NFT Collaboration with Kenny Harris Drops November 11!

I’m thrilled to announce that I am releasing a First-Of-Its-Kind NFT with oil painter Kenny Harris on November 11 (pushed back from the previously announced October 3 date)! This is a totally new frontier for both of us, and we’re excited to be able to create, express, and share art in a brand new way!

For those of you who have never heard of an NFT (like me just a few months ago), it stands for Non-Fungible Token and it is essentially a digital file that uses blockchain technology (the same as cryptocurrencies like bitcoin) to make it unique and un-copyable.  You can make any digital thing into an NFT, like a picture, sound, or video, and those things can be owned by a person, sold, and re-sold the same way a physical painting can be.  

Unlike many current NFTs which are essentially digitizations of existing artworks, Kenny and I realized that an NFT was actually the ideal medium with which to express this new concept.  The seed for this idea started on the #WhereverYouAreTour back in fall of 2020.  We collaborated on a video of painting that showed a street, described in my song “There Are No Shadows In LA,” morphing from dawn to dusk.  Watching the time lapse video as Kenny changed the time of day right before your eyes on the canvas, with real paint, was mesmerizing and inspired us to ask, “what other stories could be told if you could experience a painting over time?”

I had just started hearing about NFTs early this year on Clubhouse and I was becoming fascinated by the creative potential for artists.  Serendipitously (literally the next day), someone from the Austrian company Soundlouder, a curation platform for NFT-based artwork, reached out about helping us release our piece as an NFT.  I’m so grateful for their guidance as we’ve navigated this brand new world.

We are releasing a limited number of NFTs in this collection:

- 1 package of the time-lapse video and physical oil painting, the only way to see what is hidden under the final painting

- 3 hi-res digital prints of the three portraits (hidden underneath the final layer of the painting)

- 20 sets of instrumental stems from “The Light” for songwriters, producers and storytellers to re-imagine, recreate and OWN the copyrights to their new versions

- 100 full quality copies of “The Light” audio track, each with one-of-one, individual cover art

 The NFT will drop to the public on Oct 3 November 11, but you can sign up to reserve a pre-sale slot now.  No more will be made once these sell out (the only way to get one is if an original owner re-sells it on the open market, much like a painting).  Go to SOUNDLOUDER.COM to find out more.

**LIMITED EDITION PATRON-ONLY NFT**
As a thank you to my PATREON COMMUNITY, whose support enables me to create projects like this, I am GIFTING A LIMITED NUMBER OF NFTS TO ALL ACTIVE PATRONS ON OCT 3. These will not be for sale and are only available to my Patreon community. Click here to become a patron.

I’m so excited and grateful to get to share this journey with you.

#ShowYourselfTour Shows Available Now for Patreons!

Dear loved ones,

In Spring 2021 I asked a group of my favorite musicians & artists to join me for the eight-show #ShowYourselfTour. I’m happy to share that all eight shows have been mixed, edited & are NOW AVAILABLE to watch anytime for all Patreon subscribers!

Creating these shows & collaborations lit a spark in me that got me through that last dark stretch of quarantine, and together w the beautiful audience community that grew around these shows, we raised over 5k for Hate Is A Virus, Stop AAPI Hate, AAPI Women Lead, Compassion in Oakland, and the Asian American Racial Justice Toolkit via The Quiet Voice Fund.

Here’s a recap of all the brilliant artists who performed on the tour:

SHOW #1 - TOM PRASADA-RAO, CHRIS PIERCE, ALEX WONG, DEWEY BUEHLER (BALLET DANCER)

SHOW #2 - MELISSA FERRICK, MARY BRAGG, ALEX WONG, ANNE OF ALL TRADES (WOODWORKER)

SHOW #3 - ELIZABETH & THE CATAPULT, SURRIJA, ALEX WONG, EME EME (CAPOEIRISTA)

SHOW #4 - AMULETS, ALICIA ENSTROM, ALEX WONG, ANASTASIA SAMOYLOVA (PHOTOGRAPHER)

SHOW #5 - BLEU, GARRISON STARR, ALEX WONG, BRIAN DETTMER (SCULPTOR)

SHOW #6 - RUBY IBARRA, BEN SOLLEE, ALEX WONG, CIONA ROUSE (POET)

SHOW #7 - ROTANA, HULA HI-FI, ERIC PAN, ALEX WONG, CELIA CHIRINE (PHOTOGRAPHER)

SHOW #8 - MILCK, RUTHIE COLLINS, ALEX WONG, KENNY HARRIS (PAINTER)

Amidst all the pivoting we all had to endure over the last year, curating and performing these virtual tours for all of you was definitely a bright spot for me.  I was so grateful to connect with all of you in a way I had really been missing since live shows disappeared, and it has inspired me to find ways to bring some of the unique, authentic connections in the virtual space back to in-person shows. Click here to watch the shows!

