Jackson Wang talks about his first show in Brazil: ‘I’m really looking forward to living it all’

Ready to make its first landing in Brazil, jackson wang does not hide the anxiety of finally getting to know the country. “More than just playing shows and performing, I’m grateful for the opportunity to travel around South America, especially Brazil and other places I love. I’ve been traveling the world a lot recently and I’m excited to come to you guys for the first time because I know there’s something special there,” the Chinese singer and producer told Rolling Stone Brazil.

“When you celebrate, scream and dance, I can see that you take it very seriously. I love that passion and I also wish I could explore places better, not just visiting the hotels, concert halls and airports as I have been doing for the last ten years, but also going out to meet new friends and different spaces, and experience the local people’s lifestyle. I’m really looking forward to experiencing all of that.”

Arriving with the world tour MAGIC MANwhich has sold out shows in Bangkok, Singapore, London and Paris, he will perform on May 15th at Unimed Space, in Sao Paulo. Then, the show lasting more than two hours will go to Argentina, Chile and Mexico. The latest tickets are available on the LIVEPASS website.

Rising

With more than 32 million followers on Instagram and nearly 600 million views on YouTube, the Hong Kong-born Jackson debuted in 2014 alongside the K-pop groupGOT7formed in South Korea by JYP Entertainment, which quickly became one of the main representatives of the genre. After winning awards, breaking records and traveling the world, the seven members ended their contracts with the label and now act independently, releasing songs together and dedicating themselves to solo careers.

In fact, investing in his own art worked out well for the singer, who in 2017 founded the TEAM WANG, a company responsible for managing all of your copyrighted works. In early 2023 alone, Jackson was on the coachellawhere he presented the songs from his second studio album, MAGIC MAN (2022), and made history by becoming the first Chinese soloist to take the festival’s main stage twice in a row. During this year’s presentation, he surprised the audience by bringing the singer and GrammyCiara, to sing her new single “Slow”, a collaboration between the two that won a music video at the end of April.

At the beginning of May, he drew attention on social networks when he was present on the red carpet of the Met Galathe traditional festival of Metropolitan Museum, in New York, which annually gathers great celebrities. Appointed Global Ambassador of Louis Vuitton in January, Wang was one of the most talked about names of the night, wearing a black military-style outfit customized by the brand.

“It’s an honor to be asked to perform at Coachella and attend the Met Gala, and I often question whether I really deserve all these opportunities. But I am extremely grateful to be a part of these events and occupy these spaces.”

Always on top of his projects, Jackson explained why his latest album – his most successful yet, debuting at No. Billboard 200 – to be so different from what he was used to doing, and how the creative process became more important than the result.

“I’m not too worried about the result of my work, as I don’t consider myself a great artist, but a musician who loves what he does. During the production of the album, I went through a difficult time, as I had been in the music scene for over ten years and everything seemed the same every day, with a busy schedule. It got to the point where I didn’t even know where I was or what was going on. Over the last ten years, I always felt like I was giving in, always doing what other people or things asked, not taking time for myself and asking myself what I really believed in.”

“So, before starting the album, I realized that I wanted to do something that was 100% in my interest, without needing the help of big producers or managers. And that’s how it came about MAGIC MAN, a job that brought me back to my essence and helped me find my own magic. I’m still in the process of actually finding it, and I know I’ll never get there, but I get closer every day. The record is about continuing to look and learn about yourself. I’m getting ready to release MAGIC MAN 2 and I know the result is important, but I also value the creative process and the opportunity to be myself. Not everyone is going to like my work, and that’s okay, as it gives me room to grow as an artist as well as a person.”

Still in 2023, he plans to continue touring and take his brand to other parts of the world. “I want to continue touring, but my goal is to share my art and music with a wider audience around the world. There are many people who don’t know me yet and I want the opportunity to connect with them and share my story and thoughts. I feel blessed to already have the opportunity to do solo shows and perform, and I wish I had more opportunities to do so.”

Special guest

Anyone attending the show on the 15th will also check out a set made by Alok. Considered one of the most internationally influential Brazilian musicians, the DJ was invited by Wang to take the stage at the end of the show, before the encore. “It will be fun! I will perform for about 30 minutes with everyone together”, explained the musician who also participated in the interview.

Alok, who is very interested in the K-pop universe (last month, for example, he produced a remix of the single “Without You” for the Korean group KARD), said he has followed Jackson’s career for a long time and is working on a collaboration with the artist.

“I’m trying really hard to make it a reality. I’m focusing all my energy on this because after releasing a song with him, I feel like I’ve reached the top. After all, Jackson Wang is a true legend.”

To make the Chinese’s stay even more complete, the DJ wants to present some typical Brazilian foods. “He definitely needs to try açaí and cheese bread. And, as I was born in Goiânia, I would like him to try pequi, a fruit widely consumed throughout the state of Goiás”. Not understanding what each of these names mean, Jackson ended the interview laughing and saying he’s ready to try a little bit of everything. “I want to feel like I’m living in Brazil!”