Zodiac – The Wild, Wild East Album Launch

Zodiac is a collaborative four-piece band gathered from Sydney’s vibrant music scene to create a sound rich with passion and storytelling, deeply inspired by their Asian-Australian experiences.

Featuring Jordan Chung on piano, Hinano Fujisaki on tenor sax, Sabine Tapia on double bass and Manson Luk on drums, the ensemble is deeply rooted in the creativity and freedom of contemporary jazz, where each member holds a unique voice. The quartet has been playing across Sydney’s music venues and festivals for several years now, and in 2023 was the Jazz Artist in Residence for radio station 2MBS Fine Music.

The Wild, Wild East is the group’s debut album: a diverse span of songs that reflect on the conflicted feelings attached to growing up in an environment so physically detached from your cultural background. The compositions speak to notions of diaspora, inter-generational disconnect but also gratitude at having a multi-cultural identity.

The album begins with two tracks by Jordan Chung. ‘Set Sail’ is a reflection on the hope and excitement of embarking on a journey to a new country, the anticipation of new horizons and possibilities outweighing the nervousness, fear and sorrow of leaving home behind. ‘Seedling’ is about starting anew, navigating the uncharted territories of identity and belonging and embracing the courage needed to push up through the soil and blossom in a new home. Later in the album. in the track ‘Gratitude’, Chung affirms his thankfulness for the relationships with friends and family that have made it possible to thrive, and for ‘every opportunity I get to play, share and create music.’