Asian in Austin

Sandra P.: Hey y'all, I'm Sandra Pham.

Minh V.: And I'm Minh Vu.

Welcome to our season three
premiere of Asian in Austin.

Sandra P.: Wow, can you
believe we have made it?

We're on season three.

I mean, it's awesome.

I think we always take a moment
to reflect on previous seasons

and our intentions for new season.

So I'm excited about this one.

I think we're super grateful for our
listeners and those that have really

supported us from the beginning.

But it's, it's pretty incredible
for us to say we're on season three.

Minh V.: Yeah.

And I think being able to take
these breaks at the beginning

of the year really does help.

Kind of sit with the stuff that we've
been able to do when we go out and

like, go to different events and we
hear from the listeners from y'all about

how you've been able to engage with the
podcast and the episodes and how some

of the episodes really resonate for you.

It really does, I think, give us
an even bit of a bigger boost of

energy going into the new season
to be able to still provide these

important stories from our community.

So we really appreciate y'all for
supporting us like Sandra was saying

and continuing to just be there for us.

And yeah, we're excited to
continue to share these stories.

Sandra P.: It's also, uh, an important
month for us and we're always center

our seasons around launching and
premiering around this month, but

for those that don't know, it is a
AANHPI Heritage Month, which is really

important and kind of a pretty staple
to the podcast and how we operate

here, but how are we feeling this year?

Obviously, you and I have already been
involved in a couple events and it is so

nice to be within community in person.

Minh V.: Yeah, it is always fun to
be in a majority room full of Asian

Americans and just being able to feel
the community and be in community in ways

that may not be always so consistent.

You know, I was, I was thinking about
this growing up, like, I've had a pretty,

I feel fortunate to have a pretty, like,
diverse group of friends, not leaning

in one majority or, or the other.

It does feel nice that, you know, to
have this month and really be grounded

in this aspect of our community,
our identity, and things like that.

And yeah, I don't know.

I think it's especially -- with
everything, you know, there was a recent

demographic report that came out and this
continues to be the trend for Austin, but

the Asian American population being one
of the fastest growing demographics in

Austin is just still kind of blows my mind
a bit and, and to see how the community

shows up, continues to evolve, continues
to provide resources, figuring out what

our needs are has been really cool to see.

And in some ways to be part of that
feels like a small contribution

through this podcast or what
have you feels like a privilege.

Sandra P.: Yeah, for sure.

I think compared to other large cities
where there are much larger AAPI

populations and communities, I do
think Austin is very unique in that

it feels a little bit rare to be in
a room with majority Asians, right?

I think you have to be super aware.

Yeah, definitely.

Yeah.

Intentional about creating those spaces
and finding those spaces versus like an

LA, Orange County, Houston, you name it.

I think you could walk anywhere and
you know exactly where you're going

to find that crowd versus Austin.

What we hear from a lot of our friends
who have moved here from California,

they're like, where are the Asians?

Where do they hang out?

Like, where's y'all's Chinatown?

Where can I find community and my people?

And to be honest with you, it's
it is harder to find, and so I am

definitely encouraged by the spaces
that you and I have been invited

into and seeing that more frequently.

And, you know, even coming up this
month, obviously, with it being AAPI

Heritage Month, a ton of night markets
are popping up, meetups, like all, all

these amazing things, so many events that
we can't even keep up with, but like,

that for sure, like, just energizes me.

Yeah.

Minh V.: Today's episode,
music is super important to us.

I'm excited to be able to have on our
premiere, the artist promqueen to talk

a little bit more about her music.

experience, her inspirations,
and just like the insane year

that she's been able to have.

And we'll, we'll get into
that in a little bit.

But Sandra, how are you feeling
about our guest this month?

Sandra P.: Super excited.

We were able to book her on the
brink of really big announcements

that I know you're going to share.

She is incredible, amazing, really has
done an amazing job of just kind of

mixing musical genres, really inspires me.

So yeah, I'm thrilled we
were able to, to have her on.

Minh V.: Yeah.

All right, I'll share a quick bio
and we'll get into the interview.

promqueen is a second generation
queer Vietnamese American pop rap

artist based in Austin, Texas.

As a daughter to Vietnamese born
parents, promqueen draws lyrical

inspiration from her family history, own
experiences, and self reflection as a

second generation raised Asian American.

in Texas.

Alongside music, promqueen thrives
in collaborative environments as a

multidisciplinary artist across acting,
community organizing, and writing.

promqueen is active in the AAPI
community performing at Asian Culture

Fair, Asia World Night Market, the
Austin Asian American Film Festival

Gala, AARC TonesFest, and UT's Silk
Club 10th Zine release anniversary.

Through her music, she hopes AAPI folks
feel encouraged to process, express,

and share their art to the world.

And you'll hear this in the interview,
but it was recently announced that

promqueen will be taking the ACL
stage for this year's festival

in October, and that's huge.

We were so we, we actually interviewed
her on the day that that was announced.

So you'll hear more about
her reaction there in the

interview, but let's get into it.

Sandra P.: Welcome promqueen.

We are so excited to have you
on the Asian in Austin podcast.

promqueen: Awesome.

Thank you so much for having me here.

Thank you so much for that lovely intro.

