Chinese-Malaysian-Australian artist JINYU makes a lush debut with “Surf”, marking the release with a live Rolling Stone AU/NZ In My Room session.
Joined by Melbourne producer and keys player Jake Amy (Kaiit, Miss Kaninna, Alexander Flood), the relaxed at-home performance unfolds in a sunlit room filled with plants and pops of colour, captured through a soft, hazy lens that mirrors the track’s warm vibe. Jazz-inflected chords, neo-soul melodies, and JINYU’s dreamy vocals set the mood.
Her name, derived from the Chinese characters for “Gold” and “Jade” (金玉), reflects the cultural storytelling and quiet strength woven through her music. On “Surf”, her debut single, JINYU explores surrendering to life’s currents, learning to let go instead of fighting the tide.
“This song is about letting go and trusting the tides you’re on,” she explains. “As someone who’s struggled with severe anxiety — even experiencing panic attacks in very public places — I remind myself to just ride the wave… breathe deep, and soon it will pass.”
The song’s gentle production allows her voice and message to shine through without distraction.
Watch her sing “Surf” in a stripped-back setting in her In My Room session above.
Drawing from neo-soul, R&B, and pop with jazz undertones, JINYU’s music creates space for both emotion and ease. She describes her sound as “made for late-night drives and quiet mornings alike.”
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Her visual identity draws on nature, fairytale nomadism, and Y2K nostalgia, crafting a “whole world of feeling and imagination.”
JINYU has teased more music on the way via her socials: “I’m excited to announce that there’s more music to come very soon… Keep surfing until then.”
Fans of Olivia Dean, Cleo Sol, and Snoh Aalegra will feel right at home, while local bedroom-pop lovers of Phoebe Rings and Telenova will find a kinship too.
JINYU’s “Surf” is out now.
