Gowe (musician)

Gordon Tsai, more widely known by his stage name Gowe (Gifted on West East), is a Korean-American Hip Hop artist from Seattle, Washington. To date, he has released three full-length albums and one EP as a solo musician.

This article is about Seattle hip hop artist Gowe. For the German river, see Göwe.
Gowe
Background information
Birth nameGordon Tsai
BornSeoul, South Korea
OriginSeattle, Washington
GenresHip hop
Years active2012-present
LabelsHypergiants Collective
Websitegowehiphop.com

Gowe debuted with We are Hypergiants in 2012 as an independent musician.[1] Later that year, he released the Summer Breeze Sonatas EP, featuring five tracks.[2] The Korean Edit of We Are Hypergiants released in early 2015 through the musician's partnership with independent record label Good Fruit Co.[3][4] The rapper released his sophomore studio effort, Music Beautiful, on March 30, 2015.[5] In 2019, Gowe made his return to music by releasing various singles and followed up with his third studio album Nostalgia Forever on May 5, 2020. [6]

Life and career

Personal life

Gordon was born in Seoul, South Korea. He grew up in Beacon Hill, Seattle, Washington, and was largely influenced at an early age by the music of New York rapper Nas.[7] He was raised in a Chinese family, and at the age of eighteen, he discovered he was adopted.[8]

Musical career

Gowe's first notable appearance as a musician was in 2010, when he performed as one of eight competitors in the first annual Kollaboration Seattle showcase.[9][10] Soon afterwards, the musician began building a following on YouTube, earning thousands of views per video.[11]

His professional musical career began with his debut studio album We Are Hypergiants, released on June 17, 2012.[12][13][14] The album featured 11 tracks, featuring guest appearances by well-known singers Travis Graham (of New Heights), Erin Kim, Jennifer Chung, Paul Kim, and Sam Ock.[15][16] The rapper also released the three singles "I Wonder,"[17] "Star in My Eyes,"[18] and "First Flight"[19][20] with accompanying music video performances around the time of the album's release.

Shortly after the release of We Are Hypergiants, Wong Fu Productions used track 11, "Star in My Eyes" as the official theme song in 2013 for the Take Your Shot Campaign, launched by Wong Fu in partnership with AT&T.[21] The single was also featured in The White Frog film's Original Soundtrack as one of 10 musical performances.[22] Korean Pop blog allkpop also featured "I Wonder" from the album, highlighting it as "an incredibly poignant piece that really grasps at your heartstrings with its emotional, yet thoughtful lyrics."[23]

On December 2, 2012, Gowe released a free five-track EP titled Summer Breeze Sonatas. This project was featured on Christian Hip Hop outlet Rapzilla[24] and Hip Hop outlet DJ Booth.[25]

Not long afterwards, the rapper released a free single titled "Aurora" with an accompanying music video performance featuring original animation.[26][27][28][29][30] Shortly after its February 18, 2013 release, the music video was featured on entertainment website IGN,[31] video game website ScrewAttack,[32] and Christian Hip Hop outlet Rapzilla.[33] The video quickly garnered over 200,000 views.

On June 30, 2013, Gowe was interviewed by Christian Hip Hop publication Jam The Hype.[34]

A year later, the musician announced plans to join independent label Good Fruit Co's artist roster.[35]

Also in 2014, Gowe joined hip hop artists MC Jin, Sam Ock, J. Han, CL, NAK, and Mickey Cho on the Fearless Tour hosted by independent record label Good Fruit Co.[36][37] The national tour brought the Seattle rapper to Alameda, California, Irvine, California, Centreville, Virginia, and Germantown, Maryland.[38][39][40] He was one of several artists who gathered to make history as the first time every Asian American Christian Hip Hop artist stood in one room.[41]

On November 16, 2014, Gowe released "Lavender," the first single off of his sophomore studio album, Music Beautiful.[42] The single was released with an accompanying music video performance, which was featured on music blog Potholes in My Blog[43] and Christian Hip Hop outlet Rapzilla[44]

On February 6, 2015, the Korean Edit of We Are Hypergiants was released in South Korea through Gowe's partnership with Good Fruit Co.[45][46]

Gowe released his sophomore studio album, Music Beautiful, on March 30, 2015, featuring 10 tracks.[47][48]

In 2019, Gowe returned to music by releasing his highly anticipated single "Worth The Wait" Feat. Sam Ock, a follow up to the rapper's popular "Wait For You". [49]

On May 5, 2020, Gowe released his third studio album Nostalgia Forever, a synthwave hip-hop album. [50]

Discography

Albums
  • We Are Hypergiants (2012)[51]
  • Summer Breeze Sonatas (2012)[52]
  • Music Beautiful (2015)[53]
  • Nostalgia Forever (2020) [54]

