ZHEN (Singapore)

Zhen could've just been a sweet simple band playing nice pop melodies that the commercial music market loves to lap up. But bassist and founder, Wendy, never did like the path well-travelled. Instead, with the help of Mo the band manager, she began putting together a band that saw the marrying of progressive rock, hip-hop rap-core and jazz elements in their music.

Bass:

It all started when Wendy heard a bestial growl from the bass in a Pantera recording and swore that she was going to get a bass that could do that. Over many hilarious gigs and hand-span stretching sessions, she grew to learn the spirit of the bass grrroove. Today she espcially digs funk and jazz fusion and bears a proclivity for Jaco Pastorious, Michale Manring, Marcus Miller, Stanely Clark. Wendy also hopes to meet Victor Wooten in the flesh one day. When writing songs for Zhen, she takes her inspiration from Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Rush and Spyro Gyra.

Wendy has sessioned on the bass for the Internationally Acclaimed French Opera Singer EMMA SHAPPLIN in 2004 during her Debut Asian Show in Esplanade (Singapore) Concert Hall, and for International Superstar "SHAGGY" in MTV Asia 2003. Her other gigs include The Kuala Lumpur ASIAN X-GAMES 2004, Riki Hendrix LIVE at Full Moon Bar and Grill 2004 (as Bass Sessionist), 10 months stint at Crazy Elephant (Singapore) Blues-Rock Bar, SOKA Peace Carniva at Singapore Indoor Stadium 2001, Patron’s Day Carnival (Singapore Management University) 2003, Music Box (Esplanade-Singapore) 2003, Red-Volution Party at The Liquid Room: Anchor Beer Launch 2002, Women for Peace Carnival at Fort Canning (UNIFEM) 2002, SSO Concert in the Park & North East Heritage Festival (Singapore Symphony Orchestra) 2002, Semi-Finals at the Battle of the Bands Music Competition (East Coast Europa) 2003.

Guitar:

As a session guitarist, Riez covers a wide repertoire of music in working Top 40 Bands playing Rock, Pop and Progressive Music at various entertainment night spots like eg. Hard Rock Café (Singapore). He has also participated and got into the Semi-Finals at the Battle of the Bands Music Competition 2003, organised by East Coast Europa.

Always open to exploring new avenues of making noise on the guitar, Riez is well aware that music holds no boundaries when it comes to playing in Zhen. He gets his kicks from listening to guitarist extraordinaires John Petrucci, Paul Gilbert, Steve Vai, Edward Van Halen and Vito Bratta.

Riez's arsenal comprises of a 6-string and 7-string Ibanez Guitar, an Applause Semi-Acoustic, a Yamaha Classical, a Boss GT-3 EFX Pedal and ADA MP1.

Drums:

Flo loves to pound away at his drums to the ever challenging genres of Grind Deth Metal. However he also keeps himself versatile and feeds on a regular diet of Funk, Fusion and Pop. Flo digs listening to Dave Weckl, Carter Beauford, Flo Mounier (Crytopsy) and Danny Carey (Tool).

Skilled in delivering heavy drumming, Flo is infamous for his Shadow Kicking Footwork on Double-Pedals and off-time Rhythmic Syncopation. He has wowed young aspiring rock drummers playing at Club V.I.P, Jammerzpit and various other entertainment spots.

Amongst Flo's trash targets are Sabian and Zildjian Cymbals, Pearl Maple 13-inch Snare, Iron Cobra Double-Pedal, and a Yamaha Starclassic and DW drum set. He is still waiting to be endorsed by Ziljian and DW.

Vocals:

Zeph is steeped in grunge and rap influences, and has no qualms with switching from a low bestial growl to a machine-gun rap in a single song. He has recorded a modern rock album in 2000, which was released on an Independent label and anchored promotional gigs for the debut album in various night spots.

His musical inspiration comes in the form of S.T.P, Alice In Chains, Smashing Pumpkins, Foo Fighters (Dave Grohl's rapid furious drumming, awesome guitar playing and deep emotional song-writing), Pearl Jam, Incubus, NIN, Soundgarden and Beastie Boys.

On the other other end of music, Zeph digs the Westside style of rappin' in the US of A like House of Pain and Biohazard and Rage Against the Machine (Zach de la Rocha's straightforwardness in Anti-Government motives whilst lyrical writing in rap harmony). Song writer heros that aspire Zeph are the deceased 'Shanon Hoon' of Blind Melon.

From Zhen's first month of inception, they were already hitting the big stage, playing at none other than the Asian X-Games 2004 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to a large and very appreciative crowd. From there the list of gigs rolls on - the Monday Sessions@Bar None, PowerJam@Zouk, Swing@Cuppage, Riverside@Singapore Indoor Stadium, Sullivan’s Bar & Grill, Titus Blues Avenue(KL) and Paul’s Place(KL).

With eclectic influences culled from the likes of Spyro Gyra, Rush, Alter Bridge, Rage Against the Machine, Liquid Tension Experiment, John Petrucci, Vito Bratta, and Mudvayne, Zhen’s music never ceases to challenge pre-conceptions of music and its parameters.

Wendy(Bassist)-

Wendy's toys consist of 5-String Status S1-Classic Natural, Ibanez 5-string fretless GWB1, Fender 4-String Modified active Pick-ups Precision, Custom Acoustic Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar, Trace Elliot Bass Amp, Boss GT6-B EFX Pedal, Korg Triton, and Korg ER-1 Drum Synthesizer.

Riez(Guitarist)-

Riez's arsenal comprises of a 6-string and 7-string Ibanez Guitar, an Applause Semi-Acoustic, a Yamaha Classical, a Boss GT-3 EFX Pedal and ADA MP1.

Flo(Drummer)-

Amongst Flo's trash targets are Sabian and Zildjian Cymbals, Pearl Maple 13-inch Snare, Iron Cobra Double-Pedal, and a Yamaha Starclassic and DW drum set

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