Soak Up the End of Summer with these 10 New Music Picks

New Music is a monthly RADII column that looks at new Chinese music spanning hip hop to folk to modern experimental, and everything in between.


Dive into China’s underground music scene with this month’s roundup. From Beijing’s mesmerizing indie electronica to Shanghai’s avant-garde beat scene, there’s something for every music fan.


Maybe it’s the bluesy sound of Instinkto Industrio, or the emotional messages of Bennu is a Heron. Whatever your taste, you’re sure to find something worth saving.

sourtower – Whispers Between Us

Beijing’s sourtower, the project of singer-songwriter, artist, and producer Wang Xu, offers a heady mix of psychedelic discomfort and lo-fi indie electronica.


The project’s debut album Whispers Between Us, released on Nugget Records, strikes a balance between stoicism and defiance, anxiety and comfort. With a minimalist rhythmic approach and Wang Xu’s subtle and clever vocals, sourtower’s sound paints a world that draws listeners into a complex and relatable web of emotions.

Da Seven 大七乐团 – Timeless 当时间无序时

Instrumental rock group Da Seven’s long-awaited debut, Timeless, is an auditory adventure.


Taking a piano-led, underground lounge approach to math rock, the band transforms what might have been mellow jam sessions into intricate, off-kilter arrangements filled with unusual time signatures, agile musicianship, and contemporary jazz touches. Da Seven’s music engages the ear with its nuanced sound design and imaginative spins on genre.


Gooooose – Rudiments

Renowned Shanghai electronic producer Gooooose races through feverish breakbeats, high-wire IDM, atmospheric electro-jazz, and more with his explorative release, Rudiments.


Created during Shanghai’s 2022 lockdown, the album finds inspiration in everyday objects, using them as a jumping off point for each track. It’s precision-made club music with an attention to detail that ensures full immersion.


theairpaper 空气纸 – Empty Room 空房间

Blending krautrockian cold wave and post-punk, Beijing’s theairpaper aims to impress with their debut LP, Empty Room.


Infused with a gothic essence and synth-rich coating, this release veers away from the group’s earlier noise sound, instead leaning towards Beijing’s synth-pop landscape. The kinetic energy, crisp production, and sense of propulsion are highlighted by the music video for their single Left.

Auburn 赤褐色 – 镜子，花园，火山，深海

Beijing-based indie rock group Auburn continues to evolve their finely tuned alt-pop-rock sound on Mirror, Garden, Volcano, Deep Sea.


In some ways, a nod to vintage Hedgehog or Nezha, the band enriches their rustic indie rock with a psychedelic touch, while keeping their heartfelt lyricism intact. Auburn’s relaxed demeanor shines here.


Running Blue – Return

Shanghai dream pop duo Running Blue, comprised of vocalist Liang Huang Gui and producer Yin Hao, explores deeper dimensions in Return.


The production is both sparse and ornate, as though submerged underwater. Atmospherically rich, with glitchy indietronica and hazy synths, Liang Huanggui’s smoky vocals anchor this fine mood piece.

Bennu is a Heron – despite the world is so big, but not a corner belongs to me

The latest EP from Guangzhou band Bennu is a Heron takes emo music into the mosh pit.


A chaotic but cathartic journey of self-reflection, it explores themes of identity, home, and longing through a mix of hardcore breakdowns and contrasting vocals. Raw and forceful, this one makes an impact.


Instinkto Industrio 本能实业 – The Seagull Waltz 海鸥舞曲

Featuring the former singer of Plastic, Bokai, and members of The Lighthouse Stranger, Instinkto Industrio fuses poetic lyrics with bluesy cabaret rock.


Their debut, set to release with Maybe Mars, draws on literary romanticism, and single The Seagull Waltz paints a yearning for constant progress.

The Pulsar 脉冲星 – Yandang Mountain 雁荡山

Chongqing rockers The Pulsar, fresh from their debut Monday And Thursday, channel working-class blues punk in their live video for Yandang Mountain.


Recorded in a bustling vegetable market, it captures the energy and heat of their city, and serves as a compelling introduction to this up-and-coming band.

Dummy Toys – War is Nightmare

Unpretentious and direct, all-girl power punk band Dummy Toys makes a defiant stand on their sophomore release, War is Nightmare.


Tackling issues ranging from domestic violence to climate change, the Qingdao group has evolved into a heavier sound, mixing street punk with metal riffs and hardcore elements. The result is decisive and filled with rage — you’re going to love it.



Chengdu Wants to Become a Hub for Sci-Fi

Chengdu is embracing a new chapter in its identity as a hub for science fiction, amidst an ongoing renaissance of Chinese sci-fi.


Following the success of Liu Cixin’s works and the “Wandering Earth” movie, the Chengdu Science Fiction Museum, on the brink of completion, is set to open its doors to the public as the main venue for the 81st annual World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), as well as the prestigious Hugo Awards ceremony, in October of this year.


