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Dusk Saffron's Debut Tour in China Makes a Stop in Beijing

Dusk Saffron's Debut Tour in China Makes a Stop in Beijing

      Greetings from Berlin with love, dear reader. David Carey, known for his work with everlasting nugget records, moved to Germany a year and a half ago. Luckily for us, his musical journey has given us the joy of an encore performance not once, but twice. Now, we are set for a third, promising to be a charm with Dusk Saffron, David's latest project that he describes as “shoegaze extraordinaire.” It's quite an impressive start for a band about to kick off their first-ever tour, and it’s happening in China, of all places. Their first stop is, naturally, Beijing, on Saturday, October 11, at DDC. After all, there's a saying: You can take the man out of Beijing, but you can't take Beijing out of the man.

      I have a deep appreciation for David's unwavering commitment to his creative ambitions over the years. His significant relocation back to Europe was not without its share of inner conflict, as life is constantly evolving and plans seldom unfold as anticipated. However, time and again, David immerses himself in music, and in return, music opens new doors for him. Make sure you grab your ticket for this Saturday; it’s a great opportunity to shake off those post-holiday blues. I plan to be there, and I wanted to take a moment to chat with Dave before he heads to the stage. Here’s our conversation.

      Hi, Dave, welcome back home. I assume Beijing still feels like home to you, right?

      It truly does ... in a way that I think will never be duplicated anywhere else. Just yesterday, I was strolling down Andingmennei Dajie, soaking in the sights, sounds, and smells, and it just felt RIGHT, you know? This place will always be my hometown because I have become who I am through living here, making music, starting a bar, and even adopting a small, chubby pug that brings so much joy to my life, haha.

      Awww. Let’s keep the emotions in check, or we might have to bring you back here for real. Tell us more about Dusk Saffron. I'm really interested in this new project. Who are the members performing with you? What’s your tour agenda in China?

      We come from diverse backgrounds, that’s for sure. Besides your beloved Irishman (that would be me, in case anyone is unsure), I have Lucy Francesca Dron from Australia on vocals and guitar, along with two Russians, Arsenii Zinukov on bass and Konstantin Raidugin on drums. We’re the slickest shoegazers right out of Berlin. The city has a distinct vibe that encourages complete strangers from varied backgrounds to randomly meet and collaborate on something fresh. Our first-ever tour is indeed in China, with six shows starting this Saturday at DDC. It’s always a delight to perform at that venue. After Beijing, we'll head to Wuhan, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and finally Hong Kong. It's truly thrilling!

      It really is, and the schedule is packed. I’m sure it will be a busy and enjoyable time. Can you share more about how this all began?

      I've always wanted to return to China to perform, but my former band Nocturnes曳取 was less active, so I wasn’t sure how to make it happen. Then, I got lucky when the Xian post-punk band Fazi visited Germany earlier this year. They needed a local contact to help book shows in Berlin and Cologne, and in exchange for my assistance, we got to perform alongside them and eventually met a promoter who helped us arrange this tour! There were countless ways it could have gone wrong, and I never thought it would actually come together until we arrived in China a few days ago. I've had this huge smile ever since!

      Before the official tour launch, you released “A Little Death,” the last track from your EP, which shares the same name. The title feels very intentional.

      It absolutely is. This is quite a lengthy and complicated story, but to summarize, this EP reflects a challenging period that eventually led to my previous band’s breakup. I was assaulted – completely unprovoked – by the drummer, and this unfortunate incident raised many questions for me. Why did this happen to me? I try to put goodness into the world; so why did I experience this, and how should I react? How do I counter this violence and ugliness? I never want to become hardened to the point of being violent or brutish, like this person was to me. So, I took time for reflection to rediscover my strength and regain my voice.

      Now, “a little death” is a metaphor that hints at that moment after intimacy when one is meant to regain clarity. I think I captured that physicality in those words to express the newfound clarity with which I perceived my assaulter and others involved in the situation

Dusk Saffron's Debut Tour in China Makes a Stop in Beijing Dusk Saffron's Debut Tour in China Makes a Stop in Beijing Dusk Saffron's Debut Tour in China Makes a Stop in Beijing Dusk Saffron's Debut Tour in China Makes a Stop in Beijing Dusk Saffron's Debut Tour in China Makes a Stop in Beijing

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Dusk Saffron's Debut Tour in China Makes a Stop in Beijing

David Carey has returned to town with his latest ensemble, and we all benefit from it.