Lonely China Day - Biography
Deng Pei - songwriter/vocals/guitar/programming
Wang Dongtao - guitar
He Feng - bass
Luo Hao - drums
Lonely China Day is from Beijing, China. No, they don't play traditional Chinese music. As hard as it is to believe, there is a small yet burgeoning indie rock scene in China and LCD is in the top tier. Lonely China Day is a minimalist indie rock quartet akin to the likes of The Album Leaf and Sigur Ros led by singer, primary songwriter and laptop wizard Deng Pei. Born and raised in Beijing, Deng Pei, a graduate of the Heinzmann Piano Production School, started writing music at age 15.
After playing in several different BJ bands, Deng Pei took it upon himself to recruit Wang Dongtao (guitar), He Feng (bass), Luo Hao (drums), and formed Lonely China Day in early 1996. The band immediately attracted the attention of China Musicians Publishing House (Zhongguo Yinyuejia Chubanshe), who licensed Lonely China Day's first recorded songs for a compilation series: (Course of Love Mentality) was released in May, 1996 (Rock Factory), (Oh My, Crazy Now) in December '96 (Utmost Rock), (Maybe We Are Right) in January '97 (Very Rock), and 'A Huang Sha. Huang Na' in June '97 (Rock Generation).
Lonely China Day built their following the old-fashioned way - they earned it. The band started touring their native China extensively in 1998, playing various music festivals and solo concerts, quickly gathering friends and fans all over the country.
Soon, press and radio stations picked up on the Lonely China Day phenomenon and have kept them busy with interviews ever since. In May, 2000, another Lonely China Day song was featured on a compilation put out by So Rock! CD Magazine and the band had their first TV appearance at the "This is China" (Feichang Zhongguo) show on Phoenix Satellite in December that year. Henan TV nationally broadcast a feature documentary about the band. Their latest interview with Danwei TV just before their spring 2007 tour of the U.S. can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y7hfEALUWw
Lonely China Day's first music video 'Rizi' (Day) was nationally broadcast in November, 2001 through 'Xia Changpian' (Summer Records) and just one month later, the band signed their first recording contract with Taiwanese label 'Zhijie Liuxing' (Always Modern) for their debut album "Memory" (Lu).
The year 2002 was a very busy one for Lonely China day and marks a turning-point in their career. In March, 2002 the band released their full-length album 'Lu', distributed throughout South-East Asia (Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, ...) by Taiwanese label Always Modern and in Mainland China through Chinese label So Rock! , published by Chengdu Recordings Publishing (Chengdu Yinxiang Chuban).
Lonely China Day are not only a progressive musical force in China; they have also proven themselves to be creative artists in other fields. The band's online board jimoxiari.xilubbs.com went live in April, 2002. 40,000 Chinese and international fans log on to Lonely China Day's board monthly. The full band website www.jimoxiari.com, one of the very first band websites in Mainland China, went live in October the same year and promptly was awarded the price for best design in category "other products" at the 2nd National Website Contest in November, 2002 and was featured in "New epoch - China modern design" book (Xi Jiyuan - Zhongguo Dandai Sheji) released by Hong Kong International Culture Promotion Centre (Xianggang Guoji Wenhua Tuiguang Zhongxin) as well as one year later with a special feature in the official "2003 China Website Design Yearbook" (2003 Zhongguo Wangye Sheji Nianjin).Today, with 3 million hits per month, the Lonely China Day website is one of the most prominent band sites in China.
In March, 2003, Lonely China Day licensed 'Fengjing' (Scenery) to Beijing TV (BTV) for a special SARS program "Music for You" (We Ni Er Ge)
As their debut album was still mainly influenced by the widely spread popular Hong Kong/Taiwan music, Lonely China Day took their time to develop their own unique sound and put together a wide repertoire of around 60 songs in preparation for their second album, entitled 'Sorrow' (Aishang). The "Guitar Festival" DVD compilation (Oct., 2004) features live footage of "Thou", "Red Blossom of Plum and Me", "One", and "The Future".
