Yaksa formed in Beijing in 1995, with Xiao He on vocals and guitar, Zhang Wei on guitar, Jiang Tao on bass, and Li Jian on drums. Their debut album 'Xiōngdì' came out in 1998, and its title track became a well-known song. The band's music often mixed traditional Chinese melodies with rock elements.
In 2002, they released the album 'Tiandi', which featured more experimental arrangements. Some of their work faced censorship and distribution issues. They've also worked with other musicians, including Chinese folk singer Zhao Lei, American guitarist Bill Frisell, and Japanese noise musician Merzbow.
Their discography includes albums like 'Qilu', 'Yin', and 'Yang'. The lineup has seen changes, but the core members have remained active. Their sound developed over time while keeping some of the earlier melodic qualities.
Keep it compact: a lyric you come back to, a live memory, or the part of the catalog you would point someone toward first.
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