Monstercat go Mandarin: Terry Zhong drops first full EP 'After Hours'

Terry Zhong has just released his highly anticipated 'After Hours' EP. The five-track effort comes courtesy of Monstercat, who continue their steadfast advance into the Asian market while curating a distinctly international release line-up.

Zhong's music blends timeless pop melodies with a measure of hyped-up dance energy, effortlessly joining the dots between mainstream and club domains. 'After Hours' is his first full EP, and includes three previously unreleased tracks alongside 'Home Alright' and 'Night Cap', which originally dropped early last year. The new material sees Zhong collaborate with LIJIN, WYATT, and 习谱予 Cheryl Xi, the latter of whom sings in Mandarin for the first time on Monstercat. With much of the Vancouver-based label's output proving popular in China, it's perhaps unsurprising to see them aim music squarely at the Chinese market – and, in Terry Zhong, they've found an ideal poster boy to spearhead their drive.

Zhong explains that the theme of the EP is a well-known and universally relatable subject. “After Hours is like a diary, a musical medley that tells a love story as it progresses through different stages in time,” he says. “For better or worse, I think we’ve all experienced unrequited love at some point in our lives.” True to his previous form, 'After Hours' would sit comfortably in the out-and-out pop category, but the production dynamic has enough electronic thrust to please commercially-minded dance fans, too. LIJIN's saccharine-sweet vocals play over downtempo tropical house flavours on 'City Love', while 'Come Down' featuring WYATT journeys deep into contemporary r n b. Arguably the focal point of the EP, though, is the 'Goodnight Stranger' collaboration with 习谱予 Cheryl Xi. With its powerful chords and dramatic structure, the song immediately stands out as an unadulterated anthem. However, it's the inclusion of the bilingual vocal that grabbed our attention, potentially representing a watershed moment for team Monstercat.

Terry Zhong 'After Hours' is out now, you can buy it here