Beijing's Life Awaits Striking a Chord With the World's Hardcore Scene
"I’m not afraid to reinvent, I’m only afraid of losing again," Bai Yu sings on "In Descent," the closing track of Life Awaits’ debut EP, and you don’t doubt him for a second. The emotional stakes have always been high for the Beijing-based band who made a hell of an entrance in 2016 with their brand of full-blooded melodic hardcore music. They have since risen through the ranks of the music scene and now more than three years later, the band, which also includes Yuan Yimeng on guitar, Chauncy on drums, and Zhang Jing on bass, continues to bare its soul.
On their triumphant sophomore album, Fluorescent, set to drop this weekend via Famined Records of Los Angeles, Life Awaits has discovered new depths to their emotionally wrought sound. With echoes of metalcore, post-hardcore, and emo rock the band has tapped into something primal – delivering one sonic catharsis after another via earnest, gut-wrenching vocals, guitar-charging breakdowns, and tranquil, synth-laden waves of calm. Life Awaits' formula is as fraught as it is accessible, headstrong in its go-for-broke commitment to exposing raw nerves through razor-sharp hooks.
Ahead of their a release show this Friday, Nov 29 at Omni Space, we spoke to frontman Bai Yu about how it feels to be starting a new chapter in their careers, what role music plays in easing his mental health, and what's next now that they've struck a chord with audiences around the world.
Your music has made a huge impact within your scene – why do you think your music connects so well with audiences?
Honestly, I’m still amazed by where we are right now as a band. The purpose of making this band, in the beginning, was just to escape from our ordinary daily jobs and to express the hidden parts of ourselves. But I guess the music itself and the message behind it really connected with some people and it just kept spreading. The first time we started to recognize the progress we had made was in 2017 when we played Guangzhou for our album release tour. Everyone in the crowd knew every single song we played and they were really singing their hearts out. It was really unexpected and overwhelming at that moment.
What’s your background in music? Was metal and hardcore music always at the forefront of your influences?
I learned to play piano for a few years when I was in elementary school and that’s about it. Everything else I know about music is self-learned. I listen to all kinds of music. But metal, hardcore, and punk rock are definitely my major influences.
I’ve read that you’ve struggled with bipolar disorder in the past. How difficult was it to come to terms with? Was it something that dictated your musical journey and what you look to express in your music in the end?
It’s actually not easy to write when you are in that situation because it’s almost impossible to get your head straight and express how you are feeling. But I get the chance to let those feelings out when I’m on stage playing the songs we’ve already written. And I have to thank my daughter for showing me that unconditional love really exists and the constant support from my family. Now that I look back, it’s all good meaningful material we share in our music and maybe it’ll help other people who suffer the same problem.
What I’ve always dug about your music is the catharsis nature of – it’s emotionally draining but there seems to always be a light at the end of the tunnel. What’s it like to put a song together?
I think the beauty of hardcore music is being true to yourself and letting people know that they are not the only ones who feel this way. And realizing your problem is the first step to a better self. It’s definitely therapeutic for me. Putting a song together is just like seeing a therapist, but there are thousands of them listening.
How has your sound evolved over the years? Are you generally open to new directions?
I think it’s kind of growing in two directions. The soft or melodic tunes are becoming more sophisticated when it comes to song structure and production. The heavy ones are just getting heavier. And yes, we are definitely open to new directions. We always love to absorb different elements and techniques from other genres.
The post-hardcore community is really something to behold – how does it feel to know there’s a global-wide community out there supporting you? Speaking of which, your upcoming album Fluorescent will be out on Famined Records – how did you all link up? Do you feel like you’re in good hands?
It’s insane because we are basically out of the global social media game. But it feels good knowing that our music can be spread that far and getting people to enjoy it. Famined Records reached out to us on Instagram and were willing to help us with the new album release. We’ve gained a lot more listeners since our first single release with them. So I think it was the right decision.
How has the tour been going so far? What’s next?
It’s been great so far. We are planning to release a reimagined EP early next year. And will try to write some new songs as well.
Join Life Awaits for the release of their sophomore album this Friday at Omni Space. Tickets are RMB 150 on the door or RMB 120 advance.
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Images: Kabo, courtesy of the band