Lonely China Day's accomplished music and efforts have gained them sold out shows to wide audiences throughout China, radio interviews on all major Beijing radio stations, special invites from Cui Jian (god-father of Chinese rock) to play at various festivals and concerts organized throughout the country.
Lonely China Day didn't go unnoticed by the ever-growing ex-pat community for long. The band was signed by international independent record label Tag Team Records in June, 2005, and their Self-titled EP was released in China in July, 2005, as well as in the U.S. in March, 2006. The EP was one of the Top 20 Sellers at Amoeba, Hollywood during summer 2006.
'Sorrow', the band's latest full length album was released in China in November, 2006 and will be released next in the U.S. July 24, 2007. In the meantime, Deng Pei and Tag Team Records are busy introducing North Americans and Europeans to the awesome sound of Lonely China Day.
Lonely China Day see music as a universal language: They see themselves as ambassadors of Chinese art to the West… and music is their vehicle. Their music is unlike anything coming out of China today. Now they are ready for America. Much like other foreign, non-English speaking, cross over successes Dungeon and Sigur Ros, Lonely China Day create music with a universal atmosphere appealing to Western and Asian audiences alike.
Tag Team Records have received interest from various sides to distribute Lonely China Day's works in Germany, Iceland and Israel.
The band first toured the U.S. in March, 2007, including dates with 120 Days, Shout Out Out Out Out, The Detachmentkit, ... Lonely China Day were formally accepted to showcase at the 2007 South By South West (SXSW) Music Conference, (where they were also invited to open for Yoko Ono and Antony And The Johnsons - the show was cancelled). Lonely China Day have since garnered praise from across the globe, leading to interviews/articles/reviews in Billboard, a feature on BBC World (televised), NPR, The New York Times, L.A. Times, Chicago Tribune, Global Rhythm, and coverage in the Seattle Post Intelligencer, Maximum Ink, the Sentimentalist, The Onion, Time Out NY, and many others.
Following their U.S. March '07 Tour, Lonely China Day were invited to tour Israel. Also, the band was invited by Converse to design and do their take on the on the iconic Chuck Taylor sneaker for PRODUCT (RED) - and help fight AIDS in Africa.
Deng Pei - songwriter/vocals/guitar/programming
Wang Dongtao - guitar
He Feng - bass
Luo Hao - drums
Lonely China Day is from Beijing, China. No, they don't play traditional Chinese music. As hard as it is to believe, there is a small yet burgeoning indie rock scene in China and LCD is in the top tier. Lonely China Day is a minimalist indie rock quartet akin to the likes of The Album Leaf and Sigur Ros led by singer, primary songwriter and laptop wizard Deng Pei. Born and raised in Beijing, Deng Pei, a graduate of the Heinzmann Piano Production School, started writing music at age 15.
After playing in several different BJ bands, Deng Pei took it upon himself to recruit Wang Dongtao (guitar), He Feng (bass), Luo Hao (drums), and formed Lonely China Day in early 1996. The band immediately attracted the attention of China Musicians Publishing House (Zhongguo Yinyuejia Chubanshe), who licensed Lonely China Day's first recorded songs for a compilation series: (Course of Love Mentality) was released in May, 1996 (Rock Factory), (Oh My, Crazy Now) in December '96 (Utmost Rock), (Maybe We Are Right) in January '97 (Very Rock), and 'A Huang Sha. Huang Na' in June '97 (Rock Generation).
Lonely China Day built their following the old-fashioned way - they earned it. The band started touring their native China extensively in 1998, playing various music festivals and solo concerts, quickly gathering friends and fans all over the country.
Soon, press and radio stations picked up on the Lonely China Day phenomenon and have kept them busy with interviews ever since. In May, 2000, another Lonely China Day song was featured on a compilation put out by So Rock! CD Magazine and the band had their first TV appearance at the "This is China" (Feichang Zhongguo) show on Phoenix Satellite in December that year. Henan TV nationally broadcast a feature documentary about the band. Their latest interview with Danwei TV just before their spring 2007 tour of the U.S. can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y7hfEALUWw
Lonely China Day's first music video 'Rizi' (Day) was nationally broadcast in November, 2001 through 'Xia Changpian' (Summer Records) and just one month later, the band signed their first recording contract with Taiwanese label 'Zhijie Liuxing' (Always Modern) for their debut album "Memory" (Lu).
