DP Q&A With Burgeoning Beijing Post-Rockers Swarrm Ahead of Jan 27 DDC Gig

Check Out Swarrm, Beijing's Answer to King Crimson, at DDC Jan 27

Kyle Mullin | Jan 27, 2018 12:00 pm | Add a comment | 1155 reads

Since forming this past summer, Swarrm have been making a name for themselves as one of Beijing's most promising up-and-coming post-punk bands. Guitarist Gao Fang (高放) leads the charge with riffs that threaten to grind your eardrums to fine dust. His playing is punctuated by drummer Liu Gan's (刘乾) pulverizing technique, while bassist Lao Bai (老白) holds the proceedings together with nimble rhythms that are subtle and unshowy, but easily get the job done.

For such a recently formed trio, they make enough noise to be mistaken for a seasoned head-banging army. To hear for yourself, check out their song "紫色的太阳", from their prior DDC gig here. The jammy instrumental features wavering earworm rhythms on the bridge that almost borders on prog-rock, along with more straightforward pummeling portions that blend post-rock with sprinklings of heavy metal.

For someone who plays guitar with such brawny abandon, Gao is a downright bashful introvert in conversation. He says he formed the band not only because he wanted to rock out, but also because he was feeling a bit bored and lonely from day to day, and craved the kind of camaraderie that can only come courtesy of rock and roll cohorts. He dubbed the trio Swarrm because he thought it summed up the flurry of anxiety he contended with as a boy (and which frankly lingers to this day, and compels him toward catharsis onstage). Shyness aside, Gao has a wry sense of humor that shone through when talking about why the name Swarrm suits him, but sadly him alone.

"It might not be the best band name," he explains. "Our Drummer Liu isn't like this at all. He looks like an old man, so much more mature and put together than me. In fact, he just looks old for his age– he's actually a young guy and he acts like a little kid. He's just got so much joy and enthusiasm and silliness!"

When asked about the band's influences, Gao quickly cited '70s British prog rockers King Crimson. "I didn't like them the first time I heard them," he recalls, adding: "They were like nothing else I'd come across before, and seemed weird to me. My friends liked them though, and kept playing their songs. Before long they began to grow on me. What I once thought was weird about them quickly became exciting and even a bit naughty or dangerous sounding. They seduced me like old devils!"

Prior to acquiring a taste for vintage prog rock, Gao studied jazz guitar for years, which clearly has something to do with his intricate style of playing. DDC live house owner Jincan Zhang (better known by his nickname, 69) says that jazz background helps Gao give the trio "a very deep moodiness and alluring tone. So, despite them being such a young band, they killed it from right away with their very early performances, showcasing a very direct, sharp technique."

For those reasons and more, 69 has been hyping Swarrm as one of his favorite new bands, and says Beijing gig regulars should expect to hear plenty more from them in the near future.