Virtual Benefit Tour, New Online Stores

Dear loved ones,

Greetings from election limbo!  I’ll be honest, I’ve been trying to write a witty intro that breezily touches on current events while keeping the mood light and upbeat for the past 20 minutes, and I got nothing.  I just hope you’re all doing ok out there.  I’m writing you now partly to keep myself from gnawing my own arm off with anxiety.  But I’m also writing because I have some big news I want to share with you.

For the last couple of months I’ve been working on my biggest project of this wacky year.  Like so many others, I was at a loss for how to move forward when all my plans to tour behind my brand new album got canceled by COVID.  But out of the fog of disappointment a new idea emerged and I started getting inspired for a different kind of tour… one that could utilize the unique advantages of the online medium and give audiences an experience you couldn’t have at a traditional show.  I was now able to perform with my favorite artists anywhere the world that I geography and schedule would have prevented, and I could collaborate with creators working in other mediums in a way I could never do inside a venue.  

Most of all I was so hungry to feel connected to my friends and listeners again and wanted to create a space where we can still share space together.  After a lot of planning, dreaming and spreadsheeting, I’m thrilled to bring you “WHEREVER YOU ARE - A VIRTUAL BENEFIT TOUR TO STAY CONNECTED”

Each show will consist of two of my favorite songwriters and myself sharing songs in-the-round.  It will also feature a collaboration between myself and a non-musical artist such as a chef, photographer, and director.  100% of ticket sales will benefit the following charities: Sunrise Movement, Black Emotional & Mental Health Collective, and Hate Is A Virus.  Tipping will be set up for each artist and encouraged.

Tickets to individual shows are $15 each, with a limited number of tickets offered for each show.  However, if you become a Patreon member at any level you will receive special “side stage” access to EVERY SINGLE SHOW.  Patrons also get access to purchase a special VIP package which includes a meet-and-greet with the artists and a companion pack of hand-picked items designed to enhance your sensory experience of each show.

(CLICK HERE FOR ALL-ACCESS PASS FOR ALL SIX SHOWS)

FRIDAY NOV 13 9PM ET 

GLEN PHILLIPS, ERIC HOLLJES (DELTA RAE), ALEX WONG

BRIAN DETTMER (SCULPTOR)

BUY TICKETS HERE

SUNDAY NOV 15 2PM ET 

TOM PRASADA-RAO, VIENNA TENG, ALEX WONG

RAHAF AMER (CHEF)

BUY TICKETS HERE

FRIDAY NOV 20 9PM ET 

JAE JIN, SETH GLIER, ALEX WONG

JANA SASSER (AUTHOR)

BUY TICKETS HERE

SUNDAY NOV 22 2PM ET 

WILL KNOX (UK), MARK CAPLICE (IE), ALEX WONG

KENNY HARRIS (OIL PAINTER)

BUY TICKETS HERE

FRIDAY DEC 4 9PM ET 

KYSHONA, BARNABY BRIGHT, ALEX WONG

ANA SAMOYLOVA (PHOTOGRAPHER)

BUY TICKETS HERE

SUNDAY DEC 6 2PM ET 

MILCK, ARI HEST, ALEX WONG

AMEENAH KAPLAN (DIRECTOR)

BUY TICKETS HERE

(BECOME A PATRON FOR ALL-ACCESS PASS FOR ALL SIX SHOWS)

ONLINE STORE(S) NOW OPEN!

I just launched two new online stores with all new merch items, designed by me!  One is public facing and contains several new designs, and one is for patrons only and contains exclusive items like sheet music, posters and exclusive shirt and hoodie designs.

Why such a big fuss over my patrons you ask?  I’ll tell you! Over my career in the music industry, our business model has completely changed at least four times, from retail (CDs) to downloads (MP3) to streaming (Spotify) to ????? (2020).  The subscriber model has given me the stability to create art I truly believe in for people who care, while also doing fun hobbies like eating food and paying rent.  It has made me more inspired to create and more confident to take chances with my art, and it has literally helped me survive this crazy year.  If you like what I do, becoming a patron is by far the best way to support my ongoing ability to make music.  And this is a pretty sweet time to join when you can get access to THE ENTIRE TOUR for free.  Just sayin.

