Viral sensation who loves romantic dramas: yungkai
Posted on March 7, 2025
Joey Chou
Yung Kai is a Chinese-Canadian indie musician based in Vancouver. We sat down with him to chat about his 2024 viral hit “blue” and his upcoming performance at Head in the Clouds.
1. Your career is blowing up! Have you met some cool people along the way?
Yungkai: 100% 100% I’ve met so many cool people, like, I don’t even think I can even name all of them, because I met so many cool people. But yeah, a lot of people have, you know, helped me, and some people even, like, take me under their wing. And I really appreciate that, because, you know, everything happened so fast for me. So yeah, there’s some people that I really, really appreciate, actually, that just helped me out with everything. Like, in just industry-wise, music-wise. Um, bbno$ was the first. He was so nice. He was always like, ‘Dude, if you have any questions, like, let me know. If you need a new perspective on something, let me know.’ Yeah, he’s just such a good person. I love him. He’s also from Vancouver, so we can literally just like, meet up. You know?
2. You’re playing music festivals in Pattaya and Manila. Have you ever been to the Philippines or Thailand?
Yungkai: I’ve never been to the Philippines or Thailand. So this is exciting for me. Dude I’m just looking forward to everything, bro, like it’s just going to a new place. You know? It’s exciting. I like experiencing new things. So everything I think will be fun for me.
3. Later you’ll be performing at 88rising’s Head in the Cloud music festival. How did you find out? Who are you most excited to see?
Yungkai: It was just, like, growing up in high school and stuff, I’ve always looked up to 88 rising. You know? People like Rich Brian, Higher Brothers, NIKI, Joji. Like they were my idols. So I remember the day my managers, I think they called me or something, or texted me, I forget. But they’re just like, ‘Dude, guess what festival we got you?’ I was like, what Coachella? ‘No.’ Lollapalooza? ‘No.’ And I didn’t even think of Head In The Clouds, right? They’re like, ‘Head In The Clouds’. Dude, I, like, it’s such a dream, you know? Because I’ve always wanted to literally just attend Head In The Clouds to watch the artist, you know. But my first time at Head In The Clouds is to perform? It’s just insane. I can never have imagined that. Yeah, it’s like they brought Dean out of hiding. You know? It’s crazy. No one could have expected that. Yeah, if I do see Dean, I’m gonna shake his hand and never wash my hand again in my life.
4. The viral hit “blue” was inspired by a C-drama called When I Fly Towards You. Are you watching any new C-dramas or K-dramas?
Yungkai: Right now I’m not watching K-dramas or C-dramas. I’m watching… I’m watching more anime right now. I’m watching…there’s this one called Blue Box. It’s also like a romance anime. I haven’t been watching for like, a few weeks. I’ve missed a few episodes just because I was doing music stuff. But like on this plane ride to Thailand, 100% I’m watching it.
5. Tell us about the new single is called “do you think you could love me”. Do you remember why you wrote this song? What is it about?
Yungkai: Why I wrote this song…I forget. But I’m pretty sure that that was a stage where I was watching a lot of K-dramas and C-dramas, you know, like, When I Fly Towards You and stuff. So it must have been like a mix of everything, some drama, some drama inspired it. I don’t know what, though. So I wrote this song, like, actually, a really long time ago. I’m pretty sure I wrote this song before “wildflower”, or around the same time as “wildflower”, so way before “blue”. The message is pretty similar to “blue”. Also like longing for love and imagining a love. “Don’t you like when I’m around? Could you just pretend you care? I belong with you my love.” You know, it’s just like me imagining I’m with her. Like, I belong with you, but I’m not with you. Why am I not with you?
6. Can you recite your favorite lyric or a line from a song that pops to mind right now, at this moment?
Yungkai: Damn. The only thing I can think of is a line from one of my unreleased songs. Oh, dude, I love this song so much. I can’t wait to put this out. I won’t reveal the name or anything like that. Okay, so it’s, “Hold my heart in your hands. A flower like you loved me then. How did it wither?” It’s just a line that I wrote that I was like, I saw the vision just from that line. Yeah, no, I’m so excited to release the song. It’s like, my favorite song I have right now.
