Deserts Chang
Template:Infobox Chinese-language singer and actor
Deserts Chang (simplified Chinese: 张悬; traditional Chinese: 張懸; pinyin: Zhāng Xuán; born May 30, 1981), also known as Zhang Xuan or Chang Xuan, is a Taiwanese singer-songwriter. She is considered to be one of the leading alternative musicians in the Chinese music industry.
Early life
Deserts Chang was born as Chiao An-p'u (Chinese: 焦安溥; pinyin: Jiāo Ānpǔ) on May 30, 1981 to an upper class family. Her father, Chiao Jen-ho (Chinese: 焦仁和; pinyin: Jiāo Rénhé), is a former secretary-general of the Straits Exchange Foundation. However, Chang has been quoted by the media as saying that she does not want to ride on the success of her father. Her stage name Deserts represents something "mysterious and suggests something hanging in limbo," a representation of her personality.[1]
Chang has started composing when she was 13 and begun to perform on stage at 16. By the age of 19, Chang had written over 100 songs and got the first contract with Sony BMG., However, after recording, photo shooting and several campus performances, nothing happened. The young singer had waited for 5 years for the releasing of her debut album ” My Life Will...”
Though she released her first album in 2006, Chang was well known among live houses, pubs and the Internet before that. Her light and clear voice is heart-touching and inspiring, which attracts many college students and independent music lovers. Chang is also a great guitar player, and writes most of her songs with acoustic guitar.
Career
Chang dropped out of high school because she "couldn't stand the conservative restrictions."[1] She previously performed at pubs before entering the music recording industry.
She was a member of the rock band Mango Runs, named most popular act and winner of the Indie Music Award at the Taipei Ho-Hai-Yan Rock Festival in 2003.[2] Mango Runs was featured in the 2004 documentary Ocean Fever (海洋熱), which followed the stories of several acts at the Ho-Hai-Yan Festival.[3]
Chang's debut album My Life Will... was released on June 9, 2006 under the record label Sony BMG. Although many of her fans objected to the recording deal, Chang promised that her style of music will not change.[1] The album contains her music written between the ages of 13 and 19.
Her presence in the alternative music scene was demonstrated in the 18th Golden Melody Awards, where she received four award nominations. Her debut album was nominated for Best Mandarin Album along with mainstream musicians such as Jolin Tsai.[4] It was previously considered unthinkable for a high-profile Chinese language music awards show to nominate independent artists in its major categories.[5]
The singer has been enjoying growing popularity in Taiwan and mainland China. At the 7th Chinese Music Media Awards in Hong Kong, Chang received the award for Best New Mandarin Artist.[6]
She released her second album Oh, dear. dear. I haven't. (親愛的…我還不知道) on July 20, 2007. For the song 畢竟, she was nominated for Best Lyricist at the 19th Golden Melody Awards.
Since then, she has been joined by three other musicians (Cent, Goodtone, and Sunho) to create a band called Algae. On May 22, 2009, her third album City (城市) was released.
Musical style
Using a guitar as her primary instrument, Chang is known for her coffeehouse music. She is generally considered an indie artist despite having signed with recording giant Sony BMG.[7]
Chang's most downloaded song Baby (寶貝) was written after she turned 13 following a fight with her mother. However, the full song was not realized until later when she had learned how to play a musical instrument.[1]
Discography
- Maybe I Don't Care — March 31, 2005[8]
- My Life Will... — June 9, 2006
- Oh, dear. dear. I haven't. 親愛的…我還不知道 — July 20, 2007
- City 城市 — May 22, 2009
References
- ^ a b c d Yang, Ginger (12 June 2006). "Finding refuge in music". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2007-07-21.
- ^ Woodworth, Max (14 July 2003). "Monkey Insane tops the charts at Ho-Hai-Yan". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2007-07-22.
- ^ Hu, Brian (12 May 2005). "Musical Verite". UCLA Asia Institute. Retrieved 2007-07-22.
- ^ Yi, Ho (8 June 2007). "Return to the music". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2007-07-21.
- ^ Hu, Brian (8 June 2007). "Alternate melodies in Taiwan". UCLA Asia Institute. Retrieved 2007-07-21.
- ^ "7th Chinese Music Media Awards Go Non-Mainstream". CRI English. 1 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-21.
- ^ "Deserts Chang". Seven Castles. 22 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-21.
- ^ Maybe I Don't Care was a self-released album. It contains the same songs as in Chang's official debut album My Life Will..., but they are arranged in a different order.