INFO
| Name | Kristen Ng (she/her) |
| Also known as | 伍思听, Kaishandao 开山刀 |
| Born | 1990 |
| Country of Birth | Aotearoa |
| Place of Residence | Chengdu |
| Ethnicities | Chinese (Cantonese) |
| Artform | Literature, Music |
| Decades Active | 2010s, 2020s |
ABOUT
Kristen Ng lives in Chengdu, where she produces music as Kaishandao 开山刀, and runs a website and independent music touring agency called Kiwese.
Ng grew up in Pōneke Wellington. In 2013 she created Kiwese, a multimedia blog covering music, politics, and her travels. That same year, Ng moved to Beijing as a student, before relocating to Chengdu in 2014. There, she became involved with underground music venues and festivals and began working as a freelance writer, translator, and promoter. Through Kiwese, Ng has organised several tours for New Zealand bands visiting China.
Since 2017, Ng has produced and performed electronic music as Kaishandao 开山刀. Mandarin for ‘machete’, Ng describes Kaishandao as chopping together “a lost and found heritage into a playful mash-up of delirious dance music” — counting Camp A Low Hum, Wellington’s DIY music scene, and the “party stamina” of Chengdu’s underground among her influences. As well as playing shows across China and Aotearoa, Kaishandao has featured on Boiler Room and NTS Radio. Ng also helped establish ccdr.live (Chengdu Community Radio), which streams music online weekly, amplifying music and culture from Chengdu and China.
