Son of James, the dynamic Vancouver-based band renowned for their unique blend of rock, soul, and traditional Chinese music, is proud to release a powerful cover of Queen’s legendary anthem “We Will Rock You.” This special release is dedicated to the Chinese Canadian Museum to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act, which came into effect on July 1, 1923.
The Chinese Exclusion 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. This Act exacerbated the hardships initiated by the head tax, leaving lasting scars on the Chinese community. For Son of James’ frontman, 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,” says Son of James.
In addition to their cover of “We Will Rock You,” Son of James is excited to announce the release of their new 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 frontman Shon 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 is a Vancouver-born-and-bred Chinatown rock band. They blend the soulful sounds of rock and funk with the mystical sounds of Chinese instrumentation. Led by Shon Wong, a third-generation Chinese Canadian, the band reflects his personal journey of defining his Chinese Canadian identity. Growing up with a family of Chinese Opera actors and performers, music and art have always been integral to Wong’s life.
Son of James features Michelle Kwan on Guzheng, Adam Richards on guitar/bass, Jonathan Reichert on guitar, Johnny Walsh on bass, Mark Hoeppner on keys, Dave Say on sax, Eric Tsang on sax, Jason Overy on drums, Ed Whelan on drums, and Erica Ullyot on vocals.