I'm super excited.

I absolutely love y'all's podcast and
love learning about more about other AAPI

folks on this so thanks for having me.

Yeah, of course, and we are
obviously a big fan of yours.

And so to our new friends who are
listening who aren't familiar with you,

we'd love to give you an opportunity to
share some things that we always love

to invite our guests to share are your
ethnicities, your pronouns, and any

other identities that you want to share.

Yeah.

So my name is promqueen.

I go by she, her, they, them.

I am a second generation queer
Vietnamese American musician right here

in our lovely city of Austin, Texas.

Minh V.: Yes, I am super excited to
have you on the show, and we're on,

we're recording this on the heels
of a fun announcement that you'll

be on stage at ACL Fest this year.

Congratulations.

That's super, super exciting.

How does, how's that feel?

promqueen: Thank you so much.

It feels so many emotions.

I think really me and my
team are just surprised.

We are putting out art that feels really
meaningful to us and to have advocates

and folks recognize that is like, I'm just
like super blown away and just surprised.

It's just great.

Really, gratitude is how I
feel that we get an opportunity

to keep doing what we love.

So super surprised and grateful
and like all the above.

Minh V.: Yeah.

I mean, one of our first questions
was just going to be like,

how's your 2024 going so far?

And I feel like that is already like we're
five months in, but an ACL announcement is

a pretty, sounds like a pretty big deal.

So.

Yeah, yeah.

How else is 2024 treating you?

promqueen: For sure.

Yeah.

I love this question.

It helps me to think back
like today's announcement was

obviously very, very exciting.

And I had to explain to my mom
because she doesn't know what ACL is.

So she's like, oh, that's nice.

And I'm like, yeah,
this is what it entails.

She goes, oh, that's great.

So that was kind of fun.

I loved kind of love that
she doesn't know what it is.

But this year so far, far has been good.

It's had its ups and downs.

I think the word pivot
comes to mind a lot.

So me and my team have had to pivot some
projects or directions with projects based

on just like funding, time, bandwidth.

So I think learning how to like, sit
with that and saying maybe not right now

has been like the biggest thing that we
have and I think it's been really good.

Actually, it's helped us me and my team
to even work together and trust each

other more and be really creative with
the challenges that have come our way.

So I think that's been like our year.

I think it's also just being
prepared for all these exciting

opportunities that we've had to,
we've had come our way this year.

ACL obviously being like a big one
of them and we've had a wonderful

partnership with Try Hard Coffee.

They're releasing a vinyl
for us for our second record.

Which is really cool and a wonderful
program they have for artists in Austin.

So yeah, it's really it's just
stepping up our game in every facet.

It's just been really an exciting year

Sandra P.: Yeah, it really
has and I want to add to that.

You were also named KUTX's artist of
the month So, I mean just such momentum,

but love that you use the word pivot
but I think it's also a good opportunity

for us to take a pause and like give
you your flowers and celebrate that

right like these are really, really
big things like on the heels of today's

announcement of ACL incredible taking
a pause to just also reflect on that

and just we we want to celebrate you.

promqueen: Oh, thank you so much, Sandra.

I appreciate you saying that and giving
me pause to be like, yeah, good job to

myself and our team, just because, you
know, it's easy for me and my team.

And I don't know if y'all can
relate, but just to keep working

and grinding and not necessarily
like taking a moment to celebrate.

So thank you so much.

It does really mean a lot to be
like, yeah, we are KUTX's month

and it is the really exciting.

And again, just, again, just so
super grateful and excited that

our art's doing something, you
know, outside of our own sphere.

Sandra P.: So I want to dig in into
the amazing art that you do create and

how you kind of get into that rhythm.

What is your process?

So something that Minh and I saw was part
of the project that you're working on is

getting a little bit more in depth with
your family and going through this path

of this family memoir projects, Minh and
I can probably both share that that is

something of interest for both of us.

I think we often talk about
the fear of losing our family's

history and their stories because
it's often not written down.

You know, you hear these generations
kind of talk about the joy and

the trauma of, of their lives.

And so I'd love for you to kind of
share what spurred that project, how

that leads to some of your artistic
journey, your songwriting, all of that.

promqueen: Yeah, absolutely.

For me, like I was thinking about this
and I remember, I don't know what year it

was, whenever Hunger Games came out, uh,
I remember I went to go see Hunger Games

and it's like this epic story, right?

And then the very next day, I
went out to breakfast with my dad.

It's something we do, we've
done ever since I was a kid.

So I went to IHOP and we're
sitting there at IHOP and he's like

dropping down these like intense
stories of surviving in the jungle.

Being, like, shipwrecked
by Thailand pirates.

And I'm just like, I'm like, you're
dropping this on me now, Dad, in an iPod.

Like, what?

It was I was like, you can't make this up.

And I was like, this is,
this is my dad's journey.

And so whenever I was processing all
that and he's just nonchalantly asking

for more butter for his pancakes and
like saying all this, I was like, you

know, I want to know more, like, and so.

Well, I kept pestering my dad.

I'd be like, Dad, you know, like
recording, be like, tell me about

this, you know, and he would just
like grunts and then just carries on

with the story, which I'm glad he did.

And so I really focused on
my dad's story for a while.

