Zhaozhao's life hasn't changed much. He writes songs and lyrics for film and television dramas or other singers, constantly accumulating personal creations, storing up motivation, writing, disassembling and starting over. Outside the courtyard, taking this city as a starting point, "folk song fever" has become the highlight word of the year in the music world.
For struggling musicians, it is an honor to have recognition and labels. But not everyone benefits. 20 14 1 month, "when you are old" became popular. Zhao Zhao and those who care about him have been to Beijing twice and drifted north for many years, so they have reason to be happy. Like every successful story of drifting north, Zhao Zhao inspired another batch of latecomers. Many people expect Zhao Zhao to make persistent efforts, but the second song "When You Are Old" has never appeared. Zhao Zhao said: "The label should be torn off. The role of labels is easy to find, but it is not objective and incomplete to use labels to reflect a person's music. "
From 1999 to 20 17, not only the music scene, but also the whole social ecology and context have undergone great changes. The restlessness and desire at the turn of the century turned to instant consumption and shallow consumption in the small age, which became an inappropriate topic. Folk songs have become a new favorite without warning. Images such as girls and distant places have replaced simplicity and sincerity, and simplicity has lost its beauty and gradually become humble. In contrast, the complex pursuit of music language and music structure makes Zhao Zhao appear slow, slow and even unreliable.
So far, Zhao Zhao has only two albums, Dajingchang and Rough. The legendary third album did not happen on 20 16. He only published EP "Expired Hormone" in June 5438+February this year, and the two songs included were written in 1999 and 2008 respectively. The more important change comes from the fact that many people find Zhao Zhao, a "folk singer", more impetuous. He made no secret: "(Those two songs) are a bit out of date now. When you listen to them, they come from the 1980s and 1990s, when you were obsessed with rock blues. Before the Demo, you may be more interested in it because it is more dynamic, rougher and more primitive. "
Compared with time, Zhao Zhao's memories came too early and her hormones retired too late.
The perspective of memory
"Without memory, there is no point in living. Today will also be a memory of tomorrow. I think the past is more important than the future, and there is a future in the past. Countless memories make up the present you, and the present memories will also make up the future you. Is the relationship from the roots to the treetops. From the Buddhist point of view, it is cause and effect. The seeds planted will have small consequences. Whether this consequence is good or bad, and what color it is, is well documented. " Memories not only provide creative inspiration for Zhao Zhao, but also become an important motif and complex in Zhao Zhao's music, and sometimes become his perspective to observe the world and express himself.
Zhao Zhao was born in Zhejiang in the late 1970s, and then moved to Cao County, Heze, Shandong Province with his family. In winter, I spent time with my grandmother in the sun and recalled that time. Then I moved to Shenxian County, Liaocheng City, Shandong Province, and then 1999 began to drift north with my guitar.
