Before stepping into the spotlight as an artist, Nian Tong built an impressive career behind the scenes of the music industry. He has worked with major Chinese artists, collaborated as a musical theatre orchestrator and composed original stage works before deciding to release his own music.

Tong is a self-described introvert, so he never imagined a scenario where he would be performing on a stage. In fact, he had never sung in front of an audience until last year. After moving to London in 2023, however, his outlook changed.

“I saw the openness and inclusiveness of the music and cultural scene,” he said. “So I decided to push myself and try an open mic. The reaction that night really surprised me and it made me aware of the uniqueness of both my music and my personality.”

He remembers thinking that night, ‘Oh… this is actually something I can do, and something I might even be good at.’ Something about London made him want to step outside his comfort zone.

Thankfully, he already understood music on a practical level. From the initial idea to the final release, he had already found his trusted collaborators and sense of songwriting. Creating music was something that he already felt comfortable with, and by having that sense of comfort, he brought a certain perspective to songwriting for himself.

“Having worked with a wide range of people, from hobbyists to label artists, I developed a more objective way of seeing myself,” he said. “I have a clearer understanding of my strengths, my weaknesses and what I can realistically expect as an artist.”

His move to London is documented in his single, “What’s On Your Mind”, inspired by a long-distance love that never quite materialized. Tong usually writes from personal experience, so documenting a particularly vulnerable moment is nothing new to him. Songwriting is his way to process his feelings and make sense of his experiences.

“Vulnerability is simply part of that honesty and I think listeners connect most when something feels genuine,” he said. “I hope the song feels comforting in an interesting way. It comes from a place of uncertainty and vulnerability that many people are experiencing today but musically it carries a sense of lightness. I like the idea that listeners can sit with those emotions while still feeling uplifted, maybe even smiling or laughing at something that once felt painful.”

“What’s On Your Mind” will be one of four songs off the upcoming EP, Gradually. Tong said the songs are incredibly different from one another but share a similar theme of love and emotion in the digital age. His creation process has grown and matured alongside him, and exploring a more modern palette has him excited to share this release.

From happily behind-the-scenes to happily preparing for his first headlining show, Nian Tong has found where he belongs thanks to that London move. He sees himself differently, both as an artist and as an individual, and that confidence won’t be wearing off anytime soon.