Interview by Chloé Stratford
Hongza, an up-and-coming London-based shoegaze artist with a dedicated fanbase known as the ‘Reverb Crew’, sat down with Karma! to chat about his highly anticipated new EP ‘Coming Of Age’, films, stage fright, and more.
Chloe (Interviewer): I’ve had ‘Lovesick’ on repeat since it was released in June this year. It’s one of those tracks that gives you a sense of nostalgia, even after the first listen. It makes me feel like the main character in an indie or rom-com film when I’m walking down the street blasting it in my headphones. Do you have any favorite films? If you could hear ‘Lovesick’ featured in any scene or movie, what would it be?
Hongza: I’m a bit of a sucker for rom-coms because I’m a Pisces. I could 100% see ‘Lovesick’ in Pretty Woman. It’s my favourite film, so I have to say that, and to be fair, the sonics of the track feel like you’re driving down Rodeo Drive in a convertible.
Chloe (Interviewer): When I listen to my favorite artists, I always wonder if there was a specific moment in their lives where something clicked, and they realized this is what they wanted to do—write and play music, and inspire others as they were inspired. Do you remember the moment you realised that this was your calling?
Hongza: I remember when I was really young, I saw Busted on Top of the Pops. Around the same time, my grandad got me a toy guitar that played riffs at the push of a button. Whenever What I Go to School For came on, I’d be jumping around, singing in sunglasses, pretending to be the band, and entertaining the family. I think since then, I knew I wanted to be on stage, singing songs.
Chloe (Interviewer): Listening to your music and lyrics, you can tell that you pour your heart into every line. Can you tell us a bit about your creative process and how you develop and compose your ideas? Is there something or someone in your life who inspires a lot of the lyrics you write?
Hongza: It’s almost always a trauma-dumping session when I write. I tend to do it when I’ve got a build-up of emotions because I’m terrible at communicating them and managing my stress levels. I do occasionally make a happy love song though, thanks to my partner! I feel like the writing for this next EP is my coming-of-age story. I talk about my struggle with my identity as a Southeast Asian man, falling in love, my mental health, and dealing with toxic friends. My process can vary—sometimes I’ll write straight into Logic, sometimes I’ll do sessions, other times I’ll jam in rehearsals, and sometimes it’s just me and an acoustic guitar.
Chloe (Interviewer): Over the past couple of years, you’ve played many shows and festival sets to crowds across the UK. It’s always so enlivening to see you getting so involved with the audience, jumping into the crowd to play guitar and dance with them, giving them that real raw and intimate experience that you just don’t get at bigger shows. You radiate confidence on stage. Has it always been that way, or have you ever dealt with stage fright or performance anxiety? If so, how did you manage and overcome it?
Hongza: I’ve definitely had to put a lot of time and work into my stage presence, figuring out what works and how to move around, especially in tight spaces. I get really anxious before going on stage—I’ve had panic attacks just before performing. My band is really good at reassuring me and helping calm me down. Over time, I’ve played more shows outside London, and you get more honest opinions from people, which tends to be a good response. It also helps that my band consists of incredible musicians, so I can trust that they’ll play well even if I mess up.
Chloe (Interviewer): I’m excited to see you’re playing your first-ever show in Paris this October at the ‘Super Sonic Club’ for the ‘They’re Gonna Be Big’ event, which is so exciting and well deserved! Are there any other countries or cities in particular that you’d like to play and introduce your music to?
Hongza: To be honest, I’d want to play all over the world! I would love to perform in Vietnam because that’s where my family is from. I’ve always dreamt of walking out to a full stadium and screaming Xin Chào in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. From what I know, there aren’t many Vietnamese artists in the West, and I’d love to be one of the first to represent.
Chloe (Interviewer): If you had to describe your music as a color, what would it be? And is there a song you’d recommend to our readers at Karma!?
Hongza: I would say red because it represents a variety of things—love, anger, and good luck. Sonically, that sort of represents this coming EP. I’d recommend my song ‘She Changes the Weather’, which is out now and featured on my upcoming EP ‘Coming of Age’.
Chloe (Interviewer): It’s been a real pleasure chatting with you and getting a true insight into the mind behind the music. Your third EP ‘Coming of Age’ is out soon. What can we expect and look out for from Hongza in the near future?
Hongza: There’s going to be a beautiful music video coming alongside the focus track I Hate My Skin that you need to check out! I’ll be playing a bunch of shows, including my headline gig on September 28th at Sebright Arms, supporting Deary on their UK tour, and heading over to Paris. I’ve been writing so much, so there’ll be some new music in 2025.
Interview by Chloe
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