Klaire of Guji Interview

Guji咕叽

The debut, EP of GUJI 咕叽, a quirky synth-driven new wave quartet comprised of Chinese
nationals Klaire (synths), Alex (bass), Stacy (drum machine) and American guitarist and singer
for Shanghai punk band Round Eye Chachy will be released August 25 by Floridian label Godless
America on cassette, digital download and via streaming platforms. The EP was produced by
frequent Modern Sky Recordings producer Li Wei Yu.
To say 2020-2022 were bleak years to live in Shanghai would be the understatement of the
century. With the implementation of the “0-Covid policy” and the “Shanghai Lockdown”, a
fucked attempt by the CCP to curb the transmission rate of the Covid-19 pandemic, the city
became still. Businesses shuttered, schools closed, planes landed, shows cancelled and borders
closed. For three years, China seemed without pulse as very little traffic ran between it and the
outside world.
Guizhou native Jiang Zi Xiu (Klaire) and Craig Englund (Chachy) were stuck in their home for
months as a makeshift wall of plywood and bamboo rods was raised at the entrance and exits
of the alleyway outside their door. Guards in hazmat suits were placed to conduct daily PCR
tests and make sure no one came in or out.
It was under these conditions that the couple decided to fill their time and their walls with the
double lead harmonies, jangling B-52 styled guitar and cheesy drum machine pulse of the
sardonic bubblegum-arpeggiated synthpop of GUJI咕叽. Heavily influenced by the aesthetic of
80s DEVO, B-52s, and My Little Pony the duo channels their frustrations and observations into
vivid DIY videos channeling the work of Chuck Statler and blast humorously sardonic synthpop
jams lined with pastel colored neon lights. With their first self-titled EP, they turn their anger
into childish jeering fun in an overwhelmingly hostile political landscape and with songs like “I
like to Hang Out in China” and “My Mao Suit” the band waves at the outside world with
hammer and sickle and dares those who listen to not strip and dance in the hot pink fire.

1. "What's a common myth about Independent Artists and can you debunk it?"
I do not understand the question
2. "What advice would you give to someone wanting to enter the music industry?"
I think everybody can enter the industry, someone can hit a bucket and say he is in the music
industry. It really just depends on what results you expect and what kind of comments you want
from the public. Or you can just ignore them all.
3. "Are there any resources or even advice that have really helped you on your journey?"
4 month covid lockdown in China
4. "What has been your biggest accomplishment in your career thus far?"

5. “What do you wish you had known when you started out?”

6. "What led you to becoming a singer-songwriter?"

7. "What do you think is your unique skill(s) that has helped you become successful?"

8. "How was your journey to what you do now?"

9. "How did this project begin?"
It started with me and Chachy harmonizing songs of the Beach Boys or Everly Brothers and
enjoying our voices being together. Then covid lockdown happened which gave us time and
anger to start GUJI
10. "What makes this project different from "past projects?"
For me it is totally new experience which makes every step exciting, for Chachy he has been in
punk bands his whole life, i think GUJI gives him chances to express himself in a different and
cuter way.
11. "What's the inspiration behind this project?"
We try to use simple, postive and poppy melodies for every song, to hide the angry, sexual, dirty,
political lyrics, so the band does not get in trouble in China but still free to talk shit. So are the
videos, they are under the disguise of cuteness and weirdness.
12. "What word or phrase would you use to describe this project?"
An innocent looking monster
13. "How can listeners get in touch with or support you?"
They may go to the page of Godless American and find GUJI. They may also buy the physical EP
which is named GUJI, under Godless America.
Listeners that wanna reach us may find me on my instagram @xiuxiu20202.
14. "What is coming up for you in the near future?"
We are writting more songs to prolong our performance, and we hope we could get chance to
tour in future!

15. "Many people believe that becoming a musical artist is challenging to the point it
becomes overwhelming and too much to handle. Why do you think people believe that?"
It is hard to keep going if it feels like speaking to a wall all the time, which is not the fault of the
audience or the artist. It is just the art is not displaying in the right environment.

16. “What’s the most common reason for people failing or giving up?”
Same as question#15, the art is not displaying in the right environment or period of time, it is
easy for the artist to feel lonely and not being understandable then give up.
17. "What is your favorite word?"
In GUJI song? "I like fast train choo choo" from I Like to Hang Out in China.
18. "What are you not very good at?"
Happily being in China

19. "If you could have one superpower, what would it be?"
To become very very tiny, so tiny that no one can see me, so i can travel anywhere for free and
enter shows for free and get bank card password of rich people or top secret of the
governments.
20. "If you were a type of food, what type of food would you be?"
I wanna be a piece of turd so most people can leave me alone
21. "If you could switch lives with someone for a day, who would you choose?"
I would wanna be the president of China and kill myself, and before that I wanna dismiss
communism party in China