anderson film, or better yet, in a smoke-filled KTV room, and a lo-fi veneer that’s snug and light, yet never trite, it’s amazing what Liu Ge can pull off with the bare minimum: a keyboard, drum machine, guitar, and of course, his signature rustic voice.



Seippelabel Vol. 11 – China Ambient Compilation

Seippelabel continues its comeback tour with their first compilation in six years: China Ambient Compilation. An extensive, eclectic, and exhaustive collection of ambient artists in China, it features a staggering 23 acts working within the genre, from household names (if your household is into Chinese electronica and post rock) like Night Swimmer and Xie Yugang (of Wang Wen fame) to more obscure (yet equally immersive) artists like Kagami Smile and fenni. It’s the perfect introduction not only to the growing pool of talent here in China but also to the genre itself, showcasing how versatile ambient music is by touching on its various styles and offshoots including drone, experimental, modern classical, field recordings, and post rock.


Puppy’s Bone 小狗的骨头 – Best Friend Forever

It’s time to find that perfect summer jam, and sticking nicely up top at this very moment is this earworm of a track: “Best Friend Forever” from up-and-coming Fujian indie pop band Puppy’s Bone. The track, released with indie pop imprint SJ Records, gets an appropriately endearing and DIY music video, showcasing the band goofing off in their local park. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve replayed this song in the past two weeks.

Enema Stone – Ride It

Paying tribute to all the divas that came before them, Enema Stone, the ever-provocative Queen of Medusa Records — the queer-focused electronic label based out of Shanghai — returns with her latest neon-soaked, glitter-bombed dance-pop electroclash single “Ride It.” As the name implies, it’s a raw, steamy unbridled window into the deviant pleasures of its star — and with the help of producer Michael Cignarale, it’s another surefire summer jam.

OctopusVillain 八爪恶霸 – 八爪恶霸的意外接触

Electronic singer-songwriter duo Octopus Villain, consisting of Beijing’s Galatea and Jiabao, take pleasure in the wrapped musical landscape that lies before them, with only their idiosyncrasies to guide them. A fuzzy concoction of electro pop, R&B, idol music, and electronica, their latest EP, Octopus Villain’s Unintended Meeting 八爪恶霸的意外接触, released with Merrie Records, is made with DIY aplomb yet infused with intrepid pop gusto, keeping listeners on their toes while bewitching them each step of the way.


CNdY x Xi Hong 西红 – Fist of Thorns 荆棘拳

Long-standing electronic group CNdY, not afraid to bend their sound to new trends or delights, teams up with rising Beijing rapper Xi Hong for Fist of Thorns, released with Seafood Market Records. Chaotic and abstract, the alchemy between the two distinct acts — CNdY and their techno-rooted and richly-designed electronica, plus Xi Hong’s more stream-of-conscious and irreverent yet pointed poise — unfolds like an underground jam session that spills over into a lucid dream. The EP features a slew of top-notch guests including Taiwanese singer PiNkChAiN, Popogo, and Baohan.



Banner image by Haedi Yue.

17-Year-Old Fashion Student Ranks 12th in Alibaba Global Math Competition

On June 13th, Alibaba’s research program DAMO Academy released the list of finalists for the 2024 Alibaba Global Mathematics Competition. Among the 801 finalists from prestigious institutions like Tsinghua University, Peking University, and MIT, one name stands out: Jiang Ping, a 17-year-old studying fashion design at Jiangsu Lianshui Vocational School. She achieved 12th place with a score of 93, making her the only girl in the top 30.


Pre

Jiang Ping presenting her solution to a math problem.


This unexpected achievement has sparked skepticism from various quarters. Critics question the authenticity of her exam results, pointing out errors in her presentation and her previous academic performance. Leaving aside the excessive exposure of her personal information, doubts seem rooted in biases about whether a young girl can excel in mathematics. In response, her math teacher defended her, emphasizing Jiang Ping’s dedication to mathematics, stating that she spends all her time outside of eating and sleeping on practicing math. The teacher, who himself participated in the competition, ranked 125th. To her supporters, Jiang Ping’s success is a testament to both her natural talent and her relentless effort.


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Jiang Ping using a sewing machine for her coursework.


The question of why the math prodigy attends a vocational school specializing in fashion design has sparked curiosity among Chinese netizens. Jiang scored a respectable 621 out of 780 on her high school entrance exam, leading some netizens to question if societal preferences favoring sons’ academic paths over daughters’ were at play here. However, in an interview, Jiang Ping clarified that her primary interest lies in fashion design, which she believes is better taught at vocational schools. She sees mathematics as a secondary interest (in her words, a “Plan B”) and welcomes the chance to reveal this lesser-known aspect of herself.


From any perspective, the Alibaba competition has fulfilled its goal of discovering new mathematical talent by opening access to participants from all fields. Faced with online criticism, Jiang Ping remains steadfast and unperturbed. She is now preparing for the final round, determined to demonstrate her mathematical talent with a performance that matches the high expectations now placed on her.


All photos via Alibaba.