OK. Sending you positive and sane vibes for the next few days. I really do hope you can join us.  Planning this tour has been a highlight of my year.  These are truly some of my favorite artists anywhere in the world and I know all of these shows will be very special and unique.  I can’t wait to connect with you, wherever you are.

Much love,

Alex Wong

Mini-Documentary Premiere, June Music Sales for Campaign Zero

Dear music family,

Wow ok looks like my last email to y’all was on 3/5/20… uh, what you been up to since then?

For real I hope you’re all doing alright, that you’re safe and healthy, and growing and feeling your way through these wild times.  

Personally I’ve felt a call to dig deeper into what part I play as an Asian American in this country and to address some uncomfortable truths that exist in our communities.  When the conversation of racism comes up in the US, I’ve often focused on what is happening “to” Asian Americans, and less on what roles Asian Americans may have played in perpetuating racist behavior toward other groups.  It’s been tough to look at because it’s been pushing up against a lot of cultural baggage I hardly knew I carried, like the lasting damage of the “model minority” myth, my training to be culturally “white adjacent,” and our conditioning to keep our head down and not make waves.  Been icky and uncomfortable at times but feels like necessary work right now.

Since you’re part of this community I KNOW you are intelligent, insightful, open-minded people (with fantastic taste in music).  I’d love to hear what you’ve been watching, reading, learning and thinking about during this time!  Please feel free to respond with thoughts and recommendations.

OK now that I’ve started off this email in the heaviest way possible, let’s get to some fun stuff!  I’m really excited to share this news with you.

NEW DOUBLE EP WITH STRING QUARTET In PROGRESS

So aside from whittling my iPhone email inbox from 8856 to 0 (a true OCD nightmare) and occasionally lying on the floor in fetal position, I’ve been spending quarantine working on a new record!  It will be a double EP of acoustic recordings featuring the brilliant La Vie String Quartet. The tentative title for the first EP is “Alone” and the second EP is “Together.”  Some of the tracks are re-imaginings of songs from past albums, and some will be brand new releases!

It will be released exclusively on Bandcamp and Patreon. It will be $10 on Bandcamp, but it will be FREE for active patrons!  Patrons will also get access to instrumental versions so you can sing along in the car or sing yourself to sleep.  During a time when the music industry is going through yet another upheaval and all touring / production work has been paused indefinitely, Patreon has been absolutely essential to my survival over the last few months.  I am such a fan of this model and plan to release much more exclusive content here.  If you’ve been considering becoming a patron, now is the time!

MINI-DOCUMENTARY PREMIERE ON FACEBOOK 6/21

When I released my new album The Elephant and the Seahorse last February (which now feels like 27 years ago), I created a 9-course tasting menu pairing each track with a dish that shared some emotional connection to the songs.  I’d planned several events in different cities throughout Spring and Summer to promote the album. Obviously COVID had other plans, but luckily my talented cousin Tim Wong shot a bunch of footage at the first (and only) dinner we were able to have.  We created two short movies about the dinners which I will premiere on my FB artist page THIS SUNDAY AT 11:11AM PDT.  I’ll be on hand to chat and field questions/comments about the event. Just go to my Facebook Artist page to tune in!  This was such a special project to me… I can’t wait to share it with you.

ALL JUNE MUSIC SALES DONATED TO CAMPAIGN ZERO

I want to make sure you all know that for the month of June, I am donating 100% of my music sales on Bandcamp, including my brand new album (ahem Father’s Day *cough), to Campaign Zero, an organization that is working to end police violence through data driven policy.

Hey, thank you for being here with me, and thank you for reading all the way down to the end.  I want you to know that I appreciate your support so much, especially during these crazy times. Keep thriving out there.

Much love,

A

Stream Tonight's Release Show, Help Nashville.

Dear music family,

I’m sure you’ve all heard about the horrific tornado that just ripped through Nashville and surrounding areas. Miraculously my house and studio were spared… by about 4 blocks. But many of my neighbors, friends and favorite hangouts were not. It has only heightened the sense that it could have happened to any of us and that it’s all of our responsibility to help pull our amazing community back on its feet.

