Soul-food singer-songwriter dān dān is one half of wasian sibling duo Ersha Island 二沙岛, and is known for her distinct vocals, evocative storytelling, and classically-trained piano influences. Separate from the duo, dān dān layers in lyrical wordplay and rich harmonies to explore the more playful and vulnerable parts of her songwriting as a solo artist.
Her debut single pressure cooker released in November 2024 (supported by NZ On Air) marks the beginning of this solo chapter: a candid, emotionally layered track that unpacks the unspoken pressures of growing up between cultures as the eldest daughter in a Chinese family.
Inspired by the lyrical finesse of artists like Ryan Beatty and Lizzy McAlpine, pressure cooker balances self-awareness with intimacy, tension, and tenderness alongside unique lyrics and playful anecdotes.
Its music video, inspired by Everything Everywhere All At Once, was released in June 2025 featuring celebrity chef Sam Low and follows dān dān’s relationship with her mum through its universe. pressure cooker recently won Best Music Video at the NZ Webfest Awards and was nominated for South Pacific Best Acting at the New Zealand Youth Film Festival.
pressure cooker is the first in a series of releases leading up to dān dān’s debut EP, songs about food (kinda), a project that continues to explore identity through the lens of food, culture, and the bittersweet spaces between belonging and becoming.
