Bilingual breakout: sunkis merges R&B and Mandopop for global success
A viral sensation with more than 500 million streams, sunkis is trailblazing global stages while bridging Chinese and American cultures
sunkis
Chiu Pok Kwan
Words by Daniel Anderson
Hailing from San Francisco, Chinese American sonic sensation sunkis has recently settled into a new place in Los Angeles’s Koreatown. “I can’t wait to eat at BCD whenever,” he says with a smile, signaling the start of a hopeful chapter in his burgeoning career. The R&B-pop wunderkind gained viral acclaim in 2021 with his bilingual hit “Trust Me,” which has amassed more than 500 million streams across multiple platforms. And his Mandarin remix of J Tajor’s "Like I Do" attracted the admiration of K-pop stars like aespa’s Karina. In 2023, he further showcased his Mandopop flair with concerts across China, including a heartfelt performance in Shandong, his great-grandfather’s hometown.
As a tour opener for KARD’s BM during the After the After Party U.S. Tour this year, and with his own successful Phase 1 tour, sunkis has proven his prowess. Between stops, he’s always on the hunt for the best hotpot, his comfort food of choice. With an upcoming high-profile appearance at the MetaMoon Music Festival in New York on Sept. 28 alongside luminaries Henry Lau and Eric Nam, and a fresh collaboration on “Crush” with Bren Joy and ASTN, his career reflects a seamless fusion of genres, creativity, and cultural depth. As the son of immigrant parents, sunkis realizes their vision for a better life but never shies away from what came before. He boundlessly bridges Chinese and American cultures with his artistry.
sunkis spoke with JoySauce over Zoom shortly after returning from China to discuss his journey so far and what lies ahead.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Daniel Anderson: Tell me a bit about your background and if you were always musically inclined.
sunkis: I was born and raised in San Francisco, and while I wouldn’t say I was super musically inclined growing up, I’ve always been an entertainer. I did musical theater, and I was known as the class clown. As a chubby Asian kid, I had to develop a good personality to make friends—like sharing my snacks and making people laugh. That desire to make people smile has stuck with me and shaped who I am today as a performer. Music, especially songwriting, became my calling in college. I grew up on 2000s pop like Akon—so melodies were always in my head. By my second year of college, I realized I had a knack for freestyling and putting melodies over beats. I wrote my first song with a simple setup, put it out, and the response was good. That’s when I thought, “Maybe I can really do this.”
As a chubby Asian kid, I had to develop a good personality to make friends—like sharing my snacks and making people laugh. That desire to make people smile has stuck with me and shaped who I am today as a performer.
DA: What was the moment or spark that made you think, “I’m going to take this seriously?” When did you start seeing this as a potential career?
sunkis: It took a lot of support from family and friends—and patience. Before it really started looking like it could be a career, I was starting from scratch. No connections, nothing. I was just doing whatever I could to get in with the right people and the right sessions. Of course, along the way, some things didn’t go my way, but I learned a lot. I always say there’s no such thing as failing—you just learn when you don’t win. What’s gotten me here is my grit and never giving up. I’ve been grinding for five years now, going in and out of Asia, trying to figure it out. And now that I have, I’m like, “Okay, this could for sure be a real thing.”
DA: On the topic of your family, can you elaborate on their support?
sunkis: They’ve been super supportive, especially my mom. She wanted me to go to UC Berkeley, talk to her about my plans, all that. But she supported me as long as I was doing well. If she saw signs that I wasn’t as motivated or ambitious, she’d get a little harder on me, and you know, she’d start to worry—which is normal for any parent, especially one who immigrated to the U.S. and sacrificed so much for a better future. Early on, I wasn’t really showing any signs of income or making money, so they were a little nervous. But in the end, they told me, “As long as you love what you do, are confident in it, and give it your best, we’re behind you.”
DA: But you blew up with your single, “Trust Me,” 500 million streams? What do you think resonated most with listeners about that song in particular?
sunkis: So it was my first release ever, and I was doing Mandopop before I came back here. I just put it out, and it blew up organically. It showed me that a good song with a good melody and lyrics can take off on its own. That song will always be special to me. I really love it because it’s in my other language—Chinese—and that’s a big part of my identity. I definitely want to put out more Chinese music. That song proved to me that Mandarin songs can hit just as hard as English or Korean ones.
DA: My friends were adamant I ask, when are you releasing more Mandarin songs? Can you describe the creative freedom that having bilingual lyrics and being able to speak another language gives you?
sunkis: Mandarin lyrics tend to be more direct, and I don’t know how to explain it, but they’re really simple, yet they hit hard. A simple line can say a lot because it’s easier to sing. When I approach it melodically, sometimes I start by writing an English demo and then switch it to Mandarin—it sounds really cool. Other times, I write a Chinese song to the beat and it ends up sounding great in English too. It’s fun because the same melody in English and Mandarin feels totally different, and one version might sound better than the other. That’s when I decide, “Oh, this sounds cooler in Chinese, so I’ll keep this part in Chinese.” It’s never set in stone—it’s just me playing around and trying things out.
DA: One of my favorite Instagram posts of yours was about your visit to Shandong and your great-grandfather’s hometown. Can you share what that experience meant to you? Did it deepen or reshape your connection to your identity and culture?
sunkis: It felt like I was finally home, even though it was my first time in Shandong. It was my first two festivals in China, and the love I felt was the closest thing to family I’ve ever experienced. Beyond the performances, going to local barbecue spots and seafood places felt like eating at my long-lost grandmother’s house. My immediate family isn’t very close with our extended family, so it was special to connect with where my parents’ ancestry is from. It was a really meaningful experience.
