FEATURE: Spotlight: Christina Chong

FEATURE:

Spotlight

PHOTO CREDIT: Scarlett Warrick

Christina Chong

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THERE are a few different ways….

PHOTO CREDIT: Scarlett Warrick

that I usually get introduced to artists. It might be the case they are brand-new and this is their first steps into the public spotlight. There are those who have been around a little while, but they are quite new to my ears. There are those artists that come from another discipline. Christina Chong sort of fits into categories one and three. The London-born actress is currently appearing in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. She is an amazing actor and tremendous screen presence. I have written about how actors go into music and it can yield mixed results. Some are naturally assured and confident; others can be a little shaky and take their time to feel their way. When it comes to Christina Chong, she is someone who has come into the music industry and released some tremendous singles. Twin Flames and No Blame came out earlier in the year. The third, Can’t Show Love, arrived on 28th July. I get the feeling that she is working her way to an E.P. Maybe that will come out later in the year. At the moment, she is building this really impressive and passionate fanbase right across social media. I do hope that there are more interviews and photoshoots with her regarding the music side of her career, as it would be fascinating to know more about Chong’s musical upbringing and her plans for the future. At the moment, she produces a sound that is stirring, epic and almost James Bond theme-worthy one moment. There is also tenderness and calm in her sounds. She is someone who wants to instil passion and movement in the listeners. She also wants to soothe and balm the soul. Her latest track, Can’t Show Love, is perhaps her most impressive to date. Someone that everyone should keep an eye out for, Christina Chong is going to enjoy a long career in music.

Like I say with any actor who comes into music, they have this natural ability to shift between moods and moments. That ability to display a wide array of emotions with potency and power, Christina Chong is a vocalist who really brings you into the songs alongside her. It does seem, reading interviews, that a Twin Flames E.P. is coming soon. Chong is also considering an album, perhaps. I want to start with an Untitled interview from last month. We learn more about Christina Chong’s musical influences and what comes next:

“You grew up in different parts of England, including Broxbourne, Longridge, and Enfield. Can you tell us what your childhood was like and how it informed you creatively?

I was one of those kids who was always outside – playing with friends, getting grubby building dens in the woods, riding bikes, catching little fish in the brook, and playing games in the field until that infamous “Dinner time!” call from Mum. It would be that or dance class. I studied ballet, tap, and modern dance from the age of about four. I guess the outdoor experiences fed my imagination, and dance nurtured my musicality and physical expression!

What are some of your earliest memories of performing?

My earliest memory is probably when I was about four. I wore a long sleeve blue leotard, silver sparkly gloves, and black tap shoes with white ankle socks. It’s the gloves that make that a standout memory, and I think we wore silver chokers, too. I would often perform songs and dances for my family at home. I’d sit them all down and charge them two pounds each. They’d pay it, and then I’d give the same renditions of “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain” and “Daisy” that they’d heard a million times before, for free!

PHOTO CREDIT: Scarlett Warrick

You’ve also recently made your debut as a recording artist! What inspired your path to music?

I studied musical theatre, so it was always something I wanted to do. I was just waiting for the right time! Star Trek gave me the platform and means to feel like the time was now.

Your first single, “Twin Flames,” reflects on the end of a personal relationship. Can you tell us more about the inspiration for the song and its title?

[The inspiration] was an amazing relationship, just the right person at the wrong time. I was told by a psychic that we are twin flames – two parts of the same soul who meet roughly every four lifetimes. Apparently, the last time we were together was in the 1800s in a fishing town in Sicily, Italy. “Twin Flames” is about our meeting and our love and passion for each other. It was super strong and amazing, but when you have something like that, there’s also a deep fear that it all could burn out and disappear.

How much inspiration did you get from your own life for your EP? Are other songs similarly personal?

The one rule in my music journey is that it has to be authentically me. Every song is based on a personal experience and every word has significance and means something to me. The whole EP is about that twin flame relationship, hence why Twin Flame is also the title of the EP.

PHOTO CREDIT: Scarlett Warrick

What are some of the themes you explore on the EP?

As I mentioned, “Twin Flames” is about passion and love, “No Blame” is about our breakup, but understanding it’s nobody’s fault. It just is. “Can’t Show Love” is about healing and understanding why, and “I Get To Choose” is about finally realizing that I can be happy on my own again. It’s the full circle of emotions that any romantic relationship will take you through. We’ve all been through those stages and know you have to be happy on your own to be ready to fall in love again, hence why “I Get To Choose” is the last track.

Who have been some of your biggest musical influences and why?

Amy Winehouse has definitely been a big influence because of the rawness and authenticity of her lyrics. I love how she’s really being herself, warts and all. In a similar vein, I want my music to continue to be very personal.

As a new recording artist, how did you go about crafting your sound?

Ask me in a year! I’m still working on it. It’s a lot of trial and error and, of course, guidance from Jake [Gosling] and Nuuxs”.

