The 18-year-old Taiwanese virtuoso has become an internet sensation drawing millions of views on YouTube for his astonishing prowess on the ukulele. He plays Tip Top Deluxe on Sunday.
Small, But Holding Incredible Musical Potential: Feng E on the ukulele. (Courtesy Photo)
SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEOS OF FENG E ON UKULELE
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Come Sunday evening (Oct. 5), Grand Rapids’ Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill will welcome the sound of Nirvana, Harry Styles, Michael Jackson and more to the stage, courtesy of virtuoso Taiwanese musician Feng E.
He plays hits by those artists and others — even Jimi Hendrix — along with his own striking originals, all on ukulele.
Yes, ukulele.
Do not be alarmed. In his hands, the ukulele is capable of fiery rhythms and fierce lead lines. A quick listen to online postings, from Spotify to Youtube, demonstrates his immense skill and the instrument’s tunefulness.
“It’s small, but it holds incredible musical potential,” Feng E told Local Spins in an email interview.
The 18-year-old has played the ukulele since he was 4. His kindergarten teacher noticed that he was having a hard time with his hand coordination. He couldn’t draw a straight line or form a ball out of clay, and she recommended some sort of training to help his development.
A Special ‘Live Experience’ Set for Tip Top Deluxe: Feng E (Courtesy Photo)
So, his father initially started him on piano.
“My father actually felt it was a regret in his own childhood not to have studied piano and built a solid musical foundation, so he wanted me to learn,” Feng says. But Feng resisted, so his father turned to ukulele, which was a better size and more portable. To help keep him on track, his father offered to play Legos with him after each lesson, and Feng was soon on his way.
Now, more than a decade in, Feng has mastered five musical instruments, including that pesky piano. Feng E has become a star in the world of ukulele music, performing and winning competitions around the world in places like Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, China and Hawaii. He performed on “Asia’s Got Talent” in 2017, where he was the only competitor to get the Golden Buzzer from producer David Foster.
Today, his fame continues to spread through his live performances but mostly via his various ukulele covers of popular music on Youtube, where he has over 600,000 subscribers and boasts millions of views. While that medium is what led to his fame, Feng says live performance offers an opportunity for both performer and audience to share in the music at the same time.
“There are times when the impact of music simply can’t be transmitted online. The live experience is still something very special, and it can’t really be replaced.”
‘RARE TO SEE SUCH A REFINED UKULELE PERFORMANCE’
Feng G has grown comfortable playing with bands as well as solo. “I’ve played with all kinds of instruments — from rock bands to string ensembles to traditional Asian instruments. Because of its bright high frequencies and dynamic attack, the ukulele often cuts through and takes the lead in those settings.
“I formed a math-rock band in Taiwan,” he continues, “and I’ve recorded ukulele accompaniments for a number of singers. But I also love playing solo, and that’s what I’ll be bringing on tour in the U.S. — a powerful solo ukulele performance.”
Even though he now is conversant on piano, guitar and synthesizer, Feng continues to champion the diminutive ukulele. He says the qualities that seem limiting are part of its appeal and challenge.
“It pushes me to be creative within a limited tonal range. There’s also the challenge of shaping a melody before the very short sustain fades away, which I find exciting. It’s small, but it holds incredible musical potential.”
Pushed to Create Within a Limited Tonal Range: Feng E (Courtesy Photo)
Among his many YouTube videos are those from when he was still a pre-teen, playing Tommy Emmanuel’s arrangement of the Mason Williams composition “Classical Gas” in a park in Taipei. The video has drawn nearly 20 million views, and led to him being invited to The Ellen DeGeneres Show to play for a worldwide audience.
Yet those around him in the park in the video seem nonplussed by what was a dazzling performance. Asked whether that is a cultural thing, Feng agreed. “People in Taiwan tend to be more shy, sometimes even a little indifferent.”
He says a typical day finds him absorbed in one facet of music or another. “After finishing projects like arranging, songwriting, or recording, I usually work on my own ideas. Sometimes I’ll practice new techniques I’ve been experimenting with,” he says.
Given that most of his potential audience may be barely familiar with the ukulele, why should someone come to his show?
“It’s rare to see such a refined ukulele performance,” he noted. “Though maybe I shouldn’t be the one saying that.”
If refined means hearing Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing” or Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy” on a little four-string instrument, where the instrumentalist alternated between gripping leads and frenetic rhythm strumming, then yes, his playing is refined. Regardless of the label, his prowess is undeniable.
Tickets, $23.75, to the 7 p.m. show are available online at TicketWeb.com here.
VIDEO: Feng E, “Billie Jean”
VIDEO: Feng E, “Little Wing”
VIDEO: Feng E, “Classical Gas”
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