{{Short description|Australian singer, songwriter, and producer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Kyson | image = | caption = | birth_name = Jian Liew | birth_place = Adelaide, Australia | origin = Berlin, Germany<ref>{{cite magazine | url = http://www.thefader.com/2015/11/19/kyson-a-song-about-the-future-premiere | title = Kyson Sets The Pace With "A Song About The Future" | accessdate = 21 September 2018 | magazine = The Fader | author = Zara Golden }}</ref> | genre = Electronica | occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|record producer}} | instrument = {{hlist|Guitar|synthesizers|vocals}} | years_active = 2011–present | label = | website = {{URL|kyson-music.com}} }}
'''Jian Liew''', known professionally as '''Kyson''', is an Australian-born record producer, composer, and multidisciplinary artist. He is known for his textured and atmospheric production style, combining electronic, acoustic, and experimental music.
As Kyson, he has released several solo albums, and has worked as a producer and songwriter for artists such as Drake, Chlöe, and Alice Phoebe Lou, as well as contributing to interdisciplinary projects in sound and installation art. In 2023, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for his co-production work on “More M’s” from Drake and 21 Savage's album Her Loss.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.factmag.com/2013/07/15/friends-of-friends-signee-kyson-shares-hazy-missing-things-download-it-now/ | title =Friends of Friends signee Kyson shares hazy 'Missing Things' | date = 15 July 2013 | accessdate = 21 September 2018 | work = FactMag | author = Jamieson Cox }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.apraamcos.com.au/about-us/news-and-events/aussie-and-kiwis-figure-in-to-2024-grammy-noms|title=Aussies and Kiwis figure in to 2024 Grammy Award nominations|website=APRA AMCOS}}</ref>
==Early life== Liew was born in Adelaide, Australia.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://thebrag.com/kyson-book-flying/ | title = Kyson: A Book Of Flying | accessdate = 20 September 2018 | work = The Brad | author = Daniel Prior }}</ref> He later moved to Sydney, Australia where he went on to study a degree in audio engineering. After graduating, he spent the next several years in Berlin working as a musician and sound artist under the name Kyson and various other monikers.<ref name="f">{{cite web | url = http://www.freundevonfreunden.com/mixtapes/fvf-mixtape-101-kyson/ | title = FvF Mixtape #101 — Kyson | date = 3 October 2012 | accessdate = 21 September 2018 | work = Freund von Freund | author = Jack Mahoney }}</ref>
==Career== In 2012, Kyson gained attention for his remix of Bon Iver's "Holocene" on 4AD Records.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.citypages.com/music/bon-iver-announces-winners-of-remix-contest-6617599 | title = Bon Iver announces winners of remix contest | date = 3 October 2012 | accessdate = 21 September 2018 | work = Citypages | author = Erik Thompson }}</ref> On 29 October 2012 Liew released his "Blackstone EP" on Moodgadget Recordings.<ref name="p">{{cite web | url = https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/14495-kyson-ocean-tides/ | title = "Ocean Tides" by Kyson | date = 25 October 2012 | accessdate = 20 September 2018 | website = Pitchfork | author = Patric Fallon }}</ref> He was signed by Friends of Friends Records and released his first studio album ''The Water's Way''.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/15936-kyson-how-long/ | title = How Long by Kyson | date = 27 April 2013 | accessdate = 21 September 2018 | work = Citypages | author = Jamieson Cox }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2013/08/kyson-feature | title = Friends of Friends beatmaker Kyson on his debut album | date = 26 August 2013 | accessdate = 20 September 2018 | work = Red Bull Music Academy | author = Anthony Obst }}</ref>
In 2014, Liew collaborated with Detroit-based musician Shigeto on the track "Water Collides".<ref>{{cite web | url = https://pitchfork.com/news/56750-friends-of-friends-five-year-anniversary-compilation-features-how-to-dress-well-baths-nicolas-jaar-more/ | title = Friends of Friends Five-Year Anniversary Compilation Features How to Dress Well, Baths, Nicolas Jaar, More | date = 18 September 2014 | accessdate = 21 September 2018 | website = Pitchfork | author = Evan Minsker }}</ref>
In 2015, Kyson, alongside Italian musician and producer Matteo Pavesi, co-produced the debut album of singer-songwriter Alice Phoebe Lou, which was released on 13 May 2016.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://nbhap.com/people/interview-from-the-streets-to-the-stars-alice-phoebe-lou-role-model-orbit | title = From The Streets To The Stars: Alice Phoebe Lou, A Role Model for Modern Musicianship | date = 16 December 2016 | accessdate = 21 September 2018 | work = NBHAP | author = Norman Fleischer }}</ref> The same year, Liew founded the art and music collective Average Negative with musical collaborator Chris Hill.<ref>[https://averagenegative.com/artists Average Negative - Artists], 11 June 2018</ref>
