Transcript of interview with Haining (conducted by Amanda Lee), 9 October 2016, 10.30 am, Helen’s residence.
Haining is a 31-year old female Chinese national and is an accountant. Haining listens mainly to Chinese pop music and some classical music. Haining sometimes listens to English pop music on the radio and tunes into stations like Kiss 92 FM and 98.7 FM. She likes songs by Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars as she finds their songs to be happy and matching with her mood. Since moving to Singapore, Haining has found that she has more opportunities to listen to Western classical music. Haining finds classical music relaxing and a good escape from her daily life. She also attends live performances at the Botanic Gardens. Haining likes the musical The Phantom of the Opera (2013) as she finds the story interesting. She has seen Cats (1981). Haining likes Chinese pop music and enjoys listening to older artistes like Lee Zong Sheng, Stefanie Sun and Jay Chou. Their music is nostalgic to her as she listened to them while growing up. Haining feels that listening to Stefanie Sun’s music has made her feel closer to Singapore. Haining listens to traditional Chinese music sometimes and enjoys the sounds of the guzheng and guqin. She likes traditional Chinese music as it spurs her imagination. Haining liked the sample of Chinese crossover music. She thinks that it is good music as it is a mix of both traditional and pop music and that will allow more people to be receptive to it. Haining did not really like the sample of experimental Chinese music as she found it a bit noisy. She thinks that music sounds better when there are only one or two instruments playing. Haining does not think that any genre of music is important to her. She thinks that experimental music matters only if is able to do well and be accepted by more people in the future. Haining thinks Singaporean music is international as the artists and musicians can succeed in various markets (Eastern and Western). She has heard Home (1998) and thinks it is easy to sing and a good song. Haining thinks that Western classical, traditional Chinese and experimental Chinese music can all represent Singapore depending on one’s perspective. Haining also feels that all she can connect with all genres depending on the situation and the music as she is open-minded.
“I feel quite happy. Very relaxed and the, er, the – [the] melody is not too strong and not too soft that I can – it’s just to match to my – my – my. Ya, mood. Yes. I feel got pos[itive] – positive, er, feeling. Like [Bruno Mars’] Marry [You] (2010) is a – I can feel the love part, and the Taylor [Swift] sometime I can feel I become younger.”
“If I go to the Botanic Gardens, I listen to the very nice [Western] classic music, I see the view also nicer than if no music. Ya. And, er, sometime I hear the roman[tic] – the classic music, I want to dance to follow them. Then I feel very relaxing and feel good. Quite nice, ya.”
“This kind of [Western classical] music let me feel relax and, er, I can – I can follow the – I can follow the melody and my – my, er, I feel I – my mind can go outside from our daily life. I can go to another feeling like if the music is very romantic one, I also experience the romantic, er, period time – timing.”
“I think is a international thing. But the in Singapore I – I got more chance to hear [Western classical] music because like, er, Singapore – they got many public areas that try to play and let people learn more, um, to know more about classic music. But in China not so many chance to got like this – live – live – lively show, yes.”
“Mm, it’s a [musical] ... [The] Phantom of the Opera (2013)? Yes, I go to this show. And I go with my friend, also ask him to follow me. And I also know another one, is it Cats (2015)? Cats? Memory (1981)? Ah, this one very famous, I also like.
“Mm, Jay Chou. Um, Sun Xiong? You know Sun Yanzi, is a Singapore – Singapore? Ah, Stefanie Sun, yes – she is my [favorite] one also. I like the singer all quite old already. Er, um, mm, who ... Sorry ah, I think first. Jonathan Lee? Lee Zong Sheng? Ya, because quite old already.”
“Because this kind of music follow me – start from my young time. Yes. When I, er, when I study in middle school or high school, they just starting – start to be popular in China. At that time because all the people listen, I also listen.”
“Because last time in China, I like [Stefanie Sun] quite a lot. Now I come to Singapore, I feel I’m very close to her. I also feel Singapore not so, um, not – I feel I’m familiar with this country because I know this singer.”
“Mm, this kind of music [by guzheng and guqin], er, besides relaxing, ah? Mm, feng wei [literally, “flavor”] – atmosphere?”
“Then another – another dong [literally, “hole”] maybe? In the middle [of traditional Chinese music] they got – they got empty time. Ah, got space. This space give us very different feeling. Yes. China people they, er, they quite hanxu de [modest in expression]. They not show all the idea so openly to show everything to people. They will show portion, and some portion they just let you to [imagine].”
“Sometimes like the Gao Shan Liu Shui [High Mountain and Running River] you know, if you listen to the music you can feel like the raining – the river and the – the mountain, ya – such kind of feeling.”
“[Chinese crossover music] makes the Chinese music feeling more fashion and more close to now the – close to the pop now – popular music, pop music. And, er, also it got more chance to let the people to know the traditional Chinese in – instrument, ya.”
“Mm, actually I feel this, er, I’m not too like this kind of [experimental Chinese] music. Mm, because I feel traditional Chinese music if too – all these instrumental, too much mix together, a little bit – [noisy], noisy? Yes. Um, cannot show the ... this instrumental, sometimes they need to show separately themselves.”
“If like guzheng, guqing, or guzheng, xiao, these two they play together, I like very much. I don’t like too many mixed together [like experimental Chinese]. Ya. But if only two they are very Chinese style, then I like.”
“I think [the different musical genres] got different meaning, they are all quite meaningful to me. And also not too important to me, lah. Ya.”
“[Singapore music is] very international. Yes, yes. They can go many way. They can go the Western side, they can go the Eastern side, or they can do whatever they want because this – this place they got multiple language, also multiple national[ities]. They – they – ya, I think they got many chance.”
“Represent Singapore? [Western classical, traditional Chinese and experimental Chinese] can fit. Ya, ya, can. Because, er, Singapore they got different – you – you see from different point you can see the different. Cannot say is only one culture, or one – one way of playing music can represent Singapore. Ya.”
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