Sound of the City: DJ-musician Yu Su chimes in on home, her dream collaborator, and finding comfort in her kitchen
The artist focused on compositional-based projects throughout the pandemic
SOUND OF THE CITY is a series created in partnership by the City of Vancouver and Stir that showcases Vancouver’s diverse music scene, highlighting BIPOC and underrepresented artists and acts. Each edition features a Q&A and a Sound of the City playlist curated by the artist that features some of their favourite local musicians.
Yu Su
Kaifeng-born Yu Su is a composer, DJ, and sound artist. Tapping into an expansive repertoire of “fourth world” ambience and left-field dance music, Yu Su’s emotion-packed compositional punches are best described as organically groovy jazz-bient expeditions between coasts.
Read more about what the artist has going on these days, and listen to Yu Su’s picks on her Sound of the City playlist, below.
1. Hotspring - Resounding -Vancouver
2. Local Artist - Touch Tone -Vancouver
3. Bello Boo - Yellow Theme (Song)
4. Yu Su, Michelle Helene Mackenzie - Little Birds, Moonbath -Vancouver
5. ESB - On Cue
6. x/o, Malibu - wish (Malibou piano rework) -Vancouver
7. RUI HO - Hikari
8. Aiden Ayers - Faure -Vancouver
9. YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA - 灯
10. Duval Timothy, Vegyn - Like
11. Jayda G - Are U Down - Kootenay Klub Mix -Vancouver
12. Candles - Delish89 (I’m Right)
13. Kimmortal - Wyd- Kimstrumental -Vancouver
14. Puzzlehead - Rocky’s Song -Vancouver
15. AUDREY NUNA - damn Right
How are you feeling about life right now?
A little bit anxious about touring again.
How has the pandemic affected your work?
Exactly like every other full-time working musician/DJ: There was a huge pause on live performance. I instead had a year and half of working on other compositional-based projects.
What are you working on right now? Do you have any plans or projects lined up for 2021?
My priority at the moment is writing a sample pack for UK-based label rhythm section; also the Yu Su band, which features Aiden Ayers on bass, Scott Gailey on guitar, and Josh Contant on drums.
Where are you finding solace and comfort?
My kitchen, and long hikes.
What are you most looking forward to once the pandemic passes?
Going back to my hometown, Kaifeng.
What song or album has been in your heavy rotation recently and why?
Thundercat’s “Dragonball Durag”.
Can you give a shoutout to one of your favourite Vancouver musicians or artists? What about them inspires you? *
I love my friend Aiden Ayers. He is one of the most genre-fluid musicians out there.
What would you like to see change in Vancouver?
I want to see more funding/support for independent musicians who aren’t very involved in the business side of the local music industry. I have noticed that a lot of the funding opportunities in B.C. are designed for industry organizations or infrastructures involving things like marketing that aren’t the things that the musicians are supposed to be spending so much time worrying about. I personally have not had much luck receiving support when it comes to creating work, so I would love to see it being more accessible.
Who is your dream collaborator?
Dream collaborator? Laurie Anderson.
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