Insider Scoop: Upcoming LGBT Artist, Chuefeng Yang talks about her upcoming single "This Life"
Edited by Iceis Augustino
I got to sit down and speak with possibly one of the nicest people I have ever met in my life. Chuefeng Yang is an underrated LGBTQ+ K-pop artist who wants to tell her story through music, and I believe that she's done just that with the release of her new single, 'This Life', which is to be released on April 18th, 2024. This song is a story of how she realized how short life was and how life can be something special if you look at it the right way. Coming from her during her recovery from her gender-reaffirming surgery last year, this song is sure to inspire those who are struggling to keep looking on the bright side. Enjoy part of the conversation I had with her about the song, her life, and the advice she had for those who are struggling.
T: The new single, 'This Life,' what's it about?
C: I wrote the song while I was in recovery from my gender-affirming bottom surgery. It's about taking the intentional moment to reflect on your life and recognize that life is good and it is beautiful. It's all these good things even if we're not constantly [at] a peak [in] our [lives]. Even if we aren't experiencing something fun, it's still a good life. [it's an] encouragement to myself [and my listeners] to take a pause and not wish your life away. [To recognize] there is beauty in the current moment and to not wish your life away.
T: The song is coming out on April 18th, right?
C: Yes, it is! On my birthday!
T: Speaking on LGBT matters, how do you feel about Thailand passing the same-sex laws?
C: [It's] such good news, and we have come such a long way in the world.
T: Are you releasing an EP or an album? Or [just] the single [for now]? C: I don't know yet about an album, but there's going to be more singles being released this year. However, I have a previous project EP named Love, which is about love in all its forms. As an artist who writes their own stuff, I feel like the singles will eventually turn into an EP since that's pretty much how Love came out.
T: How did you realize you wanted to do music and be an LGBTQ+ artist?
C: I've been singing since I was eight, and I was constantly coming back to music as a comfort zone. [It's] the thing that fulfills me. And then my identity being tied to my art just came out because being transgender and queer doesn't just go away. I made the official decision to start taking music seriously when I was twenty, and it was because I lost my brother in 2020 [when] I was twenty-one. It catapulted me into music from so much grief, heartache, and love. It's so cliche, but losing him was a wake-up call that life is short, and you don't wanna spend your life doing what doesn't make you happy.
T: Last Question! Do you have any advice for those who are starting out in the industry? Especially those who are LGBT artists? C: My piece of advice for them would be [to] make music that feels real to who you are. That is genuine, and that feels fulfilling. It's easy, [especially for an artist], to get caught up in everyone's expectations. I want to remind artists out there your art is an extension of who you are, and never lose sight of that. It's okay that your art changes, and so does your life. Stay true to who you are. I'm a firm believer that if you let your heart lead the way, things will work out. If you engage and interact with the world from a place of love and care, it makes your experience more profound and beautiful in a good way.
If you haven't checked out her other music yet, you should check it out below. I can't wait to hear more from her when it's time, and I hope you all enjoy her music and story the way I did.
Cheufeng Yang
