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Reviewers’ Comments:
“…world music for our contemporary times…with homage to the past. An unexpected aural and mental adventure.”
Tim Ritchie, Sound Quality (ABC Radio National)
“…the sound of an emerging 21st century Australian voice, one that embraces the best elements of the traditional and the contemporary…”
Michael Smith, Drum Media
“…the music is truthful. Filled with humour, it speaks with a modern Australian voice about identity and self perception.”
Mark Franklin, 2SER 107.3FM
“ Thank goodness for creative tenacity, I say. It’s acts like this…that allows us some small sense of respect on the more adventurous end of the international musical landscape…”
John Napier, Music Forum
WeiZen Ho (Director/Performer/Vocalist/Composer/Sound Artist)
“ My parental lineages originate in China’s Fujian province with an upbringing in Malaysia, and my paternal Grandmother’s ancestors migrated to Java before sailing to Singapore, at that time part of Malaya. I have a personal investment in the Asian region, and feeling for Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Singapore and Japan. As I continue to develop my cultural identity I both learn from and give back to my Asian roots through my art. “
WeiZen Ho is a Sydney-based vocalist, musician, composer and performer who immigrated from Malaysia, Malacca Straits in 1990. She began classical piano training with her mother at age 5 and has been performing and co-directing her own contemporary South East Asian-fusion work since 1999 in hybrid performances that include song, movement and visual elements in a theatrical/filmic setting.
WeiZen co-founded TUFA, a South-East Asian electronica group active from 1999 to 2004. TUFA became the initial experimental vehicle in which WeiZen integrated western classical musical technique with her own vocal style to develop a new and contemporary “Asianatic” language. Her vocal style is influenced by Bulgarian, Indian and Sufi devotional singing as well as Chinese Opera, which her grandfather introduced to her as a child. She is a composer and lyricist, combining keyboards and sampler with an original physicality developed through the practice of five element martial arts movement (Pancha Tanmantra, West Java) and Shiatsu bodywork. Since their debut in 1999 at Sydney Opera House, TUFA presented nearly a hundred concerts until 2004. The group incorporated theatrical elements, dance, film and shadow-play.
WeiZen was the composer, vocal and movement performer for Big hART production’s Junk Theory project, in Adelaide Festival 2008 and Sydney Festival 2007. It included conducting music workshops and interviewing community groups within the Shire, then using the resulting material as one of the many means of composing a one-our soundtrack that needed to be integrated with video work projected onto the sails of a Hong Kong junk-boat.
More Selected Works:
Current "Borrowed Language" - Chinese Whispers project in its creative development phase seeking funding, with confirmed residency with Casula Powerhouse Nov 1st 2008. An independent one-woman visualsound-scape performance theatre project. WeiZen as the initiator, is currently collaborating with visual artist Tammy Wong, sound artist Phillip Mar, visual performer/animator Kobie P, movement consultant Anandavalli and co-director Sally Sussman
Mar .08 Elephant House Cross Cultural Laboratory and Symposium, Critical Path
Dec '07 Bundanon Residency, Arthur Boyd's Property
Dec ’06 Acted in radio play “Fragments of Hong Kong”, ABC Radio National
Oct ’06 Beijing: “Touch, Listen” song, sampler, piano and movement concert at South Gate Theatre Space, 798 Art District; Ambient electronica and vocal-scape concert at 2 Kolegas, underground experimental music venue
Jan ’06 Dance performance titled “Dis-Ease” in collaboration with dancers Alfira O’Sullivan and Jade Dewi Tyas Tunggal for the Indonesian Festival at Peace Park, Chippendale
Mid ’05 Recording project contract with ABC Radio National for “Holographic Ear”.
Feb ‘05 Song and Dance performance titled “Kenangan” (Remembrance) at The Actors Studio, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Jan ’05 A series of benefit concerts titled “21 Levels of Grieving” for the victims of the Boxing Day Tsunami in Bandung, West Java associated by 2GB, Radio Mustika and Galeri Sonario.
Dec ‘04 Song and Theatre concert at Braga Festival in Bandung.
Sept ’04 Researched, formulated and conducted Music and Philosophy workshop based on Yin/Yang Principles for the Health Conference, BioEthics Department, University of NSW.
Aug ‘04 Concepted and performed a dance/vocal theatre piece titled “21 Levels of Grieving” at Space 3, Cleveland St, Chippendale.
Mid ‘04 WeiZen made the inevitable move into solo music and dance performance as a result of a touring opportunity in Indonesia. This was organised by Sawung Jabo and included concerts at Taman Budaya (The Cultural Centre) in Surabaya, Music and Performance Arts University in Solo, Kedai Kebun Forum and Gamelan Festival in Yogyakarta, and Rumah Nusantara (The Archipelago House) in Bandung. Vocal and Electronic sampling workshops were held after each concert.
Selected Works of WeiZen as co-founder, musical director, vocalist & Performer of TUFA
June ’04 Documentary of “Femalia” concert at Mardi Gras Festival by ABC TV Asia-Pacific
Feb ’04 3-day music, dance, visual and shadow projection concert “Femalia” for Mardi Gras Festival at Newtown Theatre.
Jan ’04 Interview by the Sydney magazine (The Sydney Morning Herald) published as “People to watch in 2004”
Dec ’03 ABC radio interview and performance for South East Asia “The Lounge”
Oct ’03 Solo performance for “The Audiotheque” concert by ABC Radio National and Carnivale at The Studio, Sydney Opera House
Sept ’03 Music, dance, visual and short film projection concert for MusiCairns Festival, Cairns
Sept '03 Music, dance and theatre concert titled “The Prophecy” to a full house for Sound Mix cultural programme at Government House.
July ’03 ABC Radio National Live to Air on “Sound Quality” programme by Tim Ritchie.
May ’03 Monthly Residency, The Edge Theatre, Newtown till May ’04.
May '03 TUFA’s 2nd album “Femalia” launch – music, dance, visual and shadow projection concert to a full house at Bangarra Dance Theatre, The Wharf.
Oct ’02 2-day “Phoenix Love” concert – music, story-telling, dance, visual and shadow projection at The Studio, Sydney Opera House
Sept ’02 Live to Air concert on SBS Alchemy Radio
Aug ’02 Women Up Front for Café Carnivale at The Studio, Sydney Opera House
Oct ’01 Carnivale Festival at The Studio, Sydney Opera House
“Frigid Show” with Sub Bass Snarl (Sydney’s underground electronica music/visual space)
Sept ’01 TUFA’s debut album launch, Paddington Uniting Church & Earthdance Festival, Windsor
Sept ’00 Music & Visual Projection concert for Primevera Exhibition opening, MCA Sydney
Sept ’99 TUFA’s vocal, electronic music and visual projection debut concert for Café Carnivale at The Studio, Sydney Opera House
Wei Zen’s material combines a deep interest in breaking down boundaries through the beauty of song, dance and theatre. She integrates contemporary methods and technologies in her music and performance, whilst maintaining respect and sensitivity to tradition, For example her vocal and movement performance incorporates the five-element mandala martial arts as well as her Shiatsu practice. The messages underlying her artistic enterprise reflects much of her spiritual practice, which is about integrating our hearts and minds. It looks to use all activities, including the artistic process to take responsibility for our emotions and actions.
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