Meet Chloe Tang

We recently connected with Chloe Tang and have shared our conversation below.

Chloe, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

Growing up, I used to feel such a strong need to blend in to my environment. It was against my nature to bring attention to myself in school and other social settings so I just didn’t say much. From then to now, I’ve learned so much about the dynamics in a room and how to carry myself appropriately depending on the circumstance. The main skill I’ve had to work on is convincing myself that I am just as important as anyone else in the room- no matter their level of wealth, success, knowledge, or experience. I have to portray that confidence, especially when I’m the only one that looks like me. I just remind myself that I’m carrying that much more weight because I’m representing the API community, not just myself as an individual. Advocating for representation is a huge part of why I love being an artist and a small reminder of that is all it takes to motivate myself to be confident.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am an artist. My passion for making and performing music has been the driving force of my entire life. People usually ask me what I do on a day to day basis and it’s such a hard question to answer because it’s never the same. But to summarize I am usually writing music in the studio, getting ready for a performance, working on releasing my own music independently, or on set for a photo/video shoot to promote my music. At the core of it all is just a need to create and express myself, and I’m so grateful that I am privileged enough to get to do that. My music is

I do think one important thing to note about this career path is that it is the opposite of glamorous. This is something I have to remind myself every day. The reason it’s special and exciting is because it’s unsettling in many ways. You never know when you’ll get your next paycheck, you might get hints of validation that you’re good enough to “make it”, but never a real answer. It requires a very high level of perseverance and faith just to keep going. And as difficult as that is, there’s also nothing like the feeling of a win that you earned in this industry. It’s a business of extremes but that’s why it’s special.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1. Learning how to be a good hang- it’s a cliche for a reason that this industry is more about your relationships than your talent. Overall, I’ve found that when I prioritize being myself and being kind to people I not only enjoy my career more, but also receive more opportunities.
2. DIYing everything- Although from the outside it may look like a lot of artists/musicians have the same path to success, that couldn’t be further from the truth. It really comes down to how many resources you have at your disposal and I didn’t have any. That forced me to DIY my way into the industry by learning how to build meaningful relationships, teaching myself how to release music, and figuring out how to be an artist without anyone to hold my hand. Even though it felt like a disadvantage back then, I know there’s nothing that could replace my knowledge now. I feel like I am the boss of my own career which has always been important to me
3. Having a healthy relationship with your desires- Pursuing a career in the arts isn’t for the weak. I don’t know if I’ll ever have the perfect relationship with my desires and expectations but it’s something I have never stopped working on. I used to have this idea that I would have a Grammy by age 25 and be selling out arenas by 27. I will never regret believing in myself but when those things didn’t happen I had to have a hard conversation with myself. Success is very different to everyone and not allowing someone else’s definition get in the way of you celebrating your wins is dangerous. In the end you can only fulfill yourself.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

There have been many but if I had to choose one it would be them accepting me. It’s too often I see parents trying to make their child into the person they want them to be and don’t think that’s productive. I am very lucky to have parents who never told me who to be. Even when I did something they didn’t like. I can see how much they’ve changed as people for me and my brother. They’ve left behind outdated beliefs, values, and fundamentals that were engrained into them to be closer to their kids- to understand us. They set an example of what unconditional love is and now that I’m an adult, I won’t accept anything less than that. There hasn’t been a moment in my life where I’ve questioned their love or support.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chloetangmusic.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beefjerkybih/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beefjerkybih/
• Twitter: https://x.com/beefjerkybih?lang=en
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmXhsRcal_qPZWC41h9geNg
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/chloetangmusic
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@beefjerkybih?lang=en

Image Credits

Images by Roushan Hassan, Justin Town, Sig, and Kiss Sundara