Sui Zhen: Sleepless at SXSW (Spotlight On : 193)

The innovative Chinese-Malaysian-Australian artist discusses her role in confronting SXSW's controversies, tackling motherhood on tour, and her ambitious new song, "Sleepless."
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The Spotlight shines On Chinese-Malaysian Australian artist, musician, and creative producer Sui Zhen.
This is the first of two episodes I recorded on-site, in my hotel room/recording studio, at the SXSW Conference and Festival in Austin, Texas.
This year’s edition of South By Southwest has been the subject of much controversy related to the event’s work with the US Army and several weapons manufacturers as sponsors for various programming segments throughout, and the reactions - including withdrawals from and boycotts of the event - by several artists.
Sui Zhen spoke in both personal and general ways about the different options available to different artists. Who do the protests help and harm? And how, as an artist visiting through a government arts program on a specific visa, she had binding commitments tied to her ability to travel to the festival, and how not honoring those commitments might impact her in very immediate financial ways, jeopardize future grant opportunities or even lead to the denial of necessary travel documents. In addition, there is a case for artists to use South By’s own platform as a forum for artists to stay engaged and present their points of view.
This was not why Sui Zhen joined us. We got together to talk about her compelling new work, the 13-minute piece “Sleepless.” To quote from the artist’s website, “Sleepless” is “a song about grief and persevering through it… first conceived in 2018 as a stream-of-consciousness response to her mother’s passing. The catharsis of musical improvisation served as a refuge, a way to navigate the fog of sleepless nights and immense pain. Since then, the track has evolved gradually, transforming through reiteration and further losses - particularly the tragic death of her newborn son in 2021..the piece stretches out like a horizon, more a landscape than a song, mirroring the way grief warps our perception of time. Influences like Sheila Chandra’s ‘Out on My Own’, Can’s ‘Tago Mago’ and Durutti Column’s ‘Fidelity’ have made their presence felt in the recording. Spoken word incantations and melodic hooks weave into pulsing synths, distortion, and a mix of live and electronic percussion embracing Sui Zhen’s signature raw emotion and vulnerability.”
Yes. That’s it, exactly.
We did get to discuss her work, though not to the extent of my pre-show notes. In the end, I think we both agreed that we had the conversation that needed to be had and found the type of connection these in-person events are so great for. We spent another couple of hours talking off-mic, and perhaps we will find a way to have more conversations in the future.
Please enjoy this conversation, have multiple listens to “Sleepless”, and check in with the show notes for links to more information, including to Sui Zhen’s statement about her decision to remain engaged with SXSW.
(all musical excerpts heard in the interview are taken from Sui Zhen's latest single, "Sleepless")
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00:00 Welcome to Spotlight On: Bonus Tracks and Introduction
00:27 Spotlight on Sui Zhen: An Artist's Journey and Controversy at South by Southwest
02:00 Exploring the Depths of Grief Through Music: Sui Zhen's 'Sleepless'
03:58 The Ethical Dilemmas and Artist Struggles at South by Southwest
05:52 Navigating the Complexities of Art, Politics, and Personal Loss
14:46 The Challenge of Ethical Choices in the Music and Arts Industry
22:54 Family, Artistry, and the Quest for Authenticity at South by Southwest
26:56 The Artist's Perspective on Touring, Family, and Community Engagement
29:14 The Grateful Dead's Touring Life: A Reflection
29:56 Rethinking Music and Art in the Age of Monopolies
30:42 Sustainable Touring: A New Approach for Artists
31:06 The Environmental and Personal Costs of Touring
31:38 Learning from Indigenous Cultures: Sustainability in Life and Art
32:07 Spotlight On: The Intersection of Music, Culture, and Authenticity
36:22 Exploring the Impact of Celebrity Culture and Social Movements
40:31 The Authenticity and Impact of Music: A Personal Journey
40:54 Community Support and the Power of Mutual Aid
49:58 The Role of Improvisation in Music and Life
52:31 Closing Thoughts and Future Conversations
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Visit Sui Zhen at www.suizhen.com.au
Listen to Sui Zhen's latest release, "Sleepless," on Bandcamp → suizhen.bandcamp.com/album/sl...
or on streaming platforms → songwhip.com/sui-zhen/sleepless
Follow Sui Zhen on Instagram → / sui_zhen
Facebook → / suizhen
SoundCloud → / sui-zhen
UA-cam → / @suizhen
For extensive show notes and podcast information, go to www.spotlightonpodcast.com
#podcast #SXSW #SuiZhen