OU | |
---|---|
Origin | Beijing, China |
Genres |
Progressive metal
[1] Progressive rock [2] |
Years active | 2021–present |
Labels | InsideOut Music |
Members | Lynn Wu Zhang Jing Chris Cui Anthony Vanacore |
OU (pronounced oh) is a progressive metal band from Beijing, China, consisting of singer Lynn Wu, guitarist Zhang Jing, bassist Chris Cui, and drummer Anthony Vanacore. Their most recent album, II: Frailty, was released in April 2024. [3]
OU was formed by drummer and primary songwriter Anthony Vanacore, an American ex-pat who is fluent in Mandarin and originally moved to Beijing to work as a music teacher. [4] [5] Vanacore recruited guitarist Zhang Jing and bassist Chris Cui, both veterans of the local rock and jazz music community in Beijing, and later added singer Lynn Wu. [6] The band lists Devin Townsend, The Gathering, and Radiohead as primary influences. [7]
The band signed with the German label InsideOut Music before ever playing live. [8] They are reportedly the first Chinese rock band to sign with a western record label. [6] The head of InsideOut, Thomas Waber, described OU as "Very unique and modern, but still familiar sounding, a rare find these days!" [9] InsideOut released the band's debut album One in May 2022. [2] [10] Lynn Wu gained notice from critics due to her completely Mandarin lyrics and experimental style; several reviewers have compared her singing to Bjork and Kate Bush. [11] [12] [13] The album was also praised for mixing the band's primary progressive metal sound with jazz, electronica, and ambient styles. [6] [14]
OU gained the attention of labelmate Devin Townsend, who signed on to co-produce their second album. [7] [1] The album II: Frailty was released in April 2024, with Townsend contributing backing vocals on the song "Purge". [14] [15] Lynn Wu again earned praise from critics, with one reviewer describing her performance on the album as " tak[ing] it somewhere stranger and more unsettling". [1] Another reviewer praised II: Frailty because "it’s effortless to fall prey to the polyrhythmic hypnosis that OU has mastered," [14] while The Prog Report called the album "one of the year’s most unique releases." [3]
OU | |
---|---|
Origin | Beijing, China |
Genres |
Progressive metal
[1] Progressive rock [2] |
Years active | 2021–present |
Labels | InsideOut Music |
Members | Lynn Wu Zhang Jing Chris Cui Anthony Vanacore |
OU (pronounced oh) is a progressive metal band from Beijing, China, consisting of singer Lynn Wu, guitarist Zhang Jing, bassist Chris Cui, and drummer Anthony Vanacore. Their most recent album, II: Frailty, was released in April 2024. [3]
OU was formed by drummer and primary songwriter Anthony Vanacore, an American ex-pat who is fluent in Mandarin and originally moved to Beijing to work as a music teacher. [4] [5] Vanacore recruited guitarist Zhang Jing and bassist Chris Cui, both veterans of the local rock and jazz music community in Beijing, and later added singer Lynn Wu. [6] The band lists Devin Townsend, The Gathering, and Radiohead as primary influences. [7]
The band signed with the German label InsideOut Music before ever playing live. [8] They are reportedly the first Chinese rock band to sign with a western record label. [6] The head of InsideOut, Thomas Waber, described OU as "Very unique and modern, but still familiar sounding, a rare find these days!" [9] InsideOut released the band's debut album One in May 2022. [2] [10] Lynn Wu gained notice from critics due to her completely Mandarin lyrics and experimental style; several reviewers have compared her singing to Bjork and Kate Bush. [11] [12] [13] The album was also praised for mixing the band's primary progressive metal sound with jazz, electronica, and ambient styles. [6] [14]
OU gained the attention of labelmate Devin Townsend, who signed on to co-produce their second album. [7] [1] The album II: Frailty was released in April 2024, with Townsend contributing backing vocals on the song "Purge". [14] [15] Lynn Wu again earned praise from critics, with one reviewer describing her performance on the album as " tak[ing] it somewhere stranger and more unsettling". [1] Another reviewer praised II: Frailty because "it’s effortless to fall prey to the polyrhythmic hypnosis that OU has mastered," [14] while The Prog Report called the album "one of the year’s most unique releases." [3]