US musician is inspired by China's reception of his work

Steven Summerstone believes the youth of Beijing share certain characteristics with their counterparts in his native United States. The musician says this is a refreshing aspect of Beijing's contemporary international appeal, and it helps to explain the local appetite for his music.

"At a base level, I think the songs I've written represent some of the frustration that prevails amongst younger people toward the older generations in the US," he says.

"Deficit spending, wars, and endless social programs have robbed young people of a lot of opportunity in the US and I have tried to capture the rightful frustration young people have while offering a solution: uplifting music and self-exploration."

Summerstone first came to China in the summer of 2011, and he decided to settle here after six months of living in various Chinese cities and getting a feel for the music scene. He did not find the new environment hostile or negative.

"I saw Chinese society as a place teeming with life, smells, sounds, sights and opportunity. What struck me most was the day-to-day economic freedom that the average person has in this region. After living in the sinking ship that is the United States, I was eager to embrace this spirit of commerce and entrepreneurship," Summerstone says.

He sees a great opportunity to make a positive impact on local listeners and show his fans a good time after choosing Beijing as his base. "The music scene in Beijing is burgeoning and there's a lot of drive in young Chinese people to be exposed to new culture and ideas from a Western perspective," he says.

Summerstone wishes to express peace, understanding, and compassion for oneself while emphasizing the idea that life is exciting and vibrant. He finds that his Chinese audience seems to comprehend this better than their US counterparts and he appreciates this reception.

"Chinese listeners are quickly able to pick up on whether a song is heartfelt or not. This is not a skill American listeners have. Americans marvel at pomp and circumstance even if there's no soul underneath it all," Summerstone says.

Still, he knows he has to stand out in order to attract people: "My competitive edge is genuinely uplifting and advanced songwriting. My original songs contain lyrics that haven't yet been experienced in the mainstream and they're packaged in a fun mix of funk, Western, pop and rock. Listeners come out to have fun and I'm here to honor that hope. I expect to put on a great show, every show, and to put my heart out there for the listeners."

Summerstone is very appreciative of his local fans, and he says that he humbly hopes to continue producing music that is emotionally satisfying for listeners and for himself. He is 26 and has been writing music since he was 10, and performing live since he was 15 in the US' Pacific Northwest. Summerstone says he was fortunate enough to have been mentored by some very special musicians as he was growing up, and the result has been a pragmatic approach to writing and performing that keeps him grounded.

Some legends of the music world have been an inspiration for him. "I first felt love for music when I listened to the records of Gordon Lightfoot and Bruce Springsteen when I was a small boy. The truth they spoke about their lives inspired my imagination and fed my inner creativity. I have developed my current songs to be philosophically profound in content but exciting in presentation, just like my musical heroes did," he says.

Summerstone emphasizes the significant role music has played in his life. "Music and self exploration seemed to be the only roads out of my troubled home life, oppressive schooling and fragmented culture, so I pursued a combination of the two with fiery passion," he says.

His music somewhat evolved after his move to China.

"Sad music is all the rage in the USA and I have found that being in the booming economies of Asia has geared my music to a happier and lighter mood," says Summerstone. "Chinese musicians are highly technical in their seemingly simple approaches to instrumentation, so I have had to up my game as a musician and continue to develop my ear."

The greatest hope he holds for his time in China is that he will be able to inform new listeners that not all Westerners are seeking to take advantage of others. "There is so much to be said about win-win interactions that I have had with Chinese nationals, especially those who have been gracious enough to employ me based on my merits, not my skin color," he says.

"A new mentality of innovation, open commerce, and respect of children is rising in China, especially amongst the educated classes. With a little humility and a whole lot of hard work with my music, I want my message of peace and enterprise to reach all of China."

Summerstone will be playing regularly in Beijing, and is set to hit the recording studio in October.

jixiang@chinadaily.com.cn