Biography
Pangolea is the musical project of San Francisco-based multi-instrumentalist and producer Kevin Zhao. Fusing East Asian folk instrumentation with modern synthesis, his sound bridges ancient tradition and contemporary dancefloor dynamics. Classically trained in bassoon and piano, Zhao’s unconventional path into electronic music was shaped by time in East Asia, where he immersed himself in traditional Chinese instruments and the Taipei underground scene. With releases on The Gardens of Babylon, Katun, Lump Records, and more, Pangolea has become a distinctive voice in the organic house scene. Known for emotive textures, hypnotic rhythms, and his unique utilization of folk instruments, his music continues to imagine a future shaped by tradition, nature, and technology.