Music 'refugees' from Tiktok tune into fans via RedNote

Arthur Udhu doesn't need much to create music — just his guitar and a microphone. He usually records everything in his bedroom or in one belonging to a roommate.

For the 29-year-old musician, born in Fontenay-aux-Roses, France, and now living in Paris, it's all about capturing raw and unpolished energy while channeling the influences of hard rock, blues and other music genres. But lately, that energy has found a new home — RedNote, or Xiaohongshu, a popular Chinese social media app.

It all started with a little curiosity and a friend's advice. "I had never heard of RedNote before," Udhu said. "But then I read about it because of the TikTok ban, and my friend suggested I give it a try."

Udhu grew up in a family of artists. His father is a professional piano player and singer, while his mother is a performer who had her own cabaret show for years. Exposed to a musical environment from a young age, Udhu started teaching himself guitar at the age of 12.

Intrigued by the idea of reaching a completely new audience, he signed up to RedNote. What he didn't expect was the warm welcome his music received and the vast, connected community he was about to discover.

At first, the process was like diving into the unknown. The platform was entirely in Chinese, and Udhu wasn't sure what to expect. But as he began uploading his music, including his beloved rock covers, everything clicked.

"It was a bit challenging at first, but the interface is actually pretty intuitive," he said.

"And once I started posting, I realized this wasn't just about sharing music, it was about building something — a community."

Udhu believes RedNote is a great opportunity to meet new people, build bridges, have fun, connect with people from different cultures and mindsets, and learn from that experience. He added it has helped him start to realize his dream of becoming a content creator.

"My friend and I are working together on a project, which involves planning, creating a schedule, sticking to it, and being consistent. The transition has been smooth so far, as the platform is very convenient and easy to grasp."

Udhu spends hours recording his music and uploading it for his fans on RedNote.

Whether he's playing a classic song or trying new material, the reactions are usually a mix of surprise and excitement. But what truly stands out are the comments. So far, he has gained more than 20,000 followers on RedNote and received over 100,000 likes.

"The kindness of the people here is incredible," he said.

"They're so polite and supportive, which is a huge contrast to some other platforms I've used. It's like they really want to share their culture, and I'm eager to learn from that."

He has also signed up for Chinese video-sharing platform Bilibili, and is considering joining other platforms in the future.

The connections he's making are far from superficial. A post asking for a new Chinese nickname received a strong response with more than 10,000 comments.

"Music is a bridge to create a community, and then build other things together. I've always been attracted to what connects us as human beings, despite our different social, cultural or financial backgrounds. We all have hobbies, passions and things we love or hate, even if we live miles apart. It's fascinating to try to build a community through social media," he said.

Udhu continues to grow his presence on RedNote. Covers of Chinese rock bands like Black Panther and Beyond have catered to fans' nostalgia and sparked conversations that transcend borders. He discovered these bands through comments made by Chinese music lovers.

He also follows what's trending in China. For example, when Ne Zha 2, China's box-office sensation, smashed through the 10 billion-yuan mark in ticket sales on Feb 13, he posted videos covering the theme song from the movie.