Tzu Sing Tho (Chinese: 涂子訢), known professionally as Tzusing, is a Chinese techno DJ and producer. He is known for his fusion of Chinese folk music and other non-Western instrumentation with industrial techno.[1]
Tzusing 子訢 | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | 涂子訢 Tzu Sing Tho |
| Born | Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia |
| Origin | |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2002 - Present |
| Labels | |
| Publishers | Bedouin Records |
Early life
editTzu Sing was born in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia to mother Bonnie Tu and father Tu Jibing. He was moved early to Singapore, then to Taichung, Taiwan.[2][3][4]
Because of his delinquent behavior during high school, his father moved him to Shanghai, then to San Diego with his uncle. After high school, he studied at Columbia College Chicago, achieving a BA.[5][6][7][4]
Career
edit2002 to 2007
editTzusing began DJing in 2002 at Chicago's smartbar. However, in 2007, he was pressured to return to China and become an entrepreneur by his father; he moved to Kunshan and founded the bike parts company H Plus Son.[1][4]
He returned to DJing at Shanghai's The Shelter, where he became a resident. He was picked up by L.I.E.S. for his 2014-2016 EP run A Name Out Of Place.[5]
2017 to Present
editTzusing's first album release was 2017's 東方不敗 (Dongfang Bubai), lit. 'Invincible East', named after the eponymous character from the wuxia novel The Smiling, Proud Wanderer. Published by L.I.E.S., music from the album was featured in an Adidas-Ivy Park campaign in 2022.[8]
Later in 2017, he released the 5-track 一瞬千撃, transl. In A Moment A Thousand Hits, with Bedouin Records.[9]
In 2021, Tzusing minted a record label, Sea Cucumber, based in Shanghai.[10]
On July 8th, 2021, Tzu Sing Tho was elected to the Giant Bicycles Board of Directors as Director representative of Kinablu Holdings Ltd., of which his mother Bonnie Tu was chairperson.[4]
Tzusing's second album release was in 2023, 绿帽 Green Hat, published by PAN. The album's name and its first track Introduction's monologue are in reference to a Chinese-culture symbol of cuckoldry.[11][12] The music video for its single 偶像包袱(Idol Baggage) was directed by Jesse Kanda and filmed in G-Cans.[6]
Discography
editA Name Out Of Place Pt. 1
- Released: 23 December 2014
- Format: EP
- Label: L.I.E.S.
- Tracks: "1976", "Axis Of Revision", "ISMS", "No Primordial State"
A Name Out Of Place Pt. 2
- Released: 18 May 2015
- Format: EP
- Label: L.I.E.S.
- Tracks: "4 Floors Of Whores", "Frankencense And Myrrh", "Khi-Tang", "O.D.D."
A Name Out Of Place Pt. 3
- Released: 3 January 2017
- Format: EP
- Label: L.I.E.S.
- Tracks: "Face of Electric", "Emotional Eater", "R"
東方不敗 (Dongfang Bubai, transl. Invincible East)
- Released: 19 May 2017
- Label: L.I.E.S.
- Tracks: "日出東方 唯我不敗" (Rì chū dōngfāng wéi wǒ bùbài, transl. "The sun rises in the east, and I am the only one who can't defeat you"), "Digital Properties", "Esther", "King of Hosts", "Nature is Not Created", "Post Soviet Models", "Torque Pulsations"
一瞬千撃 (transl. In A Moment A Thousand Hits)
- Released: October 1 2017
- Format: EP
- Label: Bedouin Records
- Tracks: "Flow State" feat. Illsee, "Shame", "風雲再起", "地心引力抓不住你", "得意先生"
绿帽 Green Hat
- Released: March 31 2023
- Label: PAN, Sea Cucumber
- Director: Jesse Kanda, 偶像包袱 (Idol Baggage)
- Tracks: "Introduction", "趁人之危 (Take Advantage)", "偶像包袱 (Idol Baggage)", "Muscular Theology", "孝忍狠 (Filial Endure Ruthless)", "Balkanize", "Interlude", "Clout Tunnel" feat. Suda, "Exascale", "Gait", "戴綠帽 (Wear Green Hat)", "Residual Stress"
- Singles: "孝忍狠 (Filial Endure Ruthless)", "偶像包袱 (Idol Baggage)"
Awards
edit| Year | Nominated work | Category | Award | Result | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 绿帽 Green Hat | Best electronic album | Wave Music Awards | Nominated | [13] | |
| 2024 | Clout Tunnel | Best electronic song | Wave Music Awards | Nominated | w. Suda | [13] |
References
edit- ^ a b "Shanghai's clubbing uprising", Dazed Magazine, vol. Winter 2018, Dazed Digital, 2018-11-28
- ^ 真的看見自己，就擁有內在的力量Liv 創辦人 杜綉珍《勇敢與真實》 新書發表會 [Truly seeing yourself means you have inner strength. Liv founder Jane Du held a book launch for "Brave and Authentic."], 寰臺新聞 (Taiwan News), 2024-12-21, archived from the original on 2025-02-11
- ^ Reynaldo, Shawn (2017-02-28), L.I.E.S. Affiliate Tzusing on Discovering Electronic Music in Taiwan, Red Bull Music Academy, archived from the original on 2025-04-27
- ^ a b c d 2024 Giant Manufacturing Co Ltd. Annual Report (PDF) (Report). 2025-03-25. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Ryce, Andrew (2017-09-05), Breaking Through: Tzusing, Resident Advisor
- ^ a b Moen, Matt (2023-03-13), The Benevolent Brutalism of Tzusing and Jesse Kanda, PAPER, archived from the original on 2025-01-22
- ^ Ralston, William (2018-03-15), In the Studio: Tzusing, XLR8R Media
- ^ Hawthorn, Carlos (2022-02-12), Tzusing soundtracks Adidas ad with Beyoncé, Resident Advisor
- ^ Ryce, Andrew (2017-11-02), Tzusing - In A Moment A Thousand Hits, Resident Advisor
- ^ Wycech, Olivia (2021-05-04), Tzusing mints a new label, Sea Cucumber, Mixmag Asia, archived from the original on 2021-05-11
- ^ O'Connor, Niamh (2023-09-07), Tzusing's shapeshifting club music, DJMag, archived from the original on 2023-10-21
- ^ Pitchfork: Tzusing: 绿帽 Green Hat Album Review | Pitchfork, accessdate: August 26, 2023
- ^ a b https://wma.wavecommittee.com/reviews/?year=2024