Global M-Pop Phenomenon Lay Zhang Debuts “D.N.A CYPHER” Performed by All-Star Chinese Lineup of Artists

 Last December, the abrupt emergence of a mysterious music collective piqued heavy curiosity within the global music industry. As the members associated with this new alliance continued to grow in global recognition, the rise of this stacked ensemble is bound to make huge sensations in the music industry in 2023 with D.N.A Music Alliance, created by the multi-talented musician and global superstar Lay Zhang (LAY). Members in this stacked lineup include Danko, GALI, Victor Ma, Shan Yichun, Wang Ziyi and Vinida, all of whom are hugely popular and talented musicians based in China. Just recently, the seven members of the D.N.A Music Alliance created two group Cyphers, each with a distinct style, to showcase the group’s versatility and talent within the music industry.

The production team consist of global hitmakers such as GRAMMY® award-winning heavyweight producers such as Murda Beatz, who has worked on more than 20 Billboard No. 1 albums, as well as BoogzDaBeast, who has worked with Kanye West for 25 years, and FNZ, the Australian duo, providing a substantial touch of guarantee for music production. This represents the first co-release of Cyphers by multiple top musicians in China, as well as an unprecedented collaboration on a global music project among top-notch producers from 4 countries.

D.N.A Cypher I

D.N.A Music Alliance’s “The Cypher” consists of two parts, the first of which adopts an R&B style for a soothing love song featuring Lay Zhang, Shan Yichun, Wang Ziyi and GALI. With Lay Zhang’s signature singing style setting the tone for the work, GALI injects raw emotions with his stellar rap verses that perfectly compliment the overall vibes of the music. Shan Yichun highlights the quality of a super international singer with her solid prowess, and Wang Ziyi adds unique layers to the piece, heightening its complex sound with exceptional tone shifts.

LIN, an artist who has yet to make his debut under LAY’s Chromosome Entertainment banner, also contributed to the Cypher with his highly recognizable, deep husky voice. While skillfully conveying emotions in Cypher I, the four singers have also successfully created a stunning sense of image that sufficiently illustrates the theme of “love” in this work. Through the combined, concerted efforts of three top-notch producers, the sophisticated post-production more than sufficiently demonstrates the unrivaled competencies of famous producers like BoogzDaBeast and FNZ – both who worked with unparalleled artists such as Kanye West in the past.

D.N.A Cypher II

Juxtaposed against the soothing R&B style in Cypher I, Cypher II carries with it a more authentic hip-hop style, this time a joint creation by Lay Zhang, Danko, Victor Ma and Vinida. Unlike the more lyrical tones spotlighted in Cypher I, part 2 offers an antithetical opportunity to allow these four members to showcase their stunning rapping skills. In terms of production, the work is a manifestation of the strong personal style of Murda Beatz. As a producer ranked on the top of platinum records, the award-winning hitmaker has customized the work that lives up to the highest international standards for the singers. Matouqin, a traditional Chinese string instrument, is flawlessly integrated into the arrangement, another M-Pop concept that LAY has strongly advocated for as a producer.

Building on the rock-solid foundation by Murda Beatz, Lay Zhang, Danko, Victor Ma and Vinida demonstrate their individual musical characteristics to interpret a story about love from an entirely new perspective. The two Cypher pieces by these seven alliance members tell a cohesive narrative through a plethora of different aesthetics and attitudes, all tied together via this theme of “love”.

Murda Beatz is rated by Billboard as the most influential hip-hop producer, topping the list of producers on Billboard Rap. He has produced more than 40 Platinum records. His musical catalog has been played over 1.1 billion times across major streaming media. During his career, he has worked with hip-hop heavyweights Drake, Travis Scott, Migos, Cardi B, Nicki Minaj, Polo G and Lil Baby. The world-renowned producer, BoogzDaBeast, hails from Kanye West founded independent label, G.O.O.D. MUSIC. Forming a close relationship with Kanye West during his youth, BoogzDaBeast collaborated in Kanye West’s monumental album “Donda”, including the eponymous title track “Donda” as well as “Come To Life”. FNZ, another renowned production team, has worked closely with countless artists such as Kanye West, A$AP Rocky, Wiz Khalifa, Chris Brown and MGK. Drake’s “Rich Flex”, which gained explosive success at the beginning of the year is just one of the many other tracks co-produced by the duo and BoogzDaBeast.

