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.
CREDITS
Composed by John Tian Qi Wardle, Charlie Tian Yi Wardle, Jah Wobble
Charlie Tian Yi Wardle – Morin Khuur, Er Hu, Ghijik & vocals
John Tian Qi Wardle – drum kit, percussion
Yang Qin, synth bass, keys & synths
Jah Wobble – bass on ‘Songs For Workers’, ‘At the Beginning’, ‘Mongolian Dub’, ‘Dharma’ & ‘Dharma AMBIENT’
Mike McGoldrick – pipes and flute on ‘At the Beginning’, ‘Dharma’ & ‘Dharma AMBIENT’
Martin Chung – guitar on ‘Songs For Workers’ single
Produced by Tian Qiyi (Charlie Tian Yi Wardle and John Tian Qi Wardle)
Recorded at Pagoda Studio, Airtight Studios, and Pressure Drop.
Engineering by John Tian Qi Wardle
with Seadna McPhail (on ‘At the Beginning’, ‘Mongolian Dub’, ‘Dharma’ & ‘Dharma AMBIENT’
)and with Will Farley (on ‘Songs For Workers’)
Mixed by John Tian Qi Wardle, with additional mixing by Charlie Tian Yi Wardle & Jah Wobble on ‘At the Beginning’, ‘Dharma’ & ‘Dharma AMBIENT
‘Special thanks to Sean Leonard, Pagoda Arts, Will Farley, and Antony Walsh at Pressure Drop
Published by Domino Publishing / 30 Hertz
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR
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