BLISS-ILLUSION: PURITY IN BLACK METAL

Ecco la mia prima intervista ad un gruppo cinese, il cui nome in mandarino è

虚极

Xu Ji, proveniente dalla capitale Beijing. Si tratta di una di quelle band che sublimano un po' i miei gusti musicali, che sono estremi: amo profondamente il black metal dalla sua nascita, tanto quanto amo la musica folk asiatica.
Il cantante dei Bliss-Illusion, Dryad, affronta molti spunti interessanti, lasciandoci scorgere un mondo affascinante ancora non accessibile a tutti. Il mio intento è di continuare ad approfondire la cultura musicale della Cina.
Questa intervista è disponibile anche in italiano sulla storica webzine Il Raglio del Mulo , che ringrazio.

(Il bellissimo logo dei Bliss-Illusion)

I ran into Bliss-Illusion’s first album Shinrabansho (2018, Infected Blood Rec./Totemisn Prod.) a while ago while researching the Chinese black/post-black metal scene. I found it quite engaging, being a sucker for traditional Asian melodies subtly woven into the fabric of western music. I particularly liked the use of the flute, an instrument associated with magic powers. The album was re-released last year by French label Anesthetize Productions, giving more exposure to the Beijing band outside the intriguing and still largely unknown Chinese music landscape. The label is about to release a beautiful limited edition wooden box-set!

It is the recent beautiful EP “Leave Abhassara Deva” which really has got my full-attention though: just under 16” long, the enchanting track marries uplifting post-BM to romantic, deeply spiritual lyrics, and comes with a delightful animated video to boot. (For Orders: http://bit.ly/2wrxGkd).

Intrigued, I set out to interview Bliss-Illusion’s charismatic frontman, Dryad.

***(L'intervista è disponibile anche in italiano sulla storica webzine Il Raglio del Mulo)

Hi Dryad, would you please give us an insight on Bliss-Illusion’s background, and name the bands that inspire you?

Hello, I’m honored to accept your interview. Bliss-Illusion (N.d.i.: The Chinese name is

虚极

Xu Ji) was founded in the spring of 2015. We are all good friends and have known each other for a long time. Guitarist Wang Xiao works in my rehearsal room. We all live in Beijing and everyone has their own job.

I personally love the black metal culture. For me, it has epic energy. Its spiritual and philosophical aspects deeply move me. I have always had strong feelings forwards Divinism and Romanticism since I was very young. There are many bands that influence me: Sigur Rós, Nocturnal Expression, Lifelover, Alcest, Sun Devoured Earth, Silence, Hypomaniae, Anadopin (China), Gorgoroth, Sopor Aeternus, Cult of Fire…

Having witnessed the long history of black metal, I still find its evolution totally engaging and I love to see how different countries and cultures have made it their own. I find Chinese BM (and its sub-genres) particularly interesting because it is (according to what I hear) still a small phenomenon, which means it should still possess a lot of energy and potential. Could you please comment?

I personally think that black metal is a foreign product in China, but it can be branded here smoothly. I think our ancients are great: they left us a lot of mysterious things. We are really lucky to show them in the form of black metal.

Are there many Chinese girls into extreme music, who attend concerts and play in bands? I am curious to know whether, after the 70-year-old reforms introduced by the People’s Republic, women in China still suffer from gender discrimination.

As far as I know, there are many girls playing in bands in China. That’s very nice. As for gender discrimination, there is very little. Now we have an equal society, and I personally support feminism. I respect women because us men are born of women, so they are really great. I love my wife and my mother.

Would it be fair to say that Beijing and Shanghai are the epicenters of Chinese metal? How many metal concerts / festivals are held each year?

The music atmosphere in Beijing and Shanghai is very good, but I personally think there are some differences. Beijing is more renown for its metal and rock music, while in Shanghai has a more varied scene, with indie rock, alternative rock and experimental music coming from there. As for music festivals, I think both cities are very successful. Now, though, there aren’t any music festivals in Beijing, I don’t know why.

