On this rock I stand

Second Hand Rose. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Tongue

Groenewegen-Lau says he thinks a lot about China's music scene, the relationship between music and politics, the kinds of things that hamper growth of the country's rock music and the differences between China's yaogun (rock music) and its Western counterpart.

"I chose the band Tongue as the topic for my MA thesis because at that time in the West, when it came to China's rock music, researchers would analyze it from an overly political angle, which I think was problematic. So I found the most political and critical Chinese rock band to do the research, and found out that I could not treat Tongue simply as an anti-cultural, marginalized rock band.

"The band members grew up in Xinjiang and are Han people, and their given names refer to the Red Army and revolution. They are clear about their identity, so they are not so anti-mainstream. Besides politics, they also sing about love."

Groenewegen-Lau says that in China rock used to be regarded as an underground, marginalized culture. The concept of China's yaogun is different from that of rock music in the west.

"In general, music other than mainstream music in China is regarded as a part of yaogun, even if it is jazz or blues, but in the West, rock is rock," he said, "and this is just due to different social circumstances."

Chinese children, thanks to the pressure of college entrance examinations, were not allowed to form bands, whereas in the West, teenagers often start bands when they are school students. However, in recent years, he says, the atmosphere for rock has gradually changed.

For a long time, it was very hard for underground indie music to go mainstream that was supposed to help cultivate more local bands, he says.

"Now changes are coming as a result of music festivals and talent shows such as the Song of China on television, in both of which live music is presented to the public, including students and their parents, and that greatly influences the music scene here."

The Internet is also providing more possibilities for obscure small bands to gain greater exposure, he says.

However, China still lacks skilled, professional people and companies to support bands and musicians.

"If the music industry is to develop further, China needs more professional talent besides bands, including professional music media. It needs time."