And then I was like, you
know, my mom has a story.

And so I was like, I went to
her, started asking her questions

and started writing these down.

I love to journal.

I love to write.

So really just.

archiving all of their stories.

And then when I moved to Austin in 2012, I
met a lot of wonderful friends, musicians,

and one of my friends who's an author.

He was like, well, your story is
really important too, you know?

And I was like, really?

Like, it's just not as cool.

Like, I'm not getting
shipwrecked by Thailand pirates.

Like, you know, I went to college,
like, come on, like, you know, but there

was something in that, which was like,
what's it like being an immigrant's kid?

How do I process that?

How do I now get the world with what
they've sent down for me, right?

So I started the journey in the process of
writing this memoir and really rigorously,

In 2016 to 2020, literally putting in like
three to five hundred words a day, like

just grinding, putting it in, writing the
story, going to writing workshops, like,

how can I really get this to work out?

A memoir is really intense to write.

And I was like, you know, like a a
fiction story is easier on some level,

but I think it just got so heavy, and
I was just so, so closely into it, that

trying to figure out the vehicle to
how to tell our story just could not

come to me, and I, and I was trying to
force it at some point, and it didn't

feel right, so I put it on pause.

And I feel like the promqueen
project is actually just like

the next evolution of it.

Maybe it's the beta testing of it,
like, seeing how, like, I can make

the story in a more multimedia format.

But I say the memoirs on pause because
I know that I will come back to it

when it, when it's time, and when
that, that format will come back at me.

Minh V.: Yeah, that, there's
a lot of things in that, that.

resonates.

And first of all, the sentence of
shipwrecked by Thailand pirates, wild,

because also my mom has a similar
experience of being shipwrecked,

uh, by some pirates as well too.

And I think it's like, I'm, I, I have
this little like, like laugh to it

because it also just feels like a very
silly sentence to say out loud as reality

as this is one degree removed from us
these are our parents who experienced

such a kind of ludicrous sentence
that is very short and to the point

and it's like, okay, that happened.

But obviously, and I presume as you dove
into, you know, talking to your parents

more, writing this memoir, you find
some pretty traumatic stories or things

that like end up sticking with you and
shaping how you end up navigating life

or, or just like appreciation for life
or, you know, trying to even think about.

Putting yourself in their shoes.

I'm like, I think my mom
was a teenager at the time.

And I'm like, I was trying to dry,
learn how to drive the streets of

Pflugerville, like same, but not at all.

You know, like, it's just wild so
I, I just had to say that, that like

one, it's comforting in some ways to
be like, oh my god, another person

who, who has that experience or
comes from that experience, right?

Sandra P.: Yeah, I think as
children, I think we often are

trying to navigate on how we allow
our parents to share those stories.

But a lot of that I think we
also carry forward, right?

Like it's respecting them in a way, but
I personally feel very, very obligated

to like, hold these stories for my
mother because I know that trauma sits

within her but trying to create a safe
space for her to be able to share that

and also obviously I recognize the
incredible privilege I have because

of those things that have happened and
incurred to our parents and carrying

that forward so yeah and it's always
amazing and that's why I just love these

conversations that we have because we find
such commonalities between A lot of our

parents and the way that you're channeling
and what I loved you also segued into

was how it's creating your journey
and how you want to tell your story.

You absolutely, of course,
have a story to tell also.

And so just going a little bit more
into this amazing art form that you're

exploring with promqueen, I'd love to just
talk about some of some of the songs that

you've written and what's inspired that.

Yeah.

promqueen: Yeah, so, wonderfully,
the memoir, since I had so much

content and stories, a lot of
them have inspired my songs.

Yeah, the first one that came up
to me was a song off of Season 1

album, it's called Lightweight.

It's a really fun, it's a bouncy
one, it's like Doja Cat vibes.

It's about my mom, growing up.

She worked service industry jobs,
she was a server, and at the end of

the week when she got her paycheck,
she'd drive me to a pawn shop.

I would sit in the car, because
I'm like, I'm in fifth grade, I

don't want to go into the store
with my mom, you know, right?

So she would go in there, sometimes
she drives me with her, and I go in

there, and she's like putting a payment,
a layaway payment, on some jewelry.

Really good jewelry.

I mean, she's got an eye for
good gold, good diamonds.

I mean, she could spot them a mile away.

And so she'd put layaway
pavements on them.

And I was reflecting in this
song, it's called Lightweight.

It's about taking a day off.

And it's really about her.

It's about how She just lavishes herself
with like nice things, even though

she's working, you know, a service
industry job, but this is for her.

So like, for example, that
made its way into a song.

And then another one recently, Mountain,
is coming out on season two album.

That's coming June 28th.

This song was heavily inspired by my dad
and those stories he told me in IHOP.

And it's just about this
sense of perseverance.

So, going back to what you were saying,
Sandra, you know, you were like, things

that we, and Minh too like, things
that our parents have laid down, or

things that they have influenced us,
what do we sort of take forward, and,

and that apply to our lives in ways,
and, That sense of perseverance and

resilience is certainly what's really
the heart of that song Mountain.

And it's kind of silly, like
the chorus is, I'm a mountain.

