Single Review: Alien by Venice Qin
By Sheldon Ang
Photos: Supplied by Sony Music Australia
A storm has been brewing in Kiwi music lately, spurting a whirlwind trajectory encompassing the likes of Six60, Kimbra and Lorde, as they slither through the American and British infested waters and showcasing their repositories in the export market.
Soon to be engraved among New Zealand’s fine talents is Venice Qin – your next obsession, with her debut EP ALIEN slated for release on 17 November through Sony Music Australia.
The first sneak preview ASSHOLE has already racked over half million listeners on Spotify alone. Also paving the way is track title Alien – released today, serving as the second entrée that presage in the sumptuous temptation in November. If the singles are preludes to the landscape of Qin’s artistry, the EP will likely to project as the breakthrough piece for the Sydney-based artist.
Alien explores the trickle effect of self identity, festering from physical differences despite surrounded by a poly cultured society. That’s one version of interpretation, which is the message behind Qin’s lyrics as she speaks of the challenges on being “different” from the mainstream demographic.
“I’ve always found myself in spaces where I don’t feel like I belong. Whether that’s as an Asian in Western spaces, a Westernised Asian in Asian spaces, or just having a different mindset to people around me, and not relating to their experiences. My song ‘ALIEN’ comes from a very personal, vulnerable place for me. I used to find myself constantly changing my persona when I went out, so that I could fit in and would always come home feeling even more alienated, doubting that my younger self would like the person I’ve become in those moments. Sometimes I still do that, and I’m not proud of it.
Although not written in a literal sense, the lyrics highlight the delimma of her minority self, a person of Chinese ethnicity who feels compelled to kow tow to the “mainstream”despite being a native Kiwi born in Aotearoa.
The music sparks with the jazzy finger snapping in the form of body percussion style tempo, personifying a sassy gesture which remain the staple sonic diet throughout, albeit a paradoxical inclination over the lyrics – I’m stuck in the crosses, I’m playing the actress, can’t you tell that I’m missing my home…”
The track builds into the chorus, fusing the tone of vulnerability and contemplative nuances, “am I alien, what am I doing here…” fading and resonating into the background, as if acquiescing to fit within the culture, hidden under the bravado masquerade, “As I’m sinking into the back seat of the car, thinking who did I let myself become…what am I doing here.”
It is prophetical that a birthname can sometimes shape a person’s destiny. Venice Qin – which is her real name – is a celebrated, classically trained musician specialising in (surprise surprise) singing, piano and also posseses a Masters Degree in Guitar and Bassoon (yep, didn’t know such instrument, let alone the accolades even exist). Yet, Alien eschews from an instrumental based track – instead, adopting one-two combo between her vocals and the finger snapping led tunes throughout, exposing her sumptuous vocals in its divulging rawness that encapsulates the visceral undertones. Think Alicia Keys, where her best performances are usually found in a contest between her vocals and a single instrument, the piano, propagating the orchestral silhouette – a testing combination in the mainstream world. The comparison, although to a lesser extend, can be made as Qin competes with the cadence of the body style percussion. The message is palpable without being melodramatic. She’s sensibly restrained.
As much as we’re told that we should embrace our quirks and differences, it is hard when you feel incredibly misunderstood and that you’re not the only one that feels or thinks the way that you do. Even throughout the creation of this song, I was full of insecurity and anxiety that people wouldn’t listen to it, because they wouldn’t relate to what I was feeling (lol…). Because the song is sonically less in your face, as an Asian woman, I was fearful that people wouldn’t take the time to hear my voice and what I was going through. But thankfully I have really great people in my life who listened to this song, and heard and believed in me, so the song has gotten to where it is today so that more people can hear it. I really want it to reach and unite us aliens of the world, and to let us know we are not alone.”
“I am also delighted that the song will be coming out on one of my favourite Chinese festival days, the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival,” Venice says. “I’ve always been obsessed with the story of Chang’E floating to the moon, kind of like an alien living on the moon! Similar to many other Chinese kids, I’ve always been convinced that I can see the rabbit chilling on the moon too (I swear it’s there ok).”
It is 29th of September – so happy Zhong Qui Jie, Venice Qin! This writer prefers to call it the Mooncake Festival! (wink of an eye).
Connect and listen to Venice Qin
About the Writer: Sheldon Ang Media (est. May 2022) have been accredited to photograph and review over 50 major concerts in Perth including KISS, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lizzo, Post Malone, Sting, Harry Styles and Backstreet Boys with reviews and photos shared by the likes of UB40, Boy George & Culture Club, Richard Marx, Delta Goodrem and Tina Arena. He has interviewed rockers Ace Frehley (KISS), John Steel (The Animals), Frank Ferrer (Guns N Roses), Phil X (Bon Jovi), Andrew Farris (INXS), Floor Jansen (Nightwish), Ian Moss (Cold Chisel) and 40 other legends. Sadly, he’s an Engineer in real life.
