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Queen and Elf

Voision Xi

Label: NetEase CloudMusic
Released: 2024
Duration: 00:46:32
Views: 563

Tracks

1 My Elf, Prologue 吾靈 2 Birdling 小小鳥 3 Muse (for Joyce) 繆斯 4 Truly (after) 關於真相 5 Prelude To A Fortune 夕陽映在雲朵 6 Kagi 鍵 7 Leaf Sheep 葉羊 8 No.8 Signal 八號風球 9 We Could Be Shy 內向的人 10 A Moonbeam, Intro 引月 11 How Do You Hold A Moonbeam? 如何握住月光? 12 Southern Shanghai 上南 13 Truly (before) 真相 14 The Last Sleeper 最後一個睡著的人

Personnel

Voision Xi

vocals

Jun Xiao

guitar

Xiongguan Zhang

guitar

Lawrence Ku

guitar

Wu Yongheng

drums

Efajemue Enenajor Jr Etoroma

drums

Nathaniel Gao

saxophone, alto

Xinlu Chen

saxophone, alto

Fred Grenade

bass, electric

Tsai Wen-Hui

vocals

Alec Haavik

saxophone

Zack Zeng

piano

Guojun Yu

drums

Ryan An

drums

Tian Yuan

poet / spoken word

Suyan Zhao

flute

Ruilin Pan

bass, acoustic

Tao Yu

saxophone, tenor

zuho

flugelhorn

Album Description

“How do you keep a wave upon a sand... How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?” With kindness and a hint of resignation, the nuns describe the optimistic, playful and trouble-making character of the heroine Maria in the classic musical-film "The Sound of Music". Despite always being contrary to the expectations she carried, Maria embarked on a life path that belonged only to her because of her enthusiasm and kindness, and became an "impossible" answer to felicity. The rhyme in the end of ‘Maria’ goes directly to a new clue in the singer-songwriter Voision Xi's second solo album ‘Queen and Elf'. To let go is to have, and leaving means coming back. In our growing up, we gradually realize that those so-called "gray areas" not only accommodate the opposition of black and white, but contain more dimensions; and in all our understandings of "diversity", we can only grasp the personal feelings and judgments. She answers clearly in ‘How Do You Hold A Moonbeam?’, and the slowly unfolding soundscape at the end leads to more. Songwriter Wen-Hui Tsai's voice seems to be another side of Voision Xi’s spirit, creating a deep and wide space along with the iconic tone and ambience from guitarist Xiao Jun; at the same time, “Moonbeam”, as a guide at the beginning of ‘Kagi 鍵’: Inspired by the multiple meanings of the word "kagi" in Japanese, the image of the key and the lock overlaps, which also reflects the trajectory of thoughts throughout the whole process of creation. Such clues are mixed everywhere in this album; "Queen" and "Elf" are not opposites, but more like two flowing images among all sentient beings, two characters guarding each other, like two footholds. In the nearly three years since the release of her debut album ‘Lost for Words’, Voision Xi has never stopped creating: in addition to casually collecting inspirational ideas in life, she’s been experimenting more from outside the music to sliding in the main theme of each project, assigning emotions and scenes with characters, and building her own narrative with the language of music. Originating from jazz, Voision Xi weaved her inspiration into notes and phrases. The single ‘Birdling’ paints a picture of the growth of life, ‘Muse (for Joyce)’ pays tribute to the Brazilian jazz singer Joyce Moreno; ‘Truly (after)’ and ‘Truly (before)’ are either complicated or simplified musical expansions of the poetry of the contemporary Spanish female poet Leticia Sala; ‘No. 8 Signal’ develops associations from the typhoon alarm encountered on the tour, she responds positively with a Hip-Hopish groove at the end of the tune. ‘Leaf Sheep’ captures the wonders of the world from a magical creature in a vibration of electronic Bossa Nova; Actress, and multi-resident artist Tianyuan brings a dramatic tension with spoken words in ‘We Could Be Shy’, and the instrumental performance hovering up at the end of the song, as if it reflects the storm in the hearts of introverts. Surprisingly, the mother's voice in ‘Prelude To A Fortune’ adds a new color to the magnificence and tenderness of the summer evening skyline, constituting a harmonious exchange between the voices of mother and daughter. Similar to the previous album, ‘Queen and Elf’ was produced by and other featured musicians/producers together. There are jazz seniors such as Lawrence Ku, Yongheng Wu, Alec Haavik, Nathaniel Gao, close music partners who’s been working together with her many times as Ryan An, Jun Xiao, Wen-Hui Tsai, Sdewdent, Xiongguan Zhang, Shihai Li, Zack Zeng, Guojun Yu, Fred Grenade, as well as Aflou, Efajemue, zuho, Xinlu Chen, D-Ray, Ruilin Pan and other talents. Under the production of Voision Xi, the tone and musical expression of the whole work are unified and rich in a staggered connection between fourteen tracks. From the introduction of ‘My Elf’ to the fading out of ‘The Last Sleeper’, the sequence of songs in the album is filled up with ups and downs of the natural breathing. And this “building up” creative process is also imprinted with the process of seeking truth and knowledge: in addition to pointing to the confession of the heart, you also need to cast your eyesights to the far distance; it is not difficult to get the answer, but the trajectory of seeking verification seems more valuable. Only by loosening your curled hand can you hold onto the whole night sky. After a complete cycle of the four seasons, ‘Queen and Elf’ was decided to be released in early winter of 2024, hoping to provide the listeners with a special journey at the right time, in the right space.

Album uploaded by Voision Xi