"In fact, my hometown is like a dream home, a bit like the image imagined in When You Are Old." Sunbathing with grandma in winter is not my hometown, but more like a child talking about my hometown. It is a nursery rhyme, but it is sung from my throat. There are almost no adjectives in the lyrics, only the last sentence' What a wonderful time', and the rest are like children drawing. The neighbor's dog is barking, and two or three-year-old children are always thinking about how to eat a piece of candy, how to go shopping with their grandmother, and how to move the childhood scenes here truthfully. For example, Shandong is a changing idea of a place where you grew up, and many scenes have changed. The strength of folk songs lies in simplicity and directness. I grew up in nature. In the past, the factory was a cropland and a green wheat field. Every evening, I see the red sun setting and beautiful rosy clouds. Every day when I go to school, I can see farmers plowing the land. These photos are great. It (song) actually comes from what I saw when I was a child. "
Reading classics, martial arts novels, drawing, playing chess and writing articles are his childhood and adolescence. "My mother put the money under the bed, and I stole one to buy martial arts novels and tapes." Long Piaopiao, Feng Feifei, Steven Liu and later Tayu Lo, Chyi Chin, etc. , all in his heart. But "as long as I am not studying, I am against everything (my family)." Writing martial arts novels is simply doing nothing, and skipping classes and playing chess with the old man at the chess stall are not allowed. "
Zhao Zhao finally chose music as the main expression: "I wrote a lot of martial arts novels, a pile of square paper, and came up with a book. Later, maybe my hormones broke out, so it's better to sing to girls (haha). It is said that poetry and songs should actually be called poetry, because there are tones before poetry and songs, and there will be emotional tones. Tones will gradually evolve into languages, and languages will evolve into words. These stresses have tones, high and low, and the tones are earlier than the words. After the development of civilization, there were poems and songs. Songs are more primitive, earlier and more natural than poems. "
"Autumn Moon Night" and "Revelation of Melody" reveal ancient rhyme. Zhao Zhao does not deny the influence of youth: "These are the things in our Han bones, and we can't escape. When I was a child, I watched the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, the Journey to the West and the list of gods. I was influenced by Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. Naturally, these things are in my bones and they will show up. "
Many people know Zhao Zhao through ballads such as When You Are Old. When the new EP comes out, it is inevitable that hormones will not adapt. Zhao Zhao said, "My own records are more important. You can't get to know me when you're old or something. Music itself is ever-changing. I think if I can, I can express myself without caring about these styles.
For example, Hormone was published in 2008, and please torture me gently was 1999. It's a little out of date now. At that time, I was obsessed with rock blues in Europe and America. Everyone was proud to play some blues, but (now) if you don't make it, it will be there forever. I compiled two or three versions of Hormone, Beibei played two versions, Wang Lan played one version, a Japanese (friend) played one version, and I recorded several versions of guitar myself. Then I used three guitarists and mixed four versions. In the end, you may not hear much. "Torture Me" expresses youth with explicit lyrics. What do you mean salty as tears (haha)? Many DJ friends said that the lyrics could not be broadcast blatantly, but it was really my state at that time and I couldn't let it go, so I'm sorry that I rehearsed this song with my oldest band again and again, and it was quite happy during that time. This song is a description of that era. I used to engage in folk songs because I could control them better, because I couldn't reach the professional level of Wang Leyan, Wang Lan and Beibei (the new EP musician lineup), and I probably didn't have the conditions to ask them to play every song. Now that we have this condition, we should try our best to do them well. You may be more interested in the previous demo because it is more dynamic, rougher and more primitive. "
Zhao Zhao has rarely painted and practiced calligraphy, and there are not many chess games. "I am an adult chess champion in the county. Playing chess with those old people is my greatest pleasure. All my old friends are old people. Many of them have left now. This kind of thing is bragging, but it was something I was proud of when I was a child, and I thought I was a genius (haha). When I grow up, I feel that there are too many masters. Gradually turn my attention to music, which can always accompany me. Playing Go is more interesting. Go is a bit like music. This will no longer be the same game. If you don't play deliberately, the next thousand games will be different in a thousand years. So is music. You can't sing the same song at different times, with the same chord, the same key and the same speed. "
