Nian Tong Talks New EP, Musical Influences And More

 

 

My parents are singers and when I was a kid they sometimes brought me to the clubs to see them perform(Yes there were no age restrictions in China back then).

 

 

 

 

 

With Gradually, I wanted to approach it in a way that felt honest and personal. The songs came from real experiences , so I didn’t try to overconstruct anything, just let the emotions guide the writing and production.

 

Where did you record the EP and who produced it?

 

I recorded the EP in London and China, and I had session musicians remotely record different parts from the US, Mexico, and Germany.  I produced every song by myself.

 

Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the recording sessions?

One funny thing is that I ended up recording every song at least twice. My singing was improving throughout the process, so every time I finished a new track and went back to the previous one, I’d think, ‘Oh no… I can do better than that.’ It became this endless cycle of re-recording.

 

Did you use any particular instruments, microphones, recording equipment to help you get a particular sound/tone for the record?

Most of the vocals on the EP were recorded in my studio in China using a Neumann M 149, which gave me a clear and detailed sound.

The exception is ‘I Shouldn’t Have Talked to You,’ which I recorded in my bedroom in London with a Shure SM7B. I chose that setup intentionally because I wanted the vocal to feel more raw and intimate, almost like a private conversation.

 

Happiest: Whatever You Do

Angriest: I Shouldn’t Have Talked to You

Most Reflective: Gradually

Who were the musicians who were on the album with you?

My very good friend Pablo Olaya played the piano on I Shouldn’t Have Talked to You, and through him I found Adriano Morales and Bruno Esteban Pitarch to play the drums and guitar on the EP. Then I had my go-to bass player Sean Hurley and pedal steel play Hamilton Belk on the track Gradually.

 

Does the EP’s title have a specific meaning/significance?

This EP is about the non-linear process of moving on and letting go and my friend Paola came up with that idea after I told her the story behind it.

 

 

Not really, since they are based on my personal experience, it’s almost like keeping a diary. I did have some help along the way though. My friend Fuzzy Ip helped refine some of the lyrics and make them flow more naturally, and Paola Payan contributed the idea behind the title track, which really shaped the direction of the EP.

 

My friend Lokikey Liu is the art director of the EP.

 

 

 

Drink a lot of water and do exercises daily.

 

Not yet, but I recently played my first ever headline show in early April, and it went really well. It was a big step for me, and I’m definitely looking forward to doing more shows.

To make the audience feel happy, and to leave them wanting to see me again.

 

I moved to London partly for love, but I was ghosted soon after I arrived. About a year later, I came across a new photo of that person. He didn’t look particularly good, but I still couldn’t help staring at it for a while. That moment inspired the song. It made me realize that feelings don’t just disappear; they fade gradually, and sometimes come back when you least expect it.

 

 

Yes, during the photoshoot, the art director also captured a lot of footage on a 2000s digital camera. I ended up using those clips for all of the visualisers, which gave everything a nostalgic, lo-fi feel that fits the EP really well.

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?

 

Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys is probably my biggest influence when it comes to songwriting. He taught me how to make songs that sound simple on the surface but are actually built on quite sophisticated chord progressions.

On the production side, I’m really influenced by Mark Ronson and Pharrell Williams. They both have a way of taking retro sounds and giving them a modern edge, which is something I’m always drawn to in my own music.

 

 

I’m generally a very optimistic person, so I’m happy most of the time. The one thing that bothers me quite often since moving to London is mediocre food with outrageous prices lol.