Viewing entries tagged
Vienna Teng
On September 25-28, 2024, we invite you to join musicians, activists, and polymaths Vienna Teng and Alex Wong to explore those questions in a very special retreat, set amid the stunning beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains in autumn. Alex and Vienna will host this intimate gathering over three nights and four days in a 20-bedroom cabin in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Come reflect and relax, forge new friendships, and get inspired to show up more powerfully in the world, as only you can.
Dear loved ones,
The first half of the Show Yourself Residency has been an absolute joy! Thank you everyone who filled Rockwood Music Hall or streamed a show! The second half starts this Sunday, have you gotten your tickets yet???
I’m especially excited for the upcoming shows on Sunday 5/15 (only LIVE tix left) and Monday 5/16 (only STREAMING tix left) which feature Vienna Teng, an artist who I have collaborated with for many years and who has had a profound influence on me as a songwriter, artist, and human being.
Vienna and I met almost 20 yrs ago while playing an open mic at Red Rock Coffee in Mountain View CA. We became mutual fans and friends and I was psyched to meet another AAPI artist, a rare sighting in the singer songwriter circuit at that time. Two weeks later I turned on the tv and saw her performing on David Letterman
Since then we’ve been lucky to play music around the world together. She’s always been an inspiration to me and others as one of the first AAPI artists to break through on the national stage. Working w her inspired me to #levelup as a songwriter, producer and musician, and showed me how we can integrate art and advocacy with grace and power. Some of my most joyous and most present moments making music were on stage performing with Vienna. I’m so grateful she’ll be sharing her powerful stories at the #ShowYourselfResidency.
In-person tickets are $35 and online tickets are $20. VIP add-on options are available for both which include access to a post-show meet-and-greet, mixed/edited video recordings of the show, and more. 100% of ticket sales will benefit The Quiet Voice Fund, again supporting organizations fighting anti-Asian hate and advocating for the AAPI community. If you’re planning to be in NYC area, I highly recommend grabbing live tickets right away… one of the shows has already sold out!
AS ALWAYS, ALL PATREON MEMBERS GET ACCESS TO ALL STREAMING SHOWS FOR FREE.
Patrons can also get a special VIP package which will include access to the post-show meet and greet live from the Rockwood stage, an official poster signed by all the artists, access to mixed and edited audio/video recordings of each show, a special set of all 4 prints of Ping’s artwork, and handwritten lyrics to my newest single, to be released during the residency!
Recorded and mixed the new song while in NYC for the residency!
If you’ve tuned in to any of the live streams, you know I have also been testing out a brand new song called “Permission” during this residency and I’m very excited to share that on Sunday I will be releasing a special recording of the song ON PATREON featuring guest vocals by Vienna Teng and MILCK! I got the very impractical idea to produce the song while in NYC, so I went to Hive Mind Recording in Brooklyn and laid down my piano and vocal, then got my musician friends from all over the country to send in parts, including a string quartet from Nashville TN! I can’t wait for you to hear it. Here’s a clip of the song from the moment I finished writing it, hours before I performed it at the first #ShowYourselfResidency.
A bit about the song - As a kid I rarely felt permission to take up space… with my body, my stories, or the sound of my voice. Movies and TV told me I was allowed to be a buddy, a punchline, or a decoration, but there was not enough space for me in the center of the room. I learned to shrink… my voice got quieter, my shoulders folded inward.
I wanted to be a singer for a long time, but my body was so terrified of making any noise, let alone the “wrong” noise, that my throat would literally constrict and physically block sound from coming out as a defense mechanism. My throat was so tight that my voice would crack when I tried to sing, flooding me with even more shame.
I often feel that my path as a singer (a label i still struggle with) has been less about learning new skills and vocal techniques and more about removing these emotional clogs living in my throat and letting the sound come out. I wrote this song for that kid, and anyone waiting for someone to give them permission to take up space.
You don’t have to wait for it to be given. You have permission.
Become a patreon member to hear the full song.
