Irish Hong-Kongese artist Chris Wong has released his second single, Been Here For Days, and headlines the Grand Social on 14 April. We asked him the BIG questions . . .
Chris debuted his solo project at Forbidden Fruit last summer and played Ireland Music Week in October.
Speaking about Been Here For Days, he says, "It's a song that I had a sudden urge to write. Musically, I felt like I simply wasn’t being heard. I know this is something any artist can relate to.
"You feel like you’re putting 100% into it all but the returns can certainly feel low. At the time, a lot of frustration surrounded me, and I suppose this was my response to dealing with it."
Chris Wong by Luke McCormack
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I'm half Irish, half Hong Kongese - My Mum is from Dublin and my Dad is from Hong Kong. They originally met in the States, but I was born and raised in Ranelagh, Dublin. I wrote my debut single Talents when I was 17 - It was one of my first songs and I wrote it for my great aunt shortly after she passed away. I've never done any music lessons - I get such enjoyment from the happy accidents that happen when writing music without any music theory knowledge. Writing purely based on feeling is something I love doing. I never feel like there are any rules.
How would you describe your music?
Honest and emotive. When I write, I only really think about two things. 1: How I feel. And 2: Whatever tough, sad or beautiful time I'm experiencing. I'm never thinking about whether it will please anyone else. It sounds greedy but I know it helps me stay true to the sound I want to build. I'm in such awe of the artists that expose themselves lyrically, so I guess I subconsciously do the same.
Who are your musical inspirations?
They change a lot! Growing up I used to love singing Tom Jones, Elton John and Maroon 5. Currently, I'm listening to a lot of Olivia Dean, Joesef and Maverick Sabre. I saw Joesef in Opium in March and then flew to Paris to see Olivia Dean a few weeks ago. Their live performances were inspiring and definitely gave me something great to aim towards for my own shows. The artists that really inspire me are the ones who can put on an impactful performance with a full band, and then strip it all back and hold the room with just a guitar/piano and their vocals. Other big inspos include... Lianne La Havas, Jordan Rakei, Nick Mulvey, Oscar Jerome, Cleo Sol.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
Hudson Taylor at the Olympia. I was 15 at the time (somehow passing as an 18-year-old) and my sister bought me along. I remember they performed one song completely acoustically and I was blown away. At the time I couldn't fathom how they held an audience of over 1,000 people doing that.
What was the first record you ever bought?
Songs About Jane - Maroon 5. I was four when it was released. I used to happily drive anywhere with my parents as long as this album was playing. It was being played in the car long before I even understood what the word "record" meant. At the age of around 10 I realised how formative this album was for me and had to get a copy of it for myself.
What’s your favourite song right now?
Sunshine - Cleo Sol.
Favourite lyric of all time?
"The world is so small till it ain't" - Small Worlds (Mac Miller). Mac Miller wrote this to process the feelings of isolation and loneliness that come with success and fame. It's a pretty simple lyric but it resonates with me a lot. I have a soft spot for hip hop/rap music and these genres have definitely influenced my own music.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I Gotta Find Peace of Mind - Lauryn Hill (MTV Unplugged). I love live recordings and this one tops them all. It's such an imperfect performance and that's what makes it so good for me. It's my dream to release a live album one day.
Where can people find your music/more information?
Instagram, TikTok, YouTube.
