Li Daiguo is a prominent figure in China’s experimental, world, and new music communities. Born in 1981 in Oklahoma, USA,  to Chinese parents, Li Daiguo received training in music from childhood on a variety of instruments in various styles, including western classical music and bluegrass (violin, upright bass, piano), Chinese classical music (erhu, pipa), Finnish folk music, Carnatic music, Shona Mbira,  and contemporary classical composition and improvisation.  After relocating to mainland China in 2004, Li began to develop his compositional style and blend of extended techniques for a variety of instruments, particularly pipa, guzheng, bawu, cello, upright bass, violin, and prepared piano.  His playing and compositional style makes frequent use of polyrhythms,  acoustic sounds that “sound electronic,” an eastern sense of space and emptiness, and spirituality.

In recent years he has played solo performances at such venues and events as Carnegie Hall (NYC), Moers Festival (Germany) , Cite De La Musique (Paris), Oct-Loft Jazz Festival (Shenzhen), Shanghai PSA, UCCA (Beijing), Super Deluxe (Tokyo) , Desert Daze (Joshua Tree), Festival/Tokyo, Musicultura (Italy), Festival in Fes (Morocco), World Sacred Spirit (India), Tomorrow Music Festival (Shenzhen), Sonic Protest Music Festival (France, Belgium), Araanya at Jinshanling and Qinhuangdao, and  Sally Can't Dance Avantegarde Music Festival (Beijing).As a composer and producer, Li Daiguo has been commissioned by such film directors as Luka Yang, Justin Chon, and Roxy Shih, institutions such as Cloud Gate 2, Guangdong Modern Dance company, Guangzhou Ballet company,  artists Fang Lu, Tao Hui, and Serge Onnen and luxury brands Dior and Bulgari.  He has released albums of original compositions on record labels such as Modern Sky, Akuphone, Chant Records, WV Sorcerer, Old Heaven Books, and Ruby Eyes (Taihe) among others.  His work been written about in The Wire, Pitchfork, Tiny Mix Tapes, and  other  platforms. He is currently signed to Pollux (Modern Sky).

Selected Album links