Original intention and persistence: the dual love of music and land

Before the Waina band went on a national tour and became a dark horse in the Chinese independent music scene, the lead singer Banong had to finish the farm work at home first. One day in September, he stood by the field after the autumn harvest, watching the rice ears turn yellow and shine in the autumn sun. He smiled and said, "Let the land rest for a while, and I will relax too." This simple sentence reflects his love and persistence for farming life.

The members of the Waina band are all from rural areas in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. The growth background and occupations of Banong and his companions Eighteen and Lumin are all closely related to the fields and craftsmanship. Waina's songs are full of the smell of soil. It is precisely because of this special background that their music has become a different interpretation of modern life-they did not chase the neon lights of the city, but wrote their own songs in the fields. Wai Na means "the field with fragrant rice flowers" in the Zhuang dialect. As the name suggests, Wai Na's music carries the fragrance of nature, giving people living in the hustle and bustle of the city a sense of leisure.

Persistence and innovation of folk music

Wai Na's music is different from traditional folk and pop music. Their lyrics are not limited to love or desire, but tell stories of the fields, the chirping of insects and birds, and the ordinary and simple pictures of rice harvest. Wai Na Band injected elements of rock and blues into their creations, and combined with Guangxi's traditional instruments and local languages, making their music style diverse and unique.

In the first performance of the national tour, Banong played music with leaves, interpreting a primitive natural sound. This performance is refreshing. Wai Na's repertoire includes both slow-tempo jungle folk songs and strong-beat rock songs, and the types of instruments range from electric guitars to leaves picked up in the village. Banong believes that their music is not only entertainment, but also an advocacy of diversified lifestyles. He hopes to use this to make more people reflect on the fast pace of urban life and re-examine the beauty of rural life.

Banong, who is stepping towards the road of music

Banong, whose real name is Wei Jiayuan, grew up in the karst mountainous area of Guangxi. In the wave of reform and opening up, he, like many of his peers, once longed to leave the countryside and go to the city to seek development. When he was a graphic designer in Guangzhou, he embarked on the road of music by self-learning guitar. At first, he only played love songs, but later he accidentally heard a CD of African folk songs and realized that traditional music can be integrated with modern elements so naturally. This prompted him to rethink the folk music of Guangxi and try to combine elements such as Zhuang folk songs and blues to create one song after another with a strong sense of rural feelings.

"Mom's Indigo Blues" is one of the results of his exploration. This song combines blues with Guangxi folk songs and is unique. His other song "Amei Wants to Be a City Person" expresses the yearning and confusion of young people for city life. For Banong, music is not only a way to express emotions, but also a tool to understand himself and his hometown culture. He hopes to convey the beauty and truth of the countryside to the outside world through music, so that more people can hear the voice of the countryside drowned by the hustle and bustle of the city.

Returning from the hustle and bustle: Returning to hometown to farm

In the city, Banong gradually realized the loneliness deep in his heart and his attachment to the land. He read the book "Half Farmer and Half X Research Institute" by Japanese environmentalists. The book advocates living a simple life in a sustainable agricultural way. Banong was deeply inspired and decided to give up his job in the city and return to his hometown to start a self-sufficient life. He grows organic rice in the village, promotes natural farming, does not use fertilizers and pesticides, and explores a healthier lifestyle. He also learns traditional Zhuang musical instruments from local museums and folk scholars, and is committed to protecting the endangered Zhuang nursery rhymes.

After returning to the countryside, Banong gradually got to know Shiba and Lumin, and the three of them reorganized the Waina Band together. Lumin dropped out of school to work when he was young, and embarked on the road of music by self-learning guitar, while Shiba is an experienced wandering musician. The three's love for music and the countryside brought them together. They used music to tell their stories of walking from the fields to the city, reflecting the emotions of generations of rural young people.

The rise of the band and new expectations

Waina shined on the national program "Summer of the Band". One song "Big Dream" became a highlight of the program and quickly became popular. The lyrics depict the bitter experience of migrant workers from youth to old age, which aroused widespread resonance and was hailed as "the hymn of the frustrated generation". Although loved by the audience, Waina has also encountered different voices of doubt. Some people think that their songs over-romanticize rural life. However, Banong doesn't care about this. He believes that whether it is rural or urban life, people may give people a romantic filter.

With the increase in popularity, Waina's fan base is getting bigger and bigger. The venue of the first tour was packed with audiences from all over the country, and music fans used "pure" to describe Waina's music. 24-year-old Li Jingwei said that Waina's music made him rediscover the beauty of rural life, and those emotions that he had ignored because of the pressure of life were reawakened.

Future Outlook: Finding Self Beyond Fame and Fortune

Although Waina has gained wide attention today, Banong and his bandmates still keep their original intentions in life. They do not chase temporary popularity, but strive to stay true to themselves. Banong does not have too many ideas about the future. He said that if one day the band is "out of fashion", it is also a good thing. He can return to the farmland, farm with peace of mind, and enjoy the tranquility brought by the land.

This band, which has gone from the fields to the stage, has attracted countless people with their unique musical style and persistence in rural life. Waina is not just a band, but also a story about returning to nature. Through their music, they convey a pure and simple concept of life, reminding people that there is another way of life outside the city-it may be slower, but perhaps more real.