On their stay Billboard China Cover interview Sir Deer's team decided to hold three impromptu performances on campus in Henan Province. Bei Bei, the lead singer of Sir Deer, described these fleeting moments at campus concerts as always exciting for him. Over the past two years, Sir Deer has toured nearly 20 campuses.
In Bei Bei's view, every small incident has the potential to change the trajectory of one's life. The experiences of joining the music club and putting on shows during their university days set the wheels of fate in motion, sowing the seeds that would eventually blossom into the formation of the band. On this campus tour, Sir Deer also met many young people who shared their passion for music, just like in the past. Bei Bei believes that this performance will plant a seed of inspiration in the hearts of these students as well.
Similar to their shows in theaters and live houses, Sir Deer's campus concerts employ a full-scale touring production. For many students, this concert may not only mark their first live performance, but also their inaugural encounter with Sir Deer live. “The pressure of performing on campus is really huge as it could affect a student's life. So we also feel a growing sense of responsibility within us.”
Bei Bei hopes that Sir Deer's campus tour can introduce students to “another possibility”: “College entrance exams are like a mountain, and graduate studies are extremely difficult… but what prospects await on the other side of this peak ; Let music become a process that will help everyone solve their problems. Maybe the anxieties they're dealing with right now will fade away after an evening's performance. At least in the field of music, we want to reveal to students the greatest possibilities of life.”
Overcoming adversity, revealing oneself
In the last tumultuous two years of the pandemic, not only Sir Deer, but all of humanity has endured difficult times. In Bei Bei's view, this arduous period represented a form of “spiritual cultivation” unfolding both internally and externally.
At the beginning of the year, bassist Li Si wrote a heartfelt message on Weibo: “At this stage where both our bodies and souls need restoration, we must all walk hand in hand.” For Li Xi, Sir Deer's “team spirit” is the most important aspect in his life: “These bonds of friendship have helped me through an extremely difficult time and imbued me with the drive to progress and look forward.” .
Sir Deer's rhythm guitarist Yang Songlin is a quintessential “science and engineering guy.” Within this ensemble, where artistic and emotional sensibilities form the main creative axis, Yang candidly admits that his rationality serves as a tool to preserve everyone's childlike spirit: “I understand that my role in the group is to ensure stability of rhythm”.
In the digital age, a band can no longer simply perform songs, they must also actively explore social media efforts. As Sir Deer's guitarist, Dong Bin has contributed countless “firsts” for the band. Dong Bin's main profession is architectural design. “I'm full of excitement before the shows and when I go back to my workplace, my heart calms down. I cannot control the length of my life, but I can seize the breadth of my life.”
Keyboardist Bing Bing completed the female vocal overdub for a new composition of Sir Deer with her mother, which she considers a career highlight. “Being able to work with my closest family member to infuse emotion into the band's work, that emotional connection within the musical framework is an unforgettable life experience.”
Following drummer PP's maternity leave this year, several different drummers have successively joined Sir Deer's roster of guest musicians. As for Sir Deer's in-depth collaboration with Tencent Music Entertainment Group, it has imbued each band member with a renewed creative drive. These new collaborative ventures have imbued Sir Deer's future with a wealth of new, unexplored possibilities.
Sir Deer on the cover of Billboard China
Sanke Ren/Billboard China
The Tides of Time Flow Conward, Embracing a “Wilder” 10th Anniversary
The sands of time are constantly shifting, and Sir Deer's evolution reflects this restless evolution. Mastering the art of embracing change is a lesson Bei Bei has imparted on himself and the band: “The bottom line is that when you make certain decisions, you also have to accept the other aspects that come with them. If you have the courage to transform, there will be no problems.”
Founded on August 31, 2015, Sir Deer will soon celebrate its 10th anniversary next year. Going through these 10 years, there have been a myriad of triumphs and tribulations. How will the band members celebrate Sir Deer's ten year journey? Dong Bin states that there will undoubtedly be a commemorative performance: “I hope this retrospective concert can present our evolution and some reflections, providing a proper account of the 10th anniversary.”
This 10-year milestone will make Li Xi unable to resist the memory of the year Sir Deer was first created, 2015. At that time, all the members gathered at Bing Bing's residence for a meeting, discussing the title of their opening song, general creative direction, recording plans, rehearsal schedules. In Li Xi's memory, they have held countless such work meetings in the past 10 years, but in each one, everyone participated earnestly and diligently, never missing.
Regarding this year's plans, Bei Bei shared that they plan to release a collection that is “a little wilder” than the original Sir Deer: “We still harbor a lot of unrealized artistic ambitions, hoping to fly even faster and higher. Participating in the 31st College Film Student festival made me realize the importance of visual elements to music. I feel extremely honored that these 10 years with everyone were not in vain and I hope that the next decade of Sir Deer will be even wilder.”
Sir Deer on the cover of Billboard China
Sanke Ren/Billboard China
– This article was written by Jifan Wang for Billboard China
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/sir-deer-billboard-china-cover-story-10th-anniversary-1235709215/