VOL.10
Young Rockers: Let’s just laugh off this serious old world
Jiang Yi and Sun Tianyu carry many labels:
one is an academically trained “theatre kid”,
the other a cross-disciplinary “engineering nerd”.
Hidden within their duo’s name
“Young Rockers”, is an unrealized
dream of a band, and even more, a
life attitude that refuses to play by the
rules.
Their friendship wasn’t always smooth.Only through
mutual tolerance and care did that fragile, abstract
bond become a sanctuary that neither wind nor
rain could damage. They take jokes seriously, turn
“bad puns” into philosophy, and ride
a tandem bike with unwavering spirit. For them,
comedy is not just an act; it is
a corner where they can always laugh out
loud in a tense, serious world.
Q&A
Q1. What does being a “Young Rockers” mean?
Tianyu Sun: Like this tandem bike, it’s got
long wheelbase, so it will not be easy
to turn. I think that’s exactly the spirit
of us “Young Rockers”, forging ahead fearlessly.
Yi Jiang: In comedy there’s a saying: the
heart of comedy is tragedy. When dealing with
life-and-death issues, maybe they don’t have
to be depressing. So we put those emotions
on stage. The core of “Young Rockers”
is to seek difference.
Yi Jiang: Seeking difference comes from believing the
world not need for another identical copy. So
we mix, experiment, innovate, that’s the
“Young Rockers” spirit.
Q2. How do you guys turn “difference” into actual works?
Jiang Yi: When performing on stage, there are
always many uncertainties. So do it without regrets,
go for it decisively, try it first, and
then talk about it later.
Tianyu Sun: At the same time, allow yourself
to let it out. After expressing it, get
some sleep, and let it pass. If it
doesn't pass, express it again. Eventually, it will pass.
Q3. Do you guys think freedom must be experienced alone?
Tianyu Sun: Not necessarily. Freedom isn’t
about the number of people, it’s
about being seen. Writing a sketch alone, fixing
words until late, no one urges you, no
one praises you either. That kind of quiet
is freedom.
Yi Jiang: But when the two of you
are together, you throw a bad pun, he
tops it with an even worse one, you
both laugh, and a whole new sketch comes
out. That feeling of being caught is also
freedom. Freedom isn’t about being alone;
it’s being okay alone and not
forcing yourself when with people.
Q4. As creative partners spending every day together, how do you keep your own “self”?
Yi Jiang: This question is simple. Tianyu has
a song called “Two Selves in the World”
that will answers it.
Tianyu Sun: There are two selves in the
world, one pure, one mottled. There are two
selves in the world — one at peace,
one adrift. One forcing a smile, one pretending
to be silent. Different twists along the same
parallel line.
Tianyu Sun: Keeping our “self” means leaving space for each other: you step
forward, I step back; I step forward, you
make room. The result is more interesting than
anything one could make alone. That’s
our “greater shared joy”, we
each put in our strength and create something
new together.
"It takes two to create a greater shared joy.”