Stanford Graduate to Work as a Civil Servant in Remote Chinese Town

News of a Stanford PhD graduate getting hired to work for the local government of a remote Chinese town has attracted views on Chinese social media over the past few days. Su Zhen, who holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, and a doctorate in physics from Stanford University, recently applied to a position in the local government of Lingbi (灵璧县) — a town under the administration of Suzhou City, Anhui province (written in Chinese as 宿州 Sùzhōu, not to be confused with the better known 苏州 Sūzhōu). Su Zhen was hired after scoring first in both the written test and interview for the local Civil Servant Examination (公务员考试).


Su Zhen Chart

Su Zhen’s name on the list of applicants. Image via Zhonghuawang.


The news sparked heated debate after going viral. The Civil Servant Examination is open to all who hold a bachelor’s degree and are under the age of 35. In Chinese, a position in the civil service has often been regarded as an “Iron Rice Bowl” (铁饭碗, tiěfànwǎn). Though such government jobs have relatively low wages, their stability makes them attractive to many. Therefore, the exam is noted for its competitiveness, with millions of college graduates applying every year. But it is very rare for a PhD graduate, especially someone who has overseas experience, to participate in the examination when they apparently should have plenty of other career options. Many ask what is the purpose of acquiring a world-class education when the result is to become a civil servant in a small town. Some argue that this is a waste of the society’s resources, since Su should be aiming higher with the education he received. Others believe that it is completely his personal choice.


Su’s hiring has gained attention around the same time that Jiang Ping, a 17-year-old student at a vocational high school in Jiangsu province, entered the final round of Alibaba’s global math competition, where she will be competing against math students from MIT and Tsinghua. Together, the stories of these two young people urge a deeper reflection on the biases around higher education in China and the prejudices that exist in defining people based on their level of education.


Banner image via Weibo and lingbi.gov.cn.

AI-Generated Film “M.A.D” Wins Audience Choice Award at Global AI Film Marathon

Created by Willmountain Film in collaboration with CreativeFitting, three-minute animated short M.A.D tells a tale of nuclear war, based on acclaimed Chinese sci-fi writer He Xi’s work Sea of Wars. While that itself would be cause enough for interest, the film is actually also AI-generated. Last Friday, June 14th, the film won Bilibili’s “Audience Choice” Award at Shanghai Film’s “Global AI Film Marathon Competition.” Along with five other award-winning films from the competition, M.A.D was screened at the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) on the same day.


MAD Poster

Image via Willmountain Films.


The seeds for the collaboration were planted when Jud Willmont, founder of Willmountain Films and writer and director of M.A.D, met the CreativeFitting team at a short film seminar. They quickly established a connection and leveraged each other’s strengths in scriptwriting and AI-generated content (AIGC) technology, completing M.A.D within three weeks. Willmont uncovered the underlying tensions in He Xi’s original story, delving into the complexities of human morality within a narrative of resource scarcity, violence, and interstellar war. Meanwhile, the CreativeFitting team utilized their latest breakthrough generative AI video model, Reel Diffusion, to animate the film.


Zhu Jiang, founder and CEO of CreativeFitting, remarked that Reel Diffusion enabled them to focus more on character expression, thereby enhancing the storyline’s core as conveyed through consistent mise-en-scène and dialogue written by Willmont. With extensive experience in AI-generated short series streaming on Douyin, CreativeFitting stated that creating for a horizontal screen felt more akin to traditional filmmaking, allowing for more nuanced expression of emotion. Ultimately, the team decided to use human voice actors for the film to maintain this emotionality.



Created by an international cast and crew over a limited time frame, the success of M.A.D underscores the potential of AIGC films, highlighting the new levels of emotional depth achievable through AI models. Though there are some concerns about AI video models potentially replacing aspects of the film industry, for the time being at least, AI-generated films still require real people to step onstage to accept awards!


Banner image via Willmountain Films.

A Small City in Jiangxi is Becoming an International Theater Hub

Back in early June, Huichang, a city with a population of less than half a milllion in southern Jiangxi province, hosted a two-day run of Macbettu, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth by Sardinia Theatre, a renowned Italian troupe currently on a world tour. The performance in Huichang was the group’s only appearance in the Chinese mainland, highlighting the city’s unlikely transformation into a cultural hub.


Previously little known outside of Jiangxi, Huichang has recently attracted both national and international attention, hosting more than 500 cultural events and attracting 3.6 million tourists this year alone. The arrival of Sardinia Theatre is the latest addition to this bustling theater scene.


Macbettu

Macbettu. Image via Firenze Made in Tuscany.


Historically, Huichang has been a place where different cultural heritages have met one another. The area is known for its “Gànnán kèjiā wénhuà” (赣南客家文化), which translates to “Southern Jiangxi Hakka culture,” and represents a fusion between the culture of Hakkas (a Han Chinese subgroup) and local ethnic minorities like the Yao and She. Over the past few years, with an increase in financial support from the local government, the city began to use its heritage to its advantage by developing cultural events, especially in the fields of theater and art. The city now has a district solely dedicated to performing arts.


The success of Huichang demonstrates that cross-cultural exchanges do not necessarily have to take place in major metropolises. Smaller cities increasingly possess the capacity to host large-scale arts festivals, and even when they lack the local audience for such events, they can often make up the difference by attracting domestic tourists. Furthermore, Huichang has shown how the unique cultural characteristics of underdeveloped areas can be an asset. All in all, Huichang’s emergence as a theater destination challenges conventional narratives on China which primarily focus on major cities and leave inadequate space for the rest of the country.


Banner image via Banyuetan.