At the Beijinger, we are always thrilled to highlight the activities of local artists. Today, we're focusing on the new project from Poetry x Music. Established in 2018 by poet Anthony Tao and classical guitarist and composer Liane Halton, Poetry x Music is an innovative collaboration that seeks to merge poetry and music, stretching both forms beyond their conventional limits.
Their latest endeavor, All of Those Times, marks their third full album, following Here to Stay (2020) and The Last Tribe on Earth (2019). Like their earlier works, All of Those Times intertwines Tao's poetry with Halton's original compositions, creating a profoundly emotional anthology. The project explores the entire arc of a relationship and was influenced by the intensity of the Covid years, navigating the full array of human emotions while balancing dramatic tension with quieter moments of reflection and beauty.
Recently performed at the 2025 Macau Literary Festival, All of Those Times has now been launched as both an album and a physical book featuring artwork by Norwegian artist Johanna Søvik. We spoke with Tao and Halton about their collaboration, experimentation, and the narratives behind the project.
First, why did you choose to release All of Those Times as both a physical book and an album? Halton: We discussed this extensively, considering practicalities since CDs are less commonly used now and many likely don’t have a tape player. At one point, we even thought about releasing it on a USB. Ultimately, we decided on a book with a QR code for music downloads. This format certainly complements poetry better, and the QR code provides easy access to the music.
Tao: We also wanted to highlight the artwork of our friend Johanna Søvik, a Norwegian mixed media and digital artist based in Beijing. We have always appreciated the energy in her paintings, which seem to tell stories of their own. She generously allowed us to use her artwork, which we also integrated into our album video. [You can view the English version on YouTube or the Chinese version on Bilibili.]
Were these poems initially written with the goal of being performed by Poetry x Music, or did that concept emerge later? Halton: Anthony had some of these poems drafted beforehand, while others were developed during our collaboration with the music. The process often begins with Anthony and me brainstorming, reviewing a lot of his material until we identify pieces that inspire further exploration and development.
The opening track, "There Was a Time," was the last piece we worked on; its current form and meaning only emerged as we connected the elements. Through this, our full artistic intention became clear during the collaborative creation process that involved both poems and music.
Tao: "The Other Side" was notable because it was created purely through collaboration—the poem and music emerged simultaneously, both crafted in Kangding [in western Sichuan]. Music profoundly influences poems, as it has structure that requires consideration of how words fit within; not necessarily constraints, but rather a framework that creates natural feedback loops, effectively resonating with themes of time and memory.
Why was it significant to produce a Chinese version of the book and album alongside the English version? Halton: This work is deeply tied to China, its stories, and the contexts in which it was created. Translating it allows us to share these narratives and reach larger audiences.
Tao: Liane and I have been collaborating since 2017, and from the start, we aimed to keep pushing the boundaries of this poetry and music experiment until we reach its limits. This is our latest effort to challenge ourselves and perhaps redefine what we can accomplish.
All of Those Times examines the full cycle of relationships alongside broader themes of human experience and "fully lived lives." You mention the idiom 喜怒哀樂 xǐ-nù-āi-lè (happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy). Why did you focus on these themes for the project, and what resonates with you about this idiom? Halton: This work was crafted during the uncertainty of Covid, where human relationships and the spectrum of experiences were under heightened focus. In a way, we were channeling and processing this, understanding that being human means confronting this spectrum and using art to share these common experiences.
Tao: This album is inspired by many lived experiences, with its final form distilling the full range of emotional reactions to those times. The music particularly impresses me in this regard, capturing everything from desperation and fury to longing while also being able to settle into moments of reflection, understanding, and forgiveness.
How did your collaboration influence the final product? Tao: Liane is exceptional. Besides being an unparalleled guitarist, she is an extraordinary composer—listeners will notice that. However, listen closely to catch the nuances, the inexpressible conveyed through the notes and phrases. We were also fortunate to have Ryan Etzcorn, Shawn Moore, and Stanley Moore contribute their talents on drums, violin, and cello to this album.
Halton
We spoke with the Poetry x Music duo Anthony Tao and Liane Halton to discover more about their recent project.
We spoke with the Poetry x Music duo, Anthony Tao and Liane Halton, to find out more about their newest project.
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Beijing is an exciting city! Stay updated with our weekend summary of the most recent news.
We spoke with the Poetry x Music duo Anthony Tao and Liane Halton to find out more about their newest project.