Tian Qiyi - Dharma feat. Jah Wobble

Genre-defying UK-based music outfit Tian Qiyi presents their impressive new single 'Dharma' featuring the legendary Jah Wobble on bass. This is the final single to be released ahead of their sophomore album 'Songs For Workers', out June 27 via Pagoda Records.

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.

'Dharma' flows with a captivating blend of Eastern psychedelic melodies and Charlie's ethereal vocals, all underpinned by a hypnotic fusion rhythm and beautifully primordial percussion. As groovy as it is addictive, the trio serve up a truly grounding experience here.

This new offering follows their stunning lead track 'Watch The Sunrise' and Bandcamp exclusive  'Mongolian Dub', a fascinating ethno-psychedelic initiation into this 10-track musical journey. Like much of the goodness found on this album, Tian Qiyi's music bridges generations and cultures, blending deep dub grooves with Eastern traditions.

“Dharma” is a track that brings together our Irish, Chinese, and Mongolian roots. It features flowing, psychedelic melodies, with Charlie’s otherworldly vocals adding to the vibe. The rhythm section, anchored by a laid-back, hypnotic pulse from me on percussion and my dad on bass, creates a psychedelic dub fusion", says John Tian Qi Wardle.

"And 'Songs For Workers' is an album where we have moved away from influences and inspiration, instead embracing instinct and familiarity. Our background played a crucial role, from the traditional Chinese music we learned with our grandad and mum, to the improvisational, instinctive playing we developed from performing and recording with our dad."

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.

Already generating plays from Gideon Coe, Mark Riley and Stuart Maconie on BBC 6 Music, and from John Kennedy on Radio X London, 'Songs For Workers' represents an evolution in their mission to create 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.

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.

As of June 20, 'Dharma' is available on fine digital platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. The full 'Songs for Workers', out on June 27, is available for pre-order. A handful of festival shows will be happening over the summer in support of this album.

LIVE SHOWS

June 27th  LONDON - Rough Trade (with Jah Wobble) - Denmark Street, 5:30 pm
June 28th  LONDON - Merton Art Space (with Jah Wobble), Wimbledon Library
September 19th  LIVERPOOL - Mutant Jazz
October 25th  WHITBY - Whitby Musicport Festival