With their vigorous efforts to invite top-notch overseas musicians and production teams, D.N.A Music Alliance is committed to building a second-to-none communicative platform for original music, welcoming and encouraging talented Chinese musicians to create high-quality work ready for the global stage, introducing and pushing Chinese music to the world. With such a commitment in mind, the team will continue to work with other high-profile international musicians. Lay Zhang and his label will launch an album later this year. Make sure to follow along, since this is just the beginning as the label continues to grow and develop into an unprecedented musical feast, consisting of more world-renowned music producers, more artists, and, most importantly, exceptional music.

Audien Announces Massive ‘Progressive House Never Died’ Concert Experience in New York City

GRAMMY-nominated dance music icon Audien, popularly known for songs like the Billboard Top 40 hit “Something Better” with Lady Antebellum and his GRAMMY-nominated remix of Bastille’s “Pompeii,” has announced that he will be bringing his ‘Progressive House Never Died’ concert experience to the Big Apple! The show will be held at Brooklyn’s Avant Gardner on Friday, April 21 and will feature support performances from his talented friends and collaborators Frank WalkerHook N SlingMike WilliamsCodeko, and Danny Quest. Pre-sale went live March 9th and sold over 500 tickets in the first 30 seconds. Tickets will officially be on sale Friday, March 10 at 1:00 PM EST!

Last year, Audien brought the ‘Progressive House Never Died’ tour across North America and sold out every show in all major cities, but one city was missing and his East Coast fans took notice. Responding to fans requests, he’s decided to bring the show to New York City for “one of the biggest shows I’ve ever played, and definitely my biggest show in the city;” with plans to bring along some of his friends.

The announcement comes on the heels of his first song release of 2023, the uplifting progressive house anthem “Antidote” featuring Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter-producer JT Roach. The positive grooves of this progressive house record “speaks of being a source of peace in a world of chaos and toxicity” according to JT Roach. The collaboration between Audien, Codeko and JT Roach brings encouraging lyrics and an uplifting beat that is sure to lift listeners spirits and deter any negative energy. JT Roach’s unique voice fills the room with joy and thirst for life as he swings on the captivated melody.

Known for his production prowess and uplifting melodies, Grammy-nominated producer and songwriter Audien has established himself as an icon in the dance community. A staple in the progressive house genre, he garnered the support of industry veterans such as TiëstoAbove & Beyond and Armin van Buuren through an extensive discography that includes collaborations with the likes of ARTYMAX and Echosmith, and official remixes of songs by ColdplayHalseyNile RodgersJess Glynne and Calvin Harris.

Following three releases in 2022 as part of his Progressive House Never Died movement, concertgoers can look forward to seeing him perform this year at Beyond Wonderland, Miami Music Week, Sunset Music Festival, and more. In addition to music festivals, you can catch him at his residency at Resorts World Las Vegas

Elephante and Haliene Release New Melodic Single “Hollow”

The American-Asian DJ Elephante and electro pop singer HALIENE blend their ever-evolving sonic styles in their new single“Hollow,” available now on all streaming platforms. Elephante’s mystical melody wraps around the angelic voice that HALIENE expresses from the hollows of her heart, delivering a vulnerable yet healing track for those broken hearts who still hold a lust for love.

Listen in here:

The new single “Hollow” depicts the emotions of being so close to someone but never being in the same place. It’s where EDM meets a heavenly vocal and evocative melody meets vulnerable lyrics. Any level of divergence between Elephante and HALIENE themselves embraces the contrasts in love and creates a unique creative synergy.

Quote from Elephante: Hollow is such a haunting and poignant song – the first time I heard the demo I got chills and was immediately inspired to dive in. I knew I wanted to make a big melodic bass thing, but with my guitar and a lot of organic sounds to fit around HALIENE’s incredible voice and performance. It threads that needle for me where I can imagine going nuts to it at a festival, but also crying – the perfect balance.

Quote from HALIENE: I wrote Hollow about the process of allowing yourself to be vulnerable with another person. In this often terrifying process, we question if it’s truly safe to allow someone in so deeply…. Fighting the fear that maybe it’s better to remain as a facade of stone, never revealing a single crack beneath. The funny thing is, you can’t keep up the masquerade any longer, so the crumbling is inevitable, and yet incredibly beautiful. The chorus begs the questions, “if I show you all my flaws and vulnerabilities, would you find them beautiful? Would your own weaknesses fill in the cracks? Would you accept me as I am?” Working with Tim (Elephante) on this one was a dream come true and such an honor. His first instinct on the track was really unique and special, and musically brought the lyrics to life instantly. Every time we passed the project back and forth, I found new things I loved in his production! I’m so excited to put Hollow out into the world together.