DA: How do audiences differ when you perform in Asia compared to the U.S.? What’s the energy level like? Do you approach your performances differently, or prepare in any unique ways?
sunkis: Energy levels can definitely differ. It’s funny you mention it—overall, Asian audiences can be a bit shyer. They’re not as outspoken as in the U.S., where you might have fans barking or being very vocal, like in Atlanta or D.C. But it varies from city to city. In the U.S., the East Coast tends to be quieter than the West Coast, though this is a generalization based on my experience. In China, cities like Shanghai might be less hype because people there see more shows and might be a bit cooler in the crowd. On the other hand, places like Guangzhou, where international artists don’t visit as often, can be more enthusiastic, similar to the Midwest in the U.S., where there are fewer shows and the energy is higher.
Every city has its own vibe, so I usually ask local promoters about the culture and what might resonate with the audience. For example, in Guangzhou, I spoke a bit of Cantonese to connect with the crowd. It’s all about picking up on those small subtleties.
DA: You’ve been on an absolute tear with your live performances, from opening for KARD’s BM to going on your own U.S. tour. What did you learn from being an opener for BM, and how did that experience shape or prepare you for your own tour? Did you approach those performances differently?
sunkis: Definitely stay hydrated, especially since I sweat a lot. You need to be physically prepared and take care of yourself. Also, I have to thank BM—he was incredibly cool and welcoming. I was a bit intimidated and nervous before my first time opening, so having someone so nice really helped. It made me want to bring the same positive energy when I have my own headline shows and choose openers. I want everyone to feel included and happy, because I’ll always remember that experience fondly. I’ve heard stories from other artist friends about less welcoming headliners, so having a great experience myself really motivates me to pass that good energy forward.
@sunkisontour #duet with @aespa official #aespa ♬ オリジナル楽曲 - ローカルカンピオーネ🗾👑
DA: You’ve had a series of viral moments, including your remix of “Like I Do,” which has been reacted to by many K-pop idols, like Karina from aespa. How does it feel to have globally recognized stars reacting to your work?
sunkis: It feels amazing. These are huge superstars that I’d love to work with someday, so knowing they like my music and are engaging with my challenges is incredible. The Karina moment was the most epic. It really resonated in China, with people reacting like, “Wow, why is Karina doing a Chinese song challenge?” That was just an awesome experience.
DA: As someone who’s experienced viral success, how do you balance maintaining your own musicality with the pressure to create songs that fit the current trend of “TikTokification?” How do you manage the desire to make music that expresses yourself while also navigating the push for shorter, viral-friendly tracks?
sunkis: That’s a great question—I love it. Honestly, it’s all about intention. If you’re aiming to create a viral TikTok song, go in with that goal. But if you want to focus on your artistry without worrying about virality, then do that. Nowadays, an artist's catalog can include both types of music. It’s important to understand the environment you’re in, including the TikTok trend, but you don’t have to let it dictate everything. For me, it’s about striking a balance—creating music that satisfies both my artistic vision and the current trends.
DA: And right now, you have your latest track, “Crush,” a collaboration with Bren Joy and ASTN, how did that come together?
sunkis: “CRUSH” started out as a concept that seemed straightforward—just another collaboration. But behind the scenes, it was quite a journey. It was my first time working with two other artists on a single track. I had sessions with Bren Joy and ASTN before, and we each wanted to collaborate. I sent it to them, and they both liked it. Getting the verses back and seeing everyone’s different approaches was really exciting. There were many teams involved, and creatively, it was easy to get lost in ideas. But in the end, we worked together to figure out what was best for the song. We’re all thrilled with how it turned out.
DA: You’ve got some other big names coming up soon too. You’re slated to perform at the MetaMoon Music Festival in New York with the likes of Eric Nam, Henry Lau, how are you feeling about that?
sunkis: I'm really excited because this is something I’ve been looking forward to. It was originally planned for last year but got postponed with a different lineup. I’m honored to still be a part of it, especially with such a strong group including Henry and Eric. It’s great to be with other Asian artists, and I’m thrilled to meet them. I’m also looking forward to performing in New York. It’s been a fantastic market for me, and I can’t wait to connect with the audience and just hang out in a city I love. Any excuse to visit New York is a good one.
DA: Beyond that, what is next for you?
sunkis: My main goal right now is to release more music and work toward an album. I’ve just settled into LA, so I’m excited to see how being closer to sessions and all the amazing artists and creatives here will impact my work. I’m always eager to learn and grow, no matter where I am, and LA is a fantastic place to connect with talented people. As for big goals, I dream very big and believe nothing is out of reach. That’s my mindset, and it’s what’s worked for me. I stay focused on creating music I truly love, and everything else tends to fall into place. When I’m passionate about something, I’m committed to pushing through and making it happen.
Published on September 23, 2024
Words by Daniel Anderson
Daniel Anderson is a disabled Chinese American adoptee based in Seattle. His freelance writing specialties include K-pop, entertainment, and food. He believes that any restaurant can be a buffet, and the key to success is to take a nap each day. Follow his adventures on Instagram @danzstan.