Eric de Fontenay is a familiar figure to readers of the Beijinger. As the founder of the creative music agency MusicDish (独立小炒), he ranks among Beijing's most established music entrepreneurs, always brainstorming new ideas. Currently, he is gearing up to officially launch a project very soon. So, let’s explore the Five Ws and One H! Who? Refer to the previous mention. What? A new podcast called She Rocks, focusing on Chinese female musicians and industry professionals. When? This Saturday (Sep 13), from 7pm until late. Where? BieBox (别的盒子), a stylish café-pub located on the rooftop of The Box, a vibrant hub featuring eateries, shops, and bars catering to Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
I realize I haven't covered the "how" yet! Please bear with me, dear reader; I will address it in my interview with Eric. This Saturday's event will mark the fourth episode of the podcast, recorded live for the pleasure of the audience, who can enjoy a cocktail while engaging in a panel discussion with indie singer-songwriter Wang Yiling (王忆灵); pioneering musician Chen Nian, known by her stage name CASEE (陈念CASEE); and modular synthesizer artist TamiX. The panel will be in Chinese, but the subsequent live performance will be universally enjoyable.
Eric is a wellspring of stories. Every conversation with him gives the impression that he has lived numerous lives, perhaps he has, and that music has played a significant role in each. Eric de Fontenay, everyone.
Hi, Eric, how are you? You all have been quite busy lately, and now it’s time to see the results of your hard work. Please tell us about She Rocks, your new project.
Absolutely! The podcast began taking shape in my mind while I was reflecting on various aspects. I’ve dedicated my time in China to exploring what you could call the underground sound, an ongoing journey filled with immense talent. I’m referring to the stage aspect, but also the broader industry. Women play a vital role in that industry as well. All over, you’ll find female musicians and entrepreneurs who inspire and contribute so much. However, we don’t hear about them enough, which is quite disappointing to me. I thought we needed a platform for these women to express themselves. They deserve to have their voices amplified.
With She Rocks, we operate on a simple premise, or motto: Let’s see more and hear more from women in China’s indie music scene.
I can resonate with that. However, even though you've identified this need, you’re not keen on tagging the initiative with specific labels.
That’s correct. Honestly, I tend to navigate life on my own terms regarding many matters. I don’t want to label She Rocks as a this or that podcast. I just really dislike labels. There is an issue here; we can recognize it and be honest while responding with action. We should listen to these women, as well as listen to one another more in general, if that makes sense. Each of us carries a background, identity, or a mix of both, a story. We are not neat little boxes to be categorized. There’s so much depth to each of us, but sometimes we get caught up in discussions and apply fine print to our interactions. I believe that stifles spontaneity. Let’s just come together, listen to each other, and take action.
Putting word choice aside, I understand your point, and I appreciate the spirit of your message. How long was it from the time things started to form in your mind until you had something ready to launch?
About a year, I believe. Naturally, as the podcast evolves, we will assess its trajectory and fine-tune aspects as needed. What's interesting, and I’m circling back to your initial question, is that She Rocks actually stems from a prior initiative called Women in Rock (滚圈女子图鉴), which was launched in 2024. This was an in-person, long-form discussion format influenced partly by the podcasts of individuals like Lex Friedman and Joe Rogan—conversations lasting two to three hours, later distilled into written interviews. So far, Women in Rock has shared the stories of 12 female musicians and industry professionals: Xiao Yingzhu, Xiao Hang, bbf3, Guo Xiaohan, Shi Xiaofei, Cong Cong, Fang Ziwei, Yan Yuchen, Wang Yuchen, cotton, and two of the three women participating in Saturday’s event, Wang Yiling and CASEE. The music and career choices of these women exemplify independence and relentless courage in forging paths for themselves and others.
It's actually my team who suggested that these discussions would translate well into a podcast format. With that in mind, I recruited Beijing-based American music producer and audio engineer Daniel Finn to help turn it into a reality.
That sounds great.
A fresh initiative from one of Beijing's most enduring creative music agencies.