Coming off the heels of his 88rising debut [NIKI, Rich Brian, Joji] with his hotly-anticipated sophomore album, Heavy Glow, Elephante is continuing his personal, sonic, and performance evolution into 2023. The producer ventured on a 20-market ‘Heavy Glow Tour’ last year, which showcased his guitar skills with stunning, dynamic visuals and effects. The trend-setting, multifaceted talent is set to rock the country’s biggest cities with his new music and jaw dropping performances, including some of the most popular electronic music festivals in North America; with Beyond Wonderland coming at the end of March. The Grand Boston in Boston, Heatwave in Chicago, Escapade in Ottawa, and the iconic Moonrise Festival in Baltimore are also on his calendar in the coming months, and with his innovative beats and unmatched energy, Elephante is expected to deliver electrifying sets that will leave fans mesmerized.

For more information, please visit www.elephantemusic.com

UPCOMING DATES: 

Mar 24 — San Bernardino, CA — Beyond Wonderland 2023

Apr 7 — Boston, MA — The Grand Boston

Jun 11 — Chicago, IL — Heatwave 2023

Jun 25 — Ottawa, ON — Escapade 2023

Aug 13 — Baltimore, MD — Moonrise Festival 2023

CHIC CHOC Debut Electro Pop Single “Freedom” Out Today

CHIC CHOC’s “Freedom” is a pulsating techno and dance single reminiscent of Massive Attack and Calvin Harris with a hint of softer pop elements similar to Dua Lipa.

The song is about women’s rights around the world, which also brings attention to the recent Iran protests that have sparked in the aftermath of the killing-in-custody of the 22 year old Mahsa Amini. “This event sparked one of the largest women lead movements in history and our song is in support of this,” shares the trio. “We believe that even if one woman does not have freedom, our freedom is incomplete. We hope to be able to inspire social change using our music as a medium.”  

“Freedom“ is an anthem for bringing on change, written with the intention to bring light to the constant battle for women’s rights. Each of the cities they sing about have particular instances associated with them where women were treated unjustly. 

CHIC CHOC is an electronic music collaboration between long time music veterans Connie Yin, Neda Zahraie, and Christina Crossin, actualized in 2019. The trio composes using drum machines, synthesizers, guitars, voice and a variety of sound filters and pedals. Listeners should expect a danceable groove, informed lyrics and an unexpected yet supremely elegant shift in feel and attitude from song to song.

Connect with CHIC CHOC

Website / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Spotify / Soundcloud

Video Voyager: Kristen Rae Bowden’s Video for “Hard to Love”

Kristen Rae Bowden

Kristen Rae Bowden’s work is a penchant for clever metaphorical turns of phrases, raw emotionality, and imaginative musical arrangements. Her musicality stretches through adventurous journeys with a dramatic flair, melding classic rock and prog-rock melodies to highly personal emotional explorations. She counts as inspiration such diverse artists as Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, Primus, Radiohead, Joni Mitchell, John Prine, and legendary musical theater composer Stephen Sondheim.

Her new single “Hard to Love” was actually written with an unanswered question in mind: Can you restart a heart? Kristen didn’t have the answer at the time of writing this which is why the song never answers the question definitively.

The video visually pulses alongside the music. When the chorus arrives, there’s a depiction a woman forming in the lines of the beating heart. She breaks out, shattering the heart and finds freedom. Set in a magenta hue, Kristen is seen singing the verses, almost like she trying to find the answer to her question.

We spoke with Kristen about her video, what it means, and how she came up with the idea of the video:

Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically in this way?

When I wrote “Hard to Love” I was grappling with what you might call “post-broken-heart syndrome”. Just like a physical wound scars over with harder, less flexible skin, I felt my broken heart had healed in many ways, but I felt numb, hardened, and incapable of intimacy. I thought, is this my new normal? Feeling so much less alive than I used to? And I realized I was hiding, dimming my light on purpose, so I couldn’t get hurt again. 

The story of “Hard to Love” is all about that feeling: hardening your heart after a breakup like it’s a fortress, not letting anyone all the way in. And at the same time missing how it felt when your heart was open and you were vulnerable, but free. You can’t have both. You can’t shore up your defenses so you don’t get hurt and live life to it’s fullest simultaneously. 

