The Crane

The Crane emerged in the new wave of Mandarin R&B around 2020, carrying himself with an air of mystique. With a low, mellow voice as his brush, he draws from alternative rock and the indie scene to paint within the canvas of R&B—delicately sketching love and hate through wide-open eyes.

His long hair, distant gaze, and unreadable expression lend him a regal detachment—not so much a prince, but more like Dracula. Having spent years behind the scenes as a musician and member of an experimental electronic band, The Crane reawakened with full-spectrum abilities: music production, songwriting, composing, performing, and singing. Influenced by the likes of Stevie Wonder, Radiohead, Michael Jackson, and Frank Ocean, he draws from an eclectic palette—R&B, indie pop, gospel trap, and alternative rock. A cultural omnivore, he also devours literature, film, mythology, anime, and internet writing across East and West.

In 2022, he released his debut EP Crane Garden and full-length album TALENT, blending retro sounds, contemporary styles, and subcultural aesthetics. His songs range from romantic confessions to nonchalant protests. The breakout track “Ramen Boy” showcased his ability to balance complex sonic flavors—meaty and vegetarian, spicy and subtle—while still serving aesthetic finesse. His soulful ballad “Don’t Mind” further defined what listeners now call “Crane-style Soul,” with restrained lyricism that renders emotional indulgence with elegance.

The Crane has earned critical acclaim and strong support from the younger generation. “Ramen Boy” earned his first Golden Indie Music Award nomination for Best Alternative Pop Song in 2022. The following year, his debut album TALENT was nominated for both Best New Artist and Best Mandarin Male Singer at the 34th Golden Melody Awards. He went on to win Best New Artist and Best R&B Album at the 13th Golden Indie Music Awards, where he was nominated in five categories—an impressive feat for an artist rooted in the independent scene.

In 2023, The Crane expanded his international presence, collaborating with Hong Kong singer-songwriter Gordon Flanders on the track “FIRST CLASS”, and joining Japanese R&B artist SIRUP on their cross-national single “UMAMI,” culminating in a joint performance at SIRUP’s Yokohama show. In 2024, he teamed up with Japanese band ALI for multiple performances and the disco single “NEON”, crafting a soundscape of East Asian metropolitan dreams.

Now in 2025, The Crane joins ROMAD, a new label founded by producer duo Razor and MCKY (formerly known as Forbidden Paradise). His sophomore album Same Stories, Different Narratives introduces him as the villain—a poetic antihero voicing tales of love and vengeance. Aesthetically rooted in the ‘80s and layered with ghostly traces of centuries past, the album is stitched together with postmodern threads. Collaborations include the haunting ballad “Right Side of My Heart” with Award-winner Waa Wei, and “IGLOOOO”, a shimmering duet with Hong Kong singer-songwriter moon tang. As an alternative R&B sorcerer, The Crane continues to send thunderous, unmistakable pulses through a music landscape too often dulled by formula.