References
  1. "iTunes - Music - We Are Hypergiants by Gowe". iTunes Store. Apple, Inc. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  2. "Summer Breeze Sonatas". Bandcamp. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  3. "Album Information> Melon". Melon. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  4. "[News] Gowe(고우), 데뷔 앨범 발매 및 소개영상 공개". R.O.K. Hip Hop. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  5. "GOWE – "MUSIC BEAUTIFUL"". Syntax Creative. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  6. "'Nostalgia Forever' Virtual Listening Party | @gowehiphop @kennyfresh1025 @trackstarz". Trackstarz. 2020-05-01. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  7. "Audrey's One to Watch: Gifted on West East". Audrey Magazine. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  8. "Seattle rapper Gowe releases "I Wonder" in search of his mother". All KPop. 6Theory Media, LLC. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  9. Huang, Amy. "Kollaboration-Seattle Hitting a High Note". International Examiner. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  10. Han, Henry. "2010 Recap". Kollaboration Seattle. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  11. "Gowe's "I Wonder" is a Song with a Mission". Hey Yaa!. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  12. "GOWE SHARES A PREVIEW OF THE UPCOMING 'WE ARE HYPERGIANTS' ALBUM". A-Tunes. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  13. "ALBUM PREVIEW: WE ARE HYPERGIANTS BY GOWE". Angry Asian Man. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  14. "iTunes - Music - We Are Hypergiants by Gowe". iTunes Store. Apple, Inc. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  15. "ALBUM PREVIEW: WE ARE HYPERGIANTS BY GOWE". Angry Asian Man. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  16. "GOWE SHARES A PREVIEW OF THE UPCOMING 'WE ARE HYPERGIANTS' ALBUM". A-Tunes. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  17. "Gowe - I Wonder (Feat. Erin Kim) [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]". YouTube. Google. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  18. "Gowe - Star In My Eyes (Feat. Erin Kim) [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]". YouTube. Google. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  19. "NEW MV FROM GOWE & TRAVIS GRAHAM – "FIRST FLIGHT"". A-Tunes. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  20. "Gowe - First Flight (Feat.Travis Graham) [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]". YouTube. Google. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  21. "TAKE YOUR SHOT: Make a Film with Wong Fu, Freddie Wong, or Jon M. Chu!". Wong Fu Productions. Wong Fu Productions, LLC. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  22. "The White Frog". The White Frog Official Website. White Frog. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  23. "Seattle rapper Gowe releases "I Wonder" in search of his mother". All KPop. 6Theory Media, LLC. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  24. Horton, Chad. "Gowe 'Summer Breeze Sonatas' EP Cover & Tracklisting". Rapzilla.com. Chad Horton & Philip Rood. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  25. "Gowe - Letters". DJ Booth. The DJ Booth LLC. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  26. Radd, David. "Gowe - Aurora Music Video". A List Daily. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  27. "This Entire Music Video Is One Incredible 16-Bit Tribute". Kotaku. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  28. Justin. "Gowe Goes 16-Bit in Latest "Aurora" Music Video". AX3 Battery. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  29. "Gowe's "Aurora" New Single Official Music Video, Arcade Games Mix W/ Ronald Jenkees' Jazz!". Loyal K.N.G. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  30. "Gowe Unleashes Game-Inspired Music Video Aurora". Anime News Network. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  31. "GOWE "AURORA" MUSIC VIDEO". IGN. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  32. Conway, Ryan. "Hip Hop artist Gowe shows his love for games in an awesome pixelated music video". ScrewAttack. ScrewAttack Entertainment LLC/Fullscreen, Inc. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  33. "Gowe - Aurora". Rapzilla. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  34. "INTERVIEW: A Q&A WITH GIFTED ON WEST EAST AKA GOWE". Jam The Hype. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  35. "HYPERGIANTS (FEAT. GOWE) X GOOD FRUIT". Good Fruit Co. Archived from the original on 4 October 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  36. Lee, Patrick. "Fearless Tour Encourages Youth to Embrace Identity in Christ". Christianity Daily. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  37. "IF YOU'RE IN THE MID-ATLANTIC, DON'T MISS THE FEARLESS TOUR WITH AMP X JIN X GOWE X MICKEY CHO X NAK". A-Tunes. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  38. Lee, Rachael. "Fearless Tour, Featuring AMP, Mickey Cho, Gowe, NAK, and MC Jin, Coming to Southern California". Christianity Daily. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  39. "Press Release: Fearless Tour in Virginia and Maryland 11/14-15". Next Gener.Asian Church. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  40. Solis, Steven. "Fearless Tour with AMP, MC Jin, Gowe, Mickey Cho & NAK". Rapzilla. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  41. "The #FearlessTour Documentary". YouTube. Google. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  42. "Gowe Bares His Soul On Most Recent Single". Want Hip Hop. Archived from the original on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  43. Holmes, Charles. "Watch: Gowe Gets Nostalgic for Past Love on "Lavender"". Potholes in My Blog. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  44. "Video: Gowe - Lavender". Rapzilla. Chad Horton & Philip Rood. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  45. "Album Information> Melon". Melon. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  46. "[News] Gowe(고우), 데뷔 앨범 발매 및 소개영상 공개". R.O.K. Hip Hop. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  47. "iTunes - Music - Music Beautiful by Gowe". iTunes Store. Apple, Inc. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  48. "Release Dates". Rapzilla. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  49. "Gowe " Worth The Wait" Music Video | @gowehiphop @trackstarz". Trackstarz. 2019-08-19. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  50. "The Return Of Gowe Interview | @gowehiphop @kennyfresh1025 @trackstarz". Trackstarz. 2020-05-08. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  51. "iTunes - Music - We Are Hypergiants by Gowe". iTunes Store. Apple, Inc. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  52. "Summer Breeze Sonatas". Bandcamp. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  53. Tsai, Gordon. "Gowe on Twitter: "The release date of my sophomore album "Music Beautiful" will be 3.30.15 Official. #MusicBeautiful"". Twitter. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  54. "The Return Of Gowe Interview | @gowehiphop @kennyfresh1025 @trackstarz". Trackstarz. 2020-05-08. Retrieved 2020-08-26.


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