Dou Wei: I love to make soundtracks

conducted by: Yan Ming
published on "South City", Dec 21th, 2001

Q: You cooperated with the director of "Dazzling", are you two old friends?

DW: No, he called me out of the blue. It's simple as that, he likes my music and thought my music would fit the film well. That's how it started.

Q: I saw your name in the credits of a documentary that was broadcasted on CCTV. So do you ometimes take parergons besides your own music career?

DW: That was a documentary called "Historical Figures of the Last 100 Years", I composed a score for the "Huang Xing, a prominent figure during Chinese Revolution of 1911" episode. To me, making soundtracks for movie or TV is just another outlet of making music, I do take it very seriously.

Q: What's the difference between making your own albums and doing soundtracks for movies?

DW: There's a huge difference, soundtracks should be in accordance to the movie's plot and atmosphere, and should help shape the dramatic and emotional intentions of works in progress. While making my own album is much more personal, everything depends on my own thoughts and mood at the time.

Q: Are you satisfied with the cooperation with "Dazzling"? Will you make more soundtracks in the future?

DW: I preffer the first version of the "Dazzling" soundtrack, it went along so well with the movie, but the director had endeavored to make some adjustment, and the final version is more or less different from my original idea. After this try I've become interested in making soundtracks, so I'll be happy to do score for other movies that i like.

Q: Do you think "Dazzling" will be embraced by audiences, with it's special movie style and all?

DW: The representation means of that movie is quite a new try, it was a bit risky to launch it into the box-office. I can't tell for sure whether it will be warmly welcomed, but it's good to have a new tries in the movies, an audience should support such Chinese new movies.

Q: The means of film shooting and representing the story of this movie is quite novel and particular, would you please tell us what you feel about it?

DW: I always think that "feeling" is a very personal thing, different person has different feelings. I can't tell in a few words.

Q: Do you love movies? Any special flavor?

DW: So-so, not many Chinese films. Everyone has his or her own favorite. There're a few types I like: A. new stylish movies, sharp and original in narrative structure and presentation and other grammar of the film language, like "Run Lola Run"; B. reality movies, that is, without any trendy tricks, just simple and real as everyday life; C. war movies! - actually you don't have to collect loads of fund and make a huge film act, some Chinese movies spent too many money, and ended up in vain.

Q: The band you collaborated with in the "Dazzling" soundtrack is called the Uncertainty, so your previous E Band has been dismissed?

DW: The way one collaborates with a band is just like the name of the Uncertainty. Many things are hard to predict, as time runs, everything changes. The band I'm with now is also an uncertain project, we just get together and play music. It's just like a commercial line: "Why everlasting? Just do it!" (laughed)

Q: A few years agon you and Zhang Chu, He Yong were the three heros of the Magic Rock Records, but you guys haven't made much acts these years. Why?

DW: I don't think we were much successful at that time, that was just marketing pitch of the record company. I just concentrate on my own msuic and devote myself to it.

Q: You had taken a long pause after the "Mountain River" and "Hallucination" album, why? Any plans in the future?

DW: My new album has been finished a year ago, but it hasn't been released as yet, I have no idea what the record company is thinking! The new album is quite different from the previous two, you can't tell until you listen to it, it's better than the previous one. Now I mainly devote myself into soundtracks and producing for new musicians. I don't like to talk too much before things are done, changes are always faster than plans.

Q: So now you are producing for new musicians?

DW: Yup! It is an important work I began with lately. That is, I pick the right newbie and produce the music in my way, no caterings or compromising to the old ways. That's interesting, and special, or else you're no different in the mass.

Q: Do you still care about the performance and development of new rock bands?

DW: There are numerous new bands here and there, but the ones that can caught my eyes/ears are few and far-between. I seldom go to live concerts nowadays. Most of them are flashy and superficial. It's no fun.

(translated by krazy)