Playlist: Jonathan Heeter, Fender Musical Instruments China
What song has the most plays on your iTunes?
"Play, Pause & Stop" by the Benevento Russo Duo. That song has everything: a killer melody, a massive groove and it's happily sad. It's the best 6am song ever written.
Can you play any instruments? If so, what?
I'm a bassist but the real answer is I play music, not an instrument. An instrument is just a way to communicate the music inside you. If you focus on the instrument, it's easy to get trapped.
Who do you wish you can sing like?
Tom Waits, when he's in the shower.
What was the first record you downloaded?
E2 E4 by Manuel Gottsching. I wanted to buy a physical copy but I could never find it. I liked having the real artifact but I've given up. Soon we'll be streaming everything and having files will seem dumb. But, I'm a hoarder. I have 250-plus gigabytes of music.
Name a song or record for your time in Beijing
"All My Friends" by LCD Soundsystem. Partying, regret, losses and gains. I'll cheat and say "Hotel California" too. You can check out any time you want but you can never leave.
What do you think is the song you've listened to most in your life?
By choice, probably "Box of Rain" by the Grateful Dead. By compulsion, definitely a tie between "Laoshu Ai Dami" and "Take Me to Your Heart." I lived in Harbin in 2004, which explains a lot.
What do you think is the saddest song, and why?
All of Blood on the Tracks by Bob Dylan, but if forced to pick I'd go with "If You See Her Say Hello." Why? Listen to it!
Who is the best songwriter in your opinion?
Three-way tie: Bob Dylan, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Robert Johnson. That's the foundation for modern music. All the secrets are in there.
JONATHAN'S FIVE-SONG PLAYLIST
"Play, Pause & Stop" by Benevento Russo Duo
"E2 E4" by Manuel Gottsching
"Dark Star" by The Grateful Dead
"All My Friends" by LCD Soundsystem
"Wherever You Go I Go Too" by Lindstrom
Catch Jonathan playing bass in the Liu Yusi Band.
This article first appeared in the September issue of the Beijinger.
Photo: Ken
