On July 28, Voision Xi, a Shanghai-based jazz musician, released 5 Loops in Her Way via one of RADII’s favorite music labels — Eating Music. A follow-up to 4 Loops in Her Way, which the artist released last year, the solo EP is the latest addition to her ambient electronic ‘Loops’ series, representing her musical journey from 2020 to 2022.
A veteran of Shanghai’s vibrant jazz scene, Xi formed her own jazz band called Little Happiness Group in 2015. The group released their first EP — titled Debut — in 2018.
Shanghai boasts a rich history of jazz, so much so that the metropolis has been dubbed China’s jazz city. The music genre, which found its way to the city in the 1920s, is still going strong a century later.
Outside her band, Xi works on solo projects marked by naturally warm and touching vocals. For instance, January 2022 saw the release of her first full-length album, Lost for Words.
“My whole life, I’ve had too many people describe me as calm and cool-headed. This kind of ‘compliment’ perhaps shines a light on some of the obstacles and conflicts I experience when trying to express myself through music. Will this temperament of being lost for words come across as the ‘me’ in my music?” mused Xi in an introduction to her first album.
Xi often jumps out of her comfort zone in jazz and explores other music genres like ambient electronic music with the ‘Loops’ series. The epitome of chill, the series is likely to put anyone at ease and is the perfect background music for your next laidback gathering.
In the track titled ‘Too Late to Complain,’ the musician mixes her high and sweet vocals with an upbeat rhythm. Meanwhile, ‘Blackout’ is all about soft instrumentals and vocals that loop around the listener’s head.
But enough reading and more listening: Visit Bandcamp to play some sample tunes before committing to buying the digital album. Also available is a special cassette combining Xi’s previous and current EP along with two bonus tracks.
All images via Instagram
This article was updated at 1:40 PM on August 4, 2022, to clarify that Voision Xi’s new EP is ambient electronic, not jazz, as previously reported.