Metal has been using an epic language and mythological/historical content for a long time (Bathory is a shining early example). This seems to be particularly true for Asian metal. In recent times the Chinese mainstream media and the traditional arts have joined hands too: folk music is embedded in pop songs, often used as soundtrack of popular TV and web series played by idols. What do you think this new trend?

Sorry, I never watch TV and seldom surf the internet. I think such things will never bring me real and beautiful things (my memory only stays on the TV programs from 1992 to 2003 hahaha). As for the young people of today, I think they have the right to choose. It’s their life.

(Live picture)

Traditional instruments and folk music have been used extensively in Asian metal for far longer than the new popular trends. I particularly loved the erhu version Leave·Abhassara - Deva by Laang. Bliss-Illusion currently use the flute on stage: are you planning to use more folk instruments in the future?

The erhu instrument you heard is performed by Laang, a band from Taiwan that rearranged our work. I don’t have any personal feelings about the erhu instrument, therefore I’m not going to bring it into my work. In fact I don’t have many plans regarding my future work, I just let it flow.

Black metal evokes very powerful spiritual emotions, explored through different philosophical approaches: what are the qualities which make this type of music perfect for conveying the spiritual message contained in the Buddhist/Taoist philosophies? Do you feel that the work you are doing with Bliss-Illusion concerns your own spiritual growth?

Black metal has really influenced me for many years, and I have great respect for those early black metal bands. I just hope that the black metal I have created has “light”. I have believed in supernatural theories since I was 9 years old. The reason for that is that I had a magical dream. In the dream, there was a kind old man who asked me to go to the North, where the end of time is. By surpassing this, I would get supreme wisdom and joy. Bliss-Illusion is just the state of my current life-phase. In the future, I believe I will have a long way to go. I just hope my work can bring peace and joy to people.

With the beautiful EP Leave·Abhassara - Deva, Bliss-Illusion seems to be sailing towards a calmer, more orderly dimension, compared to the turmoil of the first album, which does suggest a new personal path. Could you describe the synergy between your personal interest in Buddhism and the intimate process of writing music?

I wrote a novel about the dream I told you before, named The Kingdom of the North. The protagonists are Tassi and Uni, who are lovers. The novel tells the story between my wife and I in a parallel world. I real life, my wife is very kind. She has given me a lot of beautiful things. I always appreciate her. And the two of us share a common belief, so we are lucky. So the song Leave Abhassara Deva tells the story of Tassi, a minstrel, who lives in a town of moral corruption and hopelessness. One day when he is about to commit suicide by a lake, he meets Uni and they fall in love. Uni si not a mortal being though. She comes from a higher dimensional space. She imparts many teachings about universal wisdom to Tassi and takes him to a place called the North Country, which is her habitat. It is a place full of wisdom and joy. At the end of the story Uni goes to a higher dimension, where I think the world of Buddha is, while the northern kingdom is destroyed. When departing, Uni tells Tassi not to be sad, as they will meet again in a higher and better place. Finally, Tassi returns to the small town he came from, living a quiet life. The song Leave Abhassara Deva feels sad but, in fact, spiritually, the ending is perfect. As the name of my band, Bliss-Illusion, hints at, joy and happiness are finite in the natural world: we cannot stay in them forever. We need to go further and gain graceful wisdom from there. I have to say here that I have great respect for the Italian Saint Dante Alighieri: I believe he must have gone to a far and perfect place…

I enjoyed very much the animated video of Leave Abhassara Deva displaying beautiful Buddhist themes. I see a lot of this type of aesthetics in Chinese music videos that are unrelated to metal. Have Japanese anime contributed to the popularity of this type of visuals? Is the imagery hinting that Bliss-illusion will be moving away from the BM/post-black aesthetic to establish a broader identity of its own?

I seldom watch Japanese anime. My wife likes them very much and I think they are very popular. There are a lot of excellent anime which are very profound.

