Am I Alive
My name is Qniverse (formerly Qisheng Zheng), a flutist, singer, spoken word artist, and composer originally from China and currently based in Arnhem, the Netherlands.
In July 2025, I graduated from the Jazz & Pop Bachelor program at ArtEZ University of the Arts in Arnhem. Before moving to the Netherlands, I completed my classical flute studies at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, China.
I am applying for funding to create and release my first album, Am I Alive. The album is a collection of original works that I composed and developed during my years of study at ArtEZ. These pieces reflect my artistic growth, personal experiences, and the journey of discovering my own voice as a musician.
For me, Am I Alive symbolizes both an ending and a beginning. It marks the end of my student life and the start of my professional career as an independent artist. The album captures a period of transformation, questioning, and self-discovery, while expressing my hopes, doubts, and ambitions for the future.
This project is also the first artistic statement under my new artist identity, Qniverse. The name change represents an important evolution from my birth name, Qisheng Zheng, into a broader creative vision. Through this album, I introduce not only my music but also the artistic world and sound that define Qniverse.
The requested funding will support the recording, production, mixing, mastering, and release of the album, allowing me to bring these original compositions to life and share them with a wider audience.