Interview with Aya from Instinkto Industrio (本能实业)
The original of this article is published on https://note.com/tomaverlaine/n/n2f0151af92b3
In 2023, Based in Kunming, Yunnan Province, Instinkto Industrio (本能实业) debuted under the Beijing-based label Maybe Mars. The band is characterized by its chanson-inspired style, incorporating instruments like the accordion and flute. They’ve gained significant popularity in China’s indie music scene, and their second album, released on April Fool’s Day, has been well-received. Information about the band in Japanese is scarce, with only a vague page on yaogun.com. So, we reached out to Aya, the band’s flutist and a Japanese native, for an interview.
Despite her busy schedule preparing for a national tour, Aya patiently responded to our sometimes ignorant or abrupt questions. We’re forever grateful and can’t even think of sleeping with our feet pointed toward Yunnan.
The interview was conducted in Japanese via text messages. Some overly casual expressions (😇) were rephrased to stay true to the original intent without distortion. We also skipped some meandering or off-topic parts, though they were fascinating and might be shared elsewhere someday.
Aya (Instinkto Industrio)
Joining the Band
Tell us about how you joined the band. It seems like there was no flute in their music before “Seagull Waltz” (their debut single from July 2023).
Aya: Right. After moving to China, I started joining jam sessions in Kunming. Someone recorded one of those sessions and shared it on WeChat Moments. Apparently, Instinkto Industrio’s members saw it and thought, “That flute would sound great in our band.” That’s how they reached out to me.
What kind of music were you playing at those jam sessions?
I used to play jazz back in Japan, so I often joined jazz jam sessions there. In Kunming, it was more chaotic—jazz musicians, metalheads, rappers, folk artists, and R&B folks all jamming together. There aren’t many venues for such sessions, so it’s a free-for-all where anyone who can play an instrument joins in, regardless of genre.
I read something similar in an-article about South Acid MiMi, an electronic music unit also based in Kunming.
Yeah, there’s this vibe where music lovers of all kinds gather in one place. I’ve actually met the South Acid MiMi folks.
So, you weren’t familiar with Suliao before joining? (Suliao is the punk band led by Instinkto’s leader Bokai. They released an album with Maybe Mars in 2020 before disbanding. Bokai then started Instinkto Industrio as a solo project, but its music is so different that it can be jarring.)
Nope, I knew almost nothing about Chinese music back then. Maybe Beyond, at best? I had no clue about Suliao.
Instinkto Industrio was doing small tours in other cities at the time, and they approached me like, “We’re a band that tours nationally! Join us!” I was skeptical, like, “Uh… really?”
Sounds like a passionate pitch from some shady-looking folks.
Totally. I couldn’t even guess their ages at first glance.
But their music convinced you to jump in?
It was more like, “Come to a rehearsal, let’s try playing together.” They said, “We’re recording soon, and we’d love for you to join. We’ll work around your schedule.” So I figured I’d give it a shot, but I was still like, “We’ll see how this goes…”
I’d been invited to perform with others before, but those gigs often didn’t go well. In China, sheet music and chord notations differ from Japan, making communication tough. Jam sessions were fun, but playing structured songs was challenging.
Chinese “jianpu” notation (simplified numerical notation) must be disorienting for someone used to Western staff notation.
Exactly. Jam sessions don’t rely on sheet music, so as long as you listen and know a few conventions, it works. But for proper songs, different terminology and rehearsal methods made things tricky. Plus, some people would try to smooth over my critiques with food or drinks, which lowered my expectations for making music here. I wasn’t sure Instinkto Industrio’s rehearsals would be any better.
Low expectations, huh?
But when I joined their practice, their rough but earnest approach shone through. They were serious about making interesting music, and their passion and drive were infectious. When I pointed out issues, they listened and tried to understand.
Surprisingly decent folks, then.
Was that rehearsal for “Seagull Waltz”?
By then, all the songs for Blackout Of The Century (their debut album, released August 2023) have already composed. I just jumped in and played along. They were like, “This works!” They gave me demo tracks and lyrics, saying, “Figure out how to add flute.” After that, it was a whirlwind of rehearsals.
That sounds fast. Was this around 2022?
Yeah, probably fall 2022.
Instinkto Industrio’s Style
When “Seagull Waltz” dropped, I expected post-punk since it was from Maybe Mars, but I was shocked: “What is this, a waltz? Oh, it says waltz!”
It’s surprising, right? In China, people often say our style feels “retro Soviet.” Apparently, there was a time when Soviet influence led to kids learning accordion, so that might be where the image comes from.