But truly though, in times of
endurance and challenges, you have

to like, just coach yourself and
be like, you can do this, you know?

And so that song is very inspired
by my dad and his stories and

resilience is really the theme.

So that's how they manifest
mostly in my songs.

Just my parents stories, my own
stories, my own take on things.

And like, probably I would say it's
like a mixture, a blend of a blend of

both since it's coming through my POV.

Minh V.: Yeah, I love that.

And so how have, if we can get
like a, maybe an example or like a

takeaway of how that shows up for you.

So you, for example, talk about
resilience and it can be that or it

can be something else, but taking some
of the learnings that you have from

the memoir, your own life experience,
like what's really stuck with you?

stuck with you since, you
know, the 2016 of starting the

memoir to now to promqueen.

Like, what are some themes
that really stick with you that

have that blend of maybe your
parents, but also your experience?

promqueen: Yeah, that's a great question.

So I would say from the memoir to now,
things, themes that have stuck with me

is, I don't know if there is a word for
this, innovative, maybe, yeah, innovation,

being able to like do something with a
little, like, if my parents were given a

stick and a piece of paper, they'd be able
to like, provide for the family with it.

You know what I mean?

And so for me, that's something
I take with me in my day

to day life with my team.

We may not have a lot or a ton of
funding, but what we do have, we will

give it our best and make something
creative and exciting out of it.

So I think that's something that the
sense of innovation, For my parents is

something I definitely take with me and
the sense of letting myself off the hook.

Kind of going back with Sandra,
what you were saying, I don't know,

there's something earlier, but our
parents have done so much and there's

a lot that we carry from that and
sense of obligation or maybe just

like guilt or shame that we have.

Right?

And like we're driving in
Pflugerville and like mom was over

there getting water from the well.

How do you navigate that?

So I think for me.

Hearing their stories helps me to
humanize them a little bit more, and

also think like, you know what, they
were doing their best, like, with

what they knew, and I'm doing my best
with what I know, and like, it's okay.

And I've learned to be
less mean to myself...

over the years and less tough on myself.

I have a wonderful partner that
helps encourage me in that journey.

So it's just like, I think the sense
of like, you're doing enough, you're

doing enough and you're, you're enough.

And that sense, that theme has like
been something I've been really working

through and trying to actualize.

So, yeah.

Minh V.: Oh, I love that.

Everything that you just said,
and thank you for sharing it.

Self actualization is
one of my 2024 goals.

So I love that you said the
word actualize as well, too.

And I think it is just putting into
practice all of these things of letting

yourself off the hook and feeling
like, yes, you want to honor where

you come from and the experiences
that your parents went through.

And at the same time, be able to
be truthful to yourself of how you

want to navigate the world, how
you want to navigate your life and

what you want out of your life.

And hopefully those things can
intersect, but it's also okay that

they're not completely dictated or
ruled by the experiences of before.

So I really appreciate you sharing that.

Sandra P.: Yeah.

And I just want to add one piece
is recognizing that the best way

to honor yourself and your family
is just simply by existing, right?

Your existence matters enough.

And so thank you so much for sharing that.

Minh V.: Okay, so promqueen you've
got a lot of swag and style.

I'm loving kind of how
this manifests for you.

But I'm curious, like, what was
the origin story for promqueen?

How did you come up with this look?

And why Why this type
of expression for you?

What was kind of motivating
that or what was the creative

process around the styling?

Sounds that you wanted to explore
and focus on what's kind of

the promqueen origin story?

promqueen: So I always like to say that
promqueen is literally the manifestation

of my two year old self in the living
room, we have like forest green carpet, a

big ol television set, and I'm two years
old singing karaoke, like Vietnamese

English karaoke, and I have like an
Easter Sunday hat and a diaper on,

and my parents are videotaping this,
but I'm having the time of my life.

Expressing, singing, and moving around.

And so promqueen is literally that.

When I get on stage, I hand the mic off
to her, and she has the time of her life.

So as far as, like, styling, so
promqueen origin story, promqueen

was actually never meant to happen.

It was not fabricated.

I didn't try to plan this out in any way.

It's like literally a wonderful,
delightful surprise to myself.

I moved to Austin in 2012 to pursue music.

I played in bands.

And then later on in my career, I wanted
to do more songwriting and co writing.

So, at the time, there wasn't too much
of a co writing culture in Austin.

There is in Nashville and L.

A.

so, I like, I used my paycheck, I flew
out there, I worked that co writing

muscle, and then, you know, pandemic
happened, live music was at a halt.

So it held me to think, I was like,
you know, I don't think I want to do

the performing artist route anymore,
I think I'm content with, at the time

I was really heavily pursuing acting
and working on the memoir, so, I was

like, I'm really content with this, I'm
gonna hang that up, you know, later.

And then my co manager was like,
well, let's write like a song for

like a commercial sync for our agent.

And we were really inspired by this
track by MILLI and she raps and

it's a song called Mirror Mirror.

And she raps in her
language and also English.

And he was like, why don't
you throw in Vietnamese?

And I was like, well, I don't think
my mom would like that because

she wants me to speak English.

And like, she would really harp on me.

And he was like, Oh, come on, just,
just try just for this commercial

song, you know, and I was like, okay,
so I try to think of a fun word.

