Meet Yingge: The Multi-Talented Artist Taking Over The Indie Pop Scene

With an immersive sound and a range of creative talents under his belt, yingge is an emerging artist you can’t help but be in awe of. Hailing from Glasgow, Scotland, the young talent first got involved in the arts at a young age, leading him to sing in various choral groups, perform in orchestras and even create his own band in high school. “Looking back, I had quite a few side quests growing up. I was actually a theatre kid,” he tells us. While yingge’s love for music continued to grow over the years, he ultimately put his music dreams on hold due to the lack of Asian representation in the industry at the time. This brief break prompted him to attend King’s College London, where he pursued a degree in French Literature and Film Studies. “It was a different time. There weren’t any Asian faces in the entertainment industry back then, so it never felt like a viable career path,” he explains.

Fortunately, the singer-songwriter, composer, and producer didn’t stay away from music for long. In 2020, yingge competed on the hit Chinese talent show The Coming One, where he captivated music listeners with his unique sound and style. Following his appearance in the series, yingge was thrust into the spotlight, leading him to collaborate with big-name artists – like Waa Wei and Tia Ray – and officially release music under the 88rising label. Since that fateful day, yingge’s star has continued to rise, not only in the music industry but also in the modelling and acting sphere. In an exclusive interview with SPINDLE, yingge opens up about his latest single, ‘Bleach,’ tapping into 90s and early 2000s pop culture for its accompanying music video, his acting debut, and so much more.

Hi Yingge. It’s great to chat with you. How is your week going so far?

It’s been great, thanks — autumn usually comes a bit later here in Shanghai, so I’ve just been slowing down and getting cosy.

We need to talk about your latest single, “Bleach.” I love it! It’s an absolute banger. The production really stood out to me because it has such a unique 90s/early 2000s alternative rock vibe to it, while still sounding modern. Can you take me through your creative process for “Bleach”? Who did you collaborate with to bring the track to life?

Thanks! I was feeling a bit worn out at the beginning of the year, waking up every morning with this general sense of heaviness from everything going on in the world, so I revisited the music I grew up with as a kid in the early 2000s. It was kind of like a coping mechanism — retreating back to a certain safety in familiarity.

The late-nineties/early-2000s is such a good time to escape to musically, as it’s a sound that doesn’t feel that serious; melodies and production were formulaic in a really fun way, all crafted like a sugar-rush high that adds to that sense of safety. To counterbalance that nostalgic sound, the lyrics look at the push-pull of trying to quit something or someone you know is toxic for you — pretty universal, but a kind of messiness that feels distinctly now.

I’m also obsessed with the music video for “Bleach.” From the way it was shot to its dreamy concept. What did you personally want to showcase or explore with the visual?

We took cues from TV shows and films from that time — The OC, Skins, etc. — showing a bunch of friends living together, each dealing with their own emotional mess, trying to run away from it but eventually choosing to just settle with it instead. We’re kind of the generation that never really grew up.

Is “Bleach” part of a bigger Yingge project? Perhaps a follow-up to your Once On This Island record?

There are a few standalone singles coming out, and then hopefully a new album next year.

While you’ve only been releasing music since 2023, you’ve been immersed in the arts from a young age. We hear you’ve performed with the Youth Orchestra of the Middle East and sang alongside the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. What were those experiences like for you? How did those moments shape you as an artist?

Looking back, I had quite a few side quests growing up. I was actually a theatre kid — sang in the choir, played in orchestras, and had my own band in high school — but to be honest, that’s where I thought it would end. It was a different time; there just weren’t any Asian faces in the entertainment industry back then, so it never felt like a viable career path. But coming back to it now, all those experiences and training have really helped me, as I’m able to pull from different musical identities.

Is there an artist or album that continues to inspire you creatively?

Blood Orange’s second album, Cupid Deluxe, was a big one for me. I chanced upon it not long after it came out, and the colours and textures of that album absolutely floored me — completely reshaping the way I listened to and approached music.

How would you personally describe your sound and music?

The main “Yingge” project is very much soft and worn, textured indie pop. I also have a few other projects going on that are a bit more experimental and electronic, which are fun too.

In addition to your thriving music career, you’re an internationally recognised top model! How do you find the time to not only create fantastic music but also work on fashion brand campaigns, such as your house ambassador role for Dior?

I started modelling ten years ago, and the single biggest way that lifestyle has impacted me is in time management — or, more precisely, in completely surrendering to the uncertainty of it all. In modelling, jobs tend to [come in] very last-minute. One time, I was in Shanghai and got a call to catch the next available flight to LA for a shoot. So now I’m pretty much used to co-existing with that constant sense of flux.

Does the fashion world and modelling inspire your music in any way?

Yeah, for sure — there’s an element of fantasy in both, whether you’re creating something musically or visually. Recently, I made the music for an Adidas show; it was my first time performing a live set on the runway, so it really felt like my two worlds coming together.

We hear that you’re also carving a lane for yourself in TV, with your lead acting debut set to take place in the new series Thou Shalt Not Love. What was that experience like for you?

It was pretty much my first proper onscreen acting experience, so it was terrifying for sure, but I found it really interesting to live with a character for the four months filming the show — especially because as a musician you’re always exploring yourself and telling your own story.

Do you see yourself doing more acting projects in the future? Is there a director you would love to work with? Any actors you’re eager to share the screen with?

For sure. I actually have half a film degree (the other half in French Lit), so I am in fact a big film nerd. There’s a bunch of directors I’d love to work with — my first short film was with Wong Kar-wai, which was such a dream come true, so I’ve already lucked out. Hopefully something in English next!

Between music, modelling and acting, which do you find the most challenging and which do you find the easiest, and why?

Acting is the most challenging for me, as I’m not a trained actor, and I’m also quite introverted and reserved. Modelling comes pretty naturally now after all these years, but music is where I feel most at home.

Looking ahead, what are five goals you want to achieve as an artist? Any artists or producers you want to collaborate with?

I think just generally further exploring my sound and finding something that feels like my own. As for future collaborators, I’ll leave it up to 缘分 (fate).

Listen to yingge’s latest single ‘Bleach’ here or below.