Musical Multitaskers: Not The Same Old Song and Dance

Musical Multitaskers is a month long series exploring how Beijing’s boldest musicians draw inspiration from other mediums, art forms and vocations.

Call her a matchmaker of performing arts. Lulu Galore (aka Ye Lu) loves to woo song and dance into a rhythmic tryst, one made all the more sensual by her chosen genres — sultry cabaret vocals while fronting the Sweet Leaf jazz band, and even sassier shimmies and shakes as a swing dancer, burlesque performer and burlesque teacher. Below, Lulu shows us the fine line between a dance step and the beat that drives it, one that audiences can see for themselves when she performs on Oct 19 at Modernista and Nov 24 at CD Blues.

How does your dancing further your singing, and vice versa?
To me, fronting a jazz band doesn't mean just standing there singing your favorite songs. When I sing, I also try to throw in some dance moves. Dancing also helps my singing tempo.
I used to choreograph dance according to melodies. Now I also choreograph in regard to the lyrics. If there’s a verb in the lyrics, like a hug, I’ll dance with that motion, or if the song mentions tears I’ll do a dramatic sweep of the face.

Critics say burlesque is risqué—how do you counter that?
They might think burlesque is edgy because it’s always compared to strip clubs. But there are no rules in burlesque performances, except that they’re about showing your feminine side through performing arts of tease. It’s not about showing your naked body. It's about being classy, entertaining, and flamboyant.

How did you start singing and dancing?
My parents used to bring me to the Peace Hotel in Shanghai to see a senior jazz band playing there. It was so much fun, and the picture of the band playing is still in my memory. I loved that golden era’s fashion, style, and makeup.
When I was growing up I’d see lots of calendar girl pictures from that swing period in the shops and on the streets in Shanghai. I dreamt of being one of those pin up girls, wearing a Qipao and being all dolled up. From there, I learned about swing dance. I was obsessed. I went to dance exchanges abroad, attended workshops, and eventually started getting gigs.

What challenges do singing and dancing share?
If anything goes wrong on the stage – like if I can’t get one of my burlesque costumes off, or if I forget a song’s lyrics – I try to maintain calm and keep performing, not let the audience see the issue.

Many local songsmiths have day jobs. Others obsess over visuals to stimulate audiences along with their songs. Are Beijing’s musicians brilliant multitaskers, or is a music career in this city simply not enough to sustain people’s interest or pocket books?

I know lots professional musicians and they are doing pretty well. However, nowadays, society needs more multi-talented people and a lot of musicians are curious about lots different things, not just music. After all, when you’re a jazz singer you get lots of corporate gigs, but no corporate banquet is going to hire an indie rock or punk band. They most likely won't get any high paying gigs aside from touring or music festivals. These gigs never can help you to survive, that's why most of us have different jobs or personas.

You can catch Lulu Galore on Oct 19, Nov 10 and (singing with Sweet Leaf) on Nov 16 at Modernista, along with a CD Blues gig on Nov 24 (with her dance troupe Moonglow Burlesque). To sign up for her upcoming private burlesque classes and workshops, send Lulu an email at mahmahlulu@gmail.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Lulu Galore