Funde, a covert action band： I won’t participate in Summer of the Band just to be famous.
Guitarist Fang De. Photography: Liu Killing Chicken
The covert ops band is performing.
All members of the band. Photography: Zhu Yunye
Fonder performed at the Wheat Field Music Festival.
The band performed live. Photography: Cai Ming
It was foggy and rainy in Chengdu in September. On a rainy day, electronic music with strong rhythm came from the fourth floor of an art workshop in the South Third Ring Road. In the dense air, the notes are vibrating and full of power. Here, the secret action of Chengdu local band is being rehearsed. They have been rehearsing for more than two months for the performance of six European countries in October. Inside the room, drum sets, bass, keyboards, guitars, stereos and other equipment are scattered, and the beating notes float in the air, slightly excitedly "telling" the shock just now.
The covert operation was first established in 2008 and was formally established in 2010. Compared with the band "mr. six", which has been in the army for 20 or 30 years, the secret operation composed of a group of post-90s is a young band. However, they are "young and mature", and their solid musical literacy and mature atmosphere beyond their age always bring incomparable shock and surprise to the audience.
At 4: 30 in the afternoon, with the last note falling, more than five hours of rehearsal officially ended. Most of the band members are not good at words. As a veteran guitarist, Fang De was interviewed by a cover journalist. "Want to record a video? Then I’ll put on my coat, so I feel more comfortable. "
one
The middle school affiliated to Chuanyin meets Zhiyin High School to set up a secret operation.
Fangde’s real name is Lin Hongyang. Because the first guitar was bought in Shanzhai, "fender" changed to "Fangde", and he simply teased himself and took "Fang De" as his stage name, which has been used ever since. The tender memory of that year has turned into a beautiful one. Looking back again, Fang De smiled. However, as a young man, he never thought of being accompanied by music. "I used to like football best." In the third year, Fang De suddenly found that his love for music was stronger than that of football.
Fond persuaded his parents to sign up for guitar lessons. "At that time, information was not as developed as it is now, and there was nothing on the Internet. At most, I just watched movies and listened to songs." In the video store next to the guitar class, CD-tapping and tape-tapping are popular, and the top products are those famous bands in Europe and America, Beatles, Guns and Roses, Linkin Park, Nirvana … … These old-fashioned hard rocks left a strong impression in Fang De’s youth.
At the age of 16, Fang De was admitted to the middle school attached to Sichuan Conservatory of Music. He was eager to learn and practice guitar skills. "In the second year of high school, because the school often holds performances, I can sign up for programs, and I began to want to do things." If it is just a simple guitar solo, of course, there is no advantage. "You have to be different from others and need a distinctive performance." As a result, several students, such as Fang De and lead singer lianna, began to attract each other. "They were automatically attracted by each other’s energy field and felt that they had the same rotten tastes, so they made a band that was not metal together."
This band is the embryonic form of covert operations. Like Fonder, the technical level of the lead singer, drummer and bass of the band is relatively average, which is even worse than that of a mature band. But young people, their newborn calves are not afraid of tigers. "Everyone grinds their skills while creating and grows up slowly together." At that time, the band didn’t have a separate rehearsal room, so they practiced in the school piano room. "The piano room is not big, and there is no room after putting the drum set. Guitar, bass and keyboard are all played in the corridor." Their rehearsal scene has also become a special scenery in the school.
2
The competition won a prize of 20,000 yuan, and all of it was invested as a rehearsal room.
Practice, rehearsal, stage performance, teenagers don’t know the taste of sorrow, and music has become the only interest of several young people. In the summer vacation after the second year of high school, covert action won the best band in the Southwest Division of the 2009 Asian Beat Asian Beat Band Competition. For the same dream, Fang De and lianna entered the same university: Sichuan Conservatory of Music. In college, I continue to shed the hormones of youth. At the beginning of 2011, the secret operation began to really emerge in the Midi National Campus Competition. Young people, with their amazing excellent technical performance and superb musical literacy, were highly recognized by professional music circles in a short time and became the stars of hope for the new generation of Chengdu rock.
Every competition, undercover can get a bonus, which is not much, but it is enough to buy some equipment for the band. "We rarely share these bonuses and invest in the band." Last semester of my freshman year, I won a prize of 20,000 yuan by taking part in the secret operation competition. After deducting the tax, I still have more than 10,000 yuan. If the money is divided among four people, it will be a lot of income for them who are just college students. But they decided to use the money as a rehearsal room. "We rented a pavement in the countryside behind Chuanyin, then renovated it and spent all that money."
Like most bands, the secret operation at the beginning of its establishment has experienced some hardships. For example, the rented pavement has no air conditioning, and after being renovated into a rehearsal room, the remaining money is only enough to buy a low-power air conditioner, so that the room is hot in Leng Xia in winter; If you want to promote the band, all the materials have to be DIY, and even you have to go to the factory to proof the CD on the day of the performance, paste the packaging, press the CD and paste the poster yourself; The first time I went on a national tour, I couldn’t afford a plane ticket, so I took the slowest and cheapest train, and even I had to be careful about eating, saving and then saving. "If you have money, everyone will invest in the band regardless."
In the rehearsal room of covert operation now, all kinds of equipment are valuable, which have been built up bit by bit over the years.
Because they understand that only with an independent rehearsal room can the band’s demo come out faster and faster, write more songs, perform more and more, and the income is increasing. "This is a virtuous circle."
three
Express yourself and be inclusive, and be a perfect band in cooperation.