Zhao Zhao's studio is small, and there is a fan on the keyboard. This fan is a portrait of the hero of the Water Margin. In reading, he prefers China's classical literature. "I have read many things in China. I have been reading the Book of Changes, Guiguzi and Xu Xiake. I like them in my bones, which can calm me down. Kafka and Camus are very good, but I still think these things in China are more suitable. "
Difficult answer card
More than four years have passed since the latest album Rough, during which Zhao Zhao has released enough albums of singles, including personal works such as None of this is true, I can't bear to part with it, Enlightenment of Melody, A Broken Guitar 1999, The Moon Tonight, Tibet in Winter, etc., as well as home from TV series or programs. The third album was put off again and again. "There are too many songs for others. For example, I made the first and last songs of Phoenix Legend's new album (Far or Far, Stay with You for Life). There are also songs by some famous artists, as well as movies and TV series. I have been making music, but I really recorded my personality and the album was not released. "
The works are constantly released, but I am very cautious about Zhao Zhao's album: "It may be nothing to others. For me, it's like an answer sheet. For my answer sheet, I am responsible for the time and memory of writing this song and try to polish it as much as possible. (The two albums released) are actually not very good, but I prefer the first one because it is a' virgin work'. At that time, I was not as skilled as I am now. Arranging and mixing, learning while doing, was a bit like falling in love for the first time, and I felt much better. But as far as music is concerned, there are flaws in all aspects and many regrets. (What about "rough"? At first, I wanted to make an exquisite album by Zhang Huali. Later, when I almost found something wrong, I turned it into' rough' and went to the other extreme. "
It is normal for Zhao Zhao to reinvent himself. "This is not entanglement, but repetition. I know I have this problem. I respect that some of them (collaborators) can't stand it, but some of them will continue to cooperate. From the first album to the present, those who are particularly professional, such as mixing and arranging, will have some complaints or objections. For me, picking and picking is a key word. I have been faced with selection and choice. Every word I say, every note, is picky. Many people think that the completion of lyrics is a song, but for me, it is just an architectural framework. Do your best, or stop if you can't. This is my standard. I can't get up again and again. I can't get up anymore. When I am too tired to think about it, I should stop, just like writing an article. I have been torturing myself, but this torture is sometimes necessary. What is needed is to reassure yourself. I tried my best. "
"When I wrote When You Are Old, I thought it would be accepted by many people, including some songs I helped others to make, such as Lei Zi (Zhao Lei), whose first album I was the producer. I said "Southern Girl" would be popular, and I made it for you myself. I will make every note for you. After singing for too many years, we will have a general judgment on whether it can be sung, whether it is a flash in the pan and whether it has vitality. The value of "When You Are Old" lies in telling an eternal topic, and then this topic has been circulated for one hundred years through Ye Zhi's poems. It has stood the test of time. I hope that after ten or twenty years, people will not forget it and can still sing it. This is my hope. Pop music is just a substitute for form. R& is very popular this year. B, next year's folk songs, the year after, but really good songs, the form will not have much influence on it, such as Tayu Lo's childhood, Lugang Town and love song 1980, we don't care what style they are. "
As for many female works in Folk Song Fever, according to Zhao Zhao, "that's a woman complex. Why do so many girls like these songs? Because they know women as well as Lin Daiyu, even more carefully than women. I can't come like that. I can only go straight. You can only write your own secrets or use your own narrative style. Like the early wild children, many lyrics are more powerful than more than 90% of the so-called rock and roll in China now. Many lyrics are passed down from folk music, which are powerful and vital, and full of male strength and masculinity. Many singers are very feminine now. Nowadays, a lot of rock music in China is slogan-style, especially after 2000, some rock music is slogan-style and spoon-fed, and few particularly good works appear. Zhang Chu looks thin, but in fact he is very masculine and hard. Now the market decides everything, and the girl pays the bill. She will think you are good because you are handsome, because you have a personality in her heart or something. Whether you pander or try to overthrow depends on whether you are a musician or not. There are too many icing on the cake in this world. Why do you want to do it again? Sometimes I can't force myself to do what everyone is doing. I just got used to what everyone is doing, so I stopped doing it. Everyone is playing folk songs, and I can play rock. When the folk songs are finished, I may pick them up again. In fact, it depends on my status. "
