On April 4, the band will perform at Yugong Yishan, with songs from their upcoming debut album The Erlking, a name borrowed from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's poem.

"The three of us have a lot in common, although we spent our childhood thousands of kilometers away. The cultural background is different but our different approaches to artistic expression expands our music. That is why the three of us have a lot of good ideas to express," says Jiao, 26, who comes from Urumqi, the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, and has studied piano since childhood. She founded 16 Mins together with a guitarist when she was studying at China Communication University three years ago.

16 Mins will be supported by indie rock band The Harridans, who have five musicians from the US, Europe, South America, and Asia. Founded by Daniel Taylor, a singer-songwriter from England, a year ago, the bands music has its roots in '70s rock and folk.

"Not knowing too much about the scene before coming here, it was great to just jump into it and soak it up," Taylor says. He describes Beijing's indie music scene as "sweaty and intense".

"With new live houses springing up and more people coming out to gigs, I can feel a buzz is in the air."

Contact the writer at chennan@chinadaily.com.cn

If you go

8:30 pm, Saturday. Yugong Yishan, 3-2 Zhangzizhong Lu, Dongcheng district, Beijing. 010-8402-8477.

8 pm-10:30 pm, April 10 to 12. Post Mountain Art Space, inside Modern MoMa, No 1, Xiangheyuan Lu (Road), Dongzhimenwai, Dongcheng district, Beijing. 010-8400-4774.