We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ging Zhang a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ging, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The most meaningful project for me has been creating my live music performance that blends psychedelic electronic/Trip Hop music with choreography, VJ visuals, and lighting interaction design.

In these performances, I sing, play instruments, and use dance, visuals, and lighting to deconstruct the music. By interacting with stage props like translucent fabrics, Chinese fans, and wings, I collaborate with lighting designers to transform white gauze into dynamic displays, where light and motion merge seamlessly. I also experiment with aligning body movements and props to LED visuals, synchronizing with the kick drum, glitch sounds, and sonic textures to create an immersive audiovisual experience.Working closely with dancers from the U.S., France, and China, as well as 3D visual artists and lighting designers, I shape a multi-sensory experience that transcends traditional music performances.

As a musician, creative director, and dancer, I aim to deliver a captivating and multidimensional journey, where audiences discover new layers of sound and movement through surprising stage interactions and innovative expressions of music. In addition, the song Aim For Flame in this project won the 2024 International Electronic Competition Award, hosted by Music China.

Ging, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Jingwen Zhang, and my artist name is GING. I am a multidisciplinary musician and music educator based in New York and Beijing. In my personal music project, I explore psychedelic electronic and trip-hop music, blending these genres with modern dance and visual arts to create diverse and avant-garde stage experiences for my audiences.

In 2018, I independently released an 8-song physical album, You’ve Got a Friend, followed by the vinyl record Water under the Modersky Label in China in 2021. I was invited to compose music for New York Fashion Week, performed at the Radiant Wave Music Festival in New York, and was a guest performer at the Open Studio event at SVA in New York. From 2023 to 2024, I embarked on a tour in China and participated in various music festivals.

I am currently working on a new trip-hop album in New York, with several singles already receiving prestigious awards, including the Be Still Media Art Award, the Japan Popular Music Composition Award, and Music China’s International Electronic Music Awards in 2024.

Beyond my own artistic projects, I produce music and write songs for musicians across various genres, including hip-hop, K-pop, C-pop, folk, rock, and experimental music. I also compose for films, advertisements, and 3D visual art projects.

I am a member of two psychedelic bands—one based in Beijing and the other in New York. As a music educator, I teach students in songwriting, music production, guitar, music theory, etc. My students come from diverse backgrounds, and I am passionate about nurturing their creativity and musical skills.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Performing on stage, rehearsing with bands and dancers, and creating my artist project that transcends cultural and artistic boundaries are all processes of self-discovery and self-transcendence. These experiences also serve as the best form of healing, providing strength in the face of life’s challenges.

A few months ago, I was invited to perform at the 2024 Fechos Music Festival in China, attended by over 20,000 people. The feeling of performing and learning alongside so many amazing musicians, bands, lighting designers, and VJs was absolutely incredible. What’s even more touching is seeing some audience members at my shows year after year. I’ve witnessed some fans go from dating to getting married and even bringing their two children to see my performances again. It’s a beautiful reminder of how art can transcend time.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I have been a huge fan of trip-hop and psychedelic downtempo music, which originated in the UK in the 1990s. I have been influenced by artists such as Massive Attack, Sevdaliza, and others.

My goal and mission are to become a Chinese trip-hop musician who creates trip-hop that blends Chinese and English poetry in its lyrics, performed through a fusion of music, choreography, 3D visual arts, lighting design, and Asian elements. This fusion will enable performances at music venues and festivals in different countries.

In this, way, I aim to introduce more trip-hop to the Chinese music market while sharing Chinese culture and philosophy with the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ging.studio
• Instagram: gingartilab
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtDw9rsCDB4

Image Credits

Daniel Haaser
FECHOES Festival Committee
Mr. T
DDC
Hei Ma