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.’ 

Manson Luk’s ‘Baptiste’ is an introspective gaze into the role of faith in identity, moving from tension to healing and creation. ‘A Bowl of Fruit’ is an exploration of the meaning of love: ‘As an Australian born Hong-Konger,’ says Luk, ‘small bickerings are frequent in my household. With trauma rooted in miscommunication, all I’ve wanted was a hug from my parents, or a kind word. But sometimes, all I’ve gotten was a bowl of sliced fruit. I used to take this act for granted, but I think there’s a sentimental beauty knowing that no matter what you’ve been through, or how sunken you feel, someone is preparing food for you because they love you.’ 

Hinano Fujisaki’s ‘Sun Bear’ celebrates the beauty in simplicity and in being patient. ‘I am always inspired by the gentleness of Japanese folk and children’s songs,’ says Fujisaki. ‘This music evokes the nostalgia I feel when listening to those melodies.’ ‘Circle Circle’, on the other hand, is playful and energetic, its open improvised sections allowing the band to ‘be free and explore like children playing.’ 

The album closes with Manson Luk’s exuberant The Wild, Wild East: ‘a love letter to the old Kung Fu movies that I watched as a child’. There is, he says, ‘a grace to the art of Hong Kong action cinema that fills me with an electrifying fuzz. With real stunts and real kung fu, there is danger and risk, but the payoff is an orchestra of movement and energy: a roaring engine, sputtering fire, and passion. But every Yang needs its Yin, and the art of Kung Fu brings a serenity and dark beauty slicing through to our childlike fantasies of heroism.’ 

For important information and FAQs, please visit www.merrigong.com.au/staysafe.