Played the Troubadour with Megan Slankard! Photo by Karen Shih
Happy December, friends!
Wow, what a blur the last few months have been… I got back to Nashville on Thanksgiving day after being gone for almost two months… starting with the High Coast Songwriting Camp in Sweden and then jumping into 7 weeks of touring with Megan Slankard (and Charlotte)… through the Midwest, Canada, East and West Coasts. I had an amazing time... it was also amazing to collapse face first onto my own bed at the end of tour.
I wanted to say a special THANK YOU to everyone who signed up on the mailing list at a show over the last couple months, as well as to everyone who has been with us for a while. Your support here is what makes it possible for us to travel around and share our music with all of you. Somewhere along the way, Megan and I started performing a cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "America." It was comforting to sing lyrics that so brilliantly articulate the mixture of hope and confusion we were feeling as we experienced our home country in 2018. We recorded a little performance video in Megan’s apartment in SF as a little thank you gift to all of you subscribers.
I am always grateful for the chance to travel around this beautiful and complicated country and to be surprised, humbled, and inspired by people we meet and places we explore. These days especially, it's been healing to see first hand how much common humanity still thrives around the country, despite so much noise to the contrary. I created a little photo diary of our tour and posted it on my Patreon page.
OK… lots of news to share with you, so here goes…
2018 NEWSONG COMPETITION FINALIST
A couple weeks ago I found out that I was selected as one of 8 finalists in the NewSong Performing Songwriter competition! This is one of the best-known songwriting competitions in the country and I’m honestly quite shocked and humbled to have been selected as a finalist. I will be traveling to Asheville NC to play for the judges on 12/15 at Isis Music Hall. If anyone is in the area and would like to attend the concert, you can purchase tickets here. The other finalists are amazing and definitely worth checking out. Being selected for this is especially meaningful because the only song I submitted was The Quiet Voice video, created entirely by my amazing Patreon supporters. Speaking of which…
THE QUIET VOICE - 40K+ VIEWS, 700 SHARES
I released my first single in 6 years last month, called “The Quiet Voice,” along with a video created entirely by my Patreon subscribers. My intention for the video was to let people define true power for themselves rather than accept our culture’s broken definition… and to help empower people to the polls for the midterm elections on 11/6. Since its release on 11/2 the video has been viewed over 40K times and shared over 700 times on FB/Youtube! I believe a huge reason why it connected with people is the authentic and honest way in which you all showed up in the video, allowing yourselves to be truly seen. Thank you so much for being a part of this with me, I’ll never forget creating this with you all.
Click here to watch the video for "The Quiet Voice."
If you’d like to be involved in future collaborations like this video, and dive deeper into my creative process, please consider joining my Patreon page. It is hands-down the best way to support my ability to create the art that I believe in without compromise.
DUO SHOWS WITH VIENNA TENG
I’m excited to announce I’ll be playing two bay area shows opening for the always brilliant Vienna Teng, Jan 3 and 4 at Freight and Salvage in Berkeley CA. I adore playing with Vienna - we have played music together for so many years and have such a musical shorthand that it’s easy for spontaneous, unexpected things to happen during our live shows. We will play both sets as a duo… Vienna will accompany me on my songs and then I will play/sing with her for her set. These shows will likely sell out so be sure to get your tickets in advance if you are able to join us!
UPCOMING PROJECTS
For the next few months, I will be preparing for the release of my album (which you helped create) and will be taking you inside this next phase of an album’s life cycle on my Patreon page. I will be sharing my experiences, hopes and fears as I navigate the “business” side of the music business and lay out a plan for the release and support of the new record. I will also be producing several albums for other artists as well, starting with a double album for one of my very favorite bands, Delta Rae, and followed by albums for two other very special artists, Megan Slankard and Paul Freeman!
I am excited to open a window into the studio from a record producer’s standpoint (hint: more cowbell is just the beginning). It’s a mysterious job to many (including myself sometimes) so I look forward to taking you behind the scenes and sharing how I make records these days! If you’re interested in learning more about my record-making process, please consider becoming a patron.
