Split Works Presents…
Piano-pop sweetheart Laura Jansen preps for China Tour
Anticipation is building for Dutch-American singer, songwriter & musician Laura Jansen’s 4-date November China tour. China audiences will soon get a taste of a breathtakingly layered confection of quirky and enchanting alt-pop songs when she hits the road starting November 22 in Beijing.
The tour was a result of chance 2010 meeting at her acclaimed SxSW showcase resulted where Split Works laoban Archie Hamilton was taken by the simplicity and enjoyment of her music. It seems like our intuition was on point: when we started a Douban group for Laura 6 months back, she immediately shot to number #1 artist and stayed there for several weeks. She now has hundred’s of thousands of listens across the Chinese internet….
She is touring on the success of her debut album, ‘Bells’, already platinum in Jansen’s native Holland. ‘Bells’ is a lovely collection of piano melodies and pristine vocals with lush arrangements and intimate, intelligent lyrics reflecting the thoughts and hopes of an independent girl alone in the world.
Jansen wrote all the songs except for a stunning, bare-bones cover of Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody.” “Single Girls,” the album’s emotionally loaded first single, is a breathy, delicate pop metaphor for the devastation of getting your heart smashed to pieces. Title track “Bells,” inspired by the homesickness felt after a real-life breakup and the pealing of church bells, is a pure outpouring of sweetness and grief. But it’s not all songs of woe. At the other end of the spectrum, the playful, wily “Wicked World” transforms seemingly innocent fairy tales into stories of wanton naughtiness and urges listeners to let down their hair to its ragtime beat.
Laura will be touring China as a trio together with her drummer and bass player. She has been proclaimed a master of “making the little things magical.”
China will get to experience that first-hand.
See the video for ‘Use Somebody’ here:
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjQxOTIxMzE2.html
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Tour Dates:
Beijing
Tuesday, Nov. 22, 8pm
Opening Act: Xiao C
@ Yugong Yishan
West Courtyard, former site of Duan Qirui Government
3-2 Zhangzizhong Rd., Gulou, Dongcheng District
80 RMB / 50 RMB (student)
Ticket Info:
- (010) 6404-2711 (Mon- Sun. 2pm – 12am)
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Wuhan
Thursday, Nov. 24, 9pm
Opening Act: Danmai
@ Vox Livehouse
118 Lumo Rd., Guoguang Tower Bldg. B, Luxiang, Wuchang
40 RMB / 30 RMB (student)
Ticket info:
- 027-87596030 (Li Ke)
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Shanghai
Friday, Nov. 25, 9pm
Opening Acts: The Horde
@ Yuyintang
851 Kaixuan Lu, nr. Yan’an Xi Lu
80 RMB / 50 RMB (student)
Ticket info:
- (021) 5213-5223
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Nanjing
Saturday, Nov. 26, 8pm
@ 61 House
61 Hankou Xi Lu, Gulou District
40 RMB / 30 RMB (student/member)
Ticket info:
- 13851434386 (Yoyo)
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Useful Links:
Laura Jansen Official Website: http:www.laurajansen.com
Laura Jansen on Douban: http://site.douban.com/laurajansen/