The modern-edge version of fairytale music can give way to another landscape, beyond intense experiences, with a touch of dark and sophisticated charm. As shown in the title “Hard-boiled Wonderland And The End of Flame,” Los Angeles-based music composer and producer Yang Zhang sets a fairytale tone to depict the journey of two extremes that manifest another state of emotional exploration. The adventure transforms the mixed feelings, ranging from purity and sentiment to a sense of intensity, boldness, and flaming whirlwind.
Followed by the success of her album, “Recall Of The Fallen Empire,” for which she was nominated for Hollywood Music In Media Awards in 2021 September, composer Yang Zhang furthers her conceptual exploration of emotional cognition by kicking off the next album titled, “Hard-boiled Wonderland And The End of Flame.” She continues to push the limits of the re-defined category of contemporary instrumental by blending with the mixed flavor of extravagant fantasy music. The somewhat dark and edgy ambiance brings more characteristic style-blending to appeal/attract more audiences to its existing genres.
“I am very drawn to the concept of how people can explore the crevices of human thought, feeling, and human minds creatively. There are infinite dimensions to explore the idea from the perspective of musical creativity, to see how the cracks and crevices between vastly different musical styles and elements intertwine one way or another”, explains Yang Zhang, releasing her second album from the series of concepts to develop the continuing theme of “emotional cognition.”
Maintaining the consistency of the unique voice of style-blending and exceptional high-quality music production, Yang Zhang also endeavors to evoke the deepest, mixed feelings of fairy tales hidden in the adult world and modern society. “It is about the exploration of purity, sentiment, and the musical voice of hyper-reality, intertwined with the inner passion and the explosion of warped desires.”, quoted by Yang Zhang, pushing the limit of how twisted musical languages, so-called style-blending, can symbolize the deepest layer of mixed feelings and emotions.
The featured MTV entitled “Hard-Boiled Wonderland And The End Of The Flame” from the eponymous debut album sets the tone of impulsive and symbolic colors to express the boldness of emotional cognition from the concept of the fairytale masked in modern society.
How can this edge version of the fairytale explore the depth of mixed feelings? The complete album is available here. This collection of postmodern elements in the category of fantasy music will reveal the answer to the audience.