I was like, what's a word that
my parents used to call me?

Oh, yeah.

Xi Xon xi xon sanh se that means
like attitude, sexy, fashionable.

So I like started rapping
for the first time.

And like, put it together
and I was like, I love this.

It was like a coalesce of
all the things I enjoy.

That is rap.

I was like, it's wordplay.

It's rhythm.

It's changing subject matters.

Like it's just, it's a powerful
message and storytelling in

a way that I not explored.

And I was like, we looked at
each other at the end and we

were like, whoa, that was cool.

There's like two kids
being like, whoa, I'm real.

This could be something.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And so that's how the
music part started out.

And Waverly, he is my co
producer, co manager, and he

has such great musical instinct.

And we both work so well together in
that route that I felt safe to express.

And he's Cambodian American, so
also just like, really shared

experiences that I just finally felt
safe to just share my story with.

So we started there, and that's
how the music part evolved.

And then I thought to myself, like, well,
the thing I've always struggled most

is like how to do my hair for shows.

I just never could find one that
stuck with me, and I was like, I don't

want to have to worry about my hair.

I'll get a wig.

And so I went to Coco Coquette,
which is a wig shop on East

Cesar Chavez in Austin, Texas.

And I, I walk in, Annemarie's sweet,
she's like, go try on a couple of wigs.

You got to try on a few to
find the one that's for you.

And I was like, okay.

So I walk in and I kid you
not y'all, I pick this one.

I like go, that's the one for me.

And I put it on and I looked in the
mirror and I was like, and nobody was

in the room, but I was like, are you.

Are y'alls, what?

Like it just sat, it wore
me, you know what I mean?

And it was so exhilarating and I was
like, I think I found the wig, you know?

And so I took a picture
of my co manager producer.

I was like, Waverly, what do you think?

He's like, that looks great.

I was like, cool.

So, in good fashion, every
time I got a paycheck, I went

in and bought another one.

And my mom, because my mom's always
like, If you like something, buy a

lot of it, because it might run out.

Well, it did run out, so I'm
glad I did buy a few of them.

And then the style, you know, it's just
really, like, vibrant, fun, you know?

And, like, I, you know, the chokers
and everything, like, it just

feels so, like, just loud and fun.

It's like, again, my two year old self
being like just pulling everything out of

mom's closet like let's go and just put
things together and like be loud and proud

Minh V.: And for our listeners who may
not definitely you need to check out our

social so you can and check out promqueen
so you can see this visual but i'm

wondering promqueen if you could describe.

I mean, it's very poppy.

You were already saying like vibrant
stuff what do you what do you got on

today for our listeners who are maybe
just listening and not able to see.

promqueen: I love that.

Great question.

I am wearing a black and white
checkered long sleeved top.

It kind of looks like what you would
see a hairdresser wear at a salon.

It's just really flowy and silky.

And then I have like a black collar
choker with also a silver chain

and also my mom's Vietnam necklace.

I don't know if you can see it,
but it's just the shape of Vietnam.

And it's, it's oh, I love that.

So I try to wear that at every
show and then I got my classic

stone gray is the wig color.

I'd say it's stone gray.

It hits about right up my chin bone.

So it's like a short bob, very
like Ella Fitzgerald 1920s

style with like short bangs.

So it's a nice little sweet little bob.

I can just, pop on

Minh V.: It's full of attitude.

I love it.

I love seeing you perform and yeah, it
just seems like the attitude and stage

presence you bring with the style, it
feels like it just all comes together.

So I'm really happy that you
found this magical bob that I

feel like pulls it all together.

And everything like that.

So you mentioned, you know,
English karaoke, things like that.

I'm, let's get Vietnamese
a little bit here.

But like, how did maybe some of the
Vietnamese music growing up influence

the music that you make today?

I know you incorporate the Vietnamese
language, but I'm curious if there's

like, any particular artist or like
programs that might have inspired you.

I remember watching a bunch of like
Paris by Night stuff growing up and

that was always a kind of a trip
but I'm curious if that was anything

that resonates with you or if you
you pulled from from any of that.

promqueen: I think describing it
as a trip is absolutely accurate.

Paris by Night.

It's a Vietnamese French inspired
variety show for those listening.

And yes, I also grew
up with Paris by Night.

I was floored by how many outfit
changes the hosts always had.

So that was really fun to watch.

But yeah, the particular artist, which
I'm sure a lot of Vietnamese people

can relate to is Lynda Trang Dai

she is the Vietnamese Madonna.

And she definitely inspired me.

You know, when she pop on there
and sing Holiday by Madonna.

I was just like jaw dropped
like doing the moves with her.

She's definitely someone I looked up to
a lot and sang like those karaoke songs.

There's this other song and I don't know
there's different artists who sing it but

it's a song called Mao Niam Ban Tung Hai.

It's the Basically, a Vietnamese
transcription of a Chinese song.

There was like some sort of Chinese
war romance movie in the 1980s.

And I don't know, a Vietnamese
artist took it and just like wrote

Vietnamese like lyrics to it.

And it's a very like powerful love ballad.

I mean, it's intense.

Like those big like drums.

Yeah.

I remember hearing that at the
age of two and just being like,

oh, this is singing my soul.

