"Little Ghost" Wang Linkai's 2023 tour starts in May, passing through four cities, Shenzhen, Beijing, Nanjing and Shanghai, and will usher in the last stop in Chengdu on September 16. On the day of the interview, the "little ghost", who had been working until 10 p.m., looked a little tired. He said that he wanted to finish the concert successfully now, and then move on to the next stage and make a new song.
"Little Ghost" Wang Linkai is a contradictory, tangled but also trying to be consistent. Photo courtesy of interviewee
During the interview, the "little ghost" always held a dragon fruit shaped shooting doll in his hand, and every time he answered a question, he would think seriously and slowly while subconsciously fiddling with the dragon fruit. He is a contradictory person, sometimes persistent, entangled, sometimes trying to adapt and self-consistent.
"Little Ghost" said that what he loves is not only making music, but also life itself, and the feelings that life brings him are precious, "I want to be able to learn, absorb nutrients, and become better every day." ”
About the tour
I hope to have the opportunity to go to Fujian to give a concert
The tour is based on "Little Ghost"'s 2022 debut full-composition album "DEADLINE", named after the album name, symbolizing his attitude of going all out for musical moments, daring to think and fight, and daring to rush. Most of the tour is songs from the new album, with a re-written adaptation and the addition of some previously released singles.
This tour is also a rare grind for "Little Ghosts". According to the recollections of "Little Ghost", during the first rehearsal in Shenzhen, everyone was very tired, very stressed, and there were many situations on the stage, close to collapse. He can only stand up, "because there are not many people around me who can share the pressure, for me I can only 'bite the bullet', anyway, it has come to this point, just try it once, in short, you have to do it." ”
"Little Ghost" Wang Linkai tour scene. Photo courtesy of interviewee
If you want to talk about the small regrets of this tour, "Little Ghost" frankly said that he hopes to go to Fujian to sing next time, because his parents live in Xiamen, he has been studying in Fujian since he was a child, and there are many classmates and teachers, hoping that they can all come to see their concerts.
Being a good child in everyone's eyes is simple
In the eyes of the public, "Little Ghost" is a rebellious and unconventional "personality child", and his music is difficult to define with a traditional genre. In his opinion, rap is a very strong fusion music genre, which can be fused with many music, such as Chinese style, strings, classical, rock, jazz, reggae, etc.
The "little ghost" that everyone sees has a smooth path, and he has a bright performance in the music career at a young age. But he confessed that although he looks glamorous, he often fights with himself behind his back, and is often very entangled, "I often feel that if you don't forget it, don't insist on yourself, be obedient, be a good child, be what everyone should become, but it is a very simple and easy thing." Whether it is music style or external appearance, "Little Ghost" focuses on the label of "personality" and does not follow the established route. Likewise, he is confronting a balance between the public and the individual. "Little Ghost" said that he was still thinking some time ago that what he liked was not acceptable to the mainstream market for domestic music, and if he did it for a period of time, everyone would be disappointed if he couldn't accept it. But if you don't do it, you will definitely regret it. "At least I'm going to try it first and see if it's possible for me to make the two compatible, it's completely impossible to do nothing."
From his debut to the present, "Little Ghost" has been breaking his cognition of himself and subverting the so-called labeling, "I think as long as you dare to try, there is nothing you can't do." It's definitely a tough process, but it's okay, I'm still full of fighting spirit on this road. Do everything well, forge yourself into a piece of gold that shines when the opportunity comes. ”
Short video music is flooded, and original music lacks a platform
Over the years, "Little Ghost" has participated in music variety shows such as "Our Song", "Crossover Singer", "God-given Voice", "Shining Band" and so on, for him, he can experience special fun in music variety shows, can meet and exchange music with different musicians, and has the opportunity to try various song adaptations, and will also get a lot of improvement in the process. In his opinion, the audience of music variety shows is different, and when everyone sees him through various platforms, they will also see his different music stage presentations. At the same time, "Little Ghost" also mentioned the current worrying status of music variety shows, there are too few original music works, more adaptations of cover songs, and there is not much space for original musicians. "This is quite difficult for domestic original musicians, everyone does have some good works, but there is no place to sing, there is no place for everyone to hear, you can only post it on the Internet platform." Everyone does short video music in the fast-moving era, and this cycle makes the original environment not very good. ”
"Little Ghost" Wang Linkai participated in the music variety show "Our Song". The picture is from the show's official micro
Although "Little Ghost" is not very old, his attitude towards music is very firm, in his opinion, it is a sense of mission, he believes in what he loves, and cannot live up to the trust in himself. "No one can fool this love, I have to do it, and I believe in my ability to do it well." When the outside world does not recognize or question him, the "little ghost" will also be confused. "But if you don't know where you're going, and if you say something east, you go east, and if you say something west, what do you want?" So you must trust your own judgment, if you are shaken, you really can't become the person you want. ”
When I was a child, my parents always told the "little ghosts" that you must not do anything. Many times the "little ghost" will listen, but he will also put a question mark in his heart, is it really like this? He began to think for himself, what was the motivation to do this? Why others can succeed, to summarize the experience of others, through these summarization and learning to slowly become stronger, from the initial interest to step by step to find the path of growth.
