By Christopher KL Lau

CHI2 are Chinese British-born violinists/composers Liz Chi Yen & Sarah Chi Shang Liew. London (UK) born and bred, they are a dynamic fusion of Chinese and electric violins and electronics! C H I 2 perform their inimitable Eastern-tinged contemporary electro-acoustic style to stunning effect. Their style was recently described as "double violin assault specialists (Singapore method)"

Always on the move, CHI2 have toured with Moby ('18' and 'Play' world tours), pop sensation Anastacia (Europe/ UK), electronic duo Lamb (Europe/UK) and have played/recorded with diverse artists such as Boy George, The Orb/KLF project, Nelly Furtado, Goldfrapp, Lamb, Barry Adamson and Uriah Heep.

Dimsum.co.uk chat with musical dynamos Chi2! Liz Chi Yen and Sarah Chi Shang Liew!

Chi2 consist of British Chinese violinists / composers Liz Chi Yen and Sarah Chi Shang Liew whose music can be described as a dynamic fusion of Chinese and electric violins and electronics.

www.dimsum.co.uk – Christopher KL Lau
CHI2 – Liz Chi Yen

www.dimsum.co.uk: Did you always want to be a performing artist when you were young?
CHI2: No, I didn't think I'd be able to be a professional musician - I sort of fell into it by accident. I feel really blessed to be able to do what i love doing!

www.dimsum.co.uk: Chi2?! Where does the name come from?
CHI2: Sarah and I are sisters and one of our Chinese middle names is 'Chi' - I'm Liz Chi Yen Liew and Sarah is Sarah Chi Shang Liew! Hence calling ourselves Chi 2. The Chinese character means precious stone which I think is pretty cool ;)

www.dimsum.co.uk: As sisters, is seeing each other 24/7 hard work?
CHI2: Sometimes! Like all sisters we argue sometimes but generally we get on really well. It is hard working with your sibling sometimes as it's hard to switch off and just be sisters!

www.dimsum.co.uk: Did your family support your career?
CHI2: Our parents have been so supportive - they've been amazing. I guess all the music lessons they paid for have paid off!

www.dimsum.co.uk: How hard was it to turn professional?
CHI2:To be honest, I didn't have a game plan as such! I think a lot of it was down to being at the right place at the right time. I left university and got a job in a publishing company and also gigged in the evenings/weekends. Eventually my music work allowed me to ditch the day job and I've been freelance ever since!

www.dimsum.co.uk: Do you have to constantly practice? How many hours a day do you guys practise?
CHI2: No, I definitely don't practice as much as I should do! I try and play every day although sometimes it isn't possible...

www.dimsum.co.uk: What was the last project you worked on? Did you get to travel the world?
CHI2: I'm actually on tour with Moby at the moment in New Zealand and Australia (we're playing Sydney Opera House tonight!) so hopefully I'll bring home a good tan!! I feel really lucky to be able to travel around the world and play in some
amazing places.

www.dimsum.co.uk: Do you have any advice for people who want to be professional performers?
CHI2: Don't do it!! Only joking. Try to get as good as you can in what you do.

www.dimsum.co.uk: What are your plans for the future?
CHI2: We toured our CHI2 Monkey King show last summer in the UK and we'd love to bring it to Asia and America so watch this space! I also have a new band called LT Chi Sound System which I'm hoping to do shows with in festivals. I've got a good feeling about 2010! New decade and all that - i'm excited to see what new opportunities it brings!

CHI2 Biography: A dynamic fusion of Chinese and electric violins and electronics CHI2 perform their inimitable Eastern-tinged contemporary electro-acoustic style to stunning effect. Recently described as "double violin assault specialists (Singapore method)" CHI2 are Chinese British-born violinists/composers Liz Chi Yen & Sarah Chi Shang Liew.

Drawing on inspiration from their recent tours of South-East Asia, their love of Chinese cinema and their genepool, CHI2 dish up a charismatic blend of ‘East meets West’ rhythms and melodies. Their music is a melting pot of style and influences and improvisations with a plethora of weird noises and the odd sprinkling of live effects, coupled with keyboard wizardry and angelic vocals. Their music is harsh and pulsating one minute and lyrical and beautiful the next, interspersed with textural fragments and snippets of musical conversation, as they communicate in their sisterly language. Combined with specially commissioned visuals, they present a visual and aural feast when they perform live.

With their solid technical grounding and improvisational abilities they have become a much in-demand session duo, and they have toured with Moby ('18' and 'Play' world tours), pop sensation Anastacia (Europe/ UK), electronic duo Lamb (Europe/ UK) and have played/recorded with diverse artists such as Boy George, The Orb/ KLF project, Nelly Furtado, Goldfrapp, Lamb, Barry Adamson and Uriah Heep!

 

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James Laurence - CHI2 Posted 15:19 on 23 August 2010 I would love to hear them live! Does anyone know when and where they will next perform in England? Reply | Quote

Anonymous Posted 14:04 on 14 September 2010 Hi James Liz from Chi2 here sorry I didn't see your question earlier and I've just been asked to reply to it. At the moment we don't have any shows planned we're working on new projects. If you'd like us to put you on our mailing list please send an email to 'email@chi2.co.uk' (dont' worry we only send out very occasional mail outs you won't be bombarded by emails from us!) Please also log on our website www.chi2.co.uk for gig updates, music clips and cds. Thanks so much for your interest! best wishes liz Chi2 Reply | Quote

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