In the Chinese pop music scene, the name Zi Yu is quickly becoming one to watch. Not long ago, a special joint initiative by Billboard China and Tencent Music culminated in the 2025 Billboard Global No.1s China honors, where Zi Yu emerged as the country’s representative winner. After two rounds of fan voting and recommendations, the rising Mandopop artist clinched the No. 1 spot with his song “Quagmire,” earning him the title of China’s Global No. 1s honoree.
Released in August this year, “Quagmire” became Zi Yu’s first single to reach No. 1 on the Tencent Music charts. And beginning this summer, his popularity began to soar rapidly. Several subsequent singles such as “Too Deep,” “Say It Before Sunrise” and “Sunny Day After Rain” all went on to top the TME Uni Chart. He became one of the very few highly popular young artists in recent years to score five No. 1 hits in his debut chart year. Meanwhile, his music festival schedule has grown increasingly packed, and he recently announced his solo concert. Zi Yu is like a vibrant fish leaping into the vast ocean. Even if there are brief moments of panic, he still swims firmly toward the distance.
Lyricist-composer Li Shijue, who wrote “Quagmire,” once spoke about the inspiration behind the song in an interview: “I believe everyone has experienced a ‘quagmire moment,’ a low point in life. It’s not about the inspirational idea of ‘getting out of the quagmire,’ but about the courage to ‘stand firm inside it.’”
Zi Yu’s interpretation, he said, revealed a kind of “restrained resilience” in the young musician’s voice. This may also be an honest reflection of Zi Yu’s own path: before standing under the spotlight were countless moments of brave striving and trying; behind the current heat and attention were times of confusion and uncertainty. The once-introverted child now stands steady at center stage, passing strength to those who watch him, drawing continuous motivation from the listeners who love him.
Today, Zi Yu is growing at high speed as he explores the infinite possibilities within his music. “Too Deep” blends electronic and pop elements, challenging him with singing and dancing; “Her Path, Our Light” is a grand, emotional anthem; “Say It Before Sunrise” lets him release pure romance; “Sunny Day After Rain” expresses the strength of breaking free from a cocoon and the strength to emerge from the mud. His style has no fixed boundaries, but running through all his work is the same upward-moving, warm love and energy he insists on conveying.
As the 2025 Billboard Global No.1s China representative, Zi Yu now stands on a larger stage, being seen and recognized. And ahead of him, a vast future is slowly unfolding, waiting for him to keep swimming forward toward the boundless blue.
This story originally appeared on Billboard China.
Zi Yu