The impressive piece of architecture is situated by Jingrong Lake within Chengdu’s Science & Innovation New City. The design, created by Zaha Hadid Architects, draws inspiration from the spiral patterns of an expanding nebula, as well as from gold leaf masks unearthed in recent archaeological digs near Chengdu, representing the mystical visions and alien-like forms celebrated by the area’s ancient inhabitants.


‘Alien-like’ forms of ancient Sanxingdui civilization masks. Image via Wikimedia Commons


A central atrium illuminated by natural light, and a large window that looks onto the nearby mountain range integrate the museum’s interior with its natural surroundings. The 59,400 square meter floor plan aims for seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces, and across different stories to connect the museum’s facilities.


Chengdu, a city of over 2 million residents, has a rich legacy in the realm of science fiction. The most-read sci-fi magazine on the planet, Science Fiction World, is based in Chengdu, where it was first published in 1979.


Image via ATCHAIN

Image via ATCHAIN


During Worldcon, the World Science Fiction Society will preside over and present the Hugo Awards, considered the premiere award in science fiction. Categories include novels and short fiction, artwork, and dramatic presentations, all interspersed with diverse professional and fan activities.


Announced guests of honor for the convention include Liu Cixin, Sergey Lukyanenko, and Robert J. Sawyer.


Liu Cixin received the 2015 Hugo Award for his novel The Three-Body Problem. Sergey Lukyanenko, despite recently attracting controversy over comments about the Ukrainian invasion, remains a figure of significance for his works such as Night Watch. Robert J. Sawyer is celebrated for works such as The Flashforward and The Oppenheimer Alternative.


Cover image via ATCHAIN

Shanghai Welcomes AI-Powered ‘Smart Libraries’

At Changning Library in downtown Shanghai, visitors are greeted by a digital human who can hold conversations, recommend new books, reserve seats in the library, and more.


The avatar, named Xin Ye, is equipped with an advanced recommendation algorithm. Once she scans visitors’ library cards — or faces — she uses borrowing records and reading history to identify books they would enjoy, which can be delivered to their reserved seats via robot.


a reporter interacts with the xin ye ai interface at changning library

A reporter tests out the Xin Ye AI human interface at Changning Library. Image via Weibo


The AI staffers and book delivery robots at Changning Library are part of the district’s larger plan to bring its public cultural spaces into the 21st century.


“Culture and reading both promote and influence each other,” Changning District posted on its official WeChat account. “We want to create a new method for urban reading that suits Changning, is age-friendly, walkable, and full of reading opportunities.”


“There’s even a special reading and discussion space for readers to learn about traditional Chinese culture and our intangible cultural heritage.”


a delivery robot at Changning Library

A delivery robot bringing books to readers. Image via Weibo


Since the first upgrades were implemented last fall, Changning Library’s new AI functions have been used more than 20,000 times.


The avatar Xin Ye and book delivery robots aren’t the only additions. All the books have been supplied with RFID chips, which helps the robots find them. The chips also make it possible for each book’s exact location to be represented on a screen by each bookshelf, making it easier for humans to find them, as well.


a digital bookshelf

The digital bookshelf connected to the RFID chips. Image via Weibo


The library has also installed contactless smart bookshelves, where visitors can pick up books checked out online ahead of time.


Zhu Jianwei, the head of the Changning District Culture and Tourism Bureau, told SHINE News that the ‘smart library’ approach will eventually be expanded across the district, if Changning’s initiative is a success.


a "story store" in changning

A “story store” in Changning. Image via WeChat


Beyond libraries, the district’s plans to jump start reading also include building a “story store” on Yuyuan Road to showcase Changning’s history, upgrading the popular Tsutaya Bookstore, and partnering with cafes and museums to create more public reading spaces.


Cover image via WeChat

Donnie Yen’s Daughter Drops R&B Music Video

Jasmine Yen, daughter of Ip Man star Donnie Yen, has just dropped an R&B music video…and it’s kind of a bop.


The song ‘IDK’ is written and performed in both Mandarin and English. It’s a lighthearted, new-school R&B jam about young love, and lessons learned through trial and error.

Yen, who just signed with Sony Music Entertainment’s RCA Records, also had her live debut on July 30th in Singapore at the Majulah Music Night, where she performed unreleased tracks from her new album, eight of which will be released on September 1st.


Although ‘IDK’ is her major debut, Yen is no stranger to the spotlight; she’s the daughter of action star Donnie Yen — known for Ip Man, Star Wars, Mulan, and upcoming John Wick: Chapter 4 — and model Cissy Wang. With the release of her first single, Yen mentioned that she’s already bracing herself for criticism as a ‘nepo baby.’


It’s not the first time Chinese audiences have seen that. When Annabelle Yao, the youngest daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, dropped a music video, she got absolutely slammed on social media.