The year 2002 was a very busy one for Lonely China day and marks a turning-point in their career. In March, 2002 the band released their full-length album 'Lu', distributed throughout South-East Asia (Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, ...) by Taiwanese label Always Modern and in Mainland China through Chinese label So Rock! , published by Chengdu Recordings Publishing (Chengdu Yinxiang Chuban).
Lonely China Day are not only a progressive musical force in China; they have also proven themselves to be creative artists in other fields. The band's online board jimoxiari.xilubbs.com went live in April, 2002. 40,000 Chinese and international fans log on to Lonely China Day's board monthly. The full band website www.jimoxiari.com, one of the very first band websites in Mainland China, went live in October the same year and promptly was awarded the price for best design in category "other products" at the 2nd National Website Contest in November, 2002 and was featured in "New epoch - China modern design" book (Xi Jiyuan - Zhongguo Dandai Sheji) released by Hong Kong International Culture Promotion Centre (Xianggang Guoji Wenhua Tuiguang Zhongxin) as well as one year later with a special feature in the official "2003 China Website Design Yearbook" (2003 Zhongguo Wangye Sheji Nianjin).Today, with 3 million hits per month, the Lonely China Day website is one of the most prominent band sites in China.
In March, 2003, Lonely China Day licensed 'Fengjing' (Scenery) to Beijing TV (BTV) for a special SARS program "Music for You" (We Ni Er Ge)
As their debut album was still mainly influenced by the widely spread popular Hong Kong/Taiwan music, Lonely China Day took their time to develop their own unique sound and put together a wide repertoire of around 60 songs in preparation for their second album, entitled 'Sorrow' (Aishang). The "Guitar Festival" DVD compilation (Oct., 2004) features live footage of "Thou", "Red Blossom of Plum and Me", "One", and "The Future".
Lonely China Day's accomplished music and efforts have gained them sold out shows to wide audiences throughout China, radio interviews on all major Beijing radio stations, special invites from Cui Jian (god-father of Chinese rock) to play at various festivals and concerts organized throughout the country.
Lonely China Day didn't go unnoticed by the ever-growing ex-pat community for long. The band was signed by international independent record label Tag Team Records in June, 2005, and their Self-titled EP was released in China in July, 2005, as well as in the U.S. in March, 2006. The EP was one of the Top 20 Sellers at Amoeba, Hollywood during summer 2006.
'Sorrow', the band's latest full length album was released in China in November, 2006 and will be released next in the U.S. July 24, 2007. In the meantime, Deng Pei and Tag Team Records are busy introducing North Americans and Europeans to the awesome sound of Lonely China Day.
Lonely China Day see music as a universal language: They see themselves as ambassadors of Chinese art to the West… and music is their vehicle. Their music is unlike anything coming out of China today. Now they are ready for America. Much like other foreign, non-English speaking, cross over successes Dungeon and Sigur Ros, Lonely China Day create music with a universal atmosphere appealing to Western and Asian audiences alike.
Tag Team Records have received interest from various sides to distribute Lonely China Day's works in Germany, Iceland and Israel.
The band first toured the U.S. in March, 2007, including dates with 120 Days, Shout Out Out Out Out, The Detachmentkit, ... Lonely China Day were formally accepted to showcase at the 2007 South By South West (SXSW) Music Conference, (where they were also invited to open for Yoko Ono and Antony And The Johnsons - the show was cancelled). Lonely China Day have since garnered praise from across the globe, leading to interviews/articles/reviews in Billboard, a feature on BBC World (televised), NPR, The New York Times, L.A. Times, Chicago Tribune, Global Rhythm, and coverage in the Seattle Post Intelligencer, Maximum Ink, the Sentimentalist, The Onion, Time Out NY, and many others.
Following their U.S. March '07 Tour, Lonely China Day were invited to tour Israel. Also, the band was invited by Converse to design and do their take on the on the iconic Chuck Taylor sneaker for PRODUCT (RED) - and help fight AIDS in Africa.
