SilkBeat

SilkBeat is a duo blending Peruvian and Chinese influences through vocals, piano, and the Chinese zither (guzheng). Featuring Strathmore Artist in Residence alumni JChris (vocals/piano) and Qi Yu (guzheng), the ensemble performs with a full band in a program spanning musical traditions of Latin America and East Asia.  

Inspired by the Silk Road’s legacy of cultural exchange, SilkBeat draws together melodies and rhythms from Peru and China into a contemporary framework. The repertoire includes new arrangements of traditional music alongside original compositions in Spanish and Chinese, shaped by pentatonic melodies, Eastern timbres, Afro-Peruvian grooves, cajón rhythms, and elements of modern composition.