The song is centered around a metaphorical question: “Can you restart a heart?” Given its inspiration, when I wrote the song I knew I wanted it to be centered sonically around a heartbeat. And then when it came to the video, I was excited to get to see that heart beating. So I knew I wanted animation to be the vehicle. 

I also wanted the world of the video to be different from the real world, to express how alien, fake, and two dimensional the world can feel when you’re anxious and hiding yourself.

What was the inspiration behind this video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?

I wanted to metaphorically express the way “post-broken-heart syndrome” feels, and I knew the heart would be the central image. So I came up with the idea of a girl hiding inside of her heart, which she’s turned into a fortress of protection. No one is allowed in, but no one is allowed out either, so she has essentially imprisoned herself for her own safety. Veins turn to vines and wrap around her wrists and ankles like shackles. 

She grows weary of her self-imposed cage and breaks the heart in order to be free, but even then she finds herself on a cliff, alone. All of this imagery, to me, really works to express the feelings of a fear of intimacy.

I also thought the video should have a human aspect. I’m there singing the song in this pink x-ray landscape where a human is out of place and shouldn’t really exist. That’s how I felt when I wrote the song, lost in uncharted territory.

The storyline shifts in the bridge of the song, and I love that you can see my human frustration in that “I can’t go on this way” moment. 

The lyrics of the song never offer any hope or assurance that yes, you can “restart a heart”, but the musical section after the bridge has the feeling of hope and triumph. I wanted the video imagery to push that feeling into a certainty. So I went with the idea of growth and blooming to represent that hope, and I love watching the glowing heart grow into a garden.

What was the process of making this video?

I had been playing with the FlipaClip app (flip-book style animation) while dreaming up the conceptual images for this video, so I learned a little bit about how time consuming animation can be and what an awesome skill it is. I knew I wanted the finished video to look more artistically advanced than anything I was going to be able to do.

Through a mutual friend I was very lucky to find Pat Bradley, award-winning animator and illustrator at Spring Shoe Animation. I was thrilled when he signed on for the animated portions, and to edit the video into the imaginary pink x-ray world. I sent him the storyboard I’d made with pieces of amateur animation and drawings of the girl in the heart, and we set up the video shoot together through more mutual friends, Sanjay Suchak and Stephen Thomas.

The video shoot itself was a lot of fun. I sang along with the song in front of a green screen, and though it took me a couple hours to loosen up, eventually I was able to let go of my inhibitions and really express some of that frustration and movement you see in the final product.

Pat did an incredible job taking my crudely drawn ideas and putting them into cohesive, flowing lines that tell the story of the song. He also integrated me into the animated world in a way that I hadn’t imagined. 

Connect with Kristen Rae Bowden via:

Website // Instagram // Facebook // Twitter // YouTube // TikTok // Spotity // Soundcloud

KALEN Debuts Gorgeous Electro Pop EP Out Now

Singer, songwriter and musician KALEN leapt headfirst into early aughts Brooklyn – a vibrant music scene blooming in derelict DIY venues and undisclosed loft parties off the L train. With her ‘feet on the ground and her head in the sky,’ this New England native hauled her keyboard and amp up and down Bedford Ave, forging a sound rooted in soul, funk and electronic music. During residencies at Alligator Lounge and Spike Hill, Kalen became a neighborhood mainstay, performing high-kicks and jumping off amps in kinetic kinship with the audience.


More recently she’s exploring electronic music through the sinewy beats of her ‘Death By Piano’ (Hi-4-Head Records) project and performing with ambient rock band Late Sea, all while continuing her solo project KALEN. 

Regardless of musical genre, KALEN grabs your collar and pulls you into a compassionate embrace — her voice at once playful and penetrating, jazzy and soulful. Her confessional lyrics, heralded by American Songwriter, reveal the joys and heartbreaks of artisthood in the midst of Brooklyn’s culture-shifting drumfire.

She’s performed at Brooklyn Bowl, Rough Trade, & Joe’s Pub, DC9 (Washington D.C.) and Hotel Café & The Mint (LA). During the pandemic, KALEN brought us into her world streaming her moody tunes in late night solo sessions. Performing live again KALEN tailors each performance (and the accompanying visuals) to the specific site and space, from analog slide projectors coupled with poetry and acoustic bands in Brownstoner salons to projection mapping and thumping tracks with a full electric band on stages around NYC.

Connect with KALEN

Website // Instagram // Facebook // TikTok // YouTube // Spotify