In the Land Where Magnolia Blossoms – An Exclusive Interview with HOMELAND project Initiator 李杰Li Jie and Pingtan Artist 陆嘉玮Lu Jiawei

Overview

On July 20, 2024, The Second Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition in the “Music Innovation+ Track” launched its results exhibition at the Basilica Hall of 1933 Shanghai Old Millfun in Hongkou District. During the ceremony, the HOMELAND project was awarded the “Music Innovation+ Track” SHH Music Award and was a finalist in the competition. The project also signed a spatial audio cooperation agreement with the World Music Seeds project and joined forces with Kanjian Music and Lu Jiawei Pingtan Workshop for the global promotion of the single “Magnoliain Fullbloom.” Additionally, “Sizhu Sound Meta” Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage Base (Ten Thousand Bamboos Garden), Lu Jiawei Pingtan Workshop, and HOMELAND project collaborated to establish a traditional music studio. This partnership not only promoted the integration of traditional music with modern technology but also injected new vitality into Shanghai’s cultural and creative industries. MusicAlly exclusively interviewed Li Jie, the director of the HOMELAND Choir, and Pingtan artist Lu Jiawei, delving into the story behind “Magnoliain Fullbloom”

Performance of “Magnoliain Fullbloom” at the Launch Ceremony of the “Music Innovation+ Track” Results Exhibition

MusicAlly × HOMELAND – 李杰Li Jie

MusicAlly: What was the inspiration behind “Magnoliain Fullbloom”? What theme did you want to convey?

李杰Li Jie: “Magnoliain Fullbloom” was inspired by my visit to the Music China Expo in Shanghai. I was thrilled after the event and had a great impression of the city. I’ve always had a special fondness for Shanghai; I remember the first time I went there in the 1990s for an award ceremony, where Flying Flag (Hong Qi Piao Piao) won the Best Composition at the Chinese Top 10 Music Awards. I was overjoyed. Shanghai also has many culinary delights, like eel paste and liquor-soaked crabs, and iconic sights like The Bund and the Oriental Pearl Tower, which are well-known. After attending Music China, I hummed a melody on the train ride back and wanted to compose a piece for Shanghai. With economic development, Shanghai’s international image has improved greatly, and the magnolia represents Shanghai, which sparked this idea.  The lyricist, 圣哥Sheng Ge, is also familiar with Shanghai, and the inspiration came quickly. He soon wrote the lyrics beautifully, depicting the city and people’s appreciation for a wonderful life.

MusicAlly: The song begins with a sample from “Shanghai Night夜上海” What sparked this creative idea? What other design elements in the song do you like?

李杰Li Jie: Starting with an old record sets the scene instantly. Although the song is quite traditional, it incorporates the rhythms of electronic music and features the three-stringed instrument, sanxian, played by Teacher 陆嘉玮Lu Jiawei, as well as Nursery Rhyme Shuochang (Shuochang is a traditional Chinese performing art form that combines speaking and singing). This gives a three-dimensional representation of Shanghai’s culture, which I find very precise. The HOMELAND Choir performed excellently; they are a multi-ethnic group, some of whom have never been to Shanghai, but have seen it on TV or in reports. Their joyful expression while singing reflects their happiness. I considered this when arranging the music, allowing 陆嘉玮Lu Jiawei’s Pingtan（storytelling and ballad singing in Suzhou dialect） performance to feature in the interlude. Lu’s playing technique and style embody Shanghai’s elements vividly, and his inclusion of Nursery Rhyme Shuochang (Shuochang is a traditional Chinese performing art form that combines speaking and singing) adds fun and joy, transporting listeners to a new era of Shanghai where everyone lives happily and prosperously.

MusicAlly: What are the distinctive features of Shanghai’s folk music?

李杰Li Jie: Shanghai’s operas and local dramas are well-represented by Pingtan, which originated in Suzhou but began its transmission from Shanghai. Hence, we incorporated Pingtan and Nursery Rhyme Shuochang (Shuochang is a traditional Chinese performing art form that combines speaking and singing) into this composition.

MusicAlly: Could you recommend a modern folk music piece?

李杰Li Jie: Listen to 家园(Homeland) a perfect fusion of multiple ethnicities and instruments, such as the Mongolian drum rhythms, the Lahus’ flute intro, and the interlude featuring the Dong’s UNESCO-protected Grand Song. 家园(Homeland) is our signature piece.

