P.K.14 occupies a space in Chinese music that might be analogous to that of Talking Heads or Television in the New York of the 1970s. They are among the most thoughtful and self-referential of bands, with an enormous curiosity about music coupled with a complete inability to care about musical fashion. Among the astonishing group of young musicians that has emerged in Beijing over the last four years, they are almost unanimously cited as the band that has most influenced the young Beijing music scene with their seriousness, their musicianship and foremost, their eclectic approach to music. But although they are at the heart of the Beijing scene, at the same time they are wholly unique and seem to be traveling in their own scene – one which consists of only one band.
Founded in Nanjing in 1997, P.K.14 made their big-stage performance debut in their hometown in December of that year. In May 1999, the band opened for Sweden’s The (International) Noise Conspiracy in Shanghai, and since then have become one of the most admired and influential bands in China.
Frontman Yang Haisong is generally considered to be the epitome of P.K.14's aesthetic approach to art and music. As one of China’s better-known younger poets, his lyrics, predominantly about China's disaffected urban youth, have been important for the band’s style and for the regard with which they are held by their audience. In addition to vocalist Yang Haisong, the band includes Xu Bo on guitar, Shi Xudong on bass and Jonathan on drums. Besides publishing poetry and criticism, Yang Haisong has produced some of the most important Beijing bands of recent years, including Carsick Cars’ notable debut as well as the much-anticipated first album of Ourself Beside Me. Shi Xudong is a founding member of Guai Li, one of Beijing’s hottest new bands, while Tan Tan is an established graphic artist and occasionally plays with FM3.
P.K.14 have performed extensively in China and abroad, both headlining and sharing the stage with many notable bands, including The (International) Noise Conspiracy, Ex-Models, and Soundtrack of Our Lives. The subject of numerous articles, interviews and critical pieces on Chinese, US, German, Austrian, French, Swedish, Norwegian and Australian television, as well as dozens of newspapers and magazines from around the world. In June 2006, the band was nominated for "Best Band" and "Best Rock Band" at the 6th annual Chinese Music Media Awards (the Chinese Grammy Awards). In July 2006, MTV China featured their video Ta Men as their “Pick of the Week”. Most recently, TIME Magazine chose P.K.14 as one of Asia's five best bands and one to watch in 2008.
In January and February of 2008 the members of the band decamped to Sweden, where they recorded their fourth album, titled City Weather Sailing (Chengshi Tianqi De Hangxing). Produced by the brilliant producer-duo Henrik Oja and Mats Hammarström.
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i was so happy i finally got hold of your album yesterday. best band from china, undoubtedly. dont ever change your sound, its very authentic and refreshing. some of the other chinese bands are good, but sound remotely like some of the existing western ones, sadly.
Hi, guys, I sent you a message - please have a look or write your mail-adress to mspiano-taste-at-gmx.de Would be great to come in contact with you! Thanks and have a great summertime! msp
Hi there P. K . 1 4 Thanks for being friends, really appreciate it! really love your site and what you stand for...good luck here on myspace and whatever you have set your sights on in the future!:-)
Maybe you want a quick peek at what I do...just take a look at myspace there'S a video which I've filmed in China, and the Muisc I wrote too, please tell me if you like it...
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