As always, I’m so grateful you’re here.

New Dual Single “MONSTER” & Release Show July 2

Happy Summer, loved ones -

I hope you’ve been able to refill your bodies and hearts with plenty of love and vitamin D.

I have some exciting news to share, just in time for your summer playlists… I am releasing “Monster,” my first ever ‘dual single’ with Carrie Welling on July 2! 

We wrote this song together a while back and it’s always been one of my faves, but it never seemed to fit in any of our solo projects.  A few months ago we were talking about what the song means to us. We’ve both had experience in hiding the parts of ourselves that we hated, only to have them grow more powerful and affect us in negative ways because we never learned to deal with them. The song was inspired by our journeys to embrace the shadow parts of ourselves and treat those parts with love and compassion, not just with judgement and shame. We got inspired to release a “dual single”… two very different versions of the same song to represent those different parts in all of us.

One version is called NIGHT and it is sexy, menacing, and will rip your head off! The other version is called DAY and features a lush, cinematic orchestral arrangement. We wanted to bring out different colors in the lyrics with two very different emotional backdrops. The artwork was created by the brilliant painter Kenny Harris. Check out more of his incredible work here.

Stream both versions of the single on the platform of your choosing!

The singles will be released together on FRIDAY JULY 2, with an online and in-person release show, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit RETHINK MENTAL ILLNESS, an amazing organization that focuses on mental health issues that affect minority groups.  The great Nashville artist Thunder lily will open the night.  

Here are the details:
FRIDAY, JULY 2 9:30PM CT
MONSTER DUAL SINGLE RELEASE CELEBRATION
OPENING SET BY THUNDER LILY
$10 Zoom Ticket: Ticket & Recording of the Show
$35 Zoom Ticket: Signed Artist Prints of the album artwork, Ticket & Recording of the Show ($20 will be donated to ReThink Mental Illness)

FOR PATRONS ONLY: All patrons will receive a zoom link to a special "Cooking Records with Alex Wong and Carrie Welling" virtual event for THURSDAY JULY 1 7PM CT. Carrie and I will discuss the making of the song, break down the actual recording sessions, and you'll get to hear the singles before everyone else!  Click here to become a patron.

UPDATE: The in-person show is sold out and tickets are going fast for the online show, so don’t wait to grab yours if you want to join us!

I’m so excited to see you later this week!

SHOW YOURSELF: A Virtual Tour to Let All of Us Out

Dear loved ones,

If I’m being honest, I have to admit that the hermit in me has been enjoying quarantine life a little too much this last year, happily working away in his little cave, free from pesky human interaction and the prickly tentacles of FOMO.  But like many of us, there’s another part of me that’s been on forced hibernation and is dying to show itself, aching for that time when all our parts can come out and play together again.  

So to make waiting a little easier, I’m very excited to bring you “SHOW YOURSELF - A VIRTUAL TOUR TO LET ALL OF US OUT”

One of my highlights from 2020 was curating last fall’s #WhereverYouAreTour.  It felt so good to be connected to a community of artists and fans once again, and to be inspired by moments in real time.  We kept our favorite elements from last time while letting ourselves dream big to see what else this idea could become, and I cannot wait to share what we’ve created!  Also can I just say I am absolutely floored by this lineup!  Feeling like a very lucky hermit indeed.

Each show will feature two of my favorite musicians and myself sharing songs in-the-round, as well as a collaboration with a non-musical artist such as a dancer, photographer, and sculptor.  Tickets to individual shows are $15 each, with a limited number of tickets offered for each show.  Anyone who becomes a Patreon member at any level will receive access to EVERY SHOW FOR FREE.  Patrons can also get a special VIP bundle which includes a meet-and-greet with the artists, signed tour poster, all-access laminate, and a “RE-EMERGENCE KIT” of hand-curated items designed to help us show ourselves to the world again.

