Ivy (Chinese singer) explained

Ivy
Native Name:艾菲
Native Name Lang:zh
Birth Name:Deng Wanxing
Birth Date:30 January 1987
Birth Place:Nanning, Guangxi, China
Alma Mater:Guangxi Arts Institute
Years Active:2013–present
Module:
Embed:yes
Genre:Pop, Hip hop, electronic rock, Britpop
Instrument:Vocals

Deng Wanxing (born 30 January 1987), professionally known as Ivy or Ai Fei, is a Chinese singer and dancer. She was born and raised in the Guangxi city of Nanning and received national recognition after finishing third on the first season of Chinese Idol.

Early life

Deng Wanxing was born to a working class single mother in Nanning, Guangxi and is from the Hui ethnic group.[1] She graduated from the Guangxi Arts Institute after enrolling in 2003.[2]

Career

2006–2012: Career beginnings

Ivy frequently performed in bars for work, citing this as useful experience for the development of her live skills.[3] She frequently performed with Jike Junyi, who came third in season one of The Voice of China.

2013: Chinese Idol and rise to fame

Ivy shot to fame after auditioning for Chinese Idol in 2012, auditioning with Beyoncé's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)". Her performance of "Love On Top" was met with widespread acclaim in China, with her all-round abilities as a performer being praised.[4] Despite being a favourite to win[5] the competition, Ivy finished in third place. Following her elimination, she participated in the Chinese Idol Tour of China and signed to the Shengqiang International record label.

2014–2016: Crazy In Love, Heroes of the Remix and Mask Singer

Releasing her first extended play Crazy In Love on April 2, 2014, Ivy experimented in several sounds on her début release, including electronic rock, hip hop and pop.[6] To celebrate the release of her EP, she held a release party at the Space One nightclub in Beijing, which saw her give her a critically praised performance[7] of the EP.

In 2015, English musician Tricky released an alternate version of her single "Shaliaba", entitled "Beijing to Berlin".[8] It received acclaim from The Guardian[9] and acted as the lead single to his album Skilled Mechanics.

In 2016, she appeared as a contestant on Heroes of Remix in a duo with Chinese singer Dany Lee.[10] The duo reached the grand final however lost out on winning to Wowkie Zhang. She then went onto appear as a judge on Mask Singer from weeks one to four.

2017-present: I. Feminism, collaborations and acting

Ivy's second extended play, I. Feminism was released with Yuehua Entertainment and saw her career brought to new highs as she reached number one on the Billboard China V Chart.[11] Preceded by the single "Li Sao",[12] I. Feminism was the only album by a Mainland China female artist to reach number one that year. It was also the tenth best selling album of 2017 in China,[13] spending 24 weeks on the V Chart.[14] "Li Sao" débuted and peaked at #8 on the YinYueTai V Chart,[15] while "Bad Girls Need Love too" peaked at #9.[16]

In 2018, Ivy featured on two tracks by Korean DJ TPA, "China Trap House" with Hong Kong rapper Al Rocco, and "Combo" with Rocco and Korean artist Seungri.[17] [18] She also co-starred in the Chinese drama My Idol as the character Kim.[19] Ivy further released her new single "Barbies Know Know" with Dany Lee.[20] This marked her third collaboration single with Dany, having previously worked with her on the I. Feminism extended play.

Discography

Extended plays

TitleDetailsPeakSales
CHN
Billboard
V Chart

Crazy In Love -
  • CHN: -
I. Feminism 1[23]
  • CHN: -

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positionAlbum
CHN
Billboard
V Chart

"Wake Up"2014Crazy In Love
"Shaliaba"2015
"Beijing to Berlin" (Tricky featuring Ivy)Skilled Mechanics
"Li Sao"20178I. Feminism
"Bad Girls Need Love Too" (featuring Dany Lee)9
"Ambush On All Sides" (featuring Dany Lee)
"How Far Is Happiness"
"Barbies Know Know" (with Dany Lee)2018

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 艾菲是谁 中国梦之声艾菲个人资料 艾菲love on top视频完整版 . 52 Fuqing . 20 July 2019.
  2. Web site: 广艺附中知名校友集锦---艾菲 . Guangxi Arts Institute . 20 July 2019.
  3. Web site: 梦之声艾菲:庆幸曾当六年酒吧歌手 . Sina . Sina Weibo.
  4. Web site: 《夢之聲》艾菲熱辣《Love On Top》凸顯巨星氣質 . KK News . 20 July 2019.
  5. Web site: 南宁妹艾菲拿下梦之声季军 将与林志玲比美(图) . GX News . 20 July 2019.
  6. Web site: Ivy's new album Philippine Love . Yue 365 . 20 July 2019.
  7. Web site: 百万打造绚丽现场 舞台女王艾菲惊艳献唱 . The One Beijing . 20 July 2019.
  8. Web site: Beijing to Berlin . Tricky . 16 February 2020.
  9. Web site: Richards . Sam . Tricky's Beijing To Berlin is another gem from the Brizzle rapper . The Guardian . 30 October 2015 . 16 February 2020.
  10. Web site: 艾菲《盖世英雄 》炸翻全场 鸟叔面前再玩惊艳 . Yule Music . 20 July 2019.
  11. Web site: China V Chart The Week of September 25, 2017 . Yinyuetai . 20 July 2019.
  12. Web site: 艾菲《离骚》 渴望冲破束缚活出自我 . Arts Beijing . 20 July 2019.
  13. Web site: China V Chart Top 10 Albums of 2017 (Mainland). YinYueTai. zh. January 2, 2018.
  14. Web site: YinYueTai V Chart . 6 February 2020.
  15. Web site: Billboard Radio China; YinYueTai V Chart 24th July 2017 . 31 October 2019.
  16. Web site: YinYueTai V Chart . YineYueTai . 6 February 2020.
  17. Web site: China Trap House . Amazon Music . 27 February 2020.
  18. Web site: Combo (feat. Seungri, Al Rocco & Ivy) . Pandora . 27 February 2020.
  19. Web site: Actor: Ivy. Chinese Drama . 20 July 2019.
  20. Web site: Barbies Know Know - Single . iTunes . 22 November 2018 . 18 September 2019.
  21. Web site: YESASIA: Raey In Love . 6 February 2020.
  22. Web site: YinYueTai V Chart . 6 February 2020.
  23. Web site: China V Chart The Week of September 25, 2017 . Yinyuetai . 20 July 2019.