ZHANGYE and Skylar Grey have linked up for a new single called ‘DREAMING,’ out now on all streaming platforms via ZHANGYE’s own Cyanhill Music. The track pairs ZHANGYE’s cinematic production style with Grey’s vocals, putting two artists from very different corners of the industry on the same record.
ZHANGYE has built his reputation as one of the central figures in China’s electronic music scene. He’s the founder of Cyanhill Music and the person behind the CHINA EDM compilation series, which has served as a launchpad for Chinese producers and DJs looking for international exposure. He studied composition at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory before moving into electronic production, and that classical background shows up in the orchestral touches he tends to layer into his tracks. He’s previously worked with Steve Aoki on ‘Where Do We Go’ and Libianca on ‘Don’t Say Sorry,’ and his solo record ‘Own Way’ has racked up more than 5 billion plays on TikTok China.
Skylar Grey needs less introduction. The five-time GRAMMY-nominated singer, songwriter, and producer co-wrote ‘Love The Way You Lie’ for Eminem and Rihanna, a track that’s since gone Diamond, and has worked across pop, hip-hop, and rock with names like Dr. Dre, Macklemore, and Zedd. Her voice has shown up on plenty of dance records over the years, and ‘DREAMING’ is the latest example of her comfort moving into electronic territory.
Musically, ‘DREAMING’ leans into melodic progressive house, with the kind of uplifting chord work and off-beat bassline that recalls the peak-era EDM sound from a decade or so back. ZHANGYE and his team describe it as an attempt to bridge that nostalgic sound with a more current rave sensibility, and the arrangement backs that up. It’s built for festival mainstages, but it’s got enough pop songwriting in the vocal to work outside a set as well.
The single arrives with an official music video that follows a loose storyline about two lovers, cut together with footage of ZHANGYE and Grey in the studio and out shooting scenes together. It’s a more personal rollout than your typical dance single, with both artists visibly involved rather than just handing off vocals remotely.
For ZHANGYE, ‘DREAMING’ fits into a broader pattern of high-profile crossover collaborations meant to put Chinese electronic music in front of a global audience. Between the CHINA EDM initiative, the all-female CHINA EDM Vol. 2 project, and now this pairing with Grey, he’s positioning himself as one of the main connectors between China’s dance scene and the international festival circuit.
Stream ‘DREAMING’ now and check out the music video above.