Today, the covert operation consists of five musicians and VJ from France. To outsiders, the more members, the more differences. In covert operations, of course, such differences also exist. But because everyone has the same aesthetics and likes the same music, everyone can be compatible and then create together, thus producing a more wonderful chemical reaction.
Fang De believes that for a band, after having the general direction of "like-minded", it needs to be "inclusive". "Being a band can’t stick to yourself 100%. Sometimes you want to express yourself too much, of course you will quarrel. Moreover, in the end, you will also give up this work, because it is something you want to express privately, and it will not be good for a long time. " Fortunately, everyone’s music preferences in covert operations are basically the same. "Because we are 60% or 70% the same, he can recognize me, and I also recognize his concept. This recognition is not for compromise, but that we really appreciate each other. "
From high school to college, covert operations have experienced personnel changes, but their insistence on music has never changed. "I think, ‘ Unique ’ It’s very important. No matter what art, as long as it’s creative, no matter who invented or what music type, the more unique and obvious you are, the more irreplaceable you are. Irreplaceability means the only one, and that’s your value. Unique to another way of saying it is self-style, not so popular. "
After 2012, the covert operation began to abandon the past music styles of partial dance and pop rock, and to explore a depressed but powerful music that can integrate real musical instruments and electronic music. This change has made them lose their childishness in music. At the same time, the band’s application of various timbre and musical instrument skills, the completion of the band’s scene and the overall control ability often make many old bands envy and sigh.
four
Strength sent dark horses to concentrate on preparing for performances in six European countries.
In October, 2013, Secret Operation teamed up with Chengdu Bistro and NEWNOISE to launch its first physical EP "Strange Old-fashioned Entertainment", which included six tracks after the style transformation. In October of the same year, the band began its first national tour. Now, the Secret Operation is preparing to tour Europe in October this year. This time, they will be the tour guests of the old band NEW ORDER, and show the charm of China in six European countries.
Three months ago, when the news first came, the covert operation thought it was "just a dream that I dare not dream". Even after rehearsing for more than two months, they still tell themselves from time to time: don’t get carried away, keep in awe of the stage and make all preparations. "We used to like adventure. After new songs were written, they were often changed to different versions when they were sung on the spot, which was more experimental. But this time our European producers asked not to take risks. Therefore, the rehearsal now is mainly to take out the mature and confident works and improve them to make them higher than before. "
After more than 60 days and more than 400 hours, Fang De never felt that rehearsal was a boring thing. "This is a lifelong career. Being a band and doing art is our duty, and we can’t slack off. Because emotional and sensory things will be presented through music, this can’t be fake. For example, if you are lazy today, even if your technology is 100% correct, if the mood is wrong, the audience can hear it and feel wrong. "
This kind of repeated, intensive and high-intensity rehearsal is the secret action of their own requirements, and even the closer they get to the performance, the more they feel that time is pressing. Fang De summed up this "self-abuse" with "selfishness": "I think ‘ Selfishness ’ Very good, ‘ Selfishness ’ The power is great — — In your own private heart, you must realize it and realize your own private and great wishes. But in the group, ‘ Selfishness ’ It is a derogatory term. " Even if everyone says that he is good and no problem, Fang De will "selfishly" think about whether there is any problem with his music.
This "selfishness" of self-criticism and pursuit of perfection has caused the covert operation to kill many songs. "Just formed songs can make three or four albums, and some songs with ideas, melodies or lyrics, but not formed, are even more."
The music expression of covert operations is broad, ranging from the universe to insects. "Our music has the power of abstraction. I like the feeling of loneliness in the depths of the universe brought by science fiction best, so many of the things we convey are the ones that don’t want to be too specific and straightforward. This is one of the charms of electronic music. "
Because the songs of covert operations are mostly English songs, many people wonder whether they are trying to enter the international market. For this question, Fang De said with a smile: "No. It’s just that English songs sound softer. We haven’t found the best way to express Chinese, and writing Chinese songs really needs to be very good, because Chinese characters condense the wisdom of Chinese and the expression of lyrics is more complicated, which needs to be explored again. "
five
It’s too early for the band to go out of the circle and won’t participate in Summer of the Band.
"Summer of the Band" made many people see the band culture, and even many bands became famous and their value doubled. But covert operations do not intend to participate in such programs. "Now there are many bands to sign up for the second season. We discussed it and decided not to participate. Because the success we pursue is not just making money, we pursue the success of the band and the success of art. "
In Fang De’s view, after some bands became famous for variety shows, they received many commercial endorsements that did not meet their own positioning. "If you suddenly become famous, and then there are so many business things that can come to you, can you really stay the same? You are obviously a very cool and attitude band. You advertise whatever is thrown at you. Your attitude shows that you don’t respect yourself. "
After some bands became famous, Fang De went to see their live performances. "The scene has become a scenic spot in online celebrity. Whether it is a fan or not, just go in and listen to two songs, take photos, send a circle of friends and make a card. Then go out and say: ‘ It’s not bad to listen outside ’ . You finally made your dream performance, but more than half of the people below came to punch in. I must be crazy. "
In Fang De’s view, if you don’t develop in a certain way, you will eventually become someone you don’t want to be. "I think the biggest and scariest thing in life is that there is no way for you to be what you originally wanted to be. So now you should always put yourself in the future to look at it, and you must face yourself sincerely. " (cover journalist Xun Chao)