Congrats on landing a role in Mulan, we’re all excited. How does it feel to be a part of such an iconic story and what it means to you and your culture?
It's a great honor! For me, growing up in China, everybody knows the story of Hua Mulan, and to be a part of this iteration of this story is a dream come true. I'm so grateful and excited that through this film, the world could see more of our culture and history.
Tell us more about your character. Do you relate personally to your role in any way?
I play Yao, one of the soldiers Mulan befriends in the training camp. Yao's the manly man (or so he thinks). And through the film, he learns to that being a man actually means learning to take care of the people around you. I drew a lot of inspiration from the original cartoon, but I wanted to make it my own. I wanted to make him full of machismo like the cartoon version, but a younger version (before the permanent cartoon-ish black eye of course). I had a lot of fun also drawing inspiration from my real-life home province of China. I'm from Guangxi, in the deep south near the Vietnam border, where there's all these unique rolling green mountains and limestone karst hills. I also belong to a minority group--we are called the Zhuang people in China--that is indigenous to that area, who were known to be very aggressive and warlike back in the dynastic days. So I thought to myself, "wouldn't that be fun if Yao was from this rugged, mountainous place, where all these tribespeople were taught to be fierce and manly-men?" It would totally make sense that he'd want to end up becoming "The King of the Rock" on his mountain back home. It was great fun.
You have a very unique background, how has your inherited Chinese culture and growing up in Memphis, Tennessee affected your personal style-if any?
I like to joke that I'm from the Deep South of China, transplanted to the Deep South of America. I am still so connected to my Chinese culture, but I also am connected deeply to the soulfulness and flavor of Memphis. Memphis is very urban, but also cosmopolitan. It has a grittiness and earthiness that you can feel in the air there that befits a city steeped in music and history. African-American culture--but a distinct Southern style of it--is what I grew up in. I like to embrace the soulfulness of Memphis, while also incorporating parts of my Chinese culture in my style. Like a mix of "Zen-Asian-Soul-Gritty" if that makes sense?
How would you describe your everyday look? Any style obsessions? i.e. (sneaker collection,hats,etc.).
Day to day, I generally gravitate to toward minimalism and clean looks with some pops of detail. For example, a simple white t-shirt under a classic moto-jacket, but with a really interesting handmade pendant from Asia. I don't know if I have any style obsessions, except that I love unique handmade pieces. It has to speak to me, but also tie in nicely to an overall look. I find it really interesting though, how a different piece of clothing changes so much of how you feel and relate to the world.
Let’s dig into your music taste, who are your favorite artists?
My music tastes are varied, and depends on how I feel, so it could range from classical to country to hip hop. But as far as all-time favorites, I could always listen to Journey, B.B. King, and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Honestly, I don't connect to a ton of more recent artists, but I do like what Billie Eilish is about.
If a fan took over your music playlist, what would they be surprised to see and hear?
I listen to a lot of country music! So maybe that would surprise people. What can I say? It feels good, especially while driving. Also, they might be surprised that I have whole albums of Hawthorne Heights. They're an emo rock band from Ohio, pretty popular in the early 2000s.
We hear you are into the preservation of nature and the oceans, tell us a little more about that?
I grew up being so fascinated by nature and science--animals, biology, everything. I always felt, even from a young age, that I was connected--in my biology and being--to the Earth. I believe that we as human beings and as living beings on this living planet, we are by definition connected to Nature. To push against that fact is actually contrary to our own nature. It's been around far longer than we have, and we should do everything in our power to make sure it stays around. In my mind it's a tragedy that we haven't been able to take care of our beautiful home planet. Do people understand that this little blue planet floating in space has just the right conditions for the miracle of life to develop here? We have to do better.
Let us know what projects you are involved in that your supporters can look forward to?
I play a character named on Hong on the upcoming season of an awesome show called WARRIOR on Cinemax. Our first season was really well received, and the second season in which my character shows up looks to drop sometime in the fall. It's a pulpy, martial arts period drama about Chinatown gang wars in 19th century San Francisco. This show's idea was originally from a Bruce Lee TV pitch fifty years ago that was revived by his daughter Shannon Lee, HBO, and Cinemax. Our show was produced by the showrunner behind BANSHEE (Jonathan Tropper) and Shannon Lee. There's lots of fighting, great storytelling, and a lot of crazy drama rooted in race relations and conflict of the 19th century. Things get crazy and it's a fun, wild ride.
Photography – Ryan West Photo
Grooming/Styling – Maxi
Follow Chen Tang on Instagram: @chenlovesyall
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