Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hanyü. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Hanyü thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

As a child, I dreamed of many careers, from physicist to writer to linguist. So when I announced in high school that I wanted to be a conductor, everyone thought it was just another phase. I began learning piano at the age of 4, and during my teenage years, I developed a deep passion for orchestral music and composition. I dedicated significant time to learning various instruments, sometimes attending lessons for up to eight in a single week. My ambition was to study composition in college and then move on to conducting.

Before starting university, my father, concerned, asked me, “Are you sure? I don’t know much about the industry, but you’re not Mozart. You have to love this deeply to commit to it for the rest of your life. Do you love music?” I didn’t know how to respond.

I spent two years traveling and learning different languages around the world. Still uncertain about my passion, I chose a university degree that promised stability. Throughout college, I continued to write and study music on the side. I almost settled for the idea of music being just a hobby. However, when I started a nine-to-five job, I realized that traditional careers often require enduring rejection and remaining rational to succeed, which is the opposite of engaging with the delicate nuances of creativity. It was distancing me from my artistic side. I understood that if I continued down this path, one day I might lose my ability to compose. So, I made a choice.

Do I love music? I still don’t have a definitive answer. What I do know is that I cannot stop creating music and that my time is limited. Pursuing the creative path professionally is the result of this realization.

Hanyü, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a Chinese artist based in Toronto. When creating music for myself to sing, my process involves exploring feminist narratives rooted in my personal experiences and crafting each song to capture its core essence. I work both independently and in collaboration with other producers, infusing each project with a unique touch. Over the past year, I’ve delved into various styles, including modern jazz, rock, and blending classical music with pop. I use genre as a tool to enhance the expression of the music.

In my music, each style serves to convey a distinct attitude. For instance, “众乐乐” (Joy) employs jazz to deliver a sarcastic and laid-back commentary on beauty standards. “她活着的最后一个夏天” (Her Last Summer) uses breakbeat to capture the freedom of a woman running through summer rain before marriage. “没有河的国” (A Land Without Rivers) features strings and the pipa to portray the powerful climax of a mother and daughter breaking free from oppression.

In addition to my personal work, I also compose background music for film and produce projects for other artists. This aspect of my work involves a different creative process where I focus on understanding and translating others’ creative intentions. I thoroughly enjoy both types of creative work.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

During my university years, we were taught to strive for perfection in every project. Hand-drawn architectural plans had to be flawless, models needed to be free of glue marks, and every edge line had to be clean and precise. The focus was on continuously refining and perfecting each project. In music creation, it can be counterproductive to endlessly revise a project, applying each minor improvement of oneself. Instead, it is more important to keep generating new work, accept that some projects may not be perfect, and channel your energy into future endeavours to ensure ongoing momentum.

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

My songs, though they narrate the experiences of the women around me and my own personal stories, also serve as a reflection of countless women’s stories The opportunity to amplify their voices through my music is what motivates me.

I don’t believe that individual influence is insignificant. By using my own power to impact those around me, and as countless women affect the lives of countless others, societal change occurs through this ripple effect.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: uhanyua
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@uhanyua
• Other: little red book: hanyüa

Image Credits

1 photo credit: Anna Banana
Stage photo credit: Minnie Yang
Playing piano photo credit: Lola