(Pieces of Sunshine and other works all reflect the expression of small breakthrough points. ) Fragments of Sunshine is actually a poem I wrote. I moved it into music, dismembered time into particles, and then magnified this particle to infinity, but few people asked about this work. I don't think it's very advanced, but I feel very comfortable. I give myself the lowest bottom line, keep a good record, and do what I can, instead of saying that I would rather not send it. I think it is ok to reach a sincere basic point. "
Many netizens are looking forward to the series of works such as "The Enlightenment of Melody". Zhao Zhao said that he thought about it, but found it difficult. "It's popular to adapt poetry now. I have a friend who proudly said,' I only sing poetry'. This is my answer. You have to have a melody worthy of this poem to adapt it, or you just adapt a poem, which is opportunistic. You can't adapt for the sake of adaptation, which is more humiliating than writing bad words. It's that you really think the melody is especially suitable for this poem and can bring impetus to this poem. Whether he understands or not, that's what I think in my heart. "
Alcohol training
This is an era with the most emphasis. Whether it is incitement on the stage or strong artistic expression, it is rendering an overloaded atmosphere. Show restraint. "I have a song" Mr. Abstinence ",which means that if you want to do something, you must be temperate." What do you want to avoid? ) "Why do you want to say it all or why do you have to make it clear? That would be boring, and there wouldn't be much room for pop songs. To me, When You Are Old is a popular song. It is written directly, and I speak my mind directly. Then I took the liberty of cutting off a lot of Ye Zhi's poems and adding a third of the words, but they are popular songs for me. "
Another outstanding feature of Zhao Zhao's music is the frequent use of natural and on-site sampling in arrangement. "This belongs to deep creation. When you sing with the guitar, it will show the lyrics, but if you want to make the song more intuitive or express yourself better, you may need to be closer to yourself in the arrangement. There are many standards for arrangement, such as the standard of sound quality, or the final mix is gorgeous, industrial and (in line with) industry standards. I'm actually breaking and overturning these things. I don't want to do that. Of course, it is better to have these, but if I am in that state and on the basis of that strength, I will choose to give up my quality and skills. There are many good samples of movie music and TV music, such as Wind, Waves and Rain, but you didn't pick them. But if it rains now, I will take them off and put them on the windowsill to spend the rest of my life with me. This is the rain I heard with my own ears, and it fell on my window. Although not as good as Hollywood, I can't use Hollywood. Sometimes it's hard to tell the truth from the false. You mean you recorded it? I recorded this in a room on a rainy day. You can fool the audience, but you still have to fool yourself. As long as I pass this level, I don't care much about others. "
Musicians have dual identities. On the one hand, they should show themselves, on the other hand, they should take care of the market. After all, this is the essence of survival. "Courtship is measured, divided into polite courtship and deliberate blind courtship. Communication itself also has a kind of goodwill, but this kind of goodwill needs to be moderate. Sometimes it's based on politeness. I respect you for listening to me sing, and I also need your respect for singing. Mutual respect forms a good relationship between listening and singing and cannot be classified as pleasing people. What is flattery? Happiness means I want to make you happy and everyone happy. What's the difference between me and a crosstalk performer? I don't have to do that. "
There is always a gap between expression and acceptance, so art as a way of communication is necessary and reasonable, but art itself cannot be achieved overnight. "I'm not satisfied that you were drinking and chatting there when I was singing." There was a performance three years ago. I can't remember which city it is. I have a song "Flying". I've been drinking and chatting. I was very angry. I kept singing those four words "fly, fly" and didn't speak for five minutes. I want to fight you. Now (if this happens) I will blame myself for not singing well and singing brilliantly. I didn't impress you enough, and I didn't let you listen to it in order to conquer you. I want to communicate with you and let you blend in. That's why I like live house. Maybe you sang for two hours, and there were many things in the middle, but it was true. Just like when we are chatting, you can see that I haven't cleaned my gum or something, and I still have a mole and a wrinkle on my face. Some programs are difficult to communicate. Before the foreplay was finished, it ended directly and there were many performances. "
