Tian Qiyi feat. Jah Wobble ○ Watch The Sunrise

  From CANADA 

London-Liverpool based music outfit Tian Qiyi are back with a new video for 'Watch The Sunrise', highlighting their sophomore album 'Songs For Workers', featuring the legendary Jah Wobble on bass.

Tian Qiyi is more than just a band, bringing together brothers John Tian Qi Wardle and Charlie Tian Yi Wardle with their father, Jah Wobble (John Wardle). Their unique sound reflects their rich family heritage, blending their father's pioneering work in post-punk and dub with the Chinese cultural influences of their mother, Zilan Liao.

"I can’t say 'Watch the Sunrise' was consciously born out of spirituality — at least not in a traditional sense. Musically, it was one of the more composed pieces on the album, particularly in terms of melody. But when it came to the lyrics, I was drawn to the idea that there is something beyond rationality. It’s not strictly a Buddhist concept — though it’s certainly adjacent — but it’s something that’s fascinated me for years. The notion that there’s a space or state of being that language and logic can’t quite reach. That idea became the emotional and philosophical root of the song," says Charlie Wardle.

"I tried to explore that tension melodically as well — there’s sweetness, but also moments of dissonance. That contrast is deliberate. When I introduce melodic friction or veer into a microtonal space, it’s like offering the listener a challenge — a kind of small sacrifice — before resolving it in a way that feels emotionally earned. I think that mirrors the journey of the lyrics: moving through uncertainty, dissolution of the self, and coming out the other side with a different kind of clarity. There’s a kind of psychedelic beauty in surrendering to something unknown or ungraspable — that’s what I was trying to tap into."

Over its 10 tracks, 'Songs For Workers' takes us on a fascinating ethno-psychedelic musical journey, bridging generations and cultures, blending deep dub grooves with Eastern traditions. Earlier, Tian Qiyi also shared the singles 'Mongolian Dub' and 'Dharma', each with a captivating blend of Eastern psychedelic melodies and Charlie's ethereal vocals, underpinned by a hypnotic fusion rhythm and beautiful percussion. As groovy as it is addictive, the trio serve up a truly grounding experience.

Building on their acclaimed 2024 debut album 'Red Mist', with standout singles 'Incantation' and 'Red Mist',Tian Qiyi continues to forge a sound that blends dub, post-punk, and experimental production with rich influences from Traditional Chinese, Mongolian, and Irish music.

With support from Gideon Coe, Mark Riley and Stuart Maconie on BBC 6 Music, and from John Kennedy on Radio X London, 'Songs For Workers' presents limitless musical experiences that honour their diverse influences while crafting something uniquely their own, further exploring the intersection of traditional Asian and Celtic soundscapes with contemporary dub production techniques.

With John Tian Qi on drums and percussion, Charlie Wardle’s unique vocal style is to the fore. His incredible musical dexterity on traditional Chinese and Mongolian instruments imbues their music with a funky and, at times, psychedelic quality. While Jah Wobble plays bass on most tracks, John Tian Qi contributes bass on 'Luoyang' and 'Siege' and synth / Moog bass on 'Watch The Sunrise'.

'Songs For Workers' not only highlights their growing creative independence and production skills, but also marks a bold step forward in their cross-cultural, multi-generational musical journey. Rooted in heritage and driven by experimentation, their sound is 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.


Drawing inspiration from Miles Davis's groundbreaking electric period and the experimental spirit of Krautrock, the band creates expansive, boundary-pushing soundscapes that defy easy categorization. Jah Wobble's involvement adds a deep, distinctive dub foundation to the family's cross-cultural vision, while the brothers' mastery of traditional Chinese instruments reflects their maternal heritage.

"I think that freedom to think abstractly and spiritually about music came from both parents, but in very different ways. Our mum gave us the foundation, the instruments, the discipline. Our dad gave us the space to break the rules, to see music as a form of expression, a philosophy even. That influence comes through especially in our rhythmic and compositional choices. I remember constantly experimenting as a kid, deliberately ignoring the beat of a track and asking, “What can I add that feels right to me?” He didn’t teach us how to play bass or write parts — but he taught us how to feel music. How to treat it as a language for ideas, memory, even myth", says John Tian Qi Wardle.

"He encouraged us to never box ourselves in. Meanwhile, our mum was showing us all kinds of traditional Chinese music — Cantonese opera, folk tunes, and even rare Tang Dynasty compositions from Dunhuang. That stuff changed everything for me. The Dunhuang music, with its Silk Road influences — Persian, Indian, Central Asian — made me realise fusion isn’t something new. It’s historical. Cultures have always blended naturally through contact and exchange, and that gave us the confidence to trust our own instincts when we started making music."

The duo's name carries deep personal significance, combining elements of the brothers' middle names: "Tian," shared by both siblings, paired with "Qi" (meaning "together") and "Yi" (meaning "one"). This linguistic fusion mirrors their musical approach, where disparate elements unite to create something entirely new—much like their parents' union of Eastern and Western cultural traditions.

'Songs for Workers' is out now. Released via Pagoda Records, it is available from fine digital platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp.  A handful of appearances have been scheduled this autumn in support of this album.

"Energetic and danceable and haunting and reflective" ~ Guitar Magazine

"Yup, I like that... Tian Qiyi and Jah Wooble - all have been in this room previously for a previous session" ~ Marc Riley, BBC6 Music Radio

"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... bringing a funky and at times psychedelic quality to the music to complement the traditional aspects" ~ God is in the TV Zine

"Absolutely fantastic, just fantastic" ~ Gideon Coe, BBC6 Music Radio

"Classical and modern elements sit atop poetic explorations of scene and motif as the snaking and mysterious tune evolves and pushes on through the deepening thicks. An adventure with a subtle hypnotism" ~ Sound Read Six

Tian Qiyi

'Watch The Sunrise' feat. Jah Wobble

Watch The Video. Sophomore 'Songs For Workers'
album is out now via Pagoda Records

5 September 2025

CREDITS

TRACK LIST

01.  Ulaanbaatar  
02.  At The Beginning feat. Jah Wobble
03.  The Route of Desire  
04.  Mongolian Dub feat. Jah Wobble
05.  Watch The Sunrise feat. Jah Wobble  
06.  Dharma feat. Jah Wobble  
07.  Luoyang  
08.  Siege  
09.  Dharma AMBIENT feat. Jah Wobble  
10.  Songs For Workers feat. Jah Wobble  

LIVE SHOWS
September 19th  LIVERPOOL - Mutant Jazz
October 25th  WHITBY - Whitby Musicport Festival


Keep up with Tian Qiyi
Bandcamp | Instagram | Twitter 
 TikTok | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify 

Keep up Jah Wobble
Website | Facebook 
 Bandcamp | Twitter | Instagram 
 Soundcloud | Spotify | Apple Music 

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