That’s new to me. I always thought it was chanson or European folklore.
We’re not consciously aiming for Soviet vibes. We use stuff like “Libertango” (by Argentine tango composer Astor Piazzolla) during venue walk-ins. We’re more focused on dance rhythms—waltzes, or something tango-like in “Turkish Lamp.”
So, it’s classified a stateless world music ?
Even we don’t know what genre we are. In China, we’re often labeled as rock, but we’re like, “Is this really rock?”
Maybe Bokai’s singing feels rock-ish?
Could be. Or maybe it’s because we often play with rock bands, and Bokai’s friends are mostly in that scene.
As a post-punk label,Maybe Mars might be responsible for it. I saw you perform with Incentive Dry (a Beijing post-punk band on the same label), and it felt like an odd pairing.
Right? Our styles are so different, it’s like, “What’s going on here?”
Also, our bassist Jin Buhuan’s totally rockabilly playing style might play a part. He started upright bass for rockabilly, even though we’re not a rockabilly band.
So, there’s no fixed concept—you just ended up with this style while chasing interesting music?
Hmm. After Suliao disbanded, Bokai posted demos on WeChat’s public account, which became Instinkto’s songs. So, he probably had a vision for this style from the start.
Instinkto Industrio is very much Bokai’s band, then.
He writes all the lyrics and music. But when we shape the songs, everyone experiments together, so the final product has a lot of the other members’ colors.
Bokai brings the core ideas, and you all refine them through sessions and discussions?
Exactly. Bokai comes with rough melodies and chords, and we work it out in the studio.
No one’s pushing for, say, more rockabilly vibes?
Jin Buhuan used to juggle three bands, including a rockabilly one and an American rock one. He’s focused on Instinkto now, so he seems content. Though he does play with a rockabilly snap in songs like “Exile 2022.”
Chinese Artist Nicknames
By the way, Jin Buhuan is a nickname, right? Chinese band members’ names are often quirky and intriguing.
(“Jin Buhuan 金不换” is literally translated as "gold that cannot be exchanged")
It’s like a pen name or stage name. In China, even non-artists often give themselves nicknames. Someone might say, “Call-came ◯◯!” and later you find out it’s not their real name. People studying Japanese might pick Japanese-style names, too.
For me, my name’s kanji sounded weird in Chinese pronunciation, so I asked everyone to call me Aya. Somehow, it got written as “阿雅” (Aya).
That looks like a typical Chinese name.
Apparently, there’s a Taiwanese celebrity named 阿雅.
Is Bokai his real name?
Yup, 刘博凯 (Liu Bokai).
I guessed it was read as Bokai. I’m terrible with names and faces.
Same here. Chinese names are even harder to remember.
And I just recognize Bokai by sunglasses.
He says, “These sunglasses make me Bokai.”
Bokai, the Core of Instinkto Industrio
Speaking of Bokai, he rides a super cool motorcycle, doesn’t he?
(laughs)
Why the laugh?
He’s obsessed with bikes and loves long rides. For a recent festival in Xuzhou, he rode from Kunming. Just the other day, he got back and was showing us his route on a map during rehearsal, bragging about how far he went. It’s just funny timing.
I’m not great with Chinese geography. How far is Kunming to Xuzhou?
Roughly the length of Japan’s main island, end to end.
That’s a flight distance…
Yeah, the rest of us flew.
I hope he stays safe on those trips.
I’ll pass that along.
Flute Q&A
What kind of flute do you play? I only know there’s vertical and horizontal one, so explain it for beginners.
I play a silver flute, a Muramatsu GX III model. I started in middle school band, and my grandma bought it for me. I have a backup, but I mostly use the GX III.
Jazz feels sax-heavy, and flutes seem rare. Are they common?
Some people play them, but not many. Sax players sometimes switch to flute for a different tone. In big bands (like in Swing Girls), sax parts might include “play flute” instructions. More people double on flute than specialize in it.
Is playing sax and flute similar?
Different. The embouchure is unrelated, but fingerings are somewhat similar, so sax players often pick up flute. I don’t play sax, so I’m not an expert on that.
Do you play other flutes?
I mess around with ocarinas or ethnic gourd flutes, but it’s just for fun, not stage-ready. I occasionally play piano, though.
Like in videos you post?
Those are just me goofing off. I also play piccolo sometimes—a smaller flute with a high, bird-like sound. But for Instinkto, it’s mostly flute.
Just flute in the band?