20 14 In the first season of Good Chinese Songs, Zhao Zhao sang the song When You Are Old, which was widely circulated later: "I (originally) thought I should sit there like sitting on a sofa, so I asked myself, but I didn't expect that I was so uncomfortable. This stage was too uncomfortable for me. Why should someone judge me and keep thinking like this? But in fact, I volunteered. I have promised to play this game, and I will play it. I must abide by their rules, or I will break my word. My behavior may be related to my personality. I am not used to doing that. Before, I even felt particularly ashamed and compromised to participate in this kind of program. In retrospect, I thought that whether I liked it or not, I had to go in once and really step into it once, so that I could truly and objectively evaluate this stage, and then I would look back at myself. As for whether I want to play like this in the future, that's your choice. "
The number of listeners will not have much impact on Zhao Zhao: "Publicity is my duty. If I make a song, I must let more people hear it, otherwise it will be too melodramatic. It used to be like this. I didn't realize that I was forced to listen, but I did it anyway. It is actually possible to avoid some interruptions. But now, since I want to express myself, I want to be heard by as many people as possible. As for hype, I don't want to do it. I just want to promote songs so that you can understand me through songs, instead of standing up and making yourself what I am now. You know, in business society, you have to have a storyteller standing there, and then people will go to see your work. Generally speaking, when a girl listens to a song, she must first see whether this person is pleasing to the eye. Then he was interesting, and then she listened to music. Alas, if this song is good, you get extra points. This song is so-so, but she has a good image or impression of this person. She still (listens), that is, listens to songs on blind dates, and many people do. This is understandable, this is the most instinctive attraction between men and women. Of course, there will be people who like you because of talent or something, but that is a minority. Most people are because of your external performance, such as your good looks, charm, fun and personality. Not only in China, but also abroad. Of course (songs are auditioned on the platform, etc. ), more data will make you happier. If you have little data, you will think that people are not interested in this song. I know where there are problems and where there are no problems. Like "Fragments of the Sunshine" and "Broken Bone", maybe not many people like it, but I personally like it very much. For example, you may like The Enlightenment of Rhythm, which I think is very suitable for everyone to listen to. As far as contribution is concerned, of course, those who contribute more are good songs, and those who contribute less are bad songs, but from an artistic point of view, those with personality are called good songs and those with personality are called bad songs. From the sincerity, sincerity is a good song, so what is sincerity and what is true and false, if you think too much, there will be no answer. "
Relative freedom
Attentive fans will find that Zhao Zhao's songs have appeared in the column of shelf information, from "Heartbeat of Flowers" in May 20 16 to the latest "Expired Hormone". In fact, the mainland music market has always been a low-key force. Its artists include Wang Feng, Zheng Jun and Lu Han. And produced famous performance brands such as Rock in Full Bloom and Flowers in Full Bloom.
Before this, Zhao Zhao had received many olive branches: "But there are always refusals not to build, in various forms. I was in good shape at that time. I release an album every year and tour once a year. I play as I like until I am old. That's what I was thinking. I will think a lot now, and realize the maximization of interests on the premise that a gentleman loves money and has a proper way to get it, but he can't make himself sick and be worthy of himself and the person who pays for you. This is the balance I need to achieve. Now (cooperating with the company) is just an attempt. Everyone has a way out, but cooperation needs the spirit of contract, and some bad habits must be adjusted as much as possible. If the company is compatible with you, you can sign it without affecting your music, especially if you are young or have no social skills. You can't be as awesome as Li Zhi. Some children are smart. They can run their own businesses. A social idiot like me is suitable for having a team to help me with things other than music. Generally speaking, people are pursuing independence, but it depends on whether you have the ability to take care of yourself in the face of society. "