“Can’t sing, can’t dance, but if you have money…” was one memorable comment.

That being said, some folks are already familiar with Yen’s work. She started composing music at age seven, and has written over 70 songs to date. In 2020, her father posted a video of her singing and performing a song on the piano dedicated to her late grandfather, and other videos, which showed the evolution of her singing and dancing, have also generated buzz on social media.


On YouTube, the reviews are quite positive.


“On repeat all morning!” reads one comment.


“Randomly stumbled upon this,” reads another. “Actually legit good.”


Nepo baby or not, Jasmine Yen is one to watch.


Cover image via Instagram @jasmineyen

UFC Fighter Song Yadong Robbed at Gunpoint in Bay Area

UFC fighter Song Yadong was robbed at gunpoint at a gas station in Vallejo, California, in a style of violent crime that’s regrettably becoming more and more common in the “lawless” Bay Area.


Song’s friend Nan Lin was buying a bottle of water, when four masked men emerged from separate cars, striking him with a pistol. They took his phone, wallet, and car keys, before entering his car to find a sleeping Song Yadong.


When Song woke up to find a gun pointed at his head, he gave up his belongings to the robbers, later saying that he knew better than to fight back.


“This is a real gun, you know?” Song told NBC, managing to keep a smiling and level-headed disposition in spite of the events. “If he moves his finger, you’re done. No chance to be world champion.”



Strangely, the worker at the gas station refused to contact the police. By the time the police were involved, the gas station had already deleted the security footage.


On social media, numerous comments question that decision, speculating that the employee obstructed justice, or worse, played a role in the robbery.


The attack comes as part of a rising wave of crime in California’s Bay Area, where violent robberies, especially those targeting Asian citizens, are regrettably becoming more common.


Song Yadong is currently the ninth ranked bantamweight fighter in the UFC, and is one of the most exciting fighters to emerge from China into MMA’s biggest international arena. He was one of the subjects of RADII’s documentary Way of the Warrior, which explores the present and future of Chinese MMA.



Cover image via ‘Way of the Warrior’

Fake Belly Buttons are the Newest Gen-Z Fashion Accessory

Forget Meitu and FaceTune — Chinese women have discovered a real-life illusion to lengthen the body’s proportions: fake belly buttons.


Available for 5-10 RMB (0.70 to 1.40 USD), these easily-accessible temporary tattoos are catching on for their ability to make women’s legs look longer, and to make stomachs look slimmer.


a girl showing her real belly button and a fake one

A woman showing off her fake belly button


The tag for the trend on Xiaohongshu, a popular Instagram-like app, has over 35 million views. Not only does it include guides to using the temporary tattoos, but also a range of video tutorials that show viewers how to draw on belly buttons with eyeshadow.


“The result is pretty natural, and I think it looks better than my own belly button,” said one influencer testing out the tattoo stickers. “It gave me long legs, just like that.”


a video tutorial for using fake belly buttons

“It really looks authentic,” writes one influencer in her review of the tattoos


The benefits of fake belly buttons go beyond a slimmer appearance, though -—according to traditional Chinese medicine, the lower abdomen must be kept warm to preserve the overall health of the body; the fake belly button makes it so that women can wear high-waisted pants that cover much of the stomach, while still maintaining the crop-top aesthetic.


But not everyone is a fan of fake belly buttons, and what they represent.


a mirror selfie showing a girl wearing a fake belly button

The fake belly buttons make the torso appear shorter and the legs longer


“Do we really need to be so perfect?” a WeChat blogger asked in a post exploring the fad. “Open Xiaohongshu, and new ‘beauty artifacts’ [变美神器] will appear on the homepage every day. Fake breasts, fake hips, fake shoulders, fake collarbones, fake nose bridges…the whole body can be faked.”


“Among all the reasons [for using a fake belly button], the one that surprised me the most was that some people think their original belly button is not good-looking,” continued the blogger. “They categorize navels. Those that are round, fat, or protruding outwards are not pretty enough. If they are a little more slender they make people look more delicate.”


Those who are pushing back against the fake belly button trend consider belly buttons the latest body part to fall victim to rigid East Asian beauty standards, which prioritize extreme thinness.


a woman balances lipstick on her collarbone

A woman balances lipstick on her collarbone in a trend that many saw as promoting unrealistic beauty standards


For example, a few years ago, a trend in which women balanced lipstick on their collarbones swept social media; there is also a recurring viral challenge where women prove their waists are thinner than a sheet of A4 paper.


Women have been fighting these beauty standards, though. ‘Midsize’ influencers are growing in popularity on Xiaohongshu, thanks to their unapologetic acceptance of their bodies.


However, with the rise of fake belly buttons and other body-modification fads — no matter how temporary — consumers are still waiting for some of China’s more problematic beauty standards to be retired for good.


All images via Xiaohongshu