"Little Ghost" learned various talents such as piano and taekwondo when he was a child, but he had no motivation at all, and at that time he was also "forced to help", going to cram school on weekends, and then interest class after cram school. Because he has no interest, his parents will always say that he is hot for three minutes and undetermined, but when he really discovers what he loves - dancing, eight cows can't pull it back. "I liked dancing at that time, and my parents would worry that there was no good future for dancing, but I didn't care, and I just kept going. Until now, because of the love to form habits. ”
"Little ghosts" gain parental approval in their own way. Although his parents still often worry that he will suffer, "Little Ghost" is confident that he can prove it to his parents in his own way, just like he did when he was a teenager.
Best friends, they didn't see him as a star
There are not many "little ghost" best friends in life, most of them are friends who played together when he did not debut, and no one regarded him as a star. For the "little ghost", this way of getting along makes him feel very comfortable.
When not working, "Little Ghost" likes to ride, exercise, listen to songs, play games, watch movies, and drink with friends is also his favorite lifestyle.
As for career planning, in addition to music, "Little Ghost" also hopes to have its own clothing brand in the future, and also wants to do some anime-related two-dimensional elements. He also wanted to go abroad to see the show. When it comes to "watching a concert", the "little ghost" is a little confused and unhappy, watching a performance in China, many people will hold up their mobile phone to video, but the joyful scene of jumping with the music is rare. "I think it makes you lose sight of a lot of the fun of the scene. You can take a picture with your phone, take a piece of it and record it, and then put it down and enjoy the music. ”
Dialogue
Beijing News: In your upbringing, "people are more popular than songs" is a frequent evaluation, do you mind?
"Little Ghost": I don't mind, I know that "song is more popular than people" is right. I'm also working on that.
Beijing News: Do you have some grievances in your heart? I have also made a lot of efforts and attempts in music, and what you see may still be some of your external manifestations.
"Little Ghost": Yes, that's true. But it's not a bad thing, if the outside can attract everyone's eyes, the inside can attract everyone's heart, it's okay, at least I have to let you see me.
"Little ghost" Wang Linkai believes that he is an extreme individual, and he must do it desperately to do what he recognizes. Photo courtesy of interviewee
Beijing News: You have been a relatively stubborn child since you were a child?
"Little Ghost": If I don't think something is good, I don't do it, and if I want to do it, I have to do my best. For example, when I was in school, a certain teacher treated me very well, and I would learn this teacher's class very well, but if this teacher criticized me, I would be a little frustrated, and I would not learn this course well. Sometimes, I may feel that I can't do this, so I break the jar and break, and if I feel that this thing must be done well, I will do it hard. I'm an extreme individual.
Beijing News: The teachers or elders around you will tell you, do you want to change such a personality? Such an extreme can be a loss.
"Little Ghost": Yes, I'm still slowly finding a balance between myself. I think that experiences in life bring inspiration and experience, turn it into wealth, can turn it into lyrics, turn it into melody. I've come all the way to the present, and I have different ideas at each stage, wasn't it me before I looked back now? For me, the past is a good mirror, I can look in the mirror and see my past state and the changes with the present, so I write songs like keeping a diary. There is no rule about what must be the best, and there is no right answer in life. In life, each of us has the right to choose the color we want to be.
Beijing News: As you once said, what kind of music you want to make, what kind of person you must live and what you experience will be in your songs. So what would the music you wish you made and the person you wanted to be look like now?
"Little Ghost": I want to be a person with my own independent thoughts. When everyone thinks it's happening to me, it's a bad thing, and everyone feels unfortunate for me, I can overcome it with a smile.
Beijing News: There may be some young people who cannot be as successful as you because of talent, opportunities and other reasons. What advice would you give them?
"Little Ghost": I think if you want to be what kind of person, as long as you work in this direction, the goal will slowly approach you, but if you don't even dare to think about it, don't even dare to do it, and have dismissed the idea from the beginning, then in the end what you want to do is impossible. It's okay to give it up, or choose another way, it doesn't hurt to try, if this thing really doesn't fit, at least do it, you can make it a part of your life, even if it's a hobby. It's important to think and do, even if it's wrong, we can start all over again, with a lot of time. And you must believe in yourself enough and improve yourself in various ways. No matter what you do, the energy in your own body must be good at discovering it, good at discovering your own advantages, and making good use of it in any industry.
Beijing News: Do you think you fit into this circle? Not about music or dancing, but about the ecology of the whole circle.
"Little Ghost": I don't think I fit into this circle. I never thought that one day I would be able to enter this circle, and after coming in, what I felt most was that it was very complicated, not as simple as I imagined. Everyone's ideas are different, their views are different, but in this circle, everyone needs to say something to protect face, and I don't think I'm very comfortable with such an environment. But I still know the truth of survival of the fittest, and what kind of way to survive, this needs me to improve.
Beijing News: Outside of music, what kind of things make it difficult for you?
"Little Ghost": I have music in my head and am immersed in my own world every day. For example, if I go to a dinner party or a celebration banquet, I won't speak, and I will do whatever you ask me to do, but I don't know what I should do. I don't have the mind to socialize, and at this point I am overwhelmed, and I want to be able to integrate with everyone. I'm not repulsive, just overwhelmed and don't know what I should do. When I see that everyone is natural, I feel bad, and others think I am weird.
Beijing News: The cultivation of that part other than music is also what an artist needs to do.
"Little Ghost": Yes, in fact, you can completely separate musicians and artists as two professions. But if I'm positioned as an artist, I really need to do that. I went into this circle and had to adapt to some rules, or I had to try to make myself more like an adult.
Chief reporter of Beijing News Liu Wei
Chief Editor Wu Dongni
Proofreader Liu Jun