And it's just like, what in the world
is a two year old can relate to that?

But like that song really
inspired me musically.

It's a really dynamic song, great
melodies, great cadences that like my

ear just kind of draws to that, like
draws to like dynamic vocalist melodies.

Rhythms.

And in fact, that song is playing and
I'll have to do a really quick plug.

I'm doing a KUTX My Artist DJ set.

It airs May 25th.

That's the first song that's on there.

Minh V.: Let's go.

promqueen: Pretty great.

And that song really influenced me.

I love that.

I think one thing about Vietnamese music,
especially cai luong, it's, you know,

it's very, it's, it's storytelling.

It's very, it can be very, almost
like, painstaking isn't the right

word, but they're, they're talking
about things like what life was

like back in the home country and
almost like musical theater of sorts.

And so I think it's wonderful
to hear some of your influences

specifically from Vietnamese music.

Sandra P.: Yeah.

And a big part of the influence and
to your music obviously is also rap.

And I'll admit, I haven't seen
Paris by Night in a while.

Idris since I've been a kid, but
I'm curious if, and I don't know if

they do this currently, if they've
kind of pulled in music genres that

are a little bit more popular now
and incorporating into that, but

who are some of your rap influences
that you've kind of looked to

to also kind of fuse with, with
your Vietnamese background?

promqueen: Yeah, absolutely.

It's so interesting.

Yeah.

Like I said, you know, earlier
that I never thought to, but I

always have written like poetry.

So I really, I mean, rap is truly
poetry and powerful storytelling.

So I've always been interested
in like the cadences of words

and like the rhythmic components.

So yeah, I think I've always been
drawn to you know, I think in the same

category as rappers is like some poetry.

Poetry has always been part
of things I've gravitated.

Rappers, honestly, like, you know, I
think I, I really enjoyed, like, Missy

Elliott's probably the first person I
heard, like, rap growing up on the radio.

And just, like, really amazed by
her change in character and tone.

Yeah.

Um, it's awesome.

Like, it's just so cool to play
with those different textures

and tones to create the story.

And then also, I absolutely love, like,
90s hip hop rap artists, namely Nas

is the first rapper I heard that I was
like, this is pure poetry and so musical.

His delivery is so musical.

Even though he's rapping.

And so I think that like really
turned my ear towards it.

Like, Oh, this is incredible.

And the amount of word play
message that you can go.

You can hit on so many themes
and just like two minutes.

And it just blows my mind that
the words can play this role of.

Being an instrument and storytelling.

Minh V.: Appreciate that.

All, all good names that
you just dropped there.

And Missy's coming to Austin, too.

And I'm trying to figure out how I
can nab tickets and still, and my

bacon cat will still be happy with me.

I want to talk about, you've already
had kind of an incredible 2024

so far, but you also had a pretty
big year last year as well too.

Like last June, you, season one came
out, you hosted your own prom to like

celebrate the album release, you performed
with KUTX and Austin PBS's like indie

orchestra, you, I saw some of those
videos, that's, that's incredible.

You performed at Stubb's.

Like, how has this last year felt for you?

Like, is there a standout moment that
you can speak a little bit more to?

And then also, like, what's a
lesson that you might have learned?

So like, throughout that year
that you didn't anticipate maybe

coming across when you start?

You thought about starting
your musical career?

promqueen: Yeah, great questions.

Last year.

Yeah, it was.

It was a big year for us.

As much as people were surprised,
namely like my friends and family

and others about the project,
we too were very surprised.

It was just the same
amount of bewilderment.

We're just on stage, like smiling,
jumping around, but we were.

Very surprised at the project in general.

A lot of great moments like you
had just mentioned just now.

I think two standout moments for me,
one being I got to have my mom share

the stage with me, both at prom and
at the KUTX PBS Indie Orchestra show.

And great, incredible moment.

I was like, Mom!

Would you mind, like,
acting on this song with me?

And she's like, yeah, but why do I have
to wear my PJ pants and my slippers?

And I was like, well,
because that's the scene.

Everybody has, you know, not everybody,
but like, people will relate to this.

And I kid you not, it's so many people
come up to me and they're like, when

she came on that stage with their PJ
pants, I started bawling, you know?

And so I was like, mom, you're
helping create this world and

you're connecting with others.

And it's amazing.

And, and I think selfishly for me, you
know, our parents are going to pass and

I get to have these incredible moments
with my mom making art on stage, you know,

and living out this world that we had.

The second one is.

Free Week with KUTX and Red
River Cultural District.

It was the most incredible
crowd I'd ever played for.

Like, the Free Week community is so open
and so kind and just down for the show.

And I don't know if y'all have
seen my show, but yeah, for

listeners, it's a very, like,
narrative, performance driven show.

We have props, we have, you know, we
have moments where we act, and so it's

not for everybody, and that's okay.

And this crowd.

Everybody was like, strap me
in, take us, you know, on this

rocket ship, we're ready to go.

And I haven't, other than prom, outside
of what we've hosted, this was a

moment that it really felt everyone
was like on board to journey with us.

And that's exactly how I
view every performance.

It's a journey.

from start to finish.

We go somewhere and then
we come back together.

