In this exclusive interview, Effy Wang explores her eclectic musical background and the creative processes behind her debut single, “Da Di Da La.” Born in China and now blossoming on the US music scene, Effy embodies a fusion of cultural sounds—from the classical strains of Chinese opera to the dynamic beats of modern hip-hop and bass house. This conversation unveils her journey from a childhood filled with diverse musical influences to her current exploration of genre-blending compositions. Read on to discover how Effy Wang is crafting a sound that’s as globally inspired as it is deeply personal.
Effy Wang, welcome to A&R Factory! Thanks for sitting down with us following the launch of your debut single, Da Di Da La. Before we get stuck into your music, we would love to know your artistic origin story and how your relationship with music has evolved over the years.
Thanks for having me! It’s my great pleasure to have this conversation with you amazing people!
I was born in China and moved to the US in my early 20s. I’ve been singing and performing on stage since I was a little kid. And I started to learn piano in middle school and later on picked up guitar and other instruments like drum sets and CDJs. About the music influence, I would say my family’s music choice inspired me a lot when I was younger. My family loves listening to different types of music- my grandpa is a big fan of Chinese opera, my mom loves Cantopop from the 1980s, and my dad loves songs from Billboard and Oscar movies. So, I grew up with different influences that shaped the way I compose. I listened to a lot of Mandopop and Cantopop when I was a kid, then I fell in love with rock music, especially punk rock, when I was a teenager, and after I went to college, I started listening to hip-hop, R&B, EDM. I also experience writing songs in different genres as well and sometimes try to combine them. And when it comes to composing, I actually don’t care about genres that much and just let the idea flow and blend these different influences into the songs naturally. And yeah, that’s basically my music evolution story.
What’s the story behind the single?
So I wrote this song back in December 2023. I was going through a breakup and also facing graduation from college and was planning to move to a different city. There were a lot of changes that happened in my life back then, and I was feeling scared and lost. And one day, when I was scrolling through some videos on my phone, I noticed one video talking about how to break free and embrace the uncertainties of your life. And it reminded me of my relationship and made me start thinking. I felt I was the type of person that most of the time wouldn’t want to let things flow because of the deep insecurity in my heart. So is my relationship. It’s like the saying “The tighter you hold onto them, the more they want to slip away.” Which inspired the lyrics of my single “Light, shadows, open your heart to me. Past, future, wherever you go, be free”
We love how the etherealism in your vocal lines juxtaposes the solid backbeat, where did you find the influence for your unique aural identity?
Thank you! I honestly didn’t expect this song to sound like this at all. I would say because my singing style is kinda influenced by singers like Mariah Carey, Ariana Grande, Ellie Goulding. But on the other hand, I listen to a lot of deep house, bass house, dubstep, trap, and hip-hop and I find myself always attracted by songs with sick beats, especially the heavy bass and kicks. So when I created this song, I actually created the beats of the song first, and then came up with the melody and lyrics. And after I recorded myself singing, the contradiction between the vocal lines and backbeat surprised me and I like it.
What is the most gratifying part of the songwriting process?
I think the most gratifying part was when I tried to write the bass part of this song. It was like a brilliant idea hit me out of nowhere that I could write a bassline that sounds like I was using the sidechain effect with the drum kit, but it’s not. Then I started playing notes on my keyboard while playing the drum part I had already made, and then the bassline that we hear in the song right now came out and made me feel so excited, and I started dancing to the beats I made and humming with the melody with some random words. And I felt good about the melody, too. It all just came together so naturally and made me so grateful and unexpected.
When are you most inspired to write?
I wouldn’t say there’s a specific time during the day that I feel most inspired to write. It kinda changes every day up to my mood and my feelings. I’m not the type of person who would force myself to create if I don’t really want to. I used to be more disciplined with the songwriting process, but then I realized most of the time I don’t like the stuff I write when I don’t really want to create. So I just stopped doing that. I also have a habit that I love to put some ideas in my voice memo. My voice memo is full of different kinds of song ideas or melodies, and most of them just came out when I was walking or doing something else. And when I’m in the mood to create, I’ll just play the ideas I recorded in the voice memo and start to organize my thoughts. So yeah, when I’m most inspired to write, it depends.
What’s the best piece of advice another musician ever gave you?
Be a nice person. Be nice to the people you work with, be nice to the other musicians you collaborate with, be nice to your fans. I used to ask this question to one of my mentors back in college. She’s a singer-songwriter, has been in the music industry for many years and collaborated with many great musicians we could call names. And she told me, “There are so many talented people in this world. So many musicians. But most of them didn’t make it in this industry. Because they see their talent as a gift and they treat others so badly. So you gotta respect whoever you work with, respect the people who support you and show you love, and not see everything as granted.” I think that’s the best piece of advice I’ve ever had from another musician.
What has been the most affirming and standout moment in your career so far?
I think the most affirming and standout moment to me is not about what rewards I got. It’s the moment I realize if I put my heart into something, I can make things happen. I remember back in college, there was a time when I was obsessed with hip-hop music, and I really admired some rappers and lyricists who could just express themselves so smoothly and flawlessly. And English is like a second language to me, and I felt so hard to express myself, not even mention rhyme. So I joined a hip-hop ensemble in my college, and on the first day in that class, the instructor who is a great hip-hop DJ and rapper from New York, asked me to freestyle, and I freaked out. And then he told us, the group of people in his class, that after two months, there would be a hip-hop showcase, and we all gonna go on stage to perform. And after that, I just started listening to a lot of hip-hop songs, I practice and practice rapping and also sometimes freestyle with my own words. It’s like the first time I pushed myself out of my comfort zone music-wise and tried to learn a whole new skill in such a short period. And after two months, our music group went on the stage. I’m one of the singers and rappers of that group. We performed eight songs and many rappers and hip-hop producers were in the audience looking at us. And I’ll always remember the screaming and shocking reactions people gave me and my group because I don’t look like a rapper to them at all lol. Even though that show was a part of my college but after that I felt so different on stage when I performed and I will always remember that night because it brought me great courage and faith.
What can your fans expect from an Effy Wang live show?
When people come to my show, I want them to feel something when they leave, whether it’s because of some simple things like the light and ambiance, or because one song hits their feelings and makes them feel so related. I always believe music is a way people connect with each other, and that’s always what I try to do when I put on my live show, I want to feel these connections with my audience. So when my fans come to my show, they can expect a musical, spiritual journey and some special memories they can carry on after.
Where do you hope your music will take you?
I hope my music can take me to see the bigger world and help me build connections with others I meet on this journey. I always dreamed that one day, I could live like these big DJs to travel around the world, doing tours, playing their originals and remixes, and bringing this amazing energy to people they probably would never have met before. It’s all about connections and energies, and we all need each other. So I hope my music can take me on this journey and leave some good memories and experiences for others in this world.
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Stream Effy Wang’s debut single on Spotify now.
Follow the artist on Instagram and TikTok.
Interview by Amelia Vandergast