MusicAlly: Could you share your experience participating in the Shanghai Cultural and Creative Industries Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition?

李杰Li Jie: Participating in this competition was somewhat serendipitous. I attended with a learning mindset, not focusing on winning awards. There were over a thousand participants, mostly from technology-driven innovations, but we were the only content-based participants. Our multi-ethnic, fusion choir, HOMELAND, was a breath of fresh air. Our works, based on ancient tunes from various ethnicities, aim at preservation, transmission, and innovative development, making them strikingly novel to the audience. Over the past two years, we’ve performed at the CCTV Spring Festival Gala 2023, 2023 Global Diplomats’ Chinese Cultural Night, and other CCTV events. We are confident in our path of ethnic music innovation and consider ourselves a new emblem of China’s ethnic music. I’m delighted that we reached the finals of the Shanghai Cultural and Creative Industries Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition. We will continue to innovate and develop China’s ethnic music, aligning it with global standards.

MusicAlly: What other musical experiments do you wish to try in the future?

李杰Li Jie: Today’s music transcends past concepts; we are in an era of great integration. China’s rich diversity of ethnicities and local operas make it the world’s largest music treasury. We will continue to innovate, using various instruments and new ideas, including electronic and metal music, as well as industrial and psychedelic music. The development of music depends on how cleverly you use these elements and the appreciation level of the audience. I believe our musical journey will become broader and better. I also wish all participants in the Shanghai Cultural and Creative Industries Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition success and hope our HOMELAND continues to flourish.

MusicAlly × Lu Jiawei Pingtan Workshop – 陆嘉玮Lu Jiawei

MusicAlly: What was your mindset when performing in “Magnoliain Fullbloom”?

陆嘉玮Lu Jiawei: Before hearing the music, I was quite anxious and nervous, honestly unsure how to integrate my unique style into the song. I feared I might not play well and delay the recording. However, once I was in Li Jie’s studio, he played a segment for me to improvise. He guided me with precision and speed, sharing his ideas, which helped me transition from nervousness to freely playing and eventually improvising with enjoyment.

MusicAlly: What design elements in “Magnoliain Fullbloom” do you particularly like?

陆嘉玮Lu Jiawei: One is the Xiaosanxian（three-stringed） “fill-in” that doesn’t just copy the traditional style but maintains the essence of Pingtan without feeling out of place, always blending seamlessly with the music.

MusicAlly: How do you think modern pop music and traditional music can be integrated while preserving their distinctive features?

陆嘉玮Lu Jiawei: I truly believe there’s no contradiction between modern pop music and traditional music. Wasn’t traditional music also the pop music of a hundred years ago? Modern music has more rhythm, and while traditional tunes are rhythmically freer, breaking out of the mold to match the beats of pop music isn’t difficult. The three-stringed instrument is a technique in Pingtan performance, where storytelling, amusing art, play (musical instrument), singing and performing are essential. In music, my “speaking” might not be necessary, but, my “playing” and “singing” are crucial. I’ve always felt that we, traditional musicians, are similar to pop musicians; we both use notes, the only difference being that I use the Suzhou dialect and play the ethnic three-stringed instrument. Incorporating Pingtan into music is also a great way to promote Jiangnan culture.

MusicAlly: Could you recommend some excellent modern folk music pieces?

陆嘉玮Lu Jiawei: “Dance Song of Yi Ethnic Group”, “Overlord Chu Abandoned His Armor”  and a Kazakh music adaptation, “A Lovely Rose” are among my favorites.

MusicAlly: What other musical experiments would you like to try in the future?

陆嘉玮Lu Jiawei: There are many musical styles I want to try, including Suzhou and Shanghai dialect rap, British rock, blues, and jazz fusion. I find using dialect and traditional music as elements quite fun.

The collaboration between the HOMELAND Choir and Lu Jiawei in “Magnoliain Fullbloom” shone brightly at the second “Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Cultural and Creative Industries Shanghai” competition. Through partnerships with the World Music Seeds project and the global promotion of “Magnoliain Fullbloom,” the integration of traditional music with modern technology was promoted. This collaboration injected new vitality into Shanghai’s cultural and creative industries, spreading good Chinese music and positive energy, advancing the fusion and innovation of traditional music, and paving new paths for The Melodies of China, showcasing the endless possibilities of traditional cultural heritage and innovation in the new era.