And so that was an incredible experience.

Super high.

That's really hard to come down from, but
I'm really grateful for that experience.

Sandra P.: You maybe have teased
or mentioned this before, but when

does season two come out and what
are some of the key themes and

influences that we can expect on that?

And what's next for you?

What are some big projects and things?

Yeah.

So

promqueen: season two
album comes out June 28th.

You heard it here first.

My mom doesn't even know.

Minh V.: And people can find that on
like streaming platforms, everything.

promqueen: Yes.

People can find my album on Spotify,
Apple Music, Tidal any streaming platform.

And you can also go to my
Instagram page @saypromqueen.

@saypromqueen to follow all the links that
will take you to where you need to go.

But yeah, so June 28th,
Season 2 album comes out.

Key themes on this album, so Season 1
was like the introduction of promqueen.

It's bright, it's poppy,
you know, it's pretty light.

Season 2, we enter the dark forest.

Where there, you know, there's a big bad
wolf, there's some being misunderstood.

There is colonization, you know, just
exploring topics of inner racism and

then, you know, family structures.

And it kind of goes into some really
dark, dark places and dark processing.

And then comes out with the true
resilience and acceptance of.

Who I am as I come out of that process.

So a lot of heavier topics,
but it's really fun.

It's a fun ride.

I'm excited.

I think it's important to shine a
light on some of the less glossy parts

of our story, and especially some
of the truths that might be a little

bit harder to to openly share or just
as important to shine a light on.

Any other like exciting things that
you're looking forward to later this year?

Yeah, I am very much looking
forward to Rock the Park performance

next week with KUTX and June 1st
is our first out of town show.

So we'll be playing in the Arlington area.

Super excited to take the full team
on the road, my dancers and everyone.

And so we're very excited.

Our second annual prom.

Is coming up July 13th.

We're very excited about it.

We are conceptualizing the venue the
stage decor Everything from last year

is literally a step up in so many ways
so i'm very very very excited about it.

So july 13th second annual prom It's
at the Austin Cinema Makers Space in

Austin, Texas And then ACL, uh, so
we're just prepping for that show now

that performance design and everything
and how we can make that show again

Just a step up and just elevate
the show that we currently have.

So those are our biggest things.

I also have a collaboration with
an incredible artist in town.

His name is Xavier Alvarado.

He is an amazing he does so
much so much beautiful art.

So we're exploring like the
intersectionality between black and Asian

American culture and how they intersect.

And what does it mean to be,
you know, our own ethnicity?

So it'll be like art, music pop up.

Kind of thing that we'll do.

So it's like a two-parter
popup that we'll do in August.

And then I have a mini doc screening in
November at the Asian American Resource

Center, and it captured an event that
I did in April for a few Vietnamese

American folks where we had a Vietnamese
meal made by a Vietnamese American chef

and shared our stories about processing
where we're at in our identities.

So that screening and panel talk
will happen November 9th at the

Asian American Resource Center.

And I think that's it for now.

Sandra P.: Booked and busy.

promqueen: Yeah, pretty much.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Good stuff.

Stuff that I really love
and I'm passionate about.

Sandra P.: Again, want to thank
you so much for being on the show.

So something that Minh and I love
to kind of wrap up our show with

and ask each of our special guests
is, and you kind of teased this, but

I'd love for you to share, how do
you view your relationship with your

Vietnamese American identity today?

promqueen: Oh, that's a
great, great question.

Being Vietnamese American for.

Me right now, especially through
processing a lot of my family, my

stories through the promqueen project has
helped me to embrace being okay with not

knowing enough things about my culture
and knowing things about my culture just

like being okay and sitting within that
and knowing that there's no end point to

fully being Vietnamese American, right?

There's no end point.

It's literally ongoing and and
Being okay with that, like it's,

it's a process and a journey.

So I think that's where I'm
currently sitting with how I relate

to my ethnic identity right now.

Minh V.: I love that end point visual
that you just shared or that concept

because I, that resonates a lot.

I mean, we talk about it a bit on
the podcast too, like it's always

evolving your relationship up, uh,
with your identity and also like.

Yeah, you, there's not a certain
point where you're like, okay,

I am now the ultimate Vietnamese
American that I will be.

And now I can focus on other things.

It just continues to evolve.

So I appreciate that answer.

All right, we're going to do,
we're going to wrap things up by

doing a little bit of a rapid fire.

So first things that come, to your head.

Our first question, we switched it
up this season a little bit, but

our first question is what's like
an example of self care for you?

What does that look like for you?

promqueen: Easy.

It is a day for myself.

That could be taking a book to a bookstore
and reading there for hours, getting

lost in that, going to a museum, going
to the hike, just being by myself, my

thoughts, no obligations to anyone.

Minh V.: Oh, love that.

No obligations to anyone.

is something that definitely
resonates as a, as a way to

like provide some self care.

So, favorite Asian snack growing up?

promqueen: One of my favorite
Asian snacks growing up was those

little fried egg roll pastries.

They come in like a red tin.

Minh V.: Oh, yes.

promqueen: I don't know.

Like the crepe looking wafer thingies?

Yes.

Yes.

Ooh, I love those.

Easy.

Could get into the whole thing and like,
literally eat it all in one sitting.

