JFH News: Chinese Singer-Songwriter Eric HZ Celebrates GRAMMY�-Considered "Child" and "Encounter"

Chinese Singer-Songwriter Eric HZ Bridges Fatherhood, Faith and Cultural Identity on GRAMMY�-Considered "Child" and "Encounter"

The Chinese singer-songwriter explores unconditional love, spiritual purpose and the belief that "Asian Pop should be a door, not a wall"

Watch Eric Perform "Child" Here

Watch Eric Perform "Encounter" Here

Chinese Singer-Songwriter Eric HZ Celebrates GRAMMY�-Considered 'Child' and 'Encounter'

NEWS SOURCE: Present PR
October 19, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Chinese singer-songwriter, producer and performer Eric HZ brings together culture, fatherhood and faith on two deeply personal releases, "Child" (《孩子》) and "Encounter" (《还好遇见你》), currently under consideration for the 69th Annual GRAMMY Awards�.

"Child," under consideration for Best Asian Pop Music Performance, grew directly from Eric's experience as a father. Opening with the real laughter of his children, the Chinese-language song explores a simple but powerful realization: children grow, wander, make mistakes and fall, but none of those things erase the love between parent and child.

"Child" is a song of fatherhood and unconditional love for anyone who has ever fallen and still been held by love. While deeply personal, the song also reflects a larger question at the center of Eric's work: Can an artist reach the wider world without leaving behind the language, culture and experiences that gave him his voice?

For Eric, singing in Chinese is central to that answer. Mandarin is not simply the language carrying the lyrics of "Child"; its rhythm, tones and cultural memory are part of the music itself. That philosophy also informed his participation in the Recording Academy's 2026 "A Conversation with Leaders in Asian Music," where his perspective on the future of Asian music could be distilled into one statement:

"Asian Pop should be a door, not a wall."

Rather than positioning Chinese music against K-pop, Western pop or other traditions, Eric sees a global landscape where artists can cross cultural boundaries without sacrificing what makes their music distinct.

His second release, "Encounter," under consideration for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song, explores another defining part of his life: faith. Born from Eric's search for meaning and the question "What is the meaning of my existence?", "Encounter" traces his journey toward finding purpose through God. Where "Child" examines love from the perspective of a father, "Encounter" turns that perspective inward, exploring what it means to search for grace, direction and something greater than ourselves.

"Encounter" is a song of faith, love and finding purpose through an encounter with God. Together, the songs represent the three ideas at the heart of Eric's current artistic chapter:

Rooted in Chinese culture. Shaped by fatherhood and faith. Connected through music and love.

A professionally trained vocalist who studied under renowned soprano and Chinese opera artist Wan Shanhong, Eric is also the founder of the Chinese-American Federation of Arts and Culture and initiator and executive producer of the Chinese American Music Festival.

Recent highlights include performing "Child" at the 21st Chinese American Film Festival & Chinese American TV Festival Golden Angel Awards Ceremony, where he received the International Outstanding Contribution to Arts and Culture Award, as well as receiving Congressional Recognition for his contributions to Chinese-American cultural and artistic exchange.

That commitment to cultural exchange also took Eric to Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, where he had the privilege of appearing alongside renowned Chinese artist Tan Jing, one of China's most distinguished performers. For Eric, sharing the Lincoln Center stage with an artist whose work carries the depth and heritage of Chinese culture represented far more than a performance. It reflected a shared hope of using the arts to foster genuine people-to-people exchange between China and the United States -- while creating opportunities for more of the world to see, hear and understand Chinese culture.

Through "Child" and "Encounter," Eric ultimately makes a case for something larger than either song: artists do not have to erase where they come from in order to reach one another.

ABOUT ERIC HZ

Eric HZ (Zhao Hechen) is a Chinese singer-songwriter, music producer, performer and cultural advocate whose work bridges Chinese and Western artistic traditions. Rooted in Chinese culture and informed by fatherhood, faith and human connection, his music seeks to share love, hope and warmth across cultures. He is the founder of the Chinese-American Federation of Arts and Culture and initiator and executive producer of the Chinese American Music Festival.

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