This August, ChinaTalk is going to take a bit of a break from our usual routine of tech and politics coverage to spend some time with Chinese culture! Starting us off is Jake Newby of the Concrete Avalanche substack who will be taking us through a radio hour of some of the most interesting independent music coming out of China.Here's the playlist:Intro music: Voision Xi - 'Too Late to Complain' from Five Loops in Her Way. More on that EP here; listen to Voision's jazz record Lost For Words here.1. Voision Xi - 'Catch the Train' from Eating Music's Running With Friends. More on that compilation here.2. Vii M - 'Man O' War (Cocoonics remix)' from The Other Side of Sublunary (The Remixes). More on Vii M and Sublunary here.3. Lygort Trio - '藏身之处' from Lygort Trio. More on them here.4. Hualun - 'Cities of the Red Night' from Tempus. More on Tempus here.5. Zhou Shijue - '幸福来的这么自然‘ from 应运而生. More on his record with J-Fever and Eddie Beatz here.6. 33EMYBW - 'The Unheard Southern Mountains' from Long May the Water Flow. More on that compilation here.7. Li Daiguo - '小精灵幼儿园放学' from 吥哔呢未来音:奇幻童年.8. Zhaoze - 'Stand in Wind' from No Answer Blowin' in the Wind. More on that album here.9. Ὁπλίτης - 'Ὁ τῶν τραυμάτων ἄγγελος' from Τρωθησομένη. More on Hoplites here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jake Newby and Knute Fosso, both seasoned paid media experts, dive into the whirlwind of the current advertising landscape. They discuss rising CPMs and the challenges posed by an election year, highlighting how competition affects ad prices. Innovative strategies, including AI in ad creative and platform diversification, are shared for optimizing campaigns. The duo emphasizes the importance of user engagement on platforms like Facebook and YouTube, while also offering insights into adapting to evolving ad policies and learning from successful marketing figures.

Jake Newby, author of the music newsletter Concrete Avalanche, joins to share his favorite tracks from China in 2024. He discusses the unique sounds emerging from the scene, blending genres like Afrobeat with traditional vibes. A standout is an electronic piece created in a Tibetan monastery featuring Buddhist chanting. Jake emphasizes how technology and social media are giving these artists a global platform, redefining modern Chinese music and its cultural influences. Dive into the eclectic mix that captures the vibrant essence of China's musical evolution!

Jake Newby, author of the music substack Concrete Avalanche, dives into the captivating world of Chinese shoegaze. He discusses the emotional resonance of newer acts like NarrowLaneAngel and their impact on the scene. The podcast explores the nostalgia and depth found in the music, spotlighting notable bands such as Forsaken Autumn and their classic, dubbed the 'Chinese Loveless'. Newby also highlights the unique blend of traditional elements and modern influences in contemporary tracks, inviting listeners to appreciate this evolving genre.

Jake Newby is the author of Concrete Avalanche, a free newsletter about music from China. Today, he's here to play you some of his favorite tracks from 2024 thus far — including everything from psychedelic rock to rare Uyghur folk, and from Beijing kawaii core to Tibetan Buddhist chants mixed with footwork.00:00:00 'Narcissus' Death' — Backspace (read more)00:05:38 '红喷泉' — Pepper Heart (read more)00:09:35 'Mail from the River' (live) — Wang Wen (read more)00:15:30 '她的力量来自海洋' — Yang Haisong & Wang Xiaofeng (read more)00:22:32 'Ollie' — 西红、CNdY (read more)00:26:43 'Lost in Bamboos' — Cola Ren (read more)00:30:38 'Southern Shanghai' — Voision Xi (read more)00:34:20 'Liquid' — Duck Fight Goose (read more)00:36:54 '玉林敬酒歌‘ — Run Run Run (read more)00:40:35 'Mountains in Yukashima' — Birdstriking (read more)00:45:38 'SonicBaby' — XIAOWANG (read more)00:48:25 'My Vagina' — Fakeorgasm (read more)00:50:25 'Mantra of Vajra Armour' — Howie Lee (read more)00:54:08 'Bash Bayawan Muqam' — Mekit Dolan Muqam Group (read more)00:59:13 'Μῆνιν ἄειδε, θεὰ παραμαινομένη ἐμοῦ...' — Ὁπλίτης (read more) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices