Bei Bei Unveils Two Moons

A Global Ambient Fusion Bridging Ancient Chinese Strings and Futuristic Soundscapes

Internationally acclaimed guzheng artist, emerging guqin performer, and composer Bei Bei joins forces with London-based composer and producer Paul Elliott on Two Moons, a transcendent new album that dissolves the boundaries between past and future, East and West, tradition and innovation.

At once intimate and expansive, Two Moons is a cinematic ambient-fusion work rooted in the 2,500-year-old lineage of Chinese string instruments while embracing contemporary electronic sound design. Across seven immersive compositions, the luminous voices of the guzheng and guqin intertwine with atmospheric synthesis, analog textures, and modern rhythmic undercurrent—creating a sound world that feels ancient, modern, and timeless all at once.

Based in Los Angeles, Bei Bei brings her signature artistry—renowned for its emotional depth, technical mastery, and cross-cultural fluency—into dialogue with Paul Elliott’s meticulously sculpted electronic compositions. Rather than leaning toward the polished sheen of mainstream electronic production, Two Moons embraces a warmer, more tactile sonic language: rounded edges, tape saturation, analog dustiness, and a distinctly human feel. The result is a form of retro-futurism—nostalgic yet forward-looking—that stands apart from contemporary high-gloss, hi-fi electronic music.

From the outset, Bei Bei and Elliott shared a mutual fascination with lo-fi and analog-leaning electronic music—sounds that feel lived-in, imperfect, and emotionally resonant. That shared aesthetic became the foundation of the album. Elliott committed fully to an analog workflow, using vintage synthesizers and drum machines synced and programmed as living systems, often overdubbing and triggering sounds and effects live as sequences were recorded. Delays and reverbs were printed in real time, allowing the music to evolve organically in the moment rather than being endlessly refined after the fact.

“This way of working might feel like a compromise to contemporary engineers,” Elliott explains, “but for me it was incredibly freeing. It’s how these machines were meant to be used—and it allowed the music to breathe.”

A central challenge—and creative triumph—of Two Moons lies in how the traditional instruments are treated within this electronic framework. The guzheng, in particular, occupies a wide frequency range, and the instinct in a Western production context might be to reshape or restrain its sound. Elliott chose the opposite approach.

“Changing the character of the guzheng to make it more ‘Western-friendly’ would have diluted its emotion,” he says. “Instead, we wove the electronic elements around the instrument—and sometimes let the instrument shape the electronics.”

That philosophy allowed Bei Bei’s playing to remain fully intact—expressive, dynamic, and deeply personal—while merging seamlessly with the analog electronic environment. The album becomes not a hybrid of competing elements, but a unified sonic ecosystem where tradition and technology enhance one another.

The album is further enriched by masterful performances from traditional musicians: Internationally acclaimed erhu player Yang Liu, Shu Zhiming (sheng), world-renowned multi-woodwind player Ron Korb (dizi), Bin Ma (sanxian), and Jon Monter (zhongruan), adding layers of texture, resonance, and cultural depth.

Track List

1. Two Moons – 03:04
   
2. Gaoshan Electronica – 04:10
   
3. Shanghai Dreams – 05:32
   
4. Silk Soiree – 05:38
   
5. Walk the Fame – 03:14
   
6. Cruising in Snow – 04:33
   
7. Midnight Bizarre – 02:49
   

About the Instruments

The guzheng, a plucked zither with over 2,500 years of history, is celebrated for its shimmering expressiveness and dynamic range. The guqin, dating back more than 3,000 years, is revered as a symbol of Chinese philosophy and introspection, known for its subtle, meditative tones. Together, these instruments form the ancient heart of Two Moons, reimagined through a modern lens.

Awards

Two Moons received the Silver Medal for World Fusion Album at the Global Music Awards on October 17, 2025.

Album Credits

Composers
– Beibei Monter
– Paul Simon Elliott

Producers
– Beibei Monter

-Paul Elliott
-Antaeus (Associate Producer)

Performers
–  Guzheng, Guqin & Vocal – Bei Bei
– Electronic Music Programming – Paul Elliott
– Additional Instruments – Yang Liu (erhu), Shu Zhiming (sheng), Ron Korb (dizi), Bin Ma (sanxian), Jon Monter (zhongruan)

Audio Production
– Recording – Beibei Monter, Paul Elliott
– Mixing – Beibei Monter, Paul Elliott
– Mastering – Eleven Mastering

Visual Design
– Album Cover Photography – David Xiong, Beibei Monter
– Chinese Calligraphy – Feng Weigong
– Album Design – Paul Elliott, Beibei MonterRecord Label
– Bei Bei Time Productions