In the future, I believe my band will get rid of the shackles of post-black metal and try some experimental things. It’s hard to be more specific. I have always thought Sigur Rós is a really great band.

(Fan Art by Takam1: in Cina è una pratica molto popolare disegnare o costruire complicate immagini e dolls dei propri beniamini)

Zuriaake, one of the more established Chinese BM bands, have brought over to Europe some visually stunning shows featuring traditional costumes. Frankly speaking, we are (always have been) hungry for the beauty of Asian aesthetics and philosophies. Do you think Bliss-Illusion will remain involved in Buddhist rituals and aesthetics in the future?

Thank you very much for loving our culture. All cultures and religions in the world share come common ground. We have never been separated. 1 + 1 = 1, we are all one. There is no difference amongst us.

The theme that the band will create in the future will not completely stay with Buddhism but will involve a broader field, although I am not going to disclose any details for the time being.

What is the reaction of the metal fans coming to your concerts when they hear sutras being chanted, sang or shouted over extreme music? Do you perceive a transcendental type of reaction from the audience? Do you feel as if you are elevating yourself into a different dimension when performing in front of the public?

I don’t pay attention to people’s reaction when performing, I concentrate on my own state. When I perform, my aim is to fully enter another level of life, hopefully through a peaceful state of mind despite the noisy environment. Although my body is performing, my heart should always be in a peaceful space. There is no contradiction in saying so… but most of the time it ended in failure because I always give in to my eyes and ears.

When Buddhism arrived in China from India, the ancient Confucian doctrine had already been shaping every aspect of Chinese society for centuries. What do you think were the most attractive features of this new religion, which eventually spread across all of East Asia, and beyond?

I respect all the great religions on the world. Their essence is equal. But people’s hearts are not equal. This is just my personal point of view.

I am fascinated by the Beijing National Opera. It made me realize that Chinese and Italian culture have a lot in common, since it is also extremely sophisticated, elaborated, unashamedly theatrical and emotional. The first time I saw one of your live concerts on video, it struck me how open you are with your emotions on stage. Is this a characteristic of your personality, or are Chinese people less shy and reserved than we think?

Thank you again. I’m Gemini, haha… That’s all I can say.

(Immagine postata sui social dalla band di un meraviglioso altare buddista)

Foreign bands have been able to tour in China for quite some time. How difficult is it to do the reverse? Is it harder for a Chinese band to come and play in a western country than, say, to perform in other Asian countries?

I don’t think it’s easy for us to play abroad, but I really hope that in the future we can go and perform all over the world. I don’t know much about the Asian metal market, but I like Japanese bands very much. They do a great job!

I love wuxia and adore Asian cinema in general, yet recently I have discovered online really well-made Chinese drama-series (costume, fantasy, mythology) which I find extremely enjoyable. Are you a fan too?

Sorry, I’m not haha. My biggest hobby is collecting game consoles. I have all sorts: Atari, Saturn, Mega Drive, Dreamcast, Xbox, GBA, Super FC, NDS, NGC, N64, 3DS, Switch, Playstation 1,2,3,4, PSV, WonderSwan… hahaha

Allow me a question about your long hair: how common is it to see a guy with extremely long hair walking by in Beijing city center?

I like long hair very much. I think it’s very primitive and divine. Maybe it’s because I love elves so much. I belong to the kind of people who can stay at home for several months: I never pay attention yo the young people in China now, because I usually stay at home with my wife.

It feels nice to be part of a large community with no boundaries or prejudices. What is your message to those who will hopefully read this interview in countries far away from yours?

I really appreciate your time and enthusiasm to chat with me. I hope everyone can take good care of themselves and their families. I hope you can be healthy and safe. I hope our music can bring peace and ascension to you heart (although we are not good enough, we will try our best). Finally, I wish you and your family health and peace. Thank you.

https://bliss-illusion.bandcamp.com/

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