US Indie Rockers Colin Phils Return to China for a 21-City Homecoming Tour

Keeping a band together is no easy task. The challenge of balancing family responsibilities, demanding day jobs, and simply finding the time to perform together can easily become too much and frequently leads to bands throwing in the towel. Not to mention the internal issues like actually getting along together and creatively being on the same page. So when I heard of a band that managed to survive all that as well as not one, but two, overseas relocations, all the while building an international fanbase and a dynamic sound, I was not only impressed but downright amazed.

Now based in Richmond, Virginia, indie rock outfit Colin Phils (a cheeky reverse on the name of the more seasoned British musician) has honed their sound across Korea and China, crafting a melodically complex yet lush sound that utilizes everything from the atypical rhythm structures of math rock to the hypnotic and emotionally propelling harmonies that have enriched the indie rock scene for over the last decade.

Formed in 2013, the quartet is made up of husband and wife Ben and Karyn Mauch on drums and vocals/synth, Ben Tiner on guitar/vocals, and re-introduces their former Shenzhen-based bassist Jon Howland for an epic 21-city tour around China. That’ll include a pit stop at School Bar on Wednesday, Aug 7 where they’ll be joined by Beijing-based post-rockers SNSOS. I talked to the band about returning to China, how they’ve readjusted to live in America, and common tour mistakes.

There’s something reassuring about seeing a band form while overseas and then somehow stay together over time and geographical lines – how did you do it?
Benjamin Mauch: Well it's not easy to be a band for a long time, and definitely more difficult when the band is moving around the world. Ben, Karyn, and I met in South Korea while teaching English there and found that we really loved playing music and traveling together. Karyn and I started dating and Ben wanted to experience some more of Asia so we thought we would move to China and experience the music there. We had a great time and met Jon as well. We then wanted to move back to the USA but didn't want to give up the band, so we decided to just go for it, and we're still a band after all this time!

Karyn Mauch: I keep trying to shake these guys, but they just keep following me.

Ben Tiner: It’s pretty awesome we are all still together, making music, and touring. It’s one of my favorite things in life, so I certainly put a lot of energy towards the whole process. Ben, Karyn, and I, in fact, live together in Richmond, Virginia and we’ve made our basement into a practice space/studio. 

How did your time abroad in Korea and China affect your sound and your live performances?
Benjamin Mauch: When we first played live, our performances were more light-hearted and less serious. We even played cover songs (gasp!). We started developing into different genres partly because that was what we were listening to, and also because we enjoyed playing more energetic stuff live. Once we moved to China, our sound was much heavier and it was well-received there, so we continued in a similar vein.

Karyn Mauch: I think the positive responses to our post-rock sound in China really encouraged us to keep making music like that. The supportive music community in China has definitely shaped who we are.

Ben Tiner: Confidence also. Playing larger stages in China and playing for more people gave us a lot of inspiration to push hard and be better. China really gave us that opportunity. I think if we were just playing for a few people in a basement we might not see the point in recording a dope album or spending all the time we do on forming a fluid set. 

What were some the biggest hurdles the band had to overcome between then and now?
Benjamin Mauch: The biggest challenge was moving. Going to a new place while traveling is one thing, but packing all of your bags and moving to a new place where you don't know the language or anyone there is quite difficult. Starting music in Richmond, Virginia was also hard for us; because of the amount of music already happening there, it took a while for us to be an established band in the city. We enjoy the city and the people we have met there so it's worked out, [but it] was a little hard at first!

What’s the process like now when recording? I imagine there’s a lot more planning and coordination involved.
Benjamin Mauch: Ben, Karyn, and I record everything in Richmond with our friend Mitch Clem at Go West Studios. Jon was able to learn the parts for the songs while living in China (we would record them and send the mp3s over email), so when he came to America he could record his parts with Mitch as well. It was a little hectic but we managed to get it done.

Karyn Mauch: We always think we’ve planned well and coordinated until we get in the studio. Sometimes it’s a real last-minute scramble. But Mitch is a stellar person to record with. Always makes us sound amazing.

What’s the one thing you miss the most in regards to performing in China?
Jon Howland: Crowd sizes and venues having a full backline.

Benjamin Mauch: We also enjoy having a long soundcheck in China. Normally in Virginia, we have a really short check for sound and the many things that could go wrong usually do [laughs].

Are people back home baffled when you explain the band’s past and your time in the China music scene? What’s the one thing you love telling them about the China music scene? 
Jon Howland: I think there’s a misconception that China doesn’t have any good bands. It’s true that China doesn’t have a large number of bands in every city but I’ve definitely noticed that the scene is growing. It’s been a privilege to meet and play with bands from all different genres like SNSOS, Die!ChiwawaDie!, Favours!, Trip Fuel, Fayz, Salty Air, and many others. There’s plenty of young creative talent in China.

Karyn Mauch: I also think that American bands think touring through China is this crazy off-the-wall idea. But venues are so helpful and fans in China are super supportive. In a way, it feels like the thing that makes the most sense.

You guys have plotted out a pretty epic tour across China - what are some of the cities and bands you’re most excited about? Any touring mistakes you’re looking to avoid this time around? 
Jon Howland: I’m pretty excited to see some old friends and new cities. The new places on this tour will be Hangzhou, Jinan, Guiyang, Guang'an, and Xi'an. We met the band Quark at a music festival in Anhui province three years ago. They told us we should come to Xi'an and helped us make it happen on this tour. We’re always happy to play in Shanghai, Beijing, Wuhan, Chengdu, and Guangzhou too. Those are pretty big music hubs and big crowds for us in those cities, and Shenzhen is our old home so it will be great to play for our friends. The biggest mistake is probably playing too many shows. It’s pretty tiring and there are always a couple we lose money on, but we don’t get this opportunity often so we like to play as many cities as we can.

Ben Tiner: I’m always very excited to show off all the new music we have been working on to the Chinese audience. It’s an incredible feeling to be able to travel city to city (many I’ve never been to) showing off something that I love. My favorite cities from the past would be Shanghai, Wuhan, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou. But every year a new city can surprise us and it’ll be an awesome night of music. Last year we had such a great night in Nanning on a Monday and it was a total surprise. I’m really excited to play with a few bands we have played with in the past: She Never Sings Our Songs in Beijing and Trip Fuel in Nanjing.

You can catch Colin Phils alongside SNSOS at School Bar on Wednesday, Aug 7. Tickets are RMB 80 advance or RMB 100 on the door.

This Wednesday also happens to be Qixi.
Click here for our top picks of the best romantic events around town.

Photos courtesy of Colin Phils