Some musicians are trained from the moment they can walk. Others, like Zongyi Li, chart their own path—fueled by curiosity, creativity, and a love for storytelling through sound.
Known online as Tennon, Zongyi is a rising media composer and electronic music producer based in Montreal. His musical journey is anything but conventional—and that’s exactly what makes it inspiring.
A Self-Taught Start
Born in China in 2001 and raised in Canada, Zongyi didn’t grow up in a musical household. In fact, he had no formal training when he first started experimenting with music. “I used to play around with notation software just for fun,” he recalls. “I didn’t really know music theory or anything. I just liked hearing the computer play the notes I wrote.”
It wasn’t long before his love for video games led him into the world of digital audio. He began producing music in FL Studio, chasing the dream of creating original soundtracks for the games he played. That spark quickly grew into a passion for electronic dance music (EDM)—and later, a career in film and game scoring.
A Leap of Faith
Zongyi’s determination led him to apply to the Schulich School of Music at McGill University, one of Canada’s most prestigious institutions. With no background in classical performance or formal instruction, he taught himself music theory and ear training before the audition. And he got in.
While diving deep into classical and contemporary music at McGill, he never let go of his love for EDM and digital production. He began working with computer science students on game projects, entering (and winning!) film and game music competitions.
1st place – Indie Film Music Contest 2024 (using SWAM Violin)
2nd place – Indie Game Music Contest 2024 (using SWAM Trombone, French Horn, Trumpet, Piccolo, Cello, and Viola)
Discovering SWAM: A Game-Changer for Creativity
Despite his classical training, Zongyi admits: “I’ve never been good at performing. I can’t really play any instrument well, and I’m not a strong live musician.”
That’s why virtual instruments became his go-to. But for a long time, he felt limited by sample-based libraries—especially for winds and bowed strings. Key switches and endless MIDI tweaks got in the way of his creative flow.
“Key switches always killed my creative flow. I’d spend more time programming than actually writing music.”
Then came a breakthrough: SWAM instruments by Audio Modeling.
With SWAM’s physical modeling technology, Zongyi finally found a tool that matched his imagination. “There are no key switches. Everything is controllable in real time—vibrato, bow pressure, overblowing, dynamics, trills—you name it. It’s like having a real performer inside the software.”
For a composer who loves to shape and reshape his music during the creative process, that flexibility was a revelation.
“SWAM lets me stay in the creative zone without worrying about technical roadblocks.”
A Full Investment in Musical Freedom
Zongyi was so impressed by the expressiveness and fluid workflow of SWAM that he invested in the entire SWAM catalog—his biggest music production investment to date.
And it’s paying off.
Now working as a full-time media composer and EDM producer, Zongyi is exploring the exciting frontier of blending electronic music with physically modeled instruments. SWAM gives him the expressive power of a live ensemble, even when recording isn’t an option.
“I’ve never felt so free writing music.”
What’s Next for Tennon?
As he continues to push the boundaries between electronic production and orchestral realism, Zongyi is carving out a unique voice in today’s music landscape—one that bridges genres, cultures, and technologies.
We’re proud to have Zongyi in the Audio Modeling community and can’t wait to hear what he creates next.
Discover More from Tennon
🔗 Visit his website
📷 Follow Tennon on Instagram @tennonmusic
📺 Subscribe on Tennon’s YouTube channel @tennon11
Inspired by Zongyi’s story?
Explore the world of SWAM instruments and experience the freedom of physical modeling for yourself.
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