OU (band)
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OU | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Beijing, China |
| Genres | Progressive metal[1] Progressive rock[2] |
| Years active | 2021–present |
| Labels | InsideOut Music |
| Members | Lynn Wu Zhang Jing Chris Cui Anthony Vanacore |
| Website | https://www.outheband.com/ |
OU (pronounced oh) is a progressive metal band from Beijing, China, consisting of singer Lynn Wu, guitarist Zhang Jing, bassist Chris Cui, and drummer Anthony Vanacore. Their most recent album, II: Frailty, was released in April 2024.[3]
OU was formed by drummer and primary songwriter Anthony Vanacore, an American ex-pat who is fluent in Mandarin and originally moved to Beijing to work as a music teacher.[4][5] Vanacore recruited guitarist Zhang Jing and bassist Chris Cui, both veterans of the local rock and jazz music community in Beijing, and later added singer Lynn Wu.[6] The band lists Devin Townsend, The Gathering, and Radiohead as primary influences.[7]
The band signed with the German label InsideOut Music before ever playing live.[8] They are reportedly the first Chinese rock band to sign with a western record label.[6] The head of InsideOut, Thomas Waber, described OU as "Very unique and modern, but still familiar sounding, a rare find these days!"[9] InsideOut released the band's debut album One in May 2022.[2][10] Lynn Wu gained notice from critics due to her completely Mandarin lyrics and experimental style; several reviewers have compared her singing to Bjork and Kate Bush.[11][12][13] The album was also praised for mixing the band's primary progressive metal sound with jazz, electronica, and ambient styles.[6][14]
OU gained the attention of labelmate Devin Townsend, who signed on to co-produce their second album.[1][7] The album II: Frailty was released in April 2024, with Townsend contributing backing vocals on the song "Purge".[14][15] Lynn Wu again earned praise from critics, with one reviewer describing her performance on the album as " tak[ing] it somewhere stranger and more unsettling".[1] Another reviewer praised II: Frailty because "it’s effortless to fall prey to the polyrhythmic hypnosis that OU has mastered,"[14] while The Prog Report called the album "one of the year’s most unique releases."[3] Loudwire praised the album as one of the best progressive metal releases of 2024.[16]
Members
- Lynn Wu – vocals
- Zhang Jing – guitar
- Chris Cui – bass
- Anthony Vanacore – drums, programming