Inside China’s Metal Scene with Nine Treasures and Their Journey to America

The conversation focused on the Mongolian folk metal band Nine Treasures, tracing the band's origins, their journey from China to touring the US, the uniqueness of the Chinese and global metal scene, artistic philosophy, the creative process behind their album "Seeking the Absolute," and insights into their upcoming US tour with established acts Mushroomhead and Fear Factory. The discussion explored cultural crossover, dedication to musicianship, and the passion fueling the metal community worldwide.

Main Topics Covered

• Formation and Early Days of Nine Treasures
• The Metal Scene in China: Growth, Diversity, and International Reach
• Musical Fusion: Combining Traditional Mongolian Instruments with Metal
• Practicing Buddhism: Influence on Life and Music
• Signing with Metal Blade Records
• The Creative Process for "Seeking the Absolute"
• Artistic Integrity vs. Industry Pressures
• The Value of Authentic Live Performance
• Upcoming US Tour with Mushroomhead and Fear Factory
• Reflections on Genre Expansion and Metal’s Evolution

Key Discussions & StoriesOrigins and Musical Vision

• The story of Nine Treasures’ formation in Beijing, fusing metal with traditional Mongolian sounds (01:02).
• One concept discussed was the growth of the Chinese metal scene, mentioning hundreds of bands, diverse genres, and a strong festival culture in cities like Beijing and Shanghai (02:00).

Musicianship & Instruments

• Several points were raised, including the importance of mastering multiple string instruments, drawing parallels between guitar, bass, banjo, and traditional Mongolian instruments (05:17).

Philosophy & Influence of Buddhism

• A key theme that emerged was the impact of Buddhism, which was described as more a philosophy and knowledge system than a religion, providing life tools and influencing both personal and artistic approaches (07:01).

Breaking Through Internationally

• The importance of an international management team and representation in landing their first US tour and signing with Metal Blade Records, a label renowned for passion and support for artists (09:07, 10:23).

Authenticity and Live Performances

• The discussion explored the band’s commitment to live musicianship without backing tracks and the unique energy and imperfection that make live shows memorable and genuine (21:41).

The Pain and Reward of Creative Process

• Insights into their album "Seeking the Absolute," where approximately 30 songs were discarded in pursuit of the right sound, ultimately leading to a product they’re proud of (22:05, 23:03).

Challenges for Modern Bands

• The realities of artistry: balancing artistic freedom and record label expectations, the struggle for attention in a crowded field, and respect for dedication in underappreciated bands (26:36).

Hoping for a Bigger US Presence

• Aspirations to play US festivals and build a following stateside, expressing gratitude for growing international attention (28:46).

Notable Quotes

• “The conversation focused on experimenting with mixing heavy metal and traditional Mongolian music... just having fun in a rehearsal room in Beijing.” (01:31)
• “Metal is the ultimate uniter of people... what the world needs right now is more uniting instead of dividing, and music is the perfect place for that.” (03:09)
• “Buddhism is just teaching me how to stay out of trouble.” (08:37)
• “If you want to tour around the world professionally, you got to have an international team around you, otherwise it will be really hard to do.” (09:41)
• “We’re more than happy to have people get on those medias [Spotify, YouTube]... but I'm a diehard live music fan.” (20:00)
• “Every note came out of your flesh, your own hand and your own voice and then connected... with the universe and then through the PA system and blows everybody's mind.” (21:42)
• “I saw you wrote and discarded approximately 30 songs... that tells me you’re not just putting music out to put music out, but because you believe in it.” (22:16)

Resources and Links Mentioned

• Band Website: ninetreasures.net (19:40)
  • Includes links to all social media platforms
• Streaming Platforms: Find Nine Treasures on Spotify and YouTube (19:55)

Connect Further & What to Expect

• Upcoming US tour with Mushroomhead and Fear Factory (08:50)
• The promise of energetic, fully live shows — no backing tracks
• An invitation to explore their latest album "Seeking the Absolute" and the detailed work that went into its creation

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