Chengdu Rockers Hiperson Set to Bring Their Everyman Anthems to Yugong Yishan, May 19
Hiperson, the burgeoning five-piece rock band from Chengdu are fresh off the release of their highly anticipated second album and have their crosshairs set on a high-intensity Yugong Yishan gig this Saturday, May 19.
Having released their debut album No Need for Another History on Maybe Mars in 2015, Hiperson has made a quiet but firm march into the hall of Chinese rock 'n' roll modern greats.
The follow-up to that poetic and self-assured album, She Came Back From the Square (listen here), doesn’t adhere to the debut's dark, post-punk form. Instead, SCBFS was produced mainly using an eight-track recorder and mixed in Chengdu, not Italy as was initially planned.
Ji Yinan, the band’s lead guitarist, confidently stripped back the songs to a refreshing simplicity, making for dynamic and locked-in rhythms heavily reliant on the interplay between drums and bass. “We didn’t add too many effects to the songs because it’s difficult when using a recorder to mix,” explains Ji. As a counterpoint, frontwoman Chen Sijiang’s strong, poised voice penetrates the albums low-end.
“The whole album is more impromptu and direct,” says Chen. “For those who are looking for something hi-fi, it might be a disappointment, but we just went with the flow.”
“Take the song "History", for example. It sounds direct and simple with fewer sound effects, but that doesn’t weaken the enrichment of, and sensitivity in, the song. "It’s my personal favorite on the whole album,” Chen says.
With the addition of bassist Wang Minghui and Wang Boqiang on drums (joining in 2014 and 2016, respectively) alongside Liu Zetong on rhythm guitar, the band has settled into its groove, a strong chemistry over the years providing a solid foundation for their delicate blend of rock. Their sound is also aided by sufficient space given to each of the members’ distinct temperaments and deep musical heritage, nurtured by their art school backgrounds.
Schooled in oil painting and a self-confessed voracious reader, Chen's frank and honest lyrics reflect life, death, friendship, regrets, and a distinct distrust of the adult world.
“With this new album, we’re taking a closer look into the real lives of normal people. The lyrics are inspired by weird conversations with cab drivers ("Taxi Driver’s Body" being a prime example), delivery men, restaurant workers, security guards … just normal people around us,” Chen says.
“That’s why we named the new album She Came Back from the Square. It allegorically implies that we’re intending to transform what we’ve seen and experienced in the public to inner feelings.”
Chengdu serves as a strong home base for Hiperson to pen such thoughtful songs.
“It’s not a big city, so it’s convenient for us to communicate with other musicians here," Chen says, adding: "We meet up regularly to talk about music. We find it inspiring, and it always gives us a new understanding of good music."
And that's not the only advantage of being based in that locale. She adds: “The music in Chengdu is quite diversified, with lots of gigs going on, which are also a good inspiration for us.”
After this tour, Hiperson says will begin work on a third album, and is hoping to play a few shows in smaller cities. “It always gives us new experiences and feelings when touring places we’re not accustomed to”.
Hiperson will perform at Yugong Yishan on Saturday, May 19. Local rockers Future Orients open. Tickets are RMB 80 advance, RMB 100 at the door (more information here). You can listen to their new album here.
Photos courtesy of Maybe Mars
