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LIN DI
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Progressive-Symphonic Rock/Classical/ Experimental
Founder of cult band "Cold Fairyland" (冷酷仙境)
LIN DI
(CHINA)
“A magical land for a soul full of music”
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Singer/songwriter, musician, photographer and painter Lin Di, born in Shanghai, founded in 2001, together with bassist Su Yong, one of the most creative and skilled alternative/progressive rock bands of China: Cold Fairyland.
The band’s name, Cold Fairyland, comes from a Chinese translation of one of the books from the Japanese author Haruki Murakami (Norwegian Wood, Dance Dance Dance, After Dark). The book, known in English as "Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World", is one of Lin Di’s favorite readings.
Cold Fairyland combines Eastern melodies and rhythms with Western symphonic rock and classical music. Lin Di, who has been playing the pipa (a four stringed Chinese lute) since she was 4 years old and who graduated from the Shanghai Music Conservatory, composes and arranges most of the band’s material.
In fact, Lin Di’s surprising and smart arrangements and her beautiful and profound songwriting are what, most certainly, set the band apart, making of Cold Fairyland a cult band, in and outside China.
Seven albums and tours across China, Japan, Finland and Europe, establish them as one of the Chinese indie rock bands with the most loyal (and ever-increasing) international and multicultural fan base too.
The multi-talented and polyfacetic Lin Di, who we have the great pleasure to interview today, has also recently published her latest solo album, Meet in Secret Garden.
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1. MDM_ You grew being instructed into musical education since very young. Could you feel that this was your true calling already at such a young age?
1. LIN DI_ No, I didn't even know what a pipa was when I was picked by a teacher to study this instrument. I was interested in painting and dancing when I was 4 years old.
2. MDM_ Artistic to the core, you are also extremely creative with visual arts such as photography and painting. Are you responsible for the entire band’s artwork like the CD/DVD covers, posters and their overall image?
2. LIN DI_ Almost, painting and photography is what I like to do if I'm not working on music, I also work on websites for my band and some others. Many of my friends are designers, photographers, painters, so sometimes they will help with the band's artwork.
3. MDM_ Please, tell us about your main musical influences and how they have affected your own style.
3. LIN DI_ When I was in Shanghai Conservatory of Music, I liked to stay in the library listening to modern classical music, but when I was growing up, I started listening to rock music. The first band I liked was The Queen, but when I was 14 years old and started writing songs the main influence was pop music from HK and Taiwan. I quit listening to the Chinese pop songs when I got in touch with the Western rock music writing. After that I discovered all kinds of music from all over the world. I think all the music I've listened has affected my music.
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Cold Fairyland |
4. MDM_ Much of your songwriting reflects that you are especially concerned about real world problems such as injustice, materialism and violence. This shows, that apart from being a musician who enjoys composing and making others feel with her compositions, you want to express and address issues that you feel are truly important. What effect would you like your songwriting to have on others?
4. LIN DI_ I don't think about how people feel about my music when I'm composing, I just give out what I feel and I want to say in that moment. I don't care if people like or hate my music, I just bring up the feeling which connects my mind and heart, if someone can feel it, then I feel very satisfied.
5. MDM_ Which is the Cold Fairyland album you feel most proud of and which song would you say defines the best the band’s spirit?
5. LIN DI_ I like the "Seeds on the Ground" much more than the earlier albums. But the best songs don't have studio versions yet, you can hear them only on the Live DVD, the songs carry the band's sprit, those songs are: The Flood, Waiting for Farewell, Mosul and Mirror Theatre.
6. MDM_ Which would you say is the wildest experimentation you have dared to go for, when mixing Western and Eastern sound genres and styles?
6. LIN DI_ I don't think mixing Western and Eastern sound is an experimentation, I think there is no limit in music world. When the Eastern people started playing Western instruments, the mix started, but as a musician, there is no limit to play all kinds of instruments or sing all kinds of music.
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7. MDM_ When the band tours abroad, are you aware of any differences as to how audiences receive your music from how it is received in China?
7. LIN DI_ Almost the same, but the international audience will feel more surprised than Chinese audiences. The Chinese audiences can understand the lyrics and thus connect with the song, foreigners can only connect through the music part.
8. MDM_ What current artists or bands outside China would you love to open for in a live concert? And what artists or bands from China you would like to play with that have not had the chance to yet?
8. LIN DI_ I never think about this question, in fact, I don't want to open for any foreign bands because if I have chance to see some bands I like, I want to be in the audience. But sometimes when I first time see a band I really like, I want to play with them immediately. In China we can play with any band anytime, so that's not a problem.
9. MDM_ How would you describe the music of your first solo album, “Meet in Secret Garden”? What main differences can the fans notice between this and any of Cold Fairyland’s work?
9. LIN DI_ It's not my first solo album, I had two solo albums before: "Ten Days in Magic Land" and "Bride in Legend". "Meet in the Secret Garden" is just a little game of my own, a collection of different style songs. The previous ones where concept albums with a complete story behind them. I think fans have all very clear the differences between my solo projects and Cold Fairyland.
10. MDM_ Haruki Murakami’s works most definitely inspire you but what other sources of inspiration do you have, not only when working in music but also when painting or designing?
10. LIN DI_ I like to read books, Haruki Murakami's book is just one book of my favorites list ,in fact, I just used the book name as the band's name, our music doesn't have any connection with that book. My life is very simple, I read books and watch movies all the time and travel few times every year, natural world is my source of inspiration. I don't watch TV, I don't like alcohol and cigarettes, I sleep 10 hours per day, every night I will have very wild dreams, that is amazing, I've experienced most fantastic and crazy things in my dreams.
Lin Di, many thanks again for sharing your world and that of Cold Fairyland with our readers. The MDM team at Wonderlance wishes you even more success for your professional future, as a solo artist and with your fantastic band.
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