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Master Shen's Sojourn

by Sonic Bodhi

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1.
Shen's Zen 05:20
2.
Zenish Two 12:00
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about

This 3 song EP is an improvisational tribute to Shen Wei, a homeless vagrant who became an overnight internet sensation in China.

Titled 'Vagrant Master' by his internet fans, Shen Wei became a scavenger 10 years ago after quitting his job as a government employee at an auditing bureau in Shanghai. He is rumored to have graduated from Shanghai's Fudan University, one of the top institutions of higher learning in the Middle Kingdom.

Up until March 25, Shen was living in a deserted building and was often seen reading books at the Yanggao Nan Lu Metro Station, according to the report. He has captivated audiences with his “outstanding eloquence” and “logical thoughts.” In videos that have gone viral on TikTok, Shen talks about what he has learned from Chinese classical books, including History as a Mirror and Strategies of the Warring States.

After his story was made public, Shen entered the internet spotlight. According to Beijing News, Shen’s dwelling had been visited by fanatic crowds who wanted to hear him speak or simply take a photo with the vagabond. People would often take selfies with Shen as he was reading or picking up trash. One woman who started livestreaming Shen’s daily routine on TikTok quickly gained over 300,000 followers.

(source: www.thatsmags.com/china/post/27383/why-the-heck-do-people-flock-to-see-a-chinese-scavenger)

China’s latest Internet sensation, The Washington Post reported, has been called the Vagrant Master and Master Shen on the Chinese Internet.

His real name is Shen Wei; he is 52 and a vagabond.

And now, as his social media star has risen, he has vanished. The Post said he's been offline for more than a week, after being spotted guided into a white Mercedes and declaring that he was going "to seek refuge."

The Post reported that his every word has been recorded by live-streamers, shared across social media in the form of 15-to-30-second videos and closely watched and analyzed by millions.

He wasn’t a fan of his fame.

“I hate the Internet,” Shen said. “The Internet has brought me nothing but trouble.”

Shen was found on social media by an audience a bit too shocked someone like him was capable of quoting Aristotle, Confucius and Dante.

He was homeless and appeared with uncombed hair, soiled clothes and unwashed beard.

He became an antihero to an audience attempting to climb social and economic ladders.

Touched by fame, Shen quickly rejected the spotlight.

“I know people are treating me like a monkey,” Shen said. “Nobody came to see me with a pure heart.”

China has almost 830 million Internet users, and more than 70 percent of them now use short-video or live-streaming applications.

By 2020, the short-video sector is expected to exceed $5 billion in market value.

So alas, for now, in the world’s second-largest economy, Shen will no longer contribute.

(source: www.foxnews.com/world/chinese-social-media-star-vanishes-as-internet-fame-soars)

Made with Korg Kronos, Fender Strat, Gibson SG, and Roland SP-404 SX. Done in a single take, as improvisation, so it is not 'finish' quality.

Pay What You Want.

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released September 15, 2019

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Sonic Bodhi

An experimenter in all kinds of genres since the 1980's, including prog rock, jazz, and ambient of various kinds. Also experimental and avant garde.

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