Mandarin, a band formed in March 2019 in Shanghai, consists of three top musicians in their respective fields: An Yu (drummer and percussionist), Chace (lead vocalist, keyboardist, guitarist), and Xiao Jun (guitarist and synthesizer player). Rooted in alternative rock, experimental electronic, and dance music genres, as representatives of a new generation of young musicians, they are not satisfied with the established conventions and boundaries, and are constantly exploring the vast possibilities under the name of ‘Ordinary People’ in their musical journey.
An Yu is a young Chinese jazz drummer and educator, a member of the Mandarin band. After graduating from the Jiupai Music School, he was admitted to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music for a major in jazz percussion in 2013 and later studied jazz at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague in the Netherlands. He has performed on stage with many masters such as Jojo Mayer, Jin Baozhang, Dom Famularo, and Virgil Donati. After returning to China, he collaborated with many jazz musicians, including Monique Klemann, JQ withcomb, Alec Haavik, Toby Mak, Li Quan, Li Xiaochuan, Huang Jianyi, Tian, Ren Yuqing, Zhang Xiongguan, Li Shihai, Cao Kan, Zhou Men, and other well-known jazz musicians. He has been invited to visit India, the United Kingdom, Australia, and other countries for performances and teaching activities. He is the first Chinese representative of YAMAHA drums and has participated in the recording of many popular programs, such as ‘Dancing with the Stars’ and ‘Star Show’, and as a guest of the famous musician Li Quan, he participated in the recording of the ‘Song’ festival.In 2020, An Yu delivered a public solo performance titled “Calm Seas” at the Aranya Ordinary Weekend Music Event. Chace, whose real name is Zhu Han, is a multifaceted artist known as a music producer, singer-songwriter, and DJ, as well as the lead vocalist of the Mandarin band. His musical journey began in his childhood, influenced by his family, as he learned jazz and piano. He released his first experimental album, “Alpha Test,” in 2012.
In 2016, Chace’s career took a significant turn when he signed with the renowned Dutch label Barong Family. This collaboration led to the release of his first solo EP, “Destination,” which impressively entered the Apple Music and iTunes music charts Top 10. His popularity surged, making him the first Chinese DJ to perform at the Belgian Tomorrowland festival and the first Chinese artist to grace the main stage of Tomorrowland.
Chace’s international reach continued to expand when he released his first solo EP, “Definition,” under the label of American music producer Diplo’s Mad Decent. He toured various electronic music festivals in Europe and was invited by the world-renowned DJ Martin Garrix to participate in theme performance activities in Ushuaia, Spain.
Chace has also collaborated closely with many international artists and productions, demonstrating his professionalism and practicality. These collaborations include working with DJ Snake, Axwell & Ingrosso, Yellow Claw, Tchami, and GTA, among others.
Upon returning to China, Chace co-founded the music label HOWSHOOD with Hugo and independently established the label MontiArk. In 2020, he signed with Live Nation Asia.
Introducing Xiao Jun, a jazz guitarist, composer, and guitarist of the Mandarin band. He is a signed artist of Dadaoao, representing both the mono generation and Gearxxx generation.Xiao Jun, currently teaching at Nanjing University of the Arts, has an impressive background in music. He completed his undergraduate studies in jazz guitar at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2014. To further his studies, he went to SUNY-Purchase College in New York, USA, where he focused on jazz guitar performance and composition. In 2017, he was recognized as one of the 25 best musicians in 25 years by the school.
In 2016, Xiao Jun’s band was selected as one of the top 6 youth bands in the United States by the Monterey Jazz Festival. His original jazz album, “Triangular Prism,” produced by JZ Music and released by Sony Music, was shortlisted for the Best Instrumental Recording Album Award at the 9th Golden Melody Awards in Taiwan in May 2018. Later in June of the same year, it was nominated for the Best Jazz Performance Album by the 29th Golden Melody Awards.
Xiao Jun’s international recognition continued as he was invited to participate in the Katowice and Kraków International Jazz Festivals in Poland in the same year. In 2021, he collaborated with the Swiss avant-garde group Encor Studio, bringing an extremely innovative music live with sound and light effects in the “Border” unit of the Ordinary Weekend music event. This performance broke the limitations of traditional jazz live.
For those interested in experiencing Xiao Jun’s music, there is an upcoming event. The opening time is Saturday, November 9, starting at 19:30. The performance is expected to last about 90 minutes without an intermission.