I mean, it's dangerous.

I remember just eating the crumbs
just fall all over you, you know?

Minh V.: The crumbs of it all, though.

Yes.

That's a good one, though.

And where do you like
to have fun in Austin?

I love going to the different,
uh, cultural art museums.

Mm hmm.

It sounds slightly boring, but
they have a lot of like rotating

exhibits, which is like really cool.

Again, that like alone time self care.

I like going to find different sites.

So I just this weekend went to the
Malin, the troll in Peace Park.

Oh, yeah.

promqueen: Really massive tall troll.

That's really cool.

So it was fun to like see a new site.

Minh V.: Yeah.

promqueen: Yeah.

And then I love to go
karaoke with my friends.

Minh V.: Private or public?

promqueen: Private.

I'm not, I'm not a public one.

Minh V.: I know.

There, there are people in my life, some
of my friends who love a good public

karaoke, and I'm like, I don't know, man.

I think it's private for me.

If I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna do it in
the safety of like a private room with my

closest friends, or by myself in my car.

promqueen: Yes, yes, I'm the same.

I'm the same.

So I would say like those are some
fun places I like to go and explore.

Minh V.: For sure.

Well, promqueen, thank you so much
for joining us on the podcast.

It was so great to be able to
learn more about your process, your

journey, what's inspired you, and
to like hear all the like awesome

stuff that you have coming up.

It's been really, really awesome to see.

everything going your way, and
we're just like rooting for you.

We're, we're like celebrating,
uplifting, and like want to see

you continue to do the amazing
stuff that you've already started.

So thanks for being with us.

promqueen: Thank you so
much, Minh and Sandra.

Y'all are the best.

Sandra P.: Thank you.

Minh V.: That was another great interview.

I'm always in awe of our guests that we
are able to bring on and just like, their

experiences that they bring to the table.

Sandra P.: Yeah, I think every time we get
the opportunity to bring on a guest and

have these chats, I'm just always blown
away and in awe of just how authentically

they show up and how fun it is.

Minh V.: Yeah, and I think one thing too
that stood out to me in the interview

was when promqueen was talking about
her mom going to the pawn shop and

trying to get something nice for
herself, some jewelry, things like that.

And I know that we've been kind of on
our own journey with how jewelry can be

tied to our identity or, or the types
of jewelry that we feel represent us.

I just remember growing
up like the uncles.

Not even related to me, but would have
the like white tank and gold chain

with jade on it, or I know you, you
have shared before some of your family

members or people in your life that
had some specific jewelry that you feel

closely tied to their identity, right?

Sandra P.: Yeah, I'm wondering
if it's something that we have

maybe inherited from them.

Yeah, when I have fond memories, I'm
thinking of my grandmother and my mom.

They have very special, unique
jewelry pieces that I feel like

are tied to their identity.

When I do think of my grandma,
I think of like the classic jade

bracelet that was always on her wrist.

Right?

You never take it off,
including airports, anywhere.

But that has been just part
of her, like, literally.

She has had that the
entire time I've known her.

So it's got me thinking a lot.

Jewelry is very important to both
you and I, but like, do I really

invest in pieces that I feel
like will be part of my identity?

Because I kind of do want to have that.

And I know you and I talked
about going into Chinatown

and maybe you want to share.

Yeah.

Minh V.: Yeah, I mean, I remember
growing up and going to those, like,

mom and pop shops, like, run by
Vietnamese folks who sell jewelry.

There's a lot of jade, a lot of
gold, a lot of things like that.

And yeah, we, we did talk
recently about what it means to

have some of that for ourselves.

And I was thinking about those gold
chains and the, the jade kind of.

emblems.

And I was like, wait, why don't
I have one of those things?

You know, like why, why not?

At first there's a whole thing kind
of intertwined with like, maybe

that's not me, or that's not, there's
some, maybe some toxic masculinity

as well that was like tied into
the people that I saw wearing that.

But I think more recently I'm like, that
doesn't mean that I can't kind of reclaim

that for what it means to me, how I, still
connects me with my Vietnamese identity

and heritage and being able to just rock
it, you know, and have that be part of me.

So yeah, I'm happy to say that I,
I was able to get that and do that.

And I have this like heart emerald
jade necklace that feels more like me.

You know, I could have
gotten like the Buddha.

I could have gotten some dragons that
they had available, but I chose a

heart that Felt strong and still soft
at the same time and being confident

in that right as a it's a queer gay
Asian man So yeah, it feels good.

Sandra P.: Yeah, I love that I think
I love that you also went kind of

back to your roots and I love that
you intentionally also went to an

AAPI owned store locally instead of
going to like Mejuri and like finding

an appropriated piece because a lot
of it is kind of trendy and in You

know, what a, what a sweet story.

And I think we're recognizing their
jewelry is, yeah, I, I just have such

fond memories around that and identity.

So I'd, I'd love to be
remembered in that way as well.

Minh V.: Yeah.

A lot of sentimental value in jewelry.

Right.

Well, that.

is our premiere episode.

I appreciate y'all joining us
and listening and stay tuned.

We'll have some more episodes to
share with y'all very, very soon.

Sandra P.: Bye y'all.

Minh V.: Bye.