Band blends pottery and tea in musical fusion

In 2012, the duo decided to launch a live venue — one of the first of its kind in Jingdezhen — and began writing and releasing music. The venue quickly became a hub for music lovers and indie bands from around China, including singer-songwriter Zhao Lei, and rock band Miserable Faith.

Though the live venue closed in 2023, the band continued to perform.

"Deng has always had a passion for theater, wanting to bring the story to life on stage with sets and props," says 50-year-old Zhang, who was also born in Jingdezhen and earned a mechanical design degree from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

From their full-length album Water Wharf (2017) to subsequent releases like Yu Nan (2020) and Neverland (2022), The Band from Jingdezhen blends post-rock, folk, Chinese literature, mythology, and modern fables into their music. At the same time, their live performances incorporate experimental theatrical elements in a fusion of music and drama.

"The city's culture is deeply rooted, thriving in the tranquillity of its mountains and rivers. As Jingdizhen natives, we want to create music that reflects this culture in a different way," Zhang says.