Son Of James put their multi-cultural spin on the Queen classic We Will Rock You in their latest single and video — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The dynamic Vancouver band — renowned for their unique blend of rock, soul, and traditional Chinese music — recorded their cover of the rock anthem for the Chinese Canadian Museum to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act, which came into effect on July 1, 1923.
The act, a landmark of institutionalized racism, consisted of 43 sections that severely restricted Chinese immigration and rights in Canada for nearly a quarter of a century. It exacerbated the hardships initiated by the head tax, leaving lasting scars on the Chinese community. For Son Of James’ frontman Shon Wong, the history is deeply personal: His grandfather immigrated to Canada in 1907, and his father was born in Cranbrook in 1913. Both men endured the profound pain and discrimination brought on by the act.
We Will Rock You serves as a powerful symbol of the resilience and strength of the Chinese community in Canada. “The Chinese have time and time again faced racism and still face it today. We Will Rock You is our line in the sand. We ain’t going anywhere. We gave our blood to help build this country,” say Son Of James.
In addition to their cover of We Will Rock You, Son Of James recently released the single Come On. This track showcases the band’s signature “Chynatruckerfunk” sound, blending gritty rock and funk with the delicate and haunting tones of traditional Chinese instruments.
“Come On is so careening and funky that you’d have a hard time believing what’s making that gritty, swaggering sound is a delicate Chinese instrument,” says Wong. The track features the guzheng (Chinese harp) in the intro, merging genres to create a sound that is both magnetic and magical. “The Chinese have such beautiful instruments that pierce your heart, rip through your soul, and give you goosebumps,” Wong explains. “These instruments are the key ingredients to a Chinese Canadian sound that I am creating. Only with music of our own can we truly celebrate our identity.”
Son Of James includes Michelle Kwan on guzheng, Adam Richards on guitar/bass, Jonathan Reichert on guitar, Johnny Walsh on bass, Mark Hoeppner on keys, Dave Say and Eric Tsang on sax, Jason Overy and Ed Whelan on drums, and Erica Ullyot on vocals.
Check out We Will Rock You above, hear more from Son Of James below, and join the family on their website and Instagram.