From a completely independent one-on-one fight to the assistance of a company, it is clear that there is no lack of freedom: "Without real freedom, there will never be real freedom in the face of desire and nature, only relative freedom. As a musician, it is also good to be able to sing yourself to the maximum extent. Without freedom, there is no freedom to look at the whole world. Every star we think is bright or floating dust, walking in its own orbit or falling involuntarily. When you were born, you couldn't choose your own time. I don't know how to get rid of it when I'm dead. What is freedom? Wukong can't break through life and death. He wants freedom and fearlessness. Finally, he will become a Buddha. " You give yourself the greatest freedom? You can't fight against the whole world, you can only fight against yourself. For example, we have problems in the street. You beat me. Can I blame you? Can I blame passers-by for not helping me? I can only blame myself for not being strong enough. In fact, it is to return to self-confrontation, from confronting the world to confronting yourself. "
Confrontation can easily lead to anger, which in turn breeds hostility, but there is little hostility in Zhao Zhao's music. "You will reduce it as much as possible. Everyone will inevitably have emotions, grievances, resentment, and then depression. How do you solve it, scold or solve it yourself? " Life is short, try to make yourself better. I think it's good. It is harder to live than to die. Suicide is the time to choose and then you leave, but living is not, and even if you don't want to die, isn't it a matter of time? You must live like a human being. Don't live like a fairy, like a god and like an idol. It is so boring. I have a friend (who accused the audience during the performance)' Don't eat melon seeds' and' Why do you eat melon seeds when I sing'. This seriousness is actually arrogance and prejudice, full of self-righteous arrogance and feeling superior. Once this happens, I will definitely be biased. I don't think he can do it, nor can he. Only one position with me is right. This cult-like view is actually very common in music. "
Sometimes the lack of freedom lies in the fact that with the greater achievements, the expectations of the outside world will increase sharply. "This is not good, this is a burden. All my friends who know me know that I am awesome and love to be true to others. The friends and family you care about have expectations of you, and they must be more or less (influential). Fame and fortune are sometimes fetters. I prefer people to listen to my songs and sing my songs more than to discuss that I am an entertainment star. I never talk about my personal affairs, only about music and words. From a utilitarian point of view, it may be inconvenient for your image. I know, but I don't want to be recognized when I walk in the street, and then I want to throw up (haha). I like to disappear into the crowd when I leave home, and then I can walk and live freely like a normal person. "
When music becomes a profession, the hardships of hard work always remind people of the famous "stuttering". In Zhao Zhao's view, "the standard of stuttering is different. Practice the piano 12 hours every day, and knock it out every day without sleeping. If you are willing to stutter in this place, it is understandable and correct. It varies from person to person. As far as I'm concerned, there's no need to die except birth, illness and death. Music is nothing. Music and life are nothing. At most, it is a tool to record life. Just like words written on paper. Remember. "
Circle means a certain degree of acceptance and security. Of course, they sometimes mean kidnapping in disguise, such as mutual applause, in which some freedom must be sacrificed. In Beijing, a place that emphasizes circle culture, Zhao Zhao said that he has never been in a circle. "I never take the initiative to establish a circle. In the past, the diameter of my circle may be 10cm, but now the circle may be 12cm at most. I have a principle, always keep the same state as before 10, including Lei Zi, and don't hold each other's hands like others. I don't like spending time eating hot pot late at night and bragging about making me drink. I like everyone to write songs together, and I have nothing to study by myself. When I make friends, I will tell you my shortcomings first, and I will not be particularly enthusiastic when I make friends. When you come to my home, you can play here, while I sing, drink tea and lie on the sofa reading by myself. It's okay now, just talk for a while, eat together when you have time, and play separately when you have no time. When I came, I was like family. You know the hospitality in Shandong. Sometimes that kind of affection will make you uncomfortable. Make yourself comfortable. If I am particularly deliberate, I will be uncomfortable. "
Before the interview, Zhao Zhao was absorbed in adjusting the details of a song. He wanted to tell his assistant to do something in the middle, so he opened his mouth and called it "Lei Zi". Then everyone froze. Zhao Zhao smiled for a moment and said, "Hey, I'm used to it."
The days in Beijing are particularly short from winter to around. At the end of the interview, as night fell, the sound of "borrow, borrow" came and went on the crowded sidewalk. The evening rush hour reminds everyone in this city that it likes to talk about efficiency.
In the small courtyard, in another room in the independent space where Zhao Zhao was interviewed, several young people who had been waiting for a long time saw that the interview was finally over and were ready to step in. The small courtyard is about to restore its most familiar musical atmosphere.