Jesse Zhao
For Boston-based artist and producer Jesse Zhao, music has always been a family language. Inspired by his grandparents—both celebrated vocalists in the 1960s—Jesse’s childhood was steeped in melody. He was playing classical piano by age three and producing his own tracks by age nine. But what truly sets Jesse apart isn’t just his early start; it’s his deep, genuine belief that “Music sounds different, but souls are the same.”
Jesse doesn’t just want to impress listeners; he wants to connect with them. A graduate of Berklee College of Music who trained under Grammy-nominated vocalist Jeremiah Abiah, Jesse certainly has the technical foundation. Yet, his true signature is how he seamlessly blends the deep, emotive grooves of Western Neo-Soul (think D’Angelo and Musiq Soulchild) with the heartfelt storytelling of Mandopop icons like Eason Chan and Khalil Fong.
He has spent years helping other artists find their voice. Scoring documentaries since he was 16 and producing collaborative tracks that have quietly amassed over 10 million streams, Jesse is obsessed with finding the emotional anchor in every project. But his solo work is where his personal narrative shines brightest.
Jesse’s solo discography is a reflection of his own cross-cultural journey. After exploring his sound with his 2021 English-language fusion EP ìnkè, he found himself drawn back to his Mandarin roots. His 2023 jazz-infused track 冰箱 (Refrigerator) and his newly released Mandopop single 離太陽的最佳距離 (Goldilocks Zone) perfectly capture his evolving vibe: meticulous production, rich vocals, and an undeniable, effortless groove.
At his core, Jesse is a storyteller who bridges worlds. He naturally embodies the spirit of the Jade Music Festival, bringing a dynamic, soulful, and distinctly modern energy to Chinese-language music on the global stage.
對來自波士頓的音樂人暨製作人趙杰熹 Jesse Zhao 而言，音樂一直是家人之間共通的語言。他的祖父母都是 1960 年代備受讚譽的歌手，讓趙杰熹從小就在音樂的薰陶下成長。三歲開始學習古典鋼琴，九歲便開始製作自己的音樂。然而，真正讓他與眾不同的，除了年少時便展露的音樂才華，更是他始終深信的一句話：「音樂聽起來各有不同，靈魂卻是相通的。」
趙杰熹 Jesse 希望透過音樂與聽眾建立連結，而不僅僅是展現自己的技巧。畢業於柏克萊音樂學院（Berklee College of Music）的他，曾師從葛萊美獎提名歌手 Jeremiah Abiah，具備扎實的音樂訓練。他最鮮明的創作特色，是將西方 Neo-Soul 的深沉律動與豐沛情感，例如 D'Angelo 和 Musiq Soulchild 的音樂風格，巧妙融合陳奕迅、方大同等華語流行音樂人的細膩敘事。
多年來，Jesse 也持續協助其他音樂人找到自己的聲音。他從 16 歲起便開始為紀錄片配樂，參與製作的合作歌曲累積超過千萬次串流播放。無論參與什麼作品，他始終致力於尋找音樂中最能觸動人心的情感核心。而在個人創作中，他的生命故事與跨文化經驗則有了更鮮明的展現。
Jesse 的個人作品，記錄了他在不同文化之間探索音樂身分的歷程。2021 年，他推出以英語演唱、融合多種曲風的 EP《ìnkè》，隨後逐漸將創作重心轉向自己的華語文化根源。從 2023 年融入爵士元素的〈冰箱〉（Refrigerator），到最新發行的華語流行單曲〈離太陽的最佳距離〉（Goldilocks Zone），都展現出他不斷演進的音樂風格：細膩講究的製作、層次豐富的歌聲，以及自然流暢、令人難以抗拒的律動。
趙杰熹 Jesse Zhao 是一位穿梭於不同文化之間的音樂說故事者。他的創作也呼應了 Jade Music Fest 的精神，以充滿靈魂、活力與當代感的音樂，為全球華語音樂舞台注入嶄新的聲音。
Jade Music Fest is grateful to be held on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish Nation), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation). We acknowledge our privilege to operate on these lands, and commit to work with and be respectful to the Indigenous peoples whose music and culture encourages us to better listen to each other.