Out of the Blind is an upbeat song that Annie Zhou wrote for Guzheng and is accompanied by drums, piano, guitar, and other instruments.
It is about her own journey, as the title says, the power in the music that wants to break through the lows, come out of the daze and gain a new light. The main instrument Guzheng in this song is a rarely seen Chinese folk instrument, and its audience size is small.
In this song, Annie used some cool Guzheng techniques, such as tremolos and bending to show its charm and adapted them with pop style.
Related Interview:
https://lamusicreview.com/2023/01/16/annie-zhou-gains-new-light-in-out-of-the-blind/
Over the Bridge, 2023(April 10th)
Meditative
Over the Bridge is a soothing instrumental piece played on the Guzheng, a traditional Chinese string instrument. The music takes the listener on a journey through a picturesque landscape in China, evoking a sense of peace and relaxation. One special technique used in the middle of the track is Tremolo, which creates a unique and expressive quality to the music. As you listen, you can almost imagine yourself walking along the serene landscape, with the bridge connecting the natural elements and bringing unity to the music.
Out of the Blind is an upbeat song that Annie Zhou wrote for Guzheng and is accompanied by drums, piano, guitar, and other instruments.
It is about her own journey, as the title says, the power in the music that wants to break through the lows, come out of the daze and gain a new light. The main instrument Guzheng in this song is a rarely seen Chinese folk instrument, and its audience size is small.
In this song, Annie used some cool Guzheng techniques, such as tremolos and bending to show its charm and adapted them with pop style.
Related Interview:
https://lamusicreview.com/2023/01/16/annie-zhou-gains-new-light-in-out-of-the-blind/
Out of the Blind, 2023
Alternative Guzheng
Out of the Blind is an upbeat song that Annie Zhou wrote for Guzheng and is accompanied by drums, piano, guitar, and other instruments.
It is about her own journey, as the title says, the power in the music that wants to break through the lows, come out of the daze and gain a new light. The main instrument Guzheng in this song is a rarely seen Chinese folk instrument, and its audience size is small.
In this song, Annie used some cool Guzheng techniques, such as tremolos and bending to show its charm and adapted them with pop style.
Related Interview:
https://lamusicreview.com/2023/01/16/annie-zhou-gains-new-light-in-out-of-the-blind/
West Lake Wander, 2022
Meditative
The song has a calm, contemplative sound. As Annie was creating it, she had in mind a stroll around China's famous West Lake, listening to the lake's ripples as I sat down and looked inward for peace and tranquility.
Written specifically for Guzheng solo. For accompaniment, the left hand plays a set rhythm in the bass register by plucking the strings. The right-hand portion is solid and melodious, speaking softly and slowly in the minimalist style of music.
Annie Zhou: Works for Strings I, 2021
Four pieces for Western strings
Maybe Wondering, 2020
For Guzheng, Piano, and Cello
.png)
There is a light melancholic mood in this song, the main part is like telling a story and slowly moving forward, the chorus is exploring and finding some stability. Guzheng, Piano, and Cello, the three instruments from different cultures are constantly interspersed and blended in this easy listening song, it cleverly mixes the unique and touching timbres and brings the audience a peaceful scene.
Amare Girls, 2021
For Guzheng, Pipa, Violin, and Flute.
"Amare Girls" is composed by Annie Zhou and is dedicated to her band: Amare Girls Band.
Asian instruments are rarely heard in the United States, and it is even rarer to find a band that blends Asian and native American female Artists. In fact, the existence of Amare Girls Band is to advocate for the power of female and racial minorities. In an effort to bring the sounds from different cultures to a wider audience, the band is working hard to explore and innovate, bringing our instruments from different cultures and histories to the stage and playing the sounds of the new century.
In this song, Annie utilizes the special techniques of the Chinese instrument Guzheng and Pipa, such as bending on strings, and tremolos. In the Violin and Flute solo part, Annie designed a dialogue of two different but echoing melodies, fully showing the characteristics of each instrument. In the meanwhile, the rhythm is more vibrant in comparison with traditional Chinese music, depicting our true passion for music across boundaries.
Comtemplation, 2020
Guzheng Solo
This piece was written for Guzheng solo at the end of 2020, and it employs an unusual scale. The introduction is very quiet, with tremolos bringing music in slowly. The next section of the piece is played in an exotic style by the left hand on the bass and the right hand on the main melody. The fast passages use a difficult Guzheng technique to build the mood, and then the music fades out with another tremolo technique. The final section is distant, silent, and ethereal, echoing the beginning.
Guzheng Improvisation: Blue Crush, 2020
Guzheng solo improvisation.
Pure improvisation is frequently the most direct and touching expression, and the performer will guide the listener into a perfect listening experience.
Lunar New Year Overture, 2019
Pop, Festive
This song is dedicated to the biggest Chinese traditional festival – Lunar New Year, which is also called the Spring Festival. During the Lunar New Year, family and friends get together and celebrate. The melody of this song is full of a joyful festival atmosphere, also contains a special Guzheng bending technique on the left side of bridges, which mimics the tone of people talking and adds a unique charm to the music. This song combines the Chinese traditional instrument Guzheng with Western instruments such as Guitar, Bass, Drums, and so on. It interweaves and blends the folk charm with pop elements, emphasizing cultural diversity and the distinctiveness of the Guzheng sound.
Unsettled, 2019
Guzheng solo with arrangements
This piece is one of Annie's attempts to compose cinematic music. The main instrument is the Guzheng and it’s played on a non-traditional scale, accompanied by a orchestration of strings, sound effects and synth. The piece was mixed by Emmy Award winner Kristopher Carter.
Moon Dance, 2017
Guzhen Solo, Mysterious
This is a piece of music written for solitude. The introduction and adagio are characterized by a unique pizzicato technique and a slow and progressively faster melody, creating a mysterious atmosphere from far away to nearby, describing a vast and unknown universe. The Allegro section is lively and enthusiastic, as if a man is on a lonely carnival on the uninhabited moon, and the final section suddenly falls silent and lonely as before.
Raining Dream, 2017
Meditative
.png)
This is a very fresh and soothing guzheng solo piece, like murmuring melancholic sentiments, Some rain sound and western strings were added to the piece as accompaniment, which supports the theme of rain even more.
Spring Sprouts, 2017
Guzheng solo
This Guzheng solo is a very warm and lovely piece of music inspired by the arrival of spring. Anne enjoys outdoor activities, and on this spring hike, she noticed the fresh grass and flower buds about to bloom, and she was moved by the beauty and brevity of life. She started with a Guzheng melody and later added left-hand accompaniment, hoping to use this piece to spread love and hope to everyone, much like a budding flower that blooms after surviving from winter storms.
