Zuoxiao Zuzhou

Zuoxiao Zuzhou

Zuoxiao Zuzhou performing at Beijing in March 2010
Background information
Birth name Wu Hongjin
Born (1970-03-04) March 4, 1970
Jianhu, Jiangsu, China
Genres Folk, rock, country, experimental, blues, folk rock
Occupation(s) Musician, Artist
Instruments Vocals, Guitar, Violin
Years active 1993–present
Website Zuoxiao Zuzhou Official Website

Zuoxiao Zuzhou (Chinese: 左小祖咒) (b. Yancheng, March 4, 1970), real name Wu Hongjin, (吴红巾),is a Chinese musician and artist.

Zuoxiao Zuzhou is also a notable music producer. He has produced and arranged Chinese famous artist Ai Weiwei's first rock album The Divine Comedy. The soundtracks from the album are featured prominently in Ai Weiwei's documentary films.

Growing up, he founded the rock band No and was a member of the Beijing East Village art collective.[1] He has also contributed to the Huayi Chinese Festival of Arts at the Esplanade, Singapore,[2] and provided vocals for the song "A Walk in the Park" on Cowboy Junkies 2010 album Renmin Park.[3] In 2008, he released the two-disc You Know Where the East Is.[1]

The meaning of Wu Hongjin's stage name, Zuo xiao (left 左, little 小) Zu zhou (ancestor 祖, curse 咒) reflects that everyone called him "unclear" or "unreliable" (没谱, méipǔ).[4] or, that it is just for sound and has no meaning.[5]

Early life and Career

Early life

His original name being Wu Hongjin, he grew up in a waterman family. He experienced usual life on the street when he was young. In 1993, he came to Beijing after living in Shanghai. He later established “Beijing East Village” along with some other artists in Eastern suburbs which has had a far-reaching impact on Chinese contemporary art. During this time, he founded the band NO with Ye Qian, and changed his name to Zuoxiao Zuzhou as the vocal, guitarist, violinist and composer for the group.

Early Albums

His first album, The Missing Master was distributed in 1998. The second album Trip To The Temple Fair was distributed 2 years later. These two albums obtained the top album in the Rock magazine at that time. The third album, Zuoxiaozuzhou At Di'anmen won the Chinese music market, making him a very popular artist. In 1999, his work Increased To Famous Mountains One Meter was presented in the 48th Venice International Biennale which was collectively created by Zuoxiao Zuzhou and several other artists from Beijing East.

The Most Expensive Album

In 2005, he self-published the album I can not sit sadly by your side. In 2007, The U.S.A, a film soundtrack album was released, sold for $25 each, which set a new record in Chinese music album. In 2009, the double disc You Know Where The East Side Is was published, selling for $85 each, which makes it the most expensive album record.

All the Best concert

On March 19, 2010, Zuoxiao Zuzhou held his first solo concert "All The Best" in Beijing Century Theatre. His entire lineup included bandmates Ai Weiwei, Ning Hao, Meng Jinghui, Jia Zhangke, Zhu Wen, Li Yanliang, and Fang Wuxing. The concert DVD version was released on March, 2012.

Major awards

You Know Where The East Is was awarded Southern Weekly annual culture original music in 2009. Big Deal has awarded nine nominations of Chinese Music Media Award in 2010, he obtained The Best Mandarin Male Singer, and Best Composer Award.

Banned Drama

On April 24, 2011, when Zuoxiao Zuzhou as the grand finale artists who performed in ZhouZhuang folk poetry festival, some audience screamed the name of Ai Weiwei and on the background Weibo screen screened content related to Ai Weiwei. Thus, he has prohibited to participate in any commercial performance in China, including KAMA LOVE music festive in June.

Banned Removed

After releasing The Missing Master and The Trip to Temple Fair he signed a contract with Modern Sky music company another time in 2004. On Sep 23, 2014, album We Need A Troublemaker was published. The same year, he participated in music festivals in Wuhan, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Kunming, Changsha, Xiamen, Dali and Son on include Strawberry, Lebao music festival in succession which means his ban has been removed.

No. 13 Qianjiatang Wujin District Changzhou demolition case

During Double Nine Festival 2012, The house of Zouzhou’s father-in-law where located in Qianjiatang, Wunjin District, Hangzhou had a forced demolition. The news triggered great attention in society; Hence, many celebrities posted Weibo message to support including Li Chengpeng, Yao Chen, Li Kaifu, Han han, Hong Huang, Murong Xuecun, Han Zhiguo, Yu Jianrong, and Luo Yonghao. Zuoxiao Zuzhou went back home immediately to stop the demolition. After, Ling Guangyao, who is the secretary of Changzhou Wujin Hi-tech development district stated that before any negotiation with his family, the house will not be demolished. Moreover, the neighboring house also will not be demolished in order to avoid trouble. However, rumors on the internet about the famous nail household has never stopped.

Media Exposure

On February 2014, German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung and Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger carried a cover story about Zuoxiao Zuzhou. His photos was chosen by several famous magazine in China as their cover photos including GQ, ELLE MAN, Esquire, City Magazine and FHM magazine.

Arrange/Produce Ai Weiwei’s Album The Divine Comedy

On August 12, 2009, Ai Weiwei was invited by the lawyer of Tan Zuoren up to the court in Chengdu, and Zuoxiao Zuzhou and other people went to Sichuan together. In the early morning, Chengdu Police broke into door and hit Ai Weiwei on the head. Then, Ai was illegally detained till the end of the case to trial. The story was made into a documentary "Lao Ma Ti Hua", which had Zuoxiao Zuzhou as the soundtrack producer. On June 6, 2011, Ai was released by the authorities after illegal detention for 81 days, Zuoxiao Zuzhou begin to produce Ai’s rock album The Divine Comedy. The album was finished in 2013, and was published in the United States.

Collaboration with Cowboy Junkies

In 2010, Zuzhou contributed music, lyrics and vocal in Cowboy Junkies’ song, "A Walk in The Park" in their album Renmin Park. In the same album, Cowboy Junkies covered Zuzhou’s song, "I Cannot Sit Sadly By Your Side". The band member Michael Timmins called Zuoxiao Zuzhou “China’s Leonard Cohenin” in an interview with the National Public Radio (NPR).

Speech at Berkeley

In 2013, Zuzhou was invited to deliver a speech at the University of California, Berkeley, titled “China” in Zuoxiao Zuzhou’s Music and Art. Cowboy Junkies’ member Michael Timmins joined the event as the discussant.

Voice Acting in Under the Dome

On February 28, 2015, Zuzhou performed PM2.5 in the animated session PM2.5’s Confession of Chai JIng’s documentary film Under the Dome. Hitting over 10 million views 24 hours after its release, the film successfully called for public attention to the air pollution in China before the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

Discography

Art Events & Exhibitions

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2000

1999

1997

1995

1993

Film Scores

2013

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

1995

Publications

Works of art

References

  1. 1 2 Martinsen, Joel (August 20, 2008). "Rich painters and poor rock stars". Danwei. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  2. ↑ Chow, Clara (January 21, 2006). "The great hoax of China; Refurbishment plans for the Great Wall of China and surreal videos and photographs are all part of this exhibition". The Straits Times.
  3. ↑ "Cowboy Junkies latest effort is deep; MUSIC". Belleville Intelligencer. May 28, 2010. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  4. ↑ Shanghai Books online 2011上海书展 《左小祖咒有谱》左小祖咒 孙孟晋" 2011年8月21日 – 嘉宾：你好，大家好，我是节目主持人左小祖咒。 主持人：左小祖咒这个名字就很有意思，为什么会起这个名字呢？ 嘉宾：这个名字就是有点没谱的意思。 主持人：是有谱这回。 嘉宾：因为没谱才来出有谱的书嘛。 主持人：之前为什么说您没谱呢？ 嘉宾2：因为大家都叫他没谱，我们都把他叫做没谱。 主持人：是人没谱还是歌没谱还是调没谱？ 嘉宾2：其实他很有谱，但是在外面传言说他没谱。"
  5. ↑ Shanghai Books online 2011上海书展 《左小祖咒有谱》左小祖咒 孙孟晋" 2011年8月21日 –他说自己之所以叫左小祖咒，就是为了好念，就像阿迪达斯一样没啥意义
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