Once again, 100% of ticket sales will be donated to charity, which brings me to my next bit of news…

Along with this tour, I’m excited to launch TheQuietVoiceFund.org!  This has been a dream of mine for a long time, but to be honest, there was a voice inside my head saying I needed to be Bruce Springsteen or Michelle Obama before I could have “permission” to start.  But if the pandemic has taught me anything, it is these three words: DO IT NOW.  I realized I wouldn’t be helping anyone by putting off this work until I was rich and famous, so here we go!

The fund is built around one simple belief: our voices don’t have to be loud to be strong.  I believe that true power doesn’t come from being aggressive, selfish or dominating, but rather from the courage to be authentic, empathetic, and to speak for those who can’t.  The fund supports incredible organizations and people who embody this belief as they fight every day for the most vulnerable among us through education, individual empowerment and community strengthening.

Because the elderly Asian community has recently come under attack with a 1900% rise in anti-Asian crime in the last year alone, TQVF is currently supporting these brilliant organizations working to offer immediate aid to this vulnerable group while advocating for solidarity between Black and Asian communities.

BECOME A PATRON FOR ACCESS TO ALL EIGHT SHOWS

FRIDAY MAR 26 9PM ET
TOM PRASADA-RAO, CHRIS PIERCE, ALEX WONG
DEWEY BUEHLER (BALLET DANCER)

SUNDAY MAR 28 2PM ET
MELISSA FERRICK, MARY BRAGG, ALEX WONG
ANNE OF ALL TRADES (WOODWORKER)

FRIDAY APR 9 9PM ET
ELIZABETH AND THE CATAPULT, SURRIJA, ALEX WONG
EME EME (CAPOEIRISTA)

SUNDAY APR 11 2PM ET
AMULETS, ALICIA ENSTROM, ALEX WONG
ANASTASIA SAMOYLOVA (VISUAL ARTIST)

FRIDAY APR 16 9PM ET
BLEU, GARRISON STARR, ALEX WONG
BRIAN DETTMER (SCULPTOR)

SUNDAY APR 18 2PM ET
RUBY IBARRA, BEN SOLLEE, ALEX WONG
CIONA ROUSE (POET)

FRIDAY APR 23 9PM ET
ROTANA, HULA HI-FI, ERIC PAN, ALEX WONG
CELIA CHIRINE (PHOTOGRAPHER)

SUNDAY APR 25 2PM ET
MILCK, RUTHIE COLLINS, ALEX WONG
KENNY HARRIS (PAINTER)

ONLINE STORE(S) NOW OPEN

The online stores are now open with all original items designed by me! One is a public store with original merch designs, and one is for patrons only and contains specialty items like the VIP access bundle, posters, one-of-a-kind artwork and more.

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 truly care, while allowing me to do fun hobbies like eat food and pay rent.  It has inspired me to take more changes 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.

I can’t wait to see ALL of you!

#WhereverYouAreTour Shows available on Patreon!

Happy Year of the Ox, my friends!

Wishing you excitement for all your plans, inspiration for all your projects, and some much needed peace of mind as we power ahead into 2021 together.  

I wanted to take a moment to say thank you again to everyone who joined us on last fall’s Wherever You Are Benefit Tour.  Together we raised over $4200 to donate to Hate Is A Virus, Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective and Sunrise Movement! 

I also want to let you know that the complete mixed and edited video recordings of all the concerts are now available on my Patreon page.  All members at any level get access to watch all the shows at any time.

Here is a recap of all the amazing performers we were blessed to have in the lineup:

SHOW ONE, 11-13-20 Featuring Glen Phillips, Eric Holljes (Delta Rae), Alex Wong and visual artist Brian Dettmer

SHOW TWO, 11-15-20 Featuring Vienna Teng, Tom Prasada-Rao, Alex Wong

SHOW FOUR, 11-22-20 Featuring Will Knox, Mark Caplice, Alex Wong and oil painter Kenny Harris

SHOW FIVE, 12-4-20 Featuring Barnaby Bright, Kyshona, Alex Wong and photographer Anastasia Samoylova

SHOW SIX, 12-6-20 Featuring Milck, Ari Hest, Alex Wong and director Ameenah Kaplan

Amidst all the pivoting we all had to endure last year, curating and performing these shows for all of you was definitely a bright spot for me.  I was so grateful to connect with all of you in a way I had really been missing since live touring disappeared.  It also opened up some new opportunities for collaboration that never would have been able to happen IRL.  Thank you so much for filling all the shows with your enthusiastic and welcoming energy.  The response to this tour inspired me to create something even bigger for 2021… which I will be sharing with you very soon!

As always, I’m so grateful you’re here.