Folk Metal Artist Nini Music Launches New Instrument – Dao Yu [Taiwan]

Taiwnese fok metal band artist Nini Music has played and studied Chinese Traditional Folk instruments for over 20 years. Last month she released an EP entitled ‘Legends’.

Today she has announced that she has gotten together with the master craftsmen at Blackworm Instruments to design and create a prototype instrument that perfectly blends the sounds of the East and West. This is to be the first of its kind instrument being dubbed the “DaoYu” which in Chinese means Jade Sword and it tells a story.

The DaoYu will be part traditional Chinese folk instrument and part heavy metal shredding machine. Blending modern sounds with thousands of years of tradition. The DaoYu has its roots in Ancient Chinese Culture, Folk Music, and Tradition. It is being modeled after Guan Yu’s (The Taoist God of War) Dragon Blade (weapon) and the color is following that of his Jade Cloak. This design means a lot to Nini, it is a way of preserving her culture and Taoist stories.

With versatility, practicality, uniqueness, audio design, and staying true to roots in mind Nini and Blackworm instruments have together created a concept for an instrument that is going to make waves in the world of Alternative music. Not only is this four-string hybrid lute going to be equipped with two modern pickups and a tremolo bridge it will also have access to be played with a bow like the Chinese Erhu or DaRuan often do. When creating the concept the key focus was to not lose touch with the traditional Chinese folk roots of the instrument and only make it more versatile. The goal is to preserve the past and bring interest to the cultures and sounds of the far east.”

https://www.instagram.com/ninimusic1001