DecemberDec 2 Wednesday 09
Brainstorming my next project with a bottle of wine and At the Drive-In.
updated Dec 2, 2009 via Twitter
DecemberDec 1 Tuesday 09
Editing a book is a lot harder than I thought. But it will soon be over. 26 days and counting. :)
updated Dec 1, 2009 via Twitter
Growing Up With Shanghai- Jian Guo Xi Lu | Bivouac Recording. ∞
Recorded September 8, 2009 13:48. This walk was a real treat and I really recommend following it if you ever are in Shanghai. As usual I only had a general idea of the route but little did I know that it would lead into the hidden passageways and give a glimpse of the old, quiet Nong Tangs of Shanghai rarely seen without a local resident guide. During one of our later conversations, it was interesting to learn that his elementary, junior, and high school have all been demolished- how fascinating that part of one’s childhood is erased so quickly.
Growing Up With Shanghai- Century Avenue | Bivouac Recording. ∞
Recorded September 7, 2009. Welcome to the future. Across the river in Pudong is the traditional metropolis that we are used to seeing in modern cities around the world. Even with the final tower not built yet, the current skyline still awes visitors. Century avenue is the main corridor going from Lu Jia Zui to Century Park. The scale is completely different on this side of the river, with wide roads and very tall buildings, one can finally spread out kick back relax.
Growing Up With Shanghai- Nan Jing Lu | Bivouac Recording. ∞
Recorded September 5, 2009. Here is a road that needs no introduction. The main street of Shanghai has gone tremendous change over the past century and what you see now is just the beginning of it. Connecting Wai Tan (The Bund) to People’s park and beyond, Nanjing Lu is a tourist trap of high-end and local shops mixed in with eateries and hotels. Underneath the neon lights and ornate facades, the stories are endless. Some may not be as pleasant as others but all contribute to the character of the city. Bobby has lived in this area since he was born and he still lives in the area today. his stories are filled with local knowledge that every Shanghai knows as well as some obscure stories only told by our elders.
Growing Up With Shanghai- Chang Shou Lu | Bivouac Recording. ∞
Recorded August 21, 2009. Changshou Lu is an amazing road. Amidst tall high-rises, a busy and wide road cuts through it. Its hard to imagine that about 20 years ago, a steel factory was where the Carrefour was, Suzhou Creek was black, and the 3 or 4 story houses of the Nong Tangs were the only high-rises you would ever see. Soup recalls an ocean of bicycles and great times. His youth spent at late night study sessions, schoolyard brawls, family dinners at the local noodle shop, and the occasional fire-crackers-in-the-coal-furnace gag. His adventures are almost unbelievable as there are very few places left that could even prove his stories true. Blow the dust off your imagination for this one.
Growing Up With Shanghai- Feng Jing | Bivouac Recording. ∞
Recorded August 2, 2009. After almost three hours of getting lost, I finally meet Lemon, her sister, and her boyfriend Jason at Feng Jing town which is actually about one hour of Shanghai. Feng Jing is another ancient water town right on the Shanghai-Zhe Jiang border and its history dates back several centuries.
Growing Up With Shanghai- An Yuan Lu | Bivouac Recording. ∞
Recorded August 1, 2009. This walk starts down Jiang Ning Lu and finally begins at An Yuan Lu toward the middle of the track. This part of Shanghai has seen quite a bit of change and is now quite modern. Nearby is M50 on Moganshan Lu and there are quite a bit of galleries scattered about the area. Like a jewel in the rough, this ‘Nong Tang’, which is a term to describe the old residential alleyways in Shanghai, still preserves the simple life that was so abundant before and gives an intimate view into the lives of local Shanghainese. Echo grew up here mostly in the care of her Grandmother and still has family and family friends in the area. As we walk into the Nong Tang, the places that she describes are still there and the smell freshly cooked dinner fills the air.
Growing Up With Shanghai- Hua Ting Lu | Bivouac Recording. ∞
Recorded July 12, 2009. Hua Ting Lu is the birthplace of the Xiang Yang Lu market which is now located at the Science and Technology Center subway station. Nowadays it is a very quiet street connecting Changle Lu and Huai Hai Lu. Some clothing stores and restaurants remain as the only indication of its ancestry. But along this road Pei Hua shares an intimate memory of her past love. Their first meeting was at the KFC at the end of the road which is still there. The table where they sat was occupied when we arrived so we sat at the table behind. Softly she spoke of her feelings about a man whom she met by chance. At that moment, who would have known what the future would hold for them? The late night conversations, that memorable night after KTV, the break-up, the make-up, and this soundwalk.
Growing Up With Shanghai- Xin Hua Lu | Bivouac Recording. ∞
Recorded July 7, 2009. Xin Hua Lu is a picturesque road similar to many in the French Concession area of Shanghai. Lined on both sides with Parasol trees and vintage mansions of old Shanghai one can easily mistake this to be anywhere in the world. Samantha has lived along this road her entire life. In fact, many of her relatives still live in this area and is an indication of how important family is to her. Her memories are filled with her family and her time spent with her Grandfather, jumping across flower terraces, bakery discount bread-runs, and her precarious playground adventures resulting in a daring rescue. Xin Hua Lu is truly a part of her life and her family.
