There are many venues for live music here in Vancouver, one of the most famous ones is Guilt & Co. located underground in Gastown. A space that is large enough to feel spacious but also small enough to be intimate. I’m sure you have either heard of it or been there in person. I’ve been there with a group of friends for food coupled with live music and we all had a blast. Guilt & Co. divides the show into sets and charges by the amount of time you stay. This way you can control how much you’re willing to spend instead of paying a set cover, I quite like this idea.
Alternative pop artist Wanting Qu has an early show at Guilt & Co on Wednesday (October 11th) from 7PM to 8PM. Known for her signature, unique blend of pop, folk, and alternative influences, Wanting Qu has a following in her home country of China and internationally. She writes her own songs and has a substantial discography in both Chinese and English. Her music career began in Vancouver after moving here to study. But her big break came when her debut album, “Everything in the World” went platinum in China within its first week on sale.
Her biggest hit by far, “You Exist In My Song” topped charts all across the country in China and it’s a song I love to this day. Its catchy but distinctive melody coupled with a piano backing makes it perfect for those rainy days when you’re just lounging at home. Its focus on vocals means it’s also a great song if you love to sing, my favourite thing to do is to sing and this is one of my go to songs. Don’t fret if you don’t know Chinese, the pinyin lyrics make learning the pronunciations easier, the time to challenge yourself to sing in another language is now. There are covers done by people from all over the world you can check out on Youtube too.
Apart from heartfelt songs in Chinese, Wanting Qu’s English songs like “Drenched” are equally soulful. What I like the most about her is she always conveys raw emotions through her songs and even though the theme of breakups is done often, her songs feel genuine. Guilt & Co. and Wanting Qu are a winning combo, I know October 11th is going to be a night to remember, if you’re a fan of alt-pop, do not miss this one!