Orchestra of Spheres are about to find themselves a long way from home. Originally from Wellington, New Zealand, the Spheres’ are set to tour China for the first time, with special guest Lady Lazer Light, from September 29 to October 11. Their first two shows are in Beijing at School Bar (Sep 29) and Temple Bar (Sep 30).
The trippy, dance, jazz-inspired four-piece band are touted as one of the most exciting and unpredictable live acts in New Zealand. Going on band member names alone – Baba Rossa (vocals, biscuit tin guitar), Mos locos (synth, vocals), EtonalE (bass carillon, vocals), and Woild Boin (drums) – you can expect a funking good show.
The Sphere’s out-of-this-world sound is big and all-inclusive, with self-professed influences spanning free improv, South Pacific demolition, orgasmic brain wave and primary school disco. If it sounds quirky, it’s because it is. But the beats and rhythms are massive with home made instruments featuring heavily.
Don’t take our word for it – critics have described their sound as psychedelic disco and ancient future funk, comparing the band to artists as diverse as Sun Ra, Can, and Fela Kuti.
As well as playing house parties and opera houses on the regular, the band have also toured Europe, garnering high praise and an international cult-like following.
We spoke to Baba Rossa (a.k.a. Dan) over a shaky Skype connection from a Beijing apartment to a Wellington café to find out more about Orchestra of Spheres upcoming China tour.
Is this Orchestra of Spheres' first time playing in China?
Yeah, it is. I’ve actually been to China a few times but mostly just travelling around. I’ve been to Xinjiang, and took a trip from Yunnan through Chengdu. I totally enjoyed it; I really love it there.
From NZ to China… how did the band’s China tour come about?
In the past, the opportunity never came about or I didn’t know how to do it but Kristen (from Kiwese blog) emailed me, it was only about six weeks ago, and said she was putting on a festival and asked if we wanted to play. I was definitely down.
Did you get the chance to check out any local music during your past travels in China?
I saw heaps of music down in Guizhou when I was there for a month – traditional music – but I never went to any of the rock clubs, so hopefully this time I can catch some live shows.
How would you describe Orchestra of Spheres to the uninitiated?
Essentially it’s dance music, it’s groove, big heavy music. That’s the starting point, and then there are different layers, a whole psychedelic world which is synth based and quit sonic. It’s about the sound rather than the words.
We also make quite a few of our own instruments, which lend itself to a particular type of music.
I’ve read about the sexomouse marimba…
Yeah, it’s quite chunky but hopefully we’ll have enough room to bring it. We also have a biscuit-tin guitar, which is a 3-string guitar. EtonalE plays an electric bass carillon, which is pedals from a home organ, and meant to be played with your feet, but she plays it with her hands. It’s called a carillon because a carillon is a bell tower, and the instrument that makes the bells go is a carillon – the way you play it is similar, with the back of your fists. She’s [EtonalE] a super funky bass player. Also, Mos locos plays the theremin as well as synth – you play this by holding your hands in a magnetic field, and depending on where you hold your hands you can control the pitch or dynamic.
Sounds very cool. What are some of the Spheres’ musical influences?
We have so many… Krautrock German artists like Can, Amon Duul, and Faust. We also really like lots of music that’s coming out of Angola and different parts of Africa. Like – Shangaan Electro (South African dance music), Group Inerane (Niger guitar band), and Aby Ngana Diop (Senegal singer). We like rhythmically heavy music and soaking up the different flavors of music.
It would be interesting to hear more Chinese bands but, from what I’ve heard so far, I like Iz / Mamer. Deadly Cradle Death, and South Acid Mimi Dance Team.
Apart from the DIY aspect of the instruments – are there any other New Zealand influences in your music?
Completely. It doesn’t really fit into what people would consider New Zealand music in the way that a Dunedin-sound would, like The Chills, which is a very recognizable New Zealand sound, whereas our music doesn’t really follow that. But especially in Wellington, we have our own musical traditions. I listen to a lot of free jazz, avant-garde experimental, and European improvising music. In New Zealand you’re quite isolated from the rest of the world, so when you hear music, you take some parts of it that you like and try to turn it into your own. It’s a bit of a kiwi thing.
Where did the name Orchestra of Spheres originate?
Well, there’s Thelonious Sphere Monk (legendary American jazz pianist and composer) and I guess it also refers to celestial spheres, planets, physics, which dictate that celestial objects become spheres because of gravity. It’s a primal object. Plus there’s a belief – not that I necessarily agree – that human beings have a spherical aura. So basically everyone is a sphere, and the world is a population – an orchestra – of different spheres that are moving and coming into contact with each other. Our Chinese name is Xingjiyuetuan (星迹乐团), which translates to ‘Star Orbit Orchestra’
And what can your Chinese audiences expect at your gigs?
We’re going to put on an energetic show with ecstatic dance music. We’ll change it up depending on the night. Lady Lazer Light [also from Wellington], who is collaborating with us while we’re performing, also has cool psychedelic visual art projections. We’re all really excited to play for new audiences over there.
> Tue Sep 29; 9.30pm; RMB60; School Bar (opening act Baxian Fandian 八仙饭店); Wed Sep 30; 9.30pm; free; Temple Bar (opening act Death Narcissist)
> We're giving away a pair of tickets on WeChat. For your chance to win, add Thats_Beijing or scan the QR code below and wait/search for our competition post.
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