OK, that’s it for now. Thanks again for listening and reading all the way to the bottom. Wishing all of you a beautiful, compassionate, relaxing and/or and adventurous holiday season, whatever brings you joy.
Much love,
Alex Wong
Cellar Sessions at City Winery in NYC with Vienna Teng, Melissa Tong, and Megan Slankard
Dear Music Family,
Greetings from the lovely Comfort Inn in Arlington VA!
Writing from a rare moment of stillness… it has been an extraordinarily jam-packed month. October began on an island in the north of Sweden and has taken me to Chicago to Ottawa to NYC to Washington DC, where I write you now. In the past month I have: glimpsed the Northern lights, written songs with people from Taiwan, Ireland and South Africa, stayed up for 48 hrs to finish mixes for my upcoming album (90 minutes before leaving for tour), tried fried cheese curds for the first time, released my first single in six years, made a music video from the car, played in a wine cellar with some favorite friends (see pic), played 22 shows, driven 4000 miles, and celebrated Charlotte the dog’s birthday by buying her a lottery ticket (she won $2) and an argyle sweater.
Although there is so much more to share, right now I really want to tell you about two big things.
CO-HEADLINING SWEDISH AMERICAN HALL IN SF ON 11/9
I’m playing my biggest show yet as a solo artist on November 9 at Swedish American Hall in San Francisco CA. I’ll be co-headlining with my tour-partner and fellow musical warrior, the absolutely brilliant Megan Slankard. We’ve been touring together this past month and have many new songs, new arrangements and stories to share with you. Maybe even some dance moves. Here are the details for the show:
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 9, 8PM (7PM DOORS)
SWEDISH AMERICAN HALL, SAN FRANCISCO CA
GET TICKETS HERE.
I’ve been fortunate to play some nice venues all over the world supporting other artists, but this is the first time I’ll be playing a venue of this size as a co-headliner. If you live in the Bay Area, it would mean the world to me if you could join us. And if you don’t live in the area, please please please tell your friends in the area about the show! This is a gorgeous venue with incredible sound, and I’m honored and excited to get to share my music with you there.
We are about to start the West Coast leg of our tour. Here are our remaining shows on the West coast… I’d love to see you out there!
FRI 11/9 8PM SAN FRANCISCO CA - SWEDISH AMERICAN HALL**
SAT 11/10 7PM LOS ANGELES CA - THE TROUBADOUR** O/F ANDERS OSBORNE
SUN 11/11 8PM SAN DIEGO CA - LESTATS W/ KING TAYLOR PROJECT
WED 11/14 8PM REDDING CA - VINTAGE WINE BAR
THU 11/15 7PM CORVALLIS OR - HOUSE CONCERT
FRI 11/16 7PM PORTLAND OR - HOUSE CONCERT
NEW SINGLE “THE QUIET VOICE” AND VIDEO OUT NOW!!
I released a brand new single and video yesterday! It’s my first solo release in six years and the first one ever under my own name. Check it out here. You can stream the song on all digital music platforms, including Spotify.
Here’s a little background about the song:
Surprise! I just released my first single in 6 years, called “The Quiet Voice.” It was written with my good buddy Elise Hayes and the video was created entirely by my amazing Patreon family!
This song was born from being sick and tired of power in this culture being falsely associated with brute force, aggression and bullying. In 100% of my life experience, when someone has resorted to anger, yelling or violence, they actually wield very little true power… They have become reactive, they have let the other side get under their skin... they have already lost the interaction.
Two weeks ago, I had no plans to release this song to the public and the video was not even an idea in my head... but in light of the immeasurably important election coming up I decided I needed to do something. I asked my Patreon supporters to send me clips of themselves defining what true power means to them, and was completely blown away by how many amazing responses I received. I mixed the song in the car between Toronto and Ottawa, and edited the video between New Jersey and Virginia so we could release it in time to encourage people to exercise their true power at the polls on November 6.
