A Marvelous Summer Read, A Mid-20s Crisis Movie, And More! (ZAN! #1)

five cool things by creators from across the Asian diaspora

I first learned the word zàn (讚) from my family in Taiwan. Any food that was deemed especially delicious would get an enthusiastic “ZÀN!” from one of my aunts or cousins, often accompanied by a thumbs-up and maybe a good bit of slurping.

This word perfectly encompasses that feeling of finding something incredible, and immediately needing to share it with others. This is the inspiration behind ZAN! The Newsletter.

With the goal of highlighting works of creators from all across the Asian diaspora, everything featured on this newsletter has been vetted for that zàn feeling — and passed.

In this week’s newsletter: A highly entertaining summer read, a movie that will make you call your therapist, and more!

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🎵 Sarah Kinsley - Ascension (EP)

This is the most excited I’ve been about an AAPI musician in a long time.

On her newest EP Ascension, Sarah Kinsley, a 22 year-old Chinese-American singer/songwriter, pairs rich, emotive vocals with retro-inspired, ethereal instrumentation.

Amazingly, she not only sings and writes her own music, but also plays ALL the instruments you’ll hear, and plays a role in production as well. Is that incredibly impressive or what?!

Don’t miss the nostalgic vibes of “Black Horse” or the alt-pop piano intro of “Lovegod” (I’m a sucker for any song with a solid piano moment). Make sure you listen to this one from beginning to end — that’s the ZAN! way. And if you, like me, find yourself immediately replaying the album after the last song, you’ll know you have a winner.

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📖 Kōtarō Isaka - Bullet Train

Is it worth recommending a book that was published in 2010 and was recently adapted into a major motion picture starring Brad Pitt? My answer is: Absolutely.

This book is one of my personal favorites that I’ve read this year. Not only is it fast-paced, funny, and highly entertaining, but it’s also surprisingly dark, with a deeply satisfying conclusion (especially compared to that of the movie).

I breathlessly consumed this book in a matter of days, and immediately started recommending it to my friends. And now I’m recommending it to you. Add this to your summer reading list ASAP!

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🎵 Eric Nam- House on a Hill (Single) & Global Tour

Korean-American musician (and multi-talented podcast host, actor, fashion icon…) Eric Nam has returned to the music scene with the release of his single, House on a Hill. (They even created a fake real estate listing for the occasion.)

With his characteristic upbeat pop melodies & surprisingly personal lyrics, Eric’s new single challenges his fans to reflect on what truly makes a life:

What if I get everything I want?
What if nothing ever fills me up?
What if being happy isn't what I thought?…

What is more is never enough?

Aside from possibly triggering mini-existential crises in his fans, this new release also came with an even bigger announcement: a large-scale global concert tour!

I’ve seen Eric in concert on multiple occasions and can attest to his mega-charisma, dedication to his craft, and skilled ability to entertain (in multiple languages, no less!).

Check the poster below to see if his tour is coming to a city near you. And then reserve a spot — fast! Tickets are on sale starting Friday, June 30th at 10AM. (I’ll see you at the New York concert.)

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📖 Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai - Dust Child

With sharp insight into the complex and multifaceted realities of the Vietnam war, Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai’s captivating novel Dust Child is absolutely worth adding to your bookshelf.

Dust Child, which focuses on the Amerasian children born of American GIs and Vietnamese women, weaves in the stories of a variety of characters — including two Vietnamese sisters, a mixed Black and Vietnamese man and his family, and an American couple visiting Vietnam decades after the war.

Don’t let the multiple plot lines intimidate you. Quế Mai’s clear, vivid writing carries you through the decades seamlessly.

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🎥 Only Yesterday (1991)

This one is for the grown-up Ghibli kids. Get out your tissues.

If you feel like you’ve pretty much seen all the Studio Ghibli movies that are worth watching (Spirited Away, Howl’s, Princess Mononoke, Castle in the Sky, Kiki’s…), chances are you’ve probably missed this one.

Only Yesterday is a quietly gorgeous film that is frankly more appropriate for adults than for kids. Not because of any explicit subject matter or mature plot lines — but because of the way that this movie makes you feel.

As you join a 27 year-old woman in reminiscing on her 10-year old self, you’ll find your heart tugging in a billion different emotional directions with each vignette. I cried multiple times (especially at the end) and now have a few things to talk about with my therapist. Woohoo! :’)

I watched the subbed version, but the dubbed version (featuring Daisy Ridley and Dev Patel) seems like a good option as well. You can stream Only Yesterday on HBO Max, or rent it on Amazon.

Pour yourself a glass of wine during your next quiet summer night in and put on this movie. You won’t regret it.

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Keep an Eye Out For…

Catch Joy Ride (directed by Adele Lim and featuring Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu, and Sabrina Wu) in theaters starting July 7th.

And season 2 of Jujutsu Kaisen drops on July 8th.

Now, it’s your turn!

There are two things you can do to support this newsletter.

First, if you think this newsletter is itself pretty zàn, please drop a link to it in your friend group chat, or share it with someone who might be interested.

Second, if you want to share something that you think would be worthwhile to feature on this newsletter, you can shoot me an email with your recommendation at zanthenewsletter@substack.com. You can also send me a DM on Instagram at @rebeccaericsonhua. I’d love to hear from you!

(And, if your recommendation is included in the newsletter, I’ll be sure to give you a shout-out.)

Until next time,

Rebecca