It’s only been one and a half year since Chinese guitarist Xiongguan Zhang’s relocation back in Shanghai, but the experience is already plenty for the rising star in the city’s jazz scene to write and produce a whole new record. Despite the dark nature of most compositions (you’ll hear it when listening to “Suicide Plan” or “Aren’t You Afraid of the Dark?”), Zhang claims his latest album “Struggles” is actually a product of positive changes in sound, style and approach to music based on his observation of the Shanghai music scene.

If Zhang’s first original work “New Sound from The Past” from 2016 reflects his personal sound when he was living in Boston, his second creation “Struggles” showcases what Zhang experiences when playing with musicians and connecting with audiences in his old home. It took the most active guitarist in Shanghai quite a while to figure out what kind of music would be fitting to the fast-paced metropolis. A lot of changes are made, but instead of panicking from the unsettlement, Zhang embraces all the struggles result from the changes. The outcome is a fresh sound and a new album.

More grooved-based compositions – “Reset”, “Heartbeat” and lyrical melody - “Paradise Wanderer”, “Let’s Dance to the Silent Music” are a big part of what the struggles lead to. The band is now a quartet (sometimes even trio), giving the music a more direct and intimate sound. Electronic music producer Pete Chen from Guangzhou also contributed by giving the album cover a dark yet warm finish.

The highly anticipated record will be revealed on May 28th at ON STAGE SHANGHAI. Three singles will be released from Mid-April to May on Netease Cloud Music. The album and tickets to the release party (which features not only Zhang’s band but also DJs for the after party) are available on Musickid now. Get your copy and listen to what Xiongguan Zhang has to say about his evolution from the struggles.


Pre-order : HTTP://WWW.MUSIKID.COM/NEW/PROJECT/2891


Listen to the album online: HTTP://MUSIC.163.COM/#/ARTIST?ID=1158144


Track list:
1.RESET
2.HEARTBEAT
3.SUICIDE PLAN
4.PARADISE WANDERER
5.SLOW DOWN AND RUN
6.LET'S DANCE TO THE SILENT MUSIC
7.INTRO TO THE DARK
8.AREN'T YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?
9.A BLESSING IN DISGUISE

Guitar & composition: XIONGGUAN ZHANG
Saxophone: KEVIN SUN

Bass: NEIL PATTON
Drums: DOR HERSKOVITS

Producer: XIONGGUAN ZHANG
Recording & Mixing: 
MATT HAYES
Mastering: ERIC KILBURN

Recording Studio: WELLSPRING STUDIO (Jan 14&15 , 2017, Boston)
Photography: Voision Xi, Yutong Qi
Design: Pete Chen