TIAN QIYI FEATURING JAH WOBBLE ANNOUNCE SONGS FOR WORKERS LP

29th April 2025 0 By Jon Deaux

Genre-defying duo TIAN QIYI – brothers John Tian Qi Wardle and Charlie Tian Yi Wardle – return this summer with their sophomore album Songs For Workers released via Pagoda Records on 28 June.

Following their acclaimed 2024 debut Red Mist, the Wardle brothers continue to forge a sound that blends dub, post-punk, and experimental production with rich influences from traditional Chinese, Mongolian and Irish music. Their father, legendary bassist Jah Wobble, features on most of the album tracks, while John Tian Qi contributes bass on Luoyang and Siege, and synth-Moog bass on Watch The Sunrise – highlighting the duo’s growing creative independence – and all the drumming, both Eastern and Western, throughout the album.

Charlie Tian Yi’s unique vocal style is to the fore, as is his incredible musical dexterity on traditional Chinese and Mongolian instruments, bringing a funky and at times psychedelic quality to the music to complement the traditional aspects.

Fully produced by TIAN QIYI, Songs For Workers marks a bold step forward in their cross-cultural and multi-generational musical journey. Rooted in heritage and driven by experimentation, TIAN QIYI craft a sound shaped by the magnetic tension between ancient tradition and dub futurism, East and West, land and spirit – a musical space that is uniquely their own.

Tracks from the album have already generated plays from Gideon Coe, Mark Riley and Stuart Maconie on BBC 6 Music and the first single from the album, Watch The Sunrise, is available to listen to now:https://wearetian.bandcamp.com/album/songs-for-workers