Li Haoyang—known to the band simply as Lee—holds down the low end with a calm presence and a deep musical sensibility rooted in feel, groove, and everyday listening. Where some musicians trace their origin stories to dramatic moments of inspiration, Lee’s path into music is much simpler: somewhere around middle school, he realized music was just something he wanted to do. No big reason—he just wanted to play.

Before bass entered the picture, Lee’s first love was the piano, an instrument that still shapes the way he hears harmony and melody. Even now, if he hadn’t ended up on bass, he says he’d still be playing piano. That early connection to keys helped lead him toward the smooth, sophisticated world of fusion and R&B, especially after discovering the band Fourplay, whose sound opened the door to a whole new musical landscape.

Jazz plays a constant role in Lee’s life. Rather than pointing to a single record that changed everything, he believes any great jazz artist can shift the way you hear music. It’s something he absorbs daily—simply by listening. That steady exposure quietly feeds into his playing and improvisation, giving his bass lines a sense of flow and musical awareness that supports the band without ever forcing attention.

Lee joined the group almost by accident. As he puts it, he doesn’t really remember how it happened—“Liam just took me in.” Since then, he’s become a key part of the band’s rhythm section and collaborative writing process. Most song ideas begin with Liam and Alex, but once the group starts playing together, Lee’s bass anchors the jam and helps shape where the music goes.

His approach to playing is balanced between instinct and thought. Sometimes he trusts feel, sometimes he thinks things through—but always with the goal of serving the music. Unlike some musicians who love pushing boundaries just to break them, Lee doesn’t see himself as a rule-breaker. Instead, his focus is simpler: play with heart and draw from real life.

In rehearsals, he’s known for his quiet demeanor—he’s not one to argue or debate when disagreements happen. He’d rather let the music speak. That said, he does joke that one thing fans might be surprised to see is him “kicking Liam’s ass” during practice.

Outside of music, Lee keeps things simple: when he’s not playing, he’s usually sleeping.

Despite his understated personality, Lee brings an essential presence to the band. His bass lines carry the emotional weight of the music—steady, thoughtful, and grounded in feeling. When asked what song feels most like him, he gives perhaps the most honest answer of all: none in particular. Lee doesn’t worry about explaining himself through a single track. In many ways, he’d rather let people discover who he is through the music itself. 🎸