PHOTO CREDIT: David Reiss for Los Angeles Confidential

I think there is crossover regarding Christina Chong’s acting and music. I am not sure how who have seen her in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds are streaming her music - but you can imagine quite a few fans have come across. The buzz and excitement her singles have generated so far mean that a lot of eyes and ears are trained in her direction. I want to come to this Screenrant interview from last month. Chong discussed the popularity and success of Twin Flames.

“Of course, I have to congratulate you on "Twin Flames." Your song is available on Spotify, iTunes, and wherever you stream your music. Let me just do a little plug for you. It's a beautiful James Bond-like song. Everybody's saying it. What are the next steps for you and your music?

Christina Chong: I'm doing this during this whole journey because I love it, and it's fun, and I'm passionate about it. So I don't have this, "Oh, I need to do this with it. I need to do that with it." I'm going with the flow. See what happens. I've got my EP dropping on August 11th. "Twin Flames" is the first of four tracks on the EP. There are plans to potentially release acoustic versions and a club remix of "Twin Flames". Potentially a Christmas song... (laughs)

And I have lots of material, lots of tracks that are ready to go and release, which are completely different to the EP. I basically wanted to try different styles. I trained in musical theater where we had to train in all different kinds of genres. So I just wanted to touch on as many as I could. So yes, I have a lot of music in the bank to release. Just when, how, and where I'm not sure yet, but we're gonna go with the flow. I think it's more about seeing how this feels, how people respond to the rest of the EP, and then potentially, we're talking about live things. So we'll see. It's all up in the air at the moment. Nothing confirmed.

Everybody compares "Twin Flames" to a Bond theme. The Bond movies are rebooting. Could being a Bond Girl be in your future?

Christina Chong: That was always one of my dreams as well! I always wanted to be a Bond Girl. I mean, come on! If I could even just get a song in a Bond movie, that would be amazing. Oh, we're also thinking about doing physical releases, limited physical releases, as well. Signed CDs, wallet things, autographed. There'll be a limited edition type thing”.

PHOTO CREDIT: Scarlett Warrick

There is one more interview that I want to round off with. I was going to feature Christina Chong in my Spotlight feature because of the amazing music she has put out. Until last month, there were not really that many interviews pertaining to her music career. Now that this has changed, it is great highlighting her talent. Platinummind.net chatted with Chong at the end of July and asked her about her music start and some of her influences:

“Congratulations on the release of “No Blame” how does it feel?

It feels quite surreal actually. I’m not sure it’s fully landed with me that it’s materialised. Less than a year ago it was just a thought in my head, and now it’s out there.

What’s the story behind the song?

The song is about coming to terms with a break up with someone I consider to be my ‘twin flame’. It was an amazing relationship but for reasons that I won’t go in to right now, we could no longer be together. The sad thing is, there was no wrong doing, no one was to blame – hence the title and meaning behind the song.

You worked with NUUXS, Jake Gosling and Matt Brettling on this what was your favourite part of the process?

To be completely honest the whole thing. I was absolutely in my element. As an ex-dancer, I loved seeing the vibe of the song come to life and I’m still blown away by how you can go into the studio at 12pm with nothing, and walk out at 6pm with a virtually completed song.

You’re a singer songwriter with quite a background how did it all begin?

I started dance class at the age of 4 and went to performing arts school as a teen (Italia Conti), where you take vocational classes alongside the academic curriculum. The original dream was to play leads in musicals in the West End, but when I realised how long it would take me to work my way up the ladder I decided I’d try and fast track myself, by building a profile through TV and Film. It’s only after booking my current show, that it felt like now might be the time to go back to my musical roots. I’d also quietly said to myself that I would one day put out a single, and I guess I’ve already surpassed that so anything from here on in is a huge bonus. The only thing that would make it perfect, is tif I get to play the lead in something like Chicago, on Broadway.

What did you listen to growing up?

A lot of 70s disco, Whitney Houston, Kylie, Madonna, Michael Jackson. At Italia Conti you’re exposed to a huge array of musical genres so I studied classical music, different musical theatre styles, Motown and in general music through the ages.

What are you listening to at the moment?

I’m really into an artist called Grae. She’s Canadian, from Toronto. Very smooth silky sounds and I love her vibe and lyrics.

What are you looking forward to next?

I’m looking forward to continuing to let life lead me. I’m looking forward to the AMPTP offering us a serious and fair deal, so we can all go back to work, and I’m excited to see where my music will take me. Maybe an album is next up?”.

An E.P. will come soon. After that, who knows how far she can go. There is a lot of love out there for Christina Chong. I think she has a really distinct and interesting sound, so there is no reason why she cannot enjoy a verry long and successful career. Keep your eye out for this amazing talent who is going to release awesome music for many years. Once you hear her music, it does not take long until it lodges…