Ahead of Nov 18 Second Anniversary at Temple, Loreli Co-Founder Kerryn Leitch Bids Beijing Adieu
Two years after founding the creative platform Loreli with her friends Amy Daml and Hannah Lincoln, Kerryn Leitch (pictured above on the right with fellow Loreli editor Angela Li) will soon bid Beijing and the arts scene she covers adieu, setting her sights on for Phnom Penh. Old pal Daniel Rothwell (known for his bass playing in popular Beijing band Tavey Lean & The Solid Gold Dream Machine, along with being the curator of Loreli's Listen section since 2016) will be taking over as head editor, but not before he and the outgoing Loreli luminaries mark the platform's second anniversary with a big bash at Temple on Nov 18. Rothwell and his Dream Machine bandmates will take to the stage. The lineup is rounded out by other bands like the Boss Cuts, Sardine is Back and the Wheel is Broken, along with some poetry readings, award ceremony speeches, and more.
Below Leitch, Rothwell, and Daml reflect on Loreli's milestones, share their thoughts on the platform's potential future, and – per usual, whenever the trio get together – engage in some oh-so-witty banter.
What should people expect at the second anniversary shindig?
Amy Daml: There will be bands, drunken poetry, coffee shots, a sweet DJ, and possibly a piñata ...... yeeeeeeeeee!!
Kerryn Leitch: Loreli parties are interactive. If anyone thinks they are gonna passively watch some great music, they are wrong. We will have awards and drunk poetry and everyone will feel like an artist by the end of the night. This is a birthday party, so we hope everyone will get wild and just pray they are not the one who vomits in the punch.*
*There will be no punch. Vomiting is not encouraged.
Daniel Rothwell: Is it too cliché to say expect the unexpected? I think that fits, because I don't think we're entirely sure what to expect yet. What I hope is that everyone will end up playing with everyone (musician wise), and that's sure to bring on something entertaining. I'm also excited to hear some of the audience's drunken poetry. That's definitely going to be entertaining. My friend Artur will definitely have something amazing to say, so regardless of whether or not his piece gets chosen-- at random from a hat, or glass, or something, it'll work itself out-- he'll be up there at some point, flexing those biceps, popping those pecs. That's 100 percent guaranteed to be entertaining. This one's for you, reader! Have your fifteen seconds of fame before Nathan or Tavey kicks you off! Cast your ballot! Submit your words, however nonsensical they may be!
How does it feel to mark Loreli's anniversary with this event?
KL: I’m so glad we are here. Running a publication with no financial reward can be difficult. People work multiple jobs and have other responsibilities, so things can go up and down as far as content and commitment. But here it is, still standing after two years.
DR: It feels natural. We're all at Temple pretty much every weekend anyway, we have the tattoos to prove it. Actually, a dumb tattoo proves nothing. My friend Nick's brother was visiting, even he got one. It was his first and last time at the place. Oh well, lyv 4 da nites u wn't rmembah wiv th ppl u,ll neva 4get #yolo etc. right? Oh yeah, and it's a chance for me to play with all the bands, but that's also nothing new.
AD: We just wanna celebrate the fact that we have been able to keep this up for so long, and say thanks to everyone who has helped us out and been a part of Loreli. The best way we could think to do that is to have a big ole party with cool bands. We just hope everyone has fun.
How did each of you get involved in Loreli in the first place?
KL: Got drunk with some angry and capable ladies, created Loreli.
AD: Yes, I started Loreli with Kerryn and Hannah after a drunken evening at Hot Cat.
DR: Amy was going to be taking a hiatus at the beginning of 2017, and approached to ask if I'd like to help out with the “Listen” segment. I pretty much jumped straight in and popped along to a Beijing Misfits rehearsal the next day to do some recording. It's funny – I was so over-prepared and under-experienced for the whole interview and edit process. It's been a good year getting together a semi-efficient workflow, and gathering contacts to sort out content as and when it's available. Shout out to Nevin [Domer of Maybe Mars], as always.
Looking back, what have been a few of your fondest Loreli memories?
KL: My proudest moment has been our work in the art community. The exhibition we ran with Chinese jiulinghou last year at Más, as well as the ongoing affordable art market that provided a lot of opportunity for artists to meet each other and plan collaborations. This year’s highlight was the recent Rock Against Horror we helped run with the Temple crew, Marshall and Pink. To throw out a challenge to filmmakers and get such excellent submissions was amazing. Also, to be sitting on the floor in Temple and turn around to find the place is packed and everyone is quite focused on the films, was unprecedented for me. It was so rewarding.
DR: Learning how an “alternative source of information” operates in getting its stuff out there, alternatively. Also, finally releasing one of the first interviews I ever conducted with one of my personal idols, Swindle. Took me about a year to get that finished. I personally had no real input to this, and therefore accept zero credit, but Kerryn and Marshall put together the insanely successful “Rock Against Horror” Halloween celebration, and are also co-organizing an upcoming “Beijing Bands do Shanghai” themed field-trip. Good for them.
AD: I think my fondest Loreli memory is when I interviewed Djang San. I was so nervous because he was kind of a local celebrity and he didn’t really know much about me or Loreli at that time. We bonded over our hangovers and The Final Countdown and after that, it was one of my best interviews. Besides that, Kerryn and Angela and I did a trip to Chengdu for Loreli. It was such a great excuse to get to know the scene and the people down there!
So Kerryn, you are leaving soon and won't be involved in Loreli anymore? Why is that the case, and how does that color the upcoming anniversary?
KL: Loreli is very special to me. As my China exit plan approaches I was very concerned that there would be no one who would genuinely tend to her needs as much as I had over her birth and infancy. This party marks Loreli’s new leader/target/sucker Daniel Rothwell stepping up to the plate. My kid grew up and is moving in with a young man. Scary! I couldn’t think of a better young man to pass her over too. I genuinely feel great about the handover, and this will be a significant night for me. I might cry, but that won’t surprise anyone.
DR: Kerryn never needs an excuse to get drunk. We had full intentions of commitment to a dry November, with a single day off on the Nov 18 in order to “truly celebrate”. Unfortunately, yet unsurprisingly, we both failed on Thursday, Nov 2.
Anything else you'd like to add?
KL: It’s been fun. I can’t wait to hear about the plans for Loreli’s third birthday from my new home in Phnom Penh.
DR: First of all, thanks to everyone that's been involved. Thanks to those with patience and understanding when some of the pieces seemed forgotten. On the flip side, thanks to those with comments of gratitude and joy when we'd even surprise ourselves with lightning first turnover time for that final promotional push.
Finally, thanks to those that actually read or listen to the information we gather and digitally regurgitate on a semi-regular basis. That's literally the only reason I do it. To those that I haven't met yet: If we haven't already drunkenly exchanged contact information in the past, you'll be able to find any of us within one of the Wechat worlds orbiting the hunter-gatherer-data-mining-sun-god that goes by the name of 4G. Or Temple. Every weekend. Seriously, it's never going to end. If you have a semi-interesting idea, want to make vaguely recollectable half-promises of getting involved, or just want to see who can stand on one leg the longest, then please reach out.
AD: I’m excited to see what Dan has got in store for Loreli this year! He’s already overflowing with cool ideas, so it is sure to be awesome and I’m excited to continue to be a part of it.
Photos: Courtesy of the organizers, Loreli
