Zhou Shen (周深) was born on September 29, 1992, in Shaoyang, Hunan, China. After studying Bel canto at the Lviv National Music Academy in Ukraine, he began building an audience online in 2010 before breaking into the mainstream on The Voice of China in 2014. His countertenor voice — rare in Mandopop — immediately set him apart.

He became a household name with "Big Fish" (大鱼), the haunting theme for the animated film Big Fish & Begonia (2016). In 2019 he won the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Greater China Act. He has performed at every CCTV Spring Festival Gala since 2021 — China's most-watched broadcast of the year.

His second studio album Shenself (反深代词), released globally through Warner Music in May 2024, sold over one million copies in its first week and charted at #11 on the IFPI Global Album Sales Chart. The 9.29 Hz World Tour followed in 2024–2025, selling out stadiums across Asia, Europe, North America, and Australia.