XIAO XIAO greets generational trauma at the door
How the artist’s latest single examines familial philosophies
Words by Anna Carlson
When Asian Americans share their experiences in music, they often fear being misunderstood or, worse, cliche. However, Mandopop artist XIAO XIAO (笑笑) isn't afraid of that. Unlike many contemporary artists, XIAO XIAO rebels against the need to be liked. Instead, he derives meaning in his creative process by experimenting with genres and sounds to convey unfiltered stories.
One of XIAO XIAO's main musical inspirations is Kendrick Lamar. He shares how he always wished for an album resemblant to Good Kid, m.A.A.d city from the perspective of an Asian kid. “I think a lot of East Asian American artists don’t know what to write about, and I totally relate to that. You feel like you can’t be "the normal" when you are already otherized,” he says. That's why XIAO XIAO's music is essential; ditching the image of intelligibility, he speaks from a place others can emotionally resonate with.
In June, XIAO XIAO dropped his sixth single, "1974." The song, named after his father's birth year, takes listeners on a sonic journey through his family's immigration story.
After China's "century of humiliation," XIAO XIAO's father, Dr. Vincent Yu, witnessed Shanghai's extreme economic growth. Despite the rise in metropolitan prosperity, the Yu family struggled for stability. As a result, a significant goal in his father’s life was to "lift his family out" of that situation. In 1999, Yu moved to Canada to pursue his Master's degree. XIAO XIAO recounts how his mother took the GMAT while pregnant with him. His father wasn't present for his birth, as Yu was working to take the family to the U.S. for better opportunities.
When starting this project, XIAO XIAO spent hours reflecting on his personal history, which led him to recognize these intangible weights in his family's psyche that triggered intense anxiety. “The point of the song is to capture the latent energy that follows down the bloodline,” XIAO XIAO explains. The song's main refrain, "Why do I dream?" refers to the quintessential pressure to generate wealth through H-1B labor.
"My life trajectory is informed by the still rippling effects of Confucianism manifesting itself in my family adapting to the Western system, specifically capitalism,” XIAO XIAO says. “There is a lot of shame in the times when my parents were too busy to drop me off at school dances or ice cream socials and only bothered to attend things like parent-teacher conferences. But on the flip side, I remember having a lot of pride in being the last one picked up because my mom was working such late hours at the bank. [My parents] worked so hard to earn their spot as Americans, which shaped our lives in ways I'm still trying to process."
"1974” is a poignant moment in XIAO XIAO’s musical evolution. “I’m merging my shadow self with my artistic persona,” XIAO XIAO admits. "To be able to [bring] these Jung-esque shadows that often stem from shame and repression into the light."
The track alternates between Chinese and English alternative-style rap verses in modern C-music fashion. Communicating complex concepts in different languages can be incredibly challenging for multilingual artists. For XIAO XIAO, “It’s so much more natural.” It’s a dignified effort to show the world that artists can flow in Chinese. XIAO XIAO believes in himself as a songwriter because his work is bilingual.
Drawing distinct inspiration from Chinese culture, XIAO XIAO uses traditional Guzheng instrumental samples and ambient sounds like rocks banging together to complement the song's dominant metallic beat. Like the rest of XIAO XIAO'S discography, "1974" includes unique production choices that allow his audience to sink their teeth into.
One could assume XIAO XIAO's listening demographic, but what matters to XIAO XIAO is for those who do listen to pick up on stories they can relate to. "The right audience is really smart; they will be able to suss out what is authentic and what is not, or why something doesn't immediately make sense,” he say. "I want the audience to investigate to see where I am operating from."
Following the single’s release, XIAO XIAO premiered the official music video for “1974,” co-directed by Jett Yamada and produced by Yamada’s Asian American production company, Orangejuuz. XIAO XIAO collaborated with the team to plan the visuals that encapsulated an essence of disillusionment. The video opens with XIAO XIAO arriving home to his New York apartment and beginning mundane household tasks. He is also shown feverishly coding and agonizing over applying for a visa. As the rhythm intensifies, XIAO XIAO realizes there’s a foreign entity in his space. “We were really excited about this horror movie idea,” Yamada says. Underneath the "1974" visualizer's cryptic vibe remain layers of deeper meaning. Throughout the video, dramatic transitions between Chinese government reels and XIAO XIAO’s interactions with the suggested “paranormal” allude to how his family’s past haunts him. Spoiler alert: by the end of the video, XIAO XIAO realizes that the monster in his midst is himself. Isn’t it always?
XIAO XIAO is intentional in everything he does. He’s excited to explore a broader musical landscape and continue his creative expedition. While his sound surely sets him apart, his unique vision will unlock the world, and he's giving us the key.
Published on August 14, 2024
Words by Anna Carlson
Anna Carlson is a music and culture journalist based in Brooklyn. During her career, she’s interviewed renowned artists such as Jungle and Wu-Tang Clan. Her childhood was spent living in Indonesia, China, and Thailand, so she’s dedicated to amplifying diverse voices in her work. When she’s not writing, she’s most likely napping under a clean pile of laundry while Mitski plays in the background.