Dichotomous

Tell us a bit about yourself!
I’m a music teacher, and I teach guzheng and percussions in schools. I’ve been playing the guzheng since I was 12, so it’s been around 15 years. For percussions, I’ve been playing for about eight years.

Wow, that’s a long time! Was this always your passion, or was it something that your parents encouraged you to pick up?
Initially, my mum wanted me to play both the piano and guzheng, but eventually she had me decide between the two. I chose guzheng, and the rest is history!

Having played the guzheng for practically half your life now, what would you say your relationship with the instrument is like?
Well, I actually stopped playing the guzheng for a long time because I discovered the bass, which is my new favourite instrument to play (laughs), so now I’m prioritising the bass.

Cool! are there any big differences in both instruments? Given that they’re both string instruments.
I think it’s quite similar, as I use my fingers to play them both.

We understand you also study music at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Is there a reason you why you chose to pursue music academically as well, on top of teaching?
It’s because I like music, so I wanted to put my focus on it and learn more about it.

On that note, what artists are you listening to right now?
Currently, I’m really into Drain Gang (laughs) — Ecco2k, Yung Lean, and Bladee! But my favourite is still rock music, and my favourite band is Omnipotent Youth Society from China. They performed in Singapore last year!

Wow, that’s very different from guzheng! Do you listen to traditional Chinese music as well, and if so, how did your taste in music transition to what it is today?
Yes, I used to listen to more traditional Chinese music, but I got into heavier music through a friend. I actually want to form a rock or experimental music band, but it’s hard to find people who are doing the same thing or who are into the same type of music.