Zuoxiao Zuzhou Explained

Zuoxiao Zuzhou
Landscape:yes
Background:solo_singer
Birth Name:Wu Hongjin
Birth Date:1970 3, mf=yes
Birth Place:Jianhu, Jiangsu, China
Genre:Folk, Rock, country, experimental, blues, Folk rock
Occupations:Musician, Artist
Instruments:Vocals, Guitar, Violin
Years Active:1993–present
Website:Zuoxiao Zuzhou Official Website

Zuoxiao Zuzhou (; born 4 March 1970), is a Chinese musician and artist.

He 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 Zuoxiao (左 "left", 小 "little") Zuzhou (祖 "ancestor", 咒 "curse") 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

He was born on March 4, 1970 in Jianhu County, originally named 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 had a far-reaching impact on Chinese contemporary art. During this time, he founded the band NO with Ye Qian, and later 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. After releasing The Missing Master and The Trip to Temple Fair he signed a contract with Modern Sky Music Company in 2004.

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.

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 in March 2012.

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.

Controversy

On August 12, 2009, Ai Weiwei was invited by the lawyer of Tan Zuoren up to the court in Chengdu, and Zuoxiao Zuzhou and others 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", whom Zuoxiao Zuzhou was the main soundtrack producer. On June 6, 2011, after 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.

On April 24, 2011, when Zuoxiao Zuzhou as the grand finale artists who performed in ZhouZhuang folk poetry festival, some audience members 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 festival in June.

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.

During Double Nine Festival 2012, The house of Zouzhou’s father-in-law was located in Qianjiatang, Wunjin District, Hangzhou had a forced demolition. The news triggered great attention in society; 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. Afterwards, Ling Guangyao, 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.

Popularity growth

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 Cohen” in an interview with the National Public Radio.

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.

In 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.

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 and exhibitions

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2000

1999

1997

1995

1993

Film scores

2018

2016

2013

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

1995

Publications

Works of art

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Rich painters and poor rock stars . Danwei . August 20, 2008 . January 26, 2011 . Martinsen . Joel.
  2. News: The great hoax of China; Refurbishment plans for the Great Wall of China and surreal videos and photographs are all part of this exhibition. Chow. Clara. January 21, 2006. The Straits Times.
  3. News: Cowboy Junkies latest effort is deep; MUSIC . Belleville Intelligencer . May 28, 2010 . 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

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Zuoxiao Zuzhou".

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