Feng Zhao and Way Do Thru

Japanese uprising rockstar FENG from China, gained local fame in the underground live music scene in Kyoto.
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From a young age, influenced by the Japanese rock band L’Arc~en~Ciel, FENG from China gained local fame in the underground live music scene during high school. At 18, secretly defying his family’s traditional business, he applied for a music production program at a Japanese university, embarking on a student’s journey. In July at the age of 22, collaborating with three Japanese peers, the rock dream sprouted, giving birth to the band “Way do thru.” Their music blends classic Japanese rock with pop elements, seeking a balance between rebellious rock and mass appeal. The albums “LIES” and “Nightmare” are now available on YouTube, Spotify, and Instagram. The name “Way do thru” is a play on the Chinese pronunciation of “read” and “unread” from the LINE chat app, expressing the band’s cross-cultural spirit for the youth of this era.

Traditionally, East Asians are seen as reserved and introverted, but FENG, as the band’s spiritual leader, advocates for open communication. He envisions a relationship among band members more akin to “family” and “friends” than the distant connections common in traditional Japanese rock bands. Despite the intense competition in Japan’s vibrant music scene, FENG loves the challenge, hoping to make people bounce to their music after just one night, even if they don’t know the band.

Balancing his life as a virtual work machine, FENG finds solace in badminton and ramen. Intensive badminton workouts help him regulate stamina and lung capacity for high-pressure stage performances. FENG believes rock shouldn’t be confined, especially for creators. Defining oneself limits creativity. He aspires to be an unbounded individual positively influencing the world.

In the current era, rock is diverse, a process of mutual selection between the market and works. Rather than passively waiting for market choices, FENG takes a proactive approach. He understands what music the market accepts, what kind of rock people prefer now, and seamlessly incorporates these elements into their works, perhaps defining FENG’s “style.”

His clear goal for the future is to perform at Japan’s Zepp. Operating a recording studio for his band and dreamers alike, FENG has experienced the hardships of an entrepreneur in the past year of band activities. With a new album “LIES” and upcoming release “Nightmare,” relationships within the band have improved, family support for his career has grown, and FENG feels fortunate. Yet, this brave and sensible musician has moments of doubt.

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Comparing himself to a talented friend who gave up music due to real-world factors, FENG faced self-doubt and confusion about his rock dreams. Overcoming these thoughts requires self-adjustment. If the love for music is strong enough to accept the potential challenges, then giving up is not an option. In an era of expanding material needs, music still requires attitude and passion.

So, I asked him: If not in this field, what would you do? Without hesitation, he told me, “No matter how many times, I would still choose music.” I struggled to understand, given the hardships in this field. He smiled and said, “What can I do? Then I’ll go play badminton.”

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Creative Director: Yihan Shao
@yihan_shao
WB: moonwalkstudiolondon.com
Creative Director: Yiyi Zhang
@1111vyyy_
Photographer: Dongzhe Han
@pinanxl1314
Fine Artist/Model: Feng Zhao
@wdt_feng

Feng Zhao

Artist / Model

To learn more about Feng Zhao, visit his Instagram [link].

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