Du Yun: No Safety Net

Unlike composers who grew up in the United States where just about any kind of music seems part of our tradition, Shanghai-born Du Yun approaches all traditions as somehow exotic, whether classical, pop, avant-garde, or even the traditional Chinese music that deeply influences so many other Chinese émigré composers. In a conversation with Frank J. Oteri and filmed by Molly Sheridan, Du Yun explains why she feels compelled to constantly take risks in her music and how being able to perceive the world beyond binaries has allowed her to freely incorporate all kinds of music into a personal aesthetic.