The “Nest Formation” of Chinese indie music in the 1990s : Focusing on the formation and dissolution of “Shucun (樹村)

Indie music was introduced to China during the late 1970s and early 1980s amidst the wave of reform and opening-up. Shucun (樹村), the early physical space and medium of Chinese indie music, is often referred to as the utopia of Chinese indie music. Young people from across the country who loved indie music gathered in Shucun. They created their own music, formed bands, learned instruments, and occasionally performed at bars. Some of these bands gradually gained fame, releasing albums, appearing in the media, and even performing overseas. Additionally, Shucun (樹村) frequently appeared in documentaries and films about Chinese indie music. This paper reconstructs the formation and dissolution of Shucun (樹村), the medium of Chinese indie music in the 1990s, through qualitative research. It takes Shucun (樹村), an early developmental medium of Chinese indie music, as the research subject and interviews indie musicians, music critics, and music fans. The study also analyzes interviews from documentaries, music variety shows, and other textual materials to examine the changes and developments that occurred in the early stages of Chinese indie music in the 1990s. Based on Jacques Attali's framework of development, the paper analyzes the political and economic factors that influenced Chinese indie music in the 1990s. It also highlights the dilemmas faced by Chinese indie music during this period and aims to lay a foundation for future research.