| OU | |
| Origin: | Beijing, China |
| Years Active: | 2021 - present |
| Current Members: | Lynn Wu Zhang Jing Chris Cui Anthony Vanacore |
OU (pronounced oh) is a progressive metal band from Beijing, China, consisting of singer Lynn Wu, guitarist Zhang Jing, bassist Chris Cui, and drummer Anthony Vanacore. Their most recent album, II: Frailty, was released in April 2024.[1]
OU was formed by drummer and primary songwriter Anthony Vanacore, an American ex-pat who is fluent in Mandarin and originally moved to Beijing to work as a music teacher.[2] [3] Vanacore recruited guitarist Zhang Jing and bassist Chris Cui, both veterans of the local rock and jazz music community in Beijing, and later added singer Lynn Wu.[4] The band lists Devin Townsend, The Gathering, and Radiohead as primary influences.[5]
The band signed with the German label InsideOut Music before ever playing live.[6] They are reportedly the first Chinese rock band to sign with a western record label. The head of InsideOut, Thomas Waber, described OU as "Very unique and modern, but still familiar sounding, a rare find these days!"[7] InsideOut released the band's debut album One in May 2022.[8] [9] Lynn Wu gained notice from critics due to her completely Mandarin lyrics and experimental style; several reviewers have compared her singing to Bjork and Kate Bush.[10] [11] [12] The album was also praised for mixing the band's primary progressive metal sound with jazz, electronica, and ambient styles.[13]
OU gained the attention of labelmate Devin Townsend, who signed on to co-produce their second album.[14] The album II: Frailty was released in April 2024, with Townsend contributing backing vocals on the song "Purge".[15] Lynn Wu again earned praise from critics, with one reviewer describing her performance on the album as " tak[ing] it somewhere stranger and more unsettling". Another reviewer praised II: Frailty because "it’s effortless to fall prey to the polyrhythmic hypnosis that OU has mastered," while The Prog Report called the album "one of the year’s most unique releases."