The Return of a Gen-Z Asian-American Music Legend!!! (ZAN! #18)
plus, my opinions on controversial television, a recommendation from my teenage self that still holds up today, and more!!!!
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Hello, lovely readers of ZAN!!!
This edition is incredibly special because I want to highlight a musician who is not only beloved in the hearts of so many people, but who is also — are you ready for this — a friend of the newsletter!! 🥳
Let’s get into it!
🎵 Luke Chiang
When I say that the comeback of Taiwanese-American musician Luke Chiang has been long-awaited, I really, really mean it.
Known for his discography of five songs released in 2019, which have since garnered *hundreds of millions* of listens on Spotify, Luke shines for his authenticity — combining heart-on-his-sleeve lyrics with keen musicality (no four-chord songs here!).
At the peak of his success, Luke seemingly disappeared. He would go on to share about his battle with laryngopharyngeal reflux, which physically prevented him from singing (and even speaking) for long stretches of time.
His newest release, Never Tell, speaks to this dark period of his life, and his deep desire to continue making music. The arrangement and production of this song is also a clear step up from the more raw, bedroom-pop style of his earlier releases, featuring a warm, rich sound and sweeping strings.
Give Luke’s newest song a listen now to celebrate this long-anticipated comeback.
📚 Cixin Liu - Remembrance of Earth’s Past (Series)
In the last newsletter, I sang the praises of the novel The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu. Since then, I have absolutely POWERED through the entire three-book series, which also includes The Dark Forest (Book Two) and Death’s End (Book Three). At one point I think I made my husband worried over how much I was reading. (I’m good now.)
While the first book still holds a special place in my heart, this series is a genuine tour de force of science fiction insanity that left me absolutely awestruck.
It is by no means a perfect series. Some of the characters are undeniably flat (which you could argue leaves room for the ideas, but is still a minor annoyance for me), and the book has its share of cringe-inducing moments.
But it is a series that will stay with me forever — with ideas that span so many corners and depths of the human experience that it just boggles my mind.
(One hidden bonus of finishing this series is that I get to browse all the highly specific memes on r/threebodyproblem, which I highly recommend doing once you’ve finished reading. Send me your favorites. 😜)
This brings me to my next (possibly controversial) recommendation…
📺 3 Body Problem (Netflix)
This show has been pretty divisive on the internet, so here’s my official summary: I do recommend this show, particularly if you enjoy fast-paced science fiction with funky ideas.
While the plot of the show moves significantly quicker than the books, I was overall pretty pleased with how the show honored the original material. Certainly, quite a few ideas were simplified, but I didn’t encounter any significant, standout issues that made me upset.
(I also didn’t mind the changes in characters, some of whom are super boring in the book, sorry not sorry Wang Miao.)
HOWEVER!!! Here is my crucial PSA for all my readers out there: If you are seriously planning to read the series by Cixin Liu, then oh my god please stop watching the show RIGHT NOW.
In just this first season alone, the Netflix show draws from elements of all three books (there is a scene from the third book in the very first episode!!!! aaaaa!!!).
I actually wasn’t aware of this when I started the show (I was towards the end of Book Two at the time), and had to pause the show so that I could finish reading the whole series 😮💨
So if you’re more of the type that likes to savor a good book over many, many hours — then save the show for later. Regardless, add it to your list now, and let’s hope it gets officially greenlit for season two!
📺 The Sympathizer
While I have not yet watched The Sympathizer (streaming on HBO Max, which I tragically do not have), I very much want to pitch it for this newsletter because it looks AMAZING.
Based on the award-winning novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen, this limited series stars Hoa Xuande as a mixed Vietnamese man who navigates loyalties during and after the Vietnam war.
The show is already receiving rave reviews, no doubt due to the absolutely stacked creative team (with Don McKellar and Park Chan-wook at the helm, and a cast featuring Robert Downey Jr. and Sandra Oh!!!).
I rewatched the trailer and am extremely tempted to just jump the gun on HBO Max. In all honesty I probably will. I’m weak.
If you’re already watching it, leave your thoughts in the comments, please! Check out the trailer below:
🎵 Hyukoh
You know when you’re traveling and you don’t have any cell signal so you just have to listen to whatever music you have downloaded?
This specific circumstance is what led me to revisit one of my favorite bands from when I was in college — four-person South Korean indie band, Hyukoh.
It turns out that their music is objectively still amazing. (Teenage/young adult me had great taste, yay!)
If there’s something about the simplicity of drums and electric guitar that just gets you going, Hyukoh is the band for you.
While they haven’t released much new music as of late, I’d love to draw your attention to their three of their earliest works: The EPs 20 (2014) and 22 (2015), as well as the full-length album, 23 (2017).
Perhaps what is most distinct about their sound is the warm voice of lead singer, Oh Hyuk, who masterfully manages a mind-boggling balancing act of both tenderness and grit.
You can find this on full display in some of my favorite songs of theirs: Wi Ing Wi Ing, Ohio, Comes and Goes, Mer, Tokyo Inn, Leather Jacket, and Wanli. (That was the hardest list of my life, wow.)
Here’s Leather Jacket for your listening pleasure, and if you like it, just go down my list of favorites ;)
🙇🏻♀️ Now, it’s your turn!
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Until next time,
Rebecca