HUGE THANKS to my Patreon community who have given me the power to create art I believe in. I am so beyond humbled and grateful that so many people showed up to make this idea happen on such short notice. I hope you enjoy the song and video, and I hope you’ll share if it resonates with you.
Since I posted the song 24 hours ago, it has been viewed 12K times and shared over 300 times! I’m totally blown away by the support this message has received so far. Please share the video if it resonates with you, get your ass to the polls next week, and let’s all redefine true power on our own terms from now on!!
Thank you for being here.
Much love,
A
Happy Spring, Music Family!
I hope you all had a rejuvenating Winter. I’ve been very grateful for these last couple of months of down time… I was able to focus on recording my album, get to know all my root vegetables as a newbie vegetarian, and binge-watch Ugly Delicious (essentially torture for newbie vegetarians but what can I say I’m a David Chang fanboy). Basically Sh*t got pretty crazy up in here.
This week Spring has been gently nudging the creatures of Nashville out from the shadows, myself included, and I’m getting ready to join the outside world again. I’ve got a couple of fun events coming up next month that I am excited to share with you…
When I started my Patreon page, I honestly had no idea if anyone would sign up. I created the milestone goals in the hopes that as we grew as a community, I could do something to thank you for your support. I’m thrilled to announce that we have crossed the second milestone, which means I can afford to stream an online, Patron-only, all-request concert featuring Vienna Teng and other special guests!
The concert will stream live on WEDNESDAY 4/4/18 at 2 pm CDT and is FREE to ALL Patrons. I will post a poll on the Patreon page and anyone who is an active patron by 3/31 can submit requests for the set list. The songs with the most votes will make the set.
I’m so excited to get to reunite with Vienna. She has always been one of my favorite musical collaborators and it’s been over 4 years since we’ve gotten to make music together. I’m so grateful she'll able to join me for this special concert. We will be creating unique arrangements of all the songs for this performance… Since we don’t have to face a particular audience, we will essentially play the whole set in a circle, surrounded by various instruments, and hopefully avoid bumping into each other as we move around the stage.
And if you can’t watch the broadcast, don’t worry… selected songs from the show will be filmed and edited and available to all Patrons after the concert!
The following weekend, we are supporting Citizens Climate Lobby with a benefit show in Boulder CO. The concert will raise money for CCL to help send CCL members to Washington to spread awareness about and discuss solutions to the multitude of issues caused by climate change.
SATURDAY APRIL 7, 7PM
UNITY OF BOULDER SPIRITUAL CENTER
2855 FOLSOM, BOULDER CO
TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE
Vienna and I will play a duo show consisting of both of our material, and I will also debut some songs from an upcoming duo album with Jesse Terry inspired by the village of Kivalina AK, one of the first American towns to be lost to rising sea levels within 10 years. The album will be released in Fall 2018, but you can hear our first single, “Landfall,” on my Patreon page now…
Last month I released the second song from my upcoming album, “Me, Forever,” on my Patreon page.
This song was written with my good friend and collaborator Amber Rubarth. As I’ve mentioned before, all the songs on the new album are a way for me to explore my relationship with my own memory. I've had my tarot cards read by two different psychics, several years apart, who both told me that I've lived several lives in Paris... one suggested that I travel there, walk around the city, and try to find my old house. Last Fall I had an opportunity to be in Paris, and I did just that. This song follows the path I took wandering through the city that day.
If you missed the first song, “Show Yourself,” you can check it out, along with a video of the recording process, for free right now. I am releasing all songs from my upcoming album exclusively on my Patreon page, the BEST way to support my ongoing ability to create art. If you like what you hear and see, please consider becoming a patron!
The third song, “If It’s A Crash,” will be released to Patreon later this week. Inspired by a recurring dream of a car crash, it became a song about my struggle to learn how to embrace the unknown. Become a patron and follow along as I record my album!
OK, that’s it for now. Thanks again for reading, and for being with me here. I am so incredibly grateful for your support. Hope to see you online or at a show soon!
Much love,
Alex Wong
