Tuning In: ZHU

For our next instalment of Tuning In, we speak with Grammy-nominated artist, ZHU. Following his festival show at Creamfields earlier this year, ZHU is returning to Hong Kong for an intimate rooftop performance at Popinjays on August 23.

 

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From his first EP The Nightday in 2014, featuring breakout tracks such as “Faded” and “Cocaine Model,” ZHU has carved out his own lane in dance music, captivating fans with his smooth vocals, characteristic sound, and enigmatic persona. Steeped in anonymity early in his career, wishing to be judged by his music alone, ZHU has since embraced the limelight. Constantly looking to evolve and add new dimensions to his work, whether that be through his NIGHTDAY clothing line, show concepts, or mesmerising audio-visual productions, ZHU always keeps the audience on their toes.

His latest project, Grace, is a two-disc soundtrack album for his first self-directed film coming this Fall. Born in the halls of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco where the artist grew up, the album is dreamy and contemplative — described as a journey from darkness to light, tension to release, and uncertainty to peace.

Following a sold-out performance in Singapore earlier this year, Collective Minds brings ZHU to the heart of Hong Kong on August 23. Tickets are now available online. Head below as we catch up with the artist ahead of the show.

How does it feel to return to Hong Kong? Did you have a chance to explore the city the last time you came for Creamfields?

It feels great to return to HK. The last time I was there, I went to Sai Kung Harbor with my dad to taste some of Hong Kong’s seafood.

Will the upcoming show at Popinjays be more of a live performance or a Blacklizt-style show?

I will be DJing more of a Blacklizt-style show. More intimate on the dance floor.

Do you prefer doing large festival performances or more intimate sessions?

Both are important to me. I want people to feel both the massive energy and the seductive intimacy.

Which format do you think your new album is more suited for?

There are some songs off the album I adapted for the club/festival, but the best way to listen will be to watch the film that is coming later this year.

Recognising that GRACE is a soundtrack album, did the storyboarding for the film come first or did the music come first?

It came simultaneously. Chicken or egg? That was the most challenging part. Making one decision in the film affects the music, and vice versa.

Aside from returning to Grace Cathedral, could you take us to a moment that was formative for the album?

It has been 10 years since I dropped THE NIGHTDAY. The world is a different place today. My art stays. It took me full circle around the world to tell that story. Being able to share new music as soon as it was created was the essence of being at Grace. Standing in the middle with all my fans around me, in the city that inspired much of who I have become was a revelation.

How has the experience been directing your first film?

Both challenging and rewarding. I am a fan of HK cinema, especially Wong Kar Wai, so to be able to make a film that is inspired by my music is very fulfilling.

While there’s been a lot of love for the new album, many fans still feel very nostalgic about your past records. It’s unfair to expect an artist to stay in the same era or soundscape forever but do you have a message for fans still yearning for that sound?

Bass, groove, seduction, my voice, these will never change even as I’m exploring new sounds and realms of music. My core remains but my evolution is undeniable.

Final message?

Since the beginning, there have been many phases of ZHU. A lonely one, a communal one, a deductive one, a psychedelic one, a horny one, a confident one, an appreciative one. This film about GRACE will tell that story. After that, a new album is in the works.