Interview
Xinjian Huang
Having lived and worked in the US and China, Xinjian (Jane) Huang is a versatile music producer, DJ, sound designer, and digital artist who is based in the Bay Area. She speaks her mind and shares her thoughts through music; in addition, she also conceptualizes and designs her own visuals, bringing a cohesive aesthetic to her work. She has a BFA in Musicology from Communication University of China and an MFA in Electronic Music and Recording Media from Mills College. The long-time academic training not only provided her with a solid foundation in the music field, but also, more importantly, sparked her curiosity and interest in exploring different art forms. Her work ranges from fixed music, live performance, to digital arts (including games, animation, interactive installation, etc). She is also the person behind the stage name Armed Byrd, where she just released her debut single “Not Worried.”
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I was born and raised in China. Art has always been a big part of my family — my dad enjoys painting, and my mom loves singing. Like many other children of my generation, I started learning the piano at a young age, around the time when the ‘piano craze’ took off in China. I didn't take it seriously at first, until in middle school when I became obsessed with Japanese anime. The anime OSTs composed by iconic composers like Yoko Kanno and Yasunori Mitsuda ignited my passion for music production. I started getting into game and film scoring in college, and after working on other people's projects, I began to think about creating something for myself. My stage name ‘Armed Byrd’ comes from my childhood nickname. When I was young, I had the nickname ‘Duck,’ of course, in Chinese. If you write ‘Duck’ in Chinese characters, it is ‘鸭.’ And if you split this word, it breaks into ‘甲’ and ‘鸟.’ 甲 means ‘armor’ and 鸟 means ‘bird.’ I've made a few changes to get it to where it is now. Hopefully, the intuitiveness of pictographic language will bring a knowing smile to people's faces.”
What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?
“My debut single ‘Not Worried’ was released recently. The song explores the emotional exhaustion and inner conflict of modern life, especially the pressure to stay productive and creative, while also dealing with the commodification of the self in corporate culture. By the time I was producing the song, tech giants in the Bay Area were going through rounds of massive layoffs. The economic downturn had created a chain reaction across various industries, and some of the talented friends I know lost their jobs. They had contributed their skills to the companies but didn't receive the recognition they deserved. I feel deeply sorry about that. I hope this song can offer some comfort to those who are going through tough times.”
Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?
“It depends on the specific work. For fixed media, mostly in advance. I usually determine the theme of the work before actually starting the creation process, then tailor the production plan around that theme. There may be changes during the actual production process, especially when it comes to multimedia works.”
Are there any art world trends are you following?
“It should be Post-Internet Art. I am interested in vaperwave, Y2K, and many ‘cores’ that are somehow related to the trend. Being part of a generation that has lived through both the present and the post-internet era feels magical, especially as I witness the resurgence of retro internet styles like glitch (there was a malfunctioning TV in my grandma's house) that started gaining popularity after 2020—styles I once experienced firsthand, now coming back as nostalgia.”
What process, materials and techniques do you use to create your artwork?
“I am always interested in emerging technologies in the art field. In addition to fixed music where I pretty much build everything within the DAW, I also create experimental electronic art, such as real-time audio-visual live performances, interactive installations, and even games. The technologies used in my works range from visual programming to physical computing. For example, my VR sound installation ‘Whale Simulator’ was created by combining three different platforms: I drafted the scene in Unity3D, set the trigger of sound events in Wwise, and then programmed the sound interaction in Max/MSP. The VR project aims to provide the audience with a virtual space where they can pretend to be a whale and navigate through the environment by emitting sound. The work has been selected and exhibited at MAGWest 2019.”
“Art is a way for me to express myself.”
What does your art mean to you?
“Art is a way for me to express myself.”
What’s your favourite artwork and why?
“There are so many great artworks in the world. It isn't easy to choose just one. What comes to my mind at this very moment is Shohei Amimori and his album ‘PataMusic.’ It is exciting to hear the fresh voice from the young generation of contemporary composers in Asia. The glitch and colorful chords are fantastic, a well-balanced blend of academic and pop.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“Yes, I recently showed my work at the Kaleido Music Festival, Community Music Center SF (2025). In 2024, my work was showed at the Chinese New Year Gala, Spangenberg Theatre, Palo Alto, CA and in 2020, I showed my work at NSEME, UIUC, IL.”
