Sound of the summer

After the show was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the summer was in full swing by the time the latest season of The Big Band arrived. Like the July weather, it didn't take long for discussion about the show online to heat up, becoming a trending topic right after the first two episodes.

With some of the first group of 33 Chinese bands, both established acts and newcomers, taking turns to perform, the show introduces the audience to "indie band culture", which engenders passion and zeal among many young music lovers.

"The ultimate mission of the show is to foster a love of bands. It's hardly surprising that many young bands receive lots of attention after appearing on the show, " says Zhang Yadong, a veteran producer and songwriter and one of the show's four celebrity guests, alongside singer-songwriter Da Zhang Wei, actress Zhou Xun and TV host Ma Dong.

The band that opened the show was Mosaic. Formed in 2008, the group features the vocal stylings of Xia Ying and the guitar work of Zhuo Yue over the rhythmic power of bassist Lin Yufeng and drummer Gao Xin. It performed Neon Sweetheart, a song that is a mash-up of the disco and rock genres.

"Being in a band is certainly one of the most exciting and memorable experiences of my life," says Xia, who joined Mosaic after he had failed on the reality show, Happy Boy, created and broadcast by Hunan TV in 2007.

Its guitarist Zhuo points out that the band's strength comes from the unity of its members. He says: "It's hard for bands to stay together, because there are always different individuals and strong personalities. But we are like family members, who will not be torn apart by disagreements or fights."

The highest score in the first round of the contest was gained by Re-TROS(which stands for Rebuilding the Rights of Statues) with the song, Pigs in the River.