Ashin

Ashin
"Ashin" Chen Hsin Hung at 2008 Taipei International Book Exhibition
Background information
Chinese name	陳信宏 (traditional)
Pinyin	Chén Xìnhóng (Mandarin)
Pe̍h-ōe-jī	Tân Sìn-hông (Hokkien)
Origin	Republic of China (Taiwan)
Born	(1975-12-06) 6 December 1975 (age 41) Beitou, Taipei, Taiwan
Occupation	Singer-songwriter，designer
Genre(s)	Mandopop, Hokkien pop (rock)
Label(s)	Rock (1999–2008) Universal Music Group (2009–present)
Years active	1999–present
Associated acts	Mayday

Chen Hsin-hung (Chinese: 陳信宏; pinyin: Chén Xìnhóng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tân Sìn-hông), nicknamed Ashin (Chinese: 阿信; pinyin: Āxìn; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: A-sìn), was born on 6 December 1975 in Beitou District, Taiwan. He is a singer/songwriter and author. He is the vocalist of the Taiwanese rock band Mayday. Ashin majored in art in college, where he also began his musical career. Mayday is one of the most successful Taiwanese rock bands and has greatly influenced the Taiwanese entertainment industry. Ashin is also the founder and designer of the clothing line StayReal and a shareholder of the music label B'in Music. He was elected as a board member of the Taiwan Public Television Service in 2013.

Ashin was born into a family of four, consisting of his parents, himself, and a younger brother. His family owned a record store, which inspired his passion for music. Ashin's childhood ambition was to become a singer, but his vocal range was too narrow. He claims his bandmates selected him to be Mayday's singer as he was the worst instrumentalist out of all of them. Ashin can play both guitar and drums.

Ashin attended a public elementary and middle school in Beitou District. After graduating from middle school, he was accepted into one of the top high schools in Taiwan, The Affiliated Senior High School of National Taiwan Normal University, where he majored in visual arts. Ashin joined the high school's guitar club and was made president the following year. It was in the guitar club that he met the other members of Mayday: Monster, Masa, and Stone. At the age of 19, he started composing. The first song, "Hao Ju Hao San", was released on Richie Jen's 2001 album "Fei Niao." After graduating from high school, Ashin attended Shih Chien University, where he majored in interior design. Mayday began to start seeing success while Ashin was still in college.