Growing Up With Shanghai- Qiu Jiang Lu- Bivouac Recording. | Bivouac Recording. ∞
Recorded July 5, 2009 1:17pm. Qiu Jiang Lu is a street in Shanghai where you can buy all sorts of used and new electronics equipment. From stereos, cell phones, computers, and porn- anything and everything is for sale. Duscher used to frequent this area quite a bit when he was young to buy ‘punched’ CDs and I.T. related electronics. Although he does not frequent this area as much today, the street has not changed much from what he remembers, save the construction of a new elevated light rail system as well as an elevated highway. He even meets a friend that he used to buy CDs from during our walk.
Growing Up With Shanghai- Xu Jia Hui- Bivouac Recording. | Bivouac Recording. ∞
Recorded July 3, 2009 10:00 am. When I first started this project, I didn’t know where it would lead or what people I would meet. This first walk is of a Shanghainese friend, Maggie, who was interested in my project. The concept was simple- walk in a place that you have fond memories of and talk about it. What I did know was that this was not going to be another ‘audio tour’. It was supposed to be more like an ‘audio diary’.
Growing Up With Shanghai | Bivouac Recording. ∞
“Growing Up With Shanghai” is our latest completed project and our newest release. “Growing Up With Shanghai” is a series of soundwalks of young Shanghainese that were born and raised during the rapid modernization of their city in the 80s and 90s. These recordings not only capture their most intimate memories of the locations where they grew up but also give a snap shot of Shanghai as it sounds like now. All dialog is in Shanghainese or their local dialect.
Growing Up With Shanghai- Hua Ting Lu | Bivouac Recording. ∞
Recorded July 12, 2009. Hua Ting Lu is the birthplace of the Xiang Yang Lu market which is now located at the Science and Technology Center subway station. Nowadays it is a very quiet street connecting Changle Lu and Huai Hai Lu. Some clothing stores and restaurants remain as the only indication of its ancestry. But along this road Pei Hua shares an intimate memory of her past love. Their first meeting was at the KFC at the end of the road which is still there. The table where they sat was occupied when we arrived so we sat at the table behind. Softly she spoke of her feelings about a man whom she met by chance. At that moment, who would have known what the future would hold for them? The late night conversations, that memorable night after KTV, the break-up, the make-up, and this soundwalk.
NovemberNov 19 Thursday 09
Growing Up With Shanghai- Feng Jing. http://www.kontain.com/bivouacrecording/entries/55614
updated Nov 19, 2009 via Twitter
Growing Up With Shanghai | Bivouac Recording. ∞
“Growing Up With Shanghai” is our latest completed project and our newest release. “Growing Up With Shanghai” is a series of soundwalks of young Shanghainese that were born and raised during the rapid modernization of their city in the 80s and 90s. These recordings not only capture their most intimate memories of the locations where they grew up but also give a snap shot of Shanghai as it sounds like now. All dialog is in Shanghainese or their local dialect.
Growing Up With Shanghai- Xu Jia Hui | Bivouac Recording. ∞
Recorded July 3, 2009 10:00 am. When I first started this project, I didn’t know where it would lead or what people I would meet. This first walk is of a Shanghainese friend, Maggie, who was interested in my project. The concept was simple- walk in a place that you have fond memories of and talk about it. What I did know was that this was not going to be another ‘audio tour’. It was supposed to be more like an ‘audio diary’.
Growing Up With Shanghai- Qiu Jiang Lu | Bivouac Recording. ∞
Recorded July 5, 2009 1:17pm. Qiu Jiang Lu is a street in Shanghai where you can buy all sorts of used and new electronics equipment. From stereos, cell phones, computers, and porn- anything and everything is for sale. Duscher used to frequent this area quite a bit when he was young to buy ‘punched’ CDs and I.T. related electronics. Although he does not frequent this area as much today, the street has not changed much from what he remembers, save the construction of a new elevated light rail system as well as an elevated highway. He even meets a friend that he used to buy CDs from during our walk.
Growing Up With Shanghai- Xin Hua Lu | Bivouac Recording. ∞
Recorded July 7, 2009. Xin Hua Lu is a picturesque road similar to many in the French Concession area of Shanghai. Lined on both sides with Parasol trees and vintage mansions of old Shanghai one can easily mistake this to be anywhere in the world. Samantha has lived along this road her entire life. In fact, many of her relatives still live in this area and is an indication of how important family is to her. Her memories are filled with her family and her time spent with her Grandfather, jumping across flower terraces, bakery discount bread-runs, and her precarious playground adventures resulting in a daring rescue. Xin Hua Lu is truly a part of her life and her family.