Mixing trip-hop, goth, and rock influences, Blake Chen's love affair with the dark sides of humanity and music instantly turned heads, beginning with his debut release, 1997's An Immigrant Song, on Snakeweed Records. That was followed by the release of Haunted. Born in Singapore, Chen's surrealistic creations immediately received visceral reaction from music fans. Calling himself "The Haunted Troubadour," Chen's spirited music was catapulted by the release of Shadow on WHIMusic Records in 2000. The album mixed techno, acoustic rock, and goth in a swirling musical smorgasbord. Seething with an earnest and personal lyrical style, Chen quickly garnered worldwide attention. During this time, he also collaborated in the eclectic Detroit project N2 Submission. Wearing a black cape during his concert performances and on his album artwork, Chen, a University of Michigan graduate, created a Jedi-like persona full of mystery and intrigue. In press interviews, he freely admitted the influence of bands like Portishead, Beck, and Moby. The Hungry Ghost album was released in early 2002. The album's metal overtones were mixed with synthesizers and Chen's singer/songwriter roots. The 12-song disc continued his daring and ominous musical leanings. ~ Stephen Cramer