In April 2016, Liew released his second album, ''A Book of Flying'', with Friends of Friends Recordings.<ref name="f" /><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.stereogum.com/1863953/kyson-you-video-stereogum-premiere/mp3s/ | title = Kyson – "You" Video (Stereogum Premiere) | date = 9 March 2016 | accessdate = 21 September 2018 | work = Stereogum | author = Michelle Laggan }}</ref>
In 2017, he collaborated with Australian artist Amber Cronin to create the spatial installation "Sawaru" at the Nexus Gallery in Adelaide, Australia.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.broadsheet.com.au/adelaide/art-and-design/six-adelaide-art-shows-see-may | title = Six Art Shows to See in May | date = 27 April 2017 | accessdate = 20 September 2018 | work = Broadsheet Adelaide | author = Tim Watts }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://citymag.indaily.com.au/whats-on/sawaru-amber-cronin-opening-night/ | title = Six Art Sawaru: Amber Cronin Opening Night | date = 15 May 2017 | accessdate = 20 September 2018 | work = CityMag }}</ref>
In 2018, Kyson released a series of AA singles, "Every High / Clear Air" and "Have My Back / Forest Green", in collaboration with B3SCI Records and Majestic Casual Records. The two releases were also part of a limited edition white vinyl record, with artwork by B.D. Graft.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://blahblahblahscience.com/songwriter/b3sci-records-kyson-every-high-clear-air/ | title = [B3SCI Records] Kyson - Every High / Clear Air | date = 24 August 2018 | accessdate = 21 September 2018 }}</ref> ''Pitchfork'' has described Liew's style as, "combin[ing] soft touches of electronic keys and rickety, pinprick rhythms, with his half-whispered lyrics and drifting melodies wrapped in sheets of textural field recordings."<ref name="p" /> Liew has also been described as having an, "enigmatic sound, a blend of indie, acoustic and electronic music."<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.stereofox.com/kyson-every-high/ | title = Kyson - Every High | date = 13 July 2018 | accessdate = 11 October 2018 }}</ref>
In 2020, Kyson released his third studio album, ''Kyson'', through B3SCI Records. The album adopted a more minimal, songwriting-oriented style and was supported by a limited vinyl release.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://earmilk.com/2020/01/23/kyson-shares-the-intricacies-of-the-inner-child-on-moving-self-titled-album-exclusive/|title=Kyson shares the intricacies of the inner child on moving self-titled album [Exclusive] – EARMILK}}</ref> In 2021, Kyson worked with German electronic producer Parra for Cuva and British guitarist Beau Diako on the track "Ordel," which appeared on Parra for Cuva's album ''Juno''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://electronicgroove.com/parra-for-cuva-explores-sounds-of-the-world-in-his-song-ordel/|title=Parra for Cuva explores sounds of the world in his song 'Ordel'|first=Axel|last=Bray|date=9 February 2021|website=Electronic Groove}}</ref> That year, Kyson’s music was included in the Hermès Spring/Summer 2022 menswear runway show designed by Véronique Nichanian, presented during Paris Fashion Week.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vevelarge.com/hermes-men-s-2022/|title=Hermes Men's 2022}}</ref>
In 2022, Kyson independently released ''Lucky Notes'', a 14-track album composed and produced in Berlin, Germany. The project continued his exploration of analog instrumentation and vocal-forward production and was distributed digitally and on cassette through B3SCI Records.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/4NWwx6TA31UtfvCVlkKllz|title=Lucky Notes|date=21 October 2022|via=open.spotify.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/588435-kyson-lucky-notes.php|title=Kyson - Lucky Notes|website=Album of The Year}}</ref>
Kyson co-produced the track "More M's" on ''Her Loss'', the collaborative album by Drake and 21 Savage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.albumoftheyear.org/song/58556-more-ms/2/|title=Drake & 21 Savage - More M’s|website=Album of The Year}}</ref> The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, and ''Her Loss'' was later nominated for a Grammy Award in 2023, earning Kyson his first nomination as a producer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/grammys-2024-winners-see-the-full-list-here/|title=Grammys 2024 Winners: See the Full List Here|first=Madison|last=Bloom|date=4 February 2024|website=Pitchfork}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/drake-21-savage-her-loss-debut-number-one-billboard-200-album-chart-1235170474/|title=Drake & 21 Savage’s ‘Her Loss’ Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart|first=Keith|last=Caulfield|date=13 November 2022}}</ref>
In 2023, Kyson contributed production to ''In Pieces'', the debut solo album by Chlöe Bailey, released by Columbia Records.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1EFFkNxGDkXt9g|title=Written By Jian Kellet Liew|website=Spotify}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Living people Category:Australian electronic musicians Category:Year of birth missing (living people)