Rock on Radio Founder Dave Daniel Shares His Playlist Ahead of Sep 14 Subtrainian Show at Yue Space

Kyle Mullin | Sep 13, 2017 1:00 pm | Add a comment | 983 reads

Dave Daniel is trying to get China’s music buffs and bands on the same wavelength, in every sense of the word. The Beijing-based Australian expat operates four internet radio stations: Rock On Radio, which airs music from mainstream musicians and expat acts like Stevie Mac & The Mac Daddies and Ember Swift; Meowing Tiger Radio for Chinese chart-toppers like Jane Zhang (张靓颖), TFBoys (加油男孩), and (hopefully) numerous Mandarin-speaking indie acts before too long; a new station called The Beat with dance, trance, and dub remixes; and another new station in cooperation with artist management firm MusicDish*China called Rock On Radio MusicDish.

Chief among Daniel’s goals for the network: providing a promotional platform on the Rock On Radio station for expat bands, be they in Beijing, across China, or around the world. He also wants to coordinate with musicians and promoters to live stream gigs or record them for broadcasting. His first such attempt will be at Yue Space tomorrow (September 14) during a screening of the Subtrainian music mockumentary and the subsequent live sets by various Beijing bands.

Below, Daniel shares a playlist of some of the acts you can expect to rock out to via Rock On Radio.

Stevie Mac & The Mac Daddies, “Loves Warp Speed”
If the right people hear this song, Stevie Mac & The Mac Daddies could get a record contract. They’ve got this big-band sound, with this funk attitude, which helps them occupy a unique space. It reminds me of Jamiroquai – he was into cosmic lyrics, just like Stevie is. That doesn’t exist much in music these days.

Ember Swift, “Sleep”
This song, off her latest album, Sticks and Stones, has a great plot twist in the lyrics, especially if you’re listening and you don’t know the title. At first, I thought she was singing about breaking up with her husband (ha!), but then the big reveal in the chorus really knocks you out. That’s a hallmark of great songwriting.

Paco Marconi, “Moving to Mars”
Paco is a Peruvian fellow in Shanghai with true pop artist chops. This song is very lighthearted and pretty.

Chen Yu Hua, “Equally Heaven”
We play him on our Chinese station. This song is great because he sampled the theme music of the old Journey to the West TV series that so many Chinese people grew up watching. And his lyrics here are about the mythology of the Monkey King. It’s a very modern, hip-hop twist on an old story.

Listen to Daniel’s Internet radio network via its mini app by searching Rock On Radio on WeChat. You can also visit his website by clicking here, or search for Rock On Radio on Facebook or www.tunein.com. This is a nonprofit operation, so community support via the mini app’s donation page is appreciated.

The Subtrainian show will take place at Yue Space on Sep 14 at 8pm (tickets are RMB 40 presale, RMB 50 at the door). For more information, click here. The band performances will be recorded and broadcast later on Rock On Radio. It is also presented by verteran musician Djang San's Beijing Underground organization.