K Fuse had a blast chatting with Chai Chang as he comes back with his second English digital single, 'Music Warrior,' a cool electropop and dance-pop shoutout to his idol, CoCo Lee.
The song's lyrics tell the story of a music warrior who tackles challenges with confidence and a positive vibe. "After dropping my debut single last year, I'm back with a track meant to hit listeners right in the feels," Chang said. Growing up in Hong Kong, Chang was influenced by C-Pop, K-Pop, and Western tunes. He came up with the song after CoCo Lee passed away, drawing inspiration from her energy and talent. Even though he didn't have formal music training, Chang went for multiple degrees that weren't music related. This year, he's been all about honing his vocal skills, learning music theory, and diving into production, with plans to kickstart his music career through busking and live performances. The release of 'Music Warrior' includes a music video dropping on November 9th, featuring contemporary dance in various spots. "I want to carve out my own artistic identity and hope the audience catches my enthusiasm. I'll keep pushing myself to not let them down," Chai said.
FIND OUR FULL INTERVIEW WITH CHAI CHANG BELOW
K FUSE: Good evening and thank you for taking the time to speak with us here at K Fuse and sharing your story with our readers. Could you please take a moment to introduce yourself?
Hello readers, my name is Chai Chang. I am a new independent singer currently based in Australia. Having grown up in Hong Kong, China, I have been passionate about music and inspired by C-Pop, K-Pop and Western music. Having studied 3 different degrees that bear entirely no relevance to music, I believe it’s never too late to start pursuing a fresh music career. After debuting as a solo dancing singer last year, I just released my 2nd English digital single – Music Warrior.
K FUSE: For our readers who are meeting you for the first time, could you tell us about your start in music? What inspired you to pursue music as a career?
When I graduated from my first degree, I moved to Hong Kong and worked for a several years mainly in administrative and marketing roles. After working for about 6 years, at the age of 29, I realized that I wanted to make a change and therefore relocated to Australia.
Sadly, only after 2 months, COVID hit and there were on and off lockdowns. Most of the time I was staying inside my small apartment alone and started to lose self-confidence and communication skills. There was a moment where I realized I needed to step out of this situation, so I took the initiative to enroll in various courses including modelling, makeup, and fashion styling. After taking these courses, I decided to start doing modelling as a steppingstone towards my goal of being a solo dance singer and that was back in 2022.
K FUSE: Who are your musical inspirations?
I always inspire by singers from C-Pop, K-Pop and English-speaking countries including CoCo Lee, BTS, Nicole Scherzinger and many more. There are specific elements in each type of music that make them attractive and unique.
K FUSE: Growing up in Hong Kong, what impact does your cultural background have on the music you create? Or even on your creative process?
My cultural background affected my personal development and how I formed my own identity. There is a traditional thinking where I have to study hard at school and achieve good results. After graduation, getting a stable job in a large organization and gradually climbing up the ladder equal success. Thus, I did not receive much formal training in music at all. My creativity was also hindered during that period.
K FUSE: You released your debut single, “New Reality” only one year ago. Blending C-Pop, K-Pop, and Western influences into a high-energy electronic track. Can you walk us through the creation of this song?
There is no denying that people nowadays spend lots of time using and swiping their mobile phones. However, at times it’s hard to tell whether the information you learnt from the online media reflects the reality. The concept of ‘perfection’ on social media also changes how we think and do. We want to look good on social media so we can attract peers to ‘like’ and ‘follow’ us.
The lyrics in the song “if I blurred my face until I've got no pores, maybe they can see that I am beautiful” and “you know that I would do anything it takes to get my 5 seconds of fame” best describe the phenomenon. The song ends with the line “welcome to the new reality” and this is why the song was born.
K FUSE: You just released your second single, “Music Warrior.” What message did you want to convey with this track?
“Music Warrior” is an electropop and dance-pop song that is created to express respect to my music influencer CoCo Lee, an international renowned singer. The lyrics describe how a music warrior uses music as a tool to overcome all barriers. No matter how hard the difficulties are, one must remain confident, stay positive and never “back down from the climb”. The song ends with the line “now listen to the sound of a warrior”.
We experience challenges and obstacles throughout different life stages. It is not uncommon for us to feel negative or even depressed whenever we are going through difficult times. We should stay positive and never give up.
K FUSE: How would you describe your music / sound to new listeners?
I have a rich baritone and my vocal style is a mix of breathier and stronger tones. Whenever I am working on a new piece of music, I’ll figure out how I can best showcase my unique voice so as to match the vibe of the music.
I always want to convey a message in each of my song. I hope my new listeners can connect the messages to themselves when they are listening to my songs.
K FUSE: As an independent artist, what advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue music as a career?
It’s never too late to kick start. I believe the most important step is to plan ahead what you would like to do and achieve, followed by estimating the budget and resources needed. Never feel embarrassed to seek help during the process.
K FUSE: What has been the greatest challenge as an independent artist? How do you face those challenges to overcome them?
Lacking industry knowledge has been my greatest challenge as an independent artist. Music creation, production and marketing are all different areas of knowledge. It would almost be impossible for an independent artist to know and become an expert in everything.
Therefore, seeking help and building connections in the industry are crucial. It is easier said than done and taking a step-by-step approach is recommended.
K FUSE: How do you unwind from a stressful day?
There are three things that I normally do.
First, I would listen to music that I really like especially songs that provide positive vibe and energy.
Second, I would go for a walk. It can relieve some stress and lift my mood.
Third, chatting with my family members and close friends that I trust make me feel more relieved.
K FUSE: Is there a message that you would like to leave for your fans, and our readers?
I take pride in having a unique appearance coupled with a rich baritone. I also have a strong dedication to keep on challenging myself and creating my own artistic character. I hope my fans and readers can feel my passion and see how I am trying to improve as a music performer.
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