Mostly. I played piano on one track in the new album. If I find a cool instrument in the future, I might use it. Bokai switched from guitar to mandolin, Jing (accordionist Li Jing) plays guitar on some songs, and Zhao (drummer Zhao Jianglong) started using a plastic bag in one track.
A plastic bag?
Normally, you’d use brush sticks or a shaker for that sound, but Zhao thought a plastic bag was a great “instrument.” It works well, so we use it every time for that song.
(See Zhao playing a plastic bag in this video: https://b23.tv/IwAz3Ny)
Instruments Q&A
Random question: Are flutes and trumpets totally different?
Flutes, like recorders, make sound by blowing air to vibrate the column inside. Trumpets (or “horns”) use lip vibrations against the mouthpiece, which is exhausting for the lips.
So that’s why sax players sometimes want to play flute?
Saxophones use a reed, so they’re neither flute nor horn. The reed vibrates against the lips, which can be taxing. Flutes don’t have that, so sax players might switch for relief.
I just assumed China had lots of bands using flutes and horns.
China does have bands using all sorts of instruments, like 万能青年旅店 (Omnipotent Youth Society). Traditional instruments like suona or ethnic flutes are also common.
I looked into Chinese flutes and horns recently—so many types!
Tons. I met a minority musician once whose backpack was stuffed with flutes. I was floored.
Was he a flute dealer?
No, he apparently plays them all. Wild.
Yunnan’s Ethnic Minorities and Traditional Music, KAWA Band
I follow an account that posts videos of rural Chinese elders dancing or playing obscure instruments. It feels like a glimpse into musicians’ roots, with music woven into daily life.
A Beijing musician once told me that in Guizhou (next to Yunnan), ethnic minorities sing everywhere, all the time.
They tend to have great rhythm, maybe because song and dance are so central to their culture.
Speaking of, KAWA Band, from Yunnan’s ethnic minorities, is touring Japan. I don’t usually listen to reggae, though.
Awesome! KAWA is perfect for Japanese audiences—their live shows are a blast! They’re reggae-based but have ska vibes and are way poppier than you’d expect.
Guess I shouldn’t judge without listening.
Give them a shot!
National Tour and Fanbase
Your June national tour was just announced, with some pretty big venues.
The Shanghai venue (VAS ear) is decently large for a live house, and Nanjing’s (1701 Live House) is too.
It shows how popular you are.
We still feel like an underground band, though.
Every Chinese indie music article mentions and praises Instinkto Industrio. It’s surprising since your style isn’t exactly pop.
We’re grateful for the praise. It’s surprising to us, too, that this music resonates with young people. We think it’s unique and our performances keep improving, but we’re like, “Is this really that broadly appealing?”
Even you’re shocked?
My first gig with Instinkto, I was baffled: “People are vibing and singing along to this?!” Now, some fans even waltz in the crowd. I’m playing flute, thinking, “Wow, they’re good at waltzing…”
That’s rare in Japan. Recordings don’t capture that vibe.
Our live shows often outshine our recordings, which can feel too polished.
You have to experience the energy in person. Gaining fans through live shows feels like the right path for an indie band.
We’re not great at self-promotion. We’re on Instagram and Xiaohongshu, but we rarely hype the band.
Most of what you guys post is just moto pictures or drinking stories…
Even Maybe Mars event promo videos had other bands giving serious talks, while Bokai just showed himself riding a motorcycle.
(What is this guy doing…)
But that’s our style, I guess. It’s amazing people come to our shows despite our awful promo.
Bokai’s lyrics are a big part of your popularity, right?
His lyrics are a huge draw—fans love them. They’re full of metaphors and can be hard to grasp. My Chinese isn’t amazing, so I don’t catch everything. He weaves in classical poetry or idioms, which adds a cultured vibe.
As someone clueless about Chinese culture, I just stare blankly.
Same here. When I moved to China, I was curious but not knowledgeable. I try learning through videos, but there’s so much I don’t know, I’m always flustered.
Maybe that curiosity is a talent. I try to avoid fluster.
I get flustered but love discovering new things, so curiosity drives me.
Now I understand what “Instinkto Industrio” means...
Oh no, I’ve added another layer of meaning…
The band name—Instinkto Industrio—sounds Latin (When checked, it’s in fact Esperanto). It feels intellectual(The band's logo even uses Greek).
It does sound cool and smart. Probably Bokai’s idea.
People aren’t always what they seem...
Well, this got long. I missed a few questions, but let's wrap it up.
Sure thing! Thanks!
Thanks for your time. I can’t go to the tour, but I wish you success.
Thank you! We’re hoping to play in Japan someday, so come see us then!
(End)