So with that in mind, we’ve decided to turn tonight’s album release show (holy cow it’s tonight!!!) into a benefit for those affected by the storm. 100% of ticket sales will go to Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee who is on the ground helping with relief efforts. Major thanks to my co-bill artist, LA-based Madison Malone for generously agreeing to donate her portion of the ticket sales!

We will also be live streaming the show from my Facebook page (@alexwongsounds) at 8:45pm CST with a donate button so you can enjoy the show AND help out from Wherever You Are in the world! The show will take place at Analog Nashville and will start promptly at 8:45pm CST.  Just go to http://facebook.com/alexwongsounds to watch!  And while you’re there, please make sure to click LIKE on my FB artist page, it’s free and makes a big difference.  You can also SHARE my stream from your own FB pages to your friends and family who want to help.

Sending love to you and your communities, and thank you so much for being part of mine. 

Thank you,

Alex Wong 

New Album Out Friday.

Dear music family,

I can hardly believe it… almost two and a half years after I began recording, and eight years since I released my last solo album, my new LP The Elephant and the Seahorse will be born into the world THIS FRIDAY.  And I wanted to share the cover art with you, my inner circle, before the everyone else sees it… I hope you like it!  Because I can’t change it now!

OK y’all… I hate this part, but I need to ask for your help.

I’m sure you already know that the biggest challenge of being a creator these days is how to rise above the noisy rushing waters of content coming at us every day and be heard… and as a completely independent musician without an unlimited marketing budget, I rely solely on the power of word-of-mouth to help spread this music into the world. 

There are two things you can do RIGHT NOW that would have a huge impact on my music’s ability to be heard and seen: FOLLOW ME on Spotify, Apple Music or whoever you stream music, and PRE-SAVE the album.  So if you haven’t yet, I humbly ask you to take 10 seconds and do so now.  Go ahead, I’ll wait…

Done?  THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

Now, if you’re not too exhausted from that and want to help spread the word even more, you can DOWNLOAD and SHARE this awesome little animation (designed by my brilliant cousin Tim) on your favorite social media along with the PRE-SAVE link.  Please TAG me @alexwongsounds so I know you’re out there!

Finally, if you are in any of these areas, please join us for these album release shows coming up and come celebrate with me!

SAT 2/29 5PM (EARLY SHOW!!) ROCKWOOD MUSIC HALL, NYC (GET TICKETS)

THU 3/5 8PM ANALOG AT HUTTON HOTEL, NASHVILLE TN - WITH MADISON MALONE (GET TICKETS)

FRI 4/10 7:30PM CITY WINERY LOUNGE, BOSTON MA - SUPPORTING ARI HEST (GET TICKETS)

I want to tell you that your support and knowing you are listening really did give me the strength to start and finish this album.  So I want to say a huge thank you for helping me create something I needed to create.

Now let’s show the world what we made!!!

Much love,

A

Exclusive Premiere in American Songwriter Magazine!

Hey team,

I’ve been running around like a crazy person in the days and weeks leading up to my album release (I can't believe it's coming out 2/21/20!!), but I wanted to take a quick moment to share some really cool news... my whole album and video for Wherever You Are” are being exclusively premiered RIGHT NOW on American Songwriter magazine! Hear a preview of my whole album and watch the video, directed by Alex Berger and shot entirely on 35mm film.  They wrote a lovely article that even goes in-depth about a tasting menu I’m creating to pair with each song on the album… more on that soon…

I’ve been a huge fan of their publication for a long time so to be included in their magazine is quite special for me.  The article is actually trending right now (!!!) and if you’d like to help keep my story on their front page for as long as possible, please share this link with your friends and family (algorithms algorithms algorithms)!  And while you’re at it, please follow me on Spotify and pre-save my album on whatever streaming platform you use.  It literally takes two seconds and it makes a huge difference in the amount of people I can reach.

Can’t wait to share more about the video, tasting menu and, of course, the album, with you very soon…

Much love,

A