Deserts Chang
Encyclopedia
Deserts Chang also known as Zhang Xuan or Chang Xuan, is a Taiwan
ese singer-songwriter
. She is considered to be one of the leading alternative musicians in the Chinese music industry.
. However, Chang has been quoted by the media as saying that she does not want to ride on the success of her father. Her stage name Deserts represents something "mysterious and suggests something hanging in limbo," a representation of her personality.
Chang started composing when she was 13 and begun to perform on stage at 16. By the age of 19, Chang had written over 100 songs and got the first contract with Sony BMG., However, after recording, photo shooting and several campus performances, nothing happened. The young singer had waited for 5 years for the releasing of her debut album ” My Life Will...”
Though she released her first album in 2006, Chang was well known among live houses, pubs and the Internet
before that. Her light and clear voice is heart-touching and inspiring, which attracts many college students and independent music lovers. Chang is also a guitar player, and writes most of her songs with acoustic guitar.
of high school because she "couldn't stand the conservative restrictions." She previously performed at pubs before entering the music recording industry.
She was a member of the rock band Mango Runs, named most popular act and winner of the Indie Music Award at the Taipei
Ho-Hai-Yan Rock Festival in 2003. Mango Runs was featured in the 2004 documentary
Ocean Fever (海洋熱), which followed the stories of several acts at the Ho-Hai-Yan Festival.
Chang's debut album My Life Will... was released on June 9, 2006 under the record label Sony BMG. Although many of her fans objected to the recording deal, Chang promised that her style of music will not change. The album contains her music written between the ages of 13 and 19.
Her presence in the alternative music scene was demonstrated in the 18th Golden Melody Awards
, where she received four award nominations. Her debut album was nominated for Best Mandarin Album along with mainstream
musicians such as Jolin Tsai
. It was previously considered unthinkable for a high-profile Chinese language
music awards show to nominate independent artists in its major categories.
The singer has been enjoying growing popularity in Taiwan
and mainland China
. At the 7th Chinese Music Media Awards in Hong Kong
, Chang received the award for Best New Mandarin Artist.
She released her second album Oh, dear. dear. I haven't. (親愛的…我還不知道) on July 20, 2007. For the song 畢竟, she was nominated for Best Lyricist at the 19th Golden Melody Awards
.
Since then, she has been joined by three other musicians (Cent, Goodtone, and Sunho) to create a band called Algae. On May 22, 2009, her third album City (城市) was released.
as her primary instrument, Chang is known for her coffeehouse
music. She is generally considered an indie artist despite having signed with recording giant Sony BMG.
Chang's most downloaded song Baby (寶貝) was written after she turned 13 following a fight with her mother. However, the full song was not realized until later when she had learned how to play a musical instrument
.
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
ese singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. She is considered to be one of the leading alternative musicians in the Chinese music industry.
Early life
Deserts Chang was born as Chiao An-p'u on May 30, 1981 to a high socio-economic status family. Her father, Chiao Jen-ho , is a former secretary-general of the Straits Exchange FoundationStraits Exchange Foundation
The Straits Exchange Foundation is a semi-official organization set up by the Republic of China government to handle technical or business matters with the People's Republic of China...
. However, Chang has been quoted by the media as saying that she does not want to ride on the success of her father. Her stage name Deserts represents something "mysterious and suggests something hanging in limbo," a representation of her personality.
Chang started composing when she was 13 and begun to perform on stage at 16. By the age of 19, Chang had written over 100 songs and got the first contract with Sony BMG., However, after recording, photo shooting and several campus performances, nothing happened. The young singer had waited for 5 years for the releasing of her debut album ” My Life Will...”
Though she released her first album in 2006, Chang was well known among live houses, pubs and the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
before that. Her light and clear voice is heart-touching and inspiring, which attracts many college students and independent music lovers. Chang is also a guitar player, and writes most of her songs with acoustic guitar.
Career
Chang dropped outDropping out
Dropping out means leaving a group for either practical reasons, necessities or disillusionment with the system from which the individual in question leaves....
of high school because she "couldn't stand the conservative restrictions." She previously performed at pubs before entering the music recording industry.
She was a member of the rock band Mango Runs, named most popular act and winner of the Indie Music Award at the Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
Ho-Hai-Yan Rock Festival in 2003. Mango Runs was featured in the 2004 documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
Ocean Fever (海洋熱), which followed the stories of several acts at the Ho-Hai-Yan Festival.
Chang's debut album My Life Will... was released on June 9, 2006 under the record label Sony BMG. Although many of her fans objected to the recording deal, Chang promised that her style of music will not change. The album contains her music written between the ages of 13 and 19.
Her presence in the alternative music scene was demonstrated in the 18th Golden Melody Awards
18th Golden Melody Awards
The 18th Golden Melody Awards for the Popular Music Category was held on 16 June 2007 at Taipei Arena in Taipei, Taiwan. It was themed "Mii", which stood for "Music is international".-Summary:...
, where she received four award nominations. Her debut album was nominated for Best Mandarin Album along with mainstream
Mainstream
Mainstream is, generally, the common current thought of the majority. However, the mainstream is far from cohesive; rather the concept is often considered a cultural construct....
musicians such as Jolin Tsai
Jolin Tsai
Jolin Tsai was born on 15 September 1980. She is a Taiwanese Golden Melody Award-winning Mandopop singer, dancer and actor. She is managed by Mars Entertainment Ltd .-Career:...
. It was previously considered unthinkable for a high-profile Chinese language
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
music awards show to nominate independent artists in its major categories.
The singer has been enjoying growing popularity in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
. At the 7th Chinese Music Media Awards in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Chang received the award for Best New Mandarin Artist.
She released her second album Oh, dear. dear. I haven't. (親愛的…我還不知道) on July 20, 2007. For the song 畢竟, she was nominated for Best Lyricist at the 19th Golden Melody Awards
19th Golden Melody Awards
Ceremonies of the 19th Golden Melody Awards were held in Taipei, Taiwan in 2008. Nominees were announced on May 22, 2008, and the award winners in 12 traditional music categories and 23 popular music categories were selected by a panel of 33 judges after four rounds of jury meetings...
.
Since then, she has been joined by three other musicians (Cent, Goodtone, and Sunho) to create a band called Algae. On May 22, 2009, her third album City (城市) was released.
Musical style
Using a guitarGuitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
as her primary instrument, Chang is known for her coffeehouse
Coffeehouse
A coffeehouse or coffee shop is an establishment which primarily serves prepared coffee or other hot beverages. It shares some of the characteristics of a bar, and some of the characteristics of a restaurant, but it is different from a cafeteria. As the name suggests, coffeehouses focus on...
music. She is generally considered an indie artist despite having signed with recording giant Sony BMG.
Chang's most downloaded song Baby (寶貝) was written after she turned 13 following a fight with her mother. However, the full song was not realized until later when she had learned how to play a musical instrument
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
.
Discography
- Maybe I Don't Care — March 31, 2005
- My Life Will... — June 9, 2006
- Dear...I Still Don't Know 親愛的…我還不知道 — July 20, 2007
- City 城市 — May 22, 2009
Awards and nominations
| Year | |Category | 2007 | HITO Radio Music Awards | Best New Female Artist | Deserts Chang |
|---|---|---|
| DJ's Best Loved Album | My Life Will... |