“China is definitely one of my priority countries. I’ve played here quite a few times. I think I’ve been around China three or four times always on great tours,” stated a Swiss artist.
by Martina Fuchs
SUZHOU, China, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) — As the second version of the Montreux Jazz Festival China is in full swing on the shores of Yangcheng Lake close to the Chinese metropolis of Suzhou, Swiss artists voiced their pleasure to carry out within the spirit of forging extra cultural exchanges between East and West.
From Sept. 27 to Oct. 2, throughout China’s “golden week” vacation, the Montreux Jazz Festival China has attracted a whole lot of music lovers from throughout China and musicians worldwide to the picturesque Yangcheng freshwater lake well-known for its bushy crabs.
“I’m super thrilled to be here and excited to play for the Chinese again,” stated in style Swiss singer-songwriter Bastian Baker, who rose to fame in 2011 along with his debut single “Lucky.”
“China is definitely one of my priority countries. I’ve played here quite a few times. I think I’ve been around China three or four times always on great tours,” stated the platinum-selling recording artist.
“Meeting the fans is what gives me the most happiness here in China. I really love it. There is such a great crowd,” Baker stated.
Jessiquoi, an Australian-Swiss producer, composer and performer celebrated for her distinctive fusion of digital music and rap, stated: “I’m feeling so excited because I’ve been dreaming of coming to China to play since I was a teenager. I’ve been here several times before, but this is the first time I can play as a musician.”
Swiss rock band Stevans, which opened for prestigious teams like Coldplay, Deep Purple and Snow Patrol, stated they had been excited to return to China following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We came in 2019 to play two tours, and we did a great collaboration with Chinese disco queen Rose Zhang Qiang. Here we are, back in China. We just love the culture, and there’s something special about Switzerland and China,” the duo stated.
Jessiquoi stated she hoped to push musical boundaries and captivate listeners in China and all over the world.
“As an artist, I’ve been drawing inspiration from Chinese culture for a long time. Cultural exchange enriches both sides. It has definitely enriched me as an artist and personally in my life,” she stated.
Baker, in the meantime, stated, “Music brings people together. There’s this great power that music has of skipping differences and just bringing everyone together, and I really appreciate that. I love that.”
“Where Legends Are Born” is the slogan of the world-famous Montreux Jazz Festival, created in Switzerland in 1967 by Claude Nobs and takes place for 2 weeks each summer season.
Since the top of the Seventies, the Montreux Jazz Festival has exported its savoir-faire, heritage and environment to numerous cities worldwide with editions in Sao Paulo, Detroit, Atlanta, Singapore, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro.
In 2021, the competition traveled to China for the primary time to the jap metropolis of Hangzhou beneath the theme “Where East Meets West.”