Yu Quan has a reputation for passionate performances.

Yu Quan takes its name from its two singers, Chen Yufan and Hu Haiquan. Chen is the cool, thin Beijinger. Hu is the melancholy poet from northeast China. Put together, the two are greater than the sum of their parts, and their music has made people love them.

Hu began writing poems, learned the piano, and tried music composition a long time ago. Before the band was formed, both wrote songs for other singers and acted separately as producers.

A similar outlook of music fused the two in 1998, when they started singing in Beijing pubs. Their fresh style and passionate performances drew attention from Beijing's music community, including Rock Music International Limited, which soon signed the group.

Yu Quan is most associated with its first album, "The Most Beautiful," which was released just one year after the group signed with Rock Music.

All the songs in "The Most Beautiful" were produced by Chen and Hu. Chen's musical inspiration and Hu's literary grounding, as well as Chen's energetic personality and Hu's introspection, are fully represented in this album. Each of the songs originates from the life experiences of the two and echoes sound and feelings that seem to well up directly from the depths of their hearts.

Yu Quan is also attractive for its overwhelming on-the-spot performance. The more enthusiastic the audience, the more Chen and Hu excell. On stage, Chen and Hu are full of energy, and it is common to see the entire audience singing in chorus with them.

Yu Quan has matured in musical composition as well, with more musical elements included in their newer songs.

Following "The Most Beautiful," Yu Quan has released "Be Cool Till the End," "Passion," and "Can't Do Without You."

Yu Quan's archives:

Chen Yufan:
November 18, 1975: born in Beijing
1994: started his musical career
1997: produced songs with the Beijing Jingwen Record Company
June 1998: founded Yu Quan as vocalist and guitarist
November 1998: signed a contract with Rock Music International

Hu Haiquan:
August 13, 1975: born in Shenyang
1996: came to Beijing, established his MIDI Music Studio
June 1998: founded Yu Quan as vocalist and keyboardist
November 1998: signed a contract with Rock Music International

(China Pictorial  June 25, 2004)