Roc Chen
Roc Chen | |
|---|---|
| Born | Chen Kun 1984 (age 41–42) |
| Other name | Roc Chen |
| Children | 1 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Composer |
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 2012–present |
Roc Chen (Chinese: 陈鲲; pinyin: Chén Kūn; born 1984[1]), also named Chen Kun, is a Chinese composer and a member of the Chinese Musicians Association. Born in Chengdu, Sichuan, he is best known for composing the scores for the documentary A Bite of China,[2] the TV series Red Sorghum, for the film series The Wandering Earth[3] and the blockbuster film Ne Zha 2.[4]
Biography
[edit]Chen spent part of his childhood in Zigong. He began studying music at the age of four. [5] He later attended the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China and the Sichuan Conservatory of Music, where he earned a master's degree in composition. He also studied under the composer Professor Song Mingzhu.[6] In 2022, he served as an award presenter at the closing ceremony and awards ceremony of the 17th Changchun Film Festival in China. In 2023, the Chengdu World Science Fiction Convention appointed him as the promotional ambassador.[7]
Compositions
[edit]Roc Chen's work in film and television is characterised by a fusion of traditional Chinese musical elements with modern orchestral techniques. In television scoring, his work on the series Red Sorghum is notable for its incorporation of the suona, a traditional Chinese wind instrument with a distinctively piercing tone.[8] In the science fiction film The Wandering Earth, Chen collaborated with the British Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and recorded the score at the Abbey Road Studios, formerly the EMI Recording Studios, in London.[9]
In the film Ne Zha 2, Chen blended modern cinematic scoring with traditional sounds of Tuvan throat singing (Khoomei) alongside classical Chinese instruments such as the two-stringed erhu and ceramic xun for a distinctively Chinese modern soundtrack.[10]
Personal life
[edit]Chen's mother was an English teacher at Shuguang Middle School. He has one daughter.[11]
Discography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | CZ12 | Score[12] |
| 2014 | The Legend of Qin | Score |
| 2018 | Kung Fu League | Score |
| 2019 | The Wandering Earth | Score[13] |
| 2023 | The Wandering Earth 2 | Score |
| 2024 | Formed Police Unit | Score |
| 2024 | Into the Mortal World | Score |
| 2025 | Ne Zha 2 | Score[14] |
| 2026 | Pegasus 3 | Score |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Red Sorghum | Score and theme song "Jiuer"[15] |
| 2015 | The Legend of Mi Yue | Ending theme "As Beautiful as a Dream" |
| 2015 | Hua Xu Yin: City of Desperate Love | Score |
| 2018 | Dagger Mastery | Score |
| 2018 | Ever Night | Score |
| 2018 | When We Were Young | Score |
| 2019 | The Legend of Haolan | Score |
| 2019 | Royal Nirvana | Score |
| 2019 | Please Give Me a Pair of Wings | Score |
| 2020 | Handsome Siblings | Score |
| 2020 | The Awakening Age | Score |
| 2022 | Love Between Fairy and Devil | Score |
| 2022 | A Dream of Splendor | Score |
| 2023 | Game Changer | Score |
| 2023 | Flight To You | Score |
| 2023 | Rising With the Wind | Score |
| 2024 | Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Red-Moon Pact | Score |
Documentary
[edit]| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | A Bite of China | Score[16] |
| 2018 | Once Upon a Bite | Score[17] |
| 2020 | Once Upon a Bite: Season 2 | Score |
| 2022 | Once Upon a Bite: Season 4 | Score |
References
[edit]- ↑ "Roc Chen - Biography". IMDb. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ↑ Dave Elliott (17 August 2016). "Interview With Composer Roc Chen". GeekTown.
- ↑ John Berra (1 February 2019). "The Wandering Earth: Review". Screen Daily. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ↑ Qian Gui (18 December 2024). "The Ever-evolving Composer". China Daily. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ↑ Mallow, Nicolette (10 August 2016). "Roc Chen: Music Composer and Asian Creative brings cultures together". Nicolette Mallow. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ↑ "Roc Chen - Biography". IMDb. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ↑ "Chengdu Worldcon Report". Locus Magazine. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ↑ "Red Sorghum". Virtual Feast. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ↑ "Roc Chen: The Wandering Earth Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". High Res Audio. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ↑ "Mongolian Khoomei adds enchanting sound to Ne Zha 2". Bastille Post. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ↑ Red Star News (9 February 2023). "Exclusive Interview: Roc Chen on composing for "The Wandering Earth 2"".
- ↑ Kerr, Elizabeth (20 December 2012). "Jackie Chan's CZ12: Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ↑ Murray, Darren (1 June 2019). "MAAC Review: The Wandering Earth". M.A.A.C. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ↑ "China's 'Ne Zha 2' surges at box office with record-breaking success". CNN. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ↑ 余如波 (8 March 2023). "从《舌尖上的中国》到《流浪地球》 作曲家阿鲲：我使用最多的"乐器"是计算机". 四川在线. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ↑ "《舌尖上的中国》配乐走红 作曲阿鲲谈创作过程". 金融界. 9 May 2014. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014.
- ↑ "Once Upon A Bite". The One Club for Creativity. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
