ABOUT
"Original and provocative"
- Brian Eno (NOISE 2014)
"A revelation"
- Max Reinhardt of BBC 3 Late Junction (Latitude Festival 2016)
"Hugely impressive - have a listen, she's terrific"
- James Rhodes
2016 Top 4 Best New Music by BBC Introducing Classical Artists
- BBC Radio 3
"At the forefront of UK's new wave of experimental classical musicians"
- China Sohu News
With a musical style that is as uncategorisable it is captivating, Pianist and Composer, Belle Chen's music is a curious blend of classical, avant-garde, world, electronica, and sound art genres. Her approach to music is unpredictable, often bringing to the audience an element of surprise, yet she retains the tonal aesthetic of classical and neo-classical language in midst of textures drawn from experimental, avant-garde, and world genres.
Chen first gained attention in UK's art music scene with her self-released EP 'Listen, London' in 2014, in which she juxtaposed classical repertoire with field recordings taken around London. Self-released albums Mediterranean Sounds (2016), Mademoiselle (2017), Departure (2019) and Destinations (2020) followed - each with a distinct artistic vision - and earning Chen plaudits from industry heavyweights including Brian Eno ("original and provocative"), James Rhodes ("hugely impressive"), Max Reinhardt ("a revelation"), and BBC Radio 3 (Top 4 Best New Music of 2016 BBC Introducing).
To date, her creativity is acknowledged through a string of awards; while performance highlights include BBC Radio 3 70th Anniversary at Festival Hall, Latitude Festival, Melbourne Recital Centre, and Piano City Milano Midnight Main Stage.
2022 will see Belle Chen's debut commission for the BBC Concert Orchestra (score for the Music and Meditation Podcast) as well as the The Papaya Tree Suite, scored for Piano, Electric Piano, Synth, and String Orchestra - premiered with the BBC Philharmonic.
In live performances, Chen performs multiple instruments - notably an acoustic piano (that is prepared and unprepared through improvisation), synth, and melodica - while sampling electronics and found sound through laptop.