As nostalgia collides with the present, Chinese pop star Kun is stepping fully into his own world – his artistic autonomy taking centre stage. The singer-songwriter and producer reflects on channelling honesty in his new sound, regaining creative control, and why this project feels like the truest version of himself yet.
Chinese pop star Kun (pronounced ‘Quinn’) has always possessed star quality. Born in Wenzhou, Zhejiang, but raised in one of China’s largest multi-ethnic regions, he was scouted as a child in elementary school in Huaihua Hunan, when they were looking for members of the boy band TFBoys (The Fighting Boys). Though his parents thought he was too young and he continued with traditional schooling, the moment sparked a glimmer of the future that was destined for him.
Not long after would he soon catch glimpses of life in the fast lane – acting, singing and dancing, with his face plastered all over Chinese TV channels. In 2012, when he was just 14 and a contestant on Up Young!, he made their national top 200 talents, making him one to watch. For two more years, he continued on the same rhythm and flow, landing a stint on South Korea’s Super Idol, a show where stars are placed under intense idol training – a pivotal period of time that he often stories across his music. By the end of the show’s second season, he returned to China where he debuted as a member of the boyband SWIN.
At this point, he was well nestled and nurtured into the boy band incubator, operating as part of a larger machine – but being part of that can take a turn, and thankfully for Kun, he’d always had a knack for doing things solo. On Idol Producer, a programme he joined as an independent trainee, this is where the heat really turned up a notch. He earned the top spot in his final evaluation, receiving over 47.6 million votes, and later debuting as the lead vocalist of Nine Percent, another boy band – and where most of his 3.8 million Instagram followers come from.
Now, having ridden the solo wave for seven years, the singer-songwriter-producer has reached another peak of independence with his self-titled sophomore album – a more assured resolution after years of holding things in and building feelings up that meant more to him than the numbers or streams may have mattered to others. Who knows whether he’s on his ninth life, but he’s certainly lived a long one – yet not quite, at this point, for an audience of one: him. With this new 11-track project, the stage is his for the taking, and he’s making full use of the opportunity to showcase himself in his truest, most authentic form.
With this project, he stands strong, face blood splattered in combative armour, mirroring that of a Call of Duty player – on the album cover, of course – yet the songs he’s conjured up strike a sharp contrast. Though we’re used to him as the prim and proper pop prince-in-the-making, plump with summer-filled, bliss-ish lyrics and melodies, here he’s grounded and stripped bare. The sombre, velvety hum of his husky tone lather lyrics of love and heartbreak, fatigue and ambition. It’s a switch up, for sure: tougher, grittier, and more emotionally weighted, showcasing the breadth of his musical capacity, and perhaps a maturer side to him.
Having made frequent visits to the West Coast over the years, he’s well acquainted with collaboration – the word itself, probably becoming a buzzword across his career. But on this album, he enlists the help of Anderson. Paak co-signees Free Nationals. It shows the expanse of his creativity to be able to pull in sounds and voices from those genres he’s set aside to fulfil other work. The jazz, soul and rock of it all come in full force on this album, ringing out both the yearning and the drama.
Beyond the music, however, Kun’s gained fans at the peaks of fashion, performance and even philanthropy – areas he sees as integral to his world building. At one point in time, Italian fashion House Versace secured him as a brand ambassador…as did Jo Malone, Prada Beauty, and more recently, Maison Margiela and Charlotte Tilbury. He’s got a habit of being the pretty face of things, but not without a greater purpose – and in this era, he forgoes that in pursuit of something deeper.
As he prepares to take this new material on the road with his An Evening With KUN tour beginning in Los Angeles next month, the artist is stepping out with a renewed clarity and fresh zeal for what lies ahead.
So before things get busier, Kun spoke with Man About Town to talk about the making of the album, finding a new joy in collaboration, and why sometimes the best way forward is simply returning to yourself.
Hey Kun! How’s 2026 treating you?
It’s been treating me great! The vibes are already feeling amazing, I’m really excited for what this year has in store.
How did your younger years form your outlook and approach as an artist?
My younger years helped build my foundation as an artist. Now I’m being more honest in my sound and my approach and I feel it really shows on this album.
What is your essence as an artist and producer?
I love to blend the old school with the new school, taking nostalgic vibes and adding my own new twist to them.
You are known to be very fashion-forward – how would you describe your style? How does the way you dress shine a light on your personality?
My style is very versatile, just like my music. And I think fashion plays a big part in music. Fashion is an extension of yourself and putting on a great show means putting on a great fit as well. It’s all connected.
Congratulations on your new album! How has releasing it been for you?
Thank you! It’s been a process but one that I’m really proud of. My essence can really resonate across several genres and I think you can hear that on this album.
Why is this, your sophomore, a self-titled album?
Making this album taught me a lot about myself. The album being self-titled made sense because I put my heart and soul into this album. I wanted to tell the listeners my own stories and simply be myself to the fullest.
The cover art is very striking – talk us through the decision behind that?
Shooting the music video for “Colder” was some of the most fun I had. Everything about that day encapsulates the hard work and time put into this album.
The album is very eclectic, tapping into soul, jazz and pop. What was the core of the sonic approach? Why did you want the album to sit in this musical realm?
As a younger artist, I felt like I was being put in a box. Maybe people used to know me as a popstar so the way to show my true self to the world is through my music. Soul, jazz and pop are what I feel in my soul, so existing in that realm just feels natural to me.
There’s a collaboration with Free Nationals on “Don’t Call” – how did that come about? What did they add to the track and the wider album?
I thought it’d be a great match artistically. The way they blend jazz and funk into R&B tracks, it was a really fun collaboration with the band.
What influenced your songwriting for this album? What, to you, are the key themes and motifs?
I wanted this album to feel like a conversation from me to the fans where I can tell my own stories through my music. The themes touch on my life as an artist, as a person outside of that space, and I tried to showcase my authentic self across different genres that really resonate with me.
You’ve co-written and co-produced all of the music for the album. Why was this important to you?
I love the steps it takes to create a track and I feel a lot of pride when seeing the final product. Like man, we did that. So I wanted that feeling throughout the entirety of this project. Being a self-titled album, too, I wanted to do as much for this album as I could to ensure the best for my listeners.
There’s a track called “Back in Time” on the album; if you could go back in time to any moment in history, what would you choose?
I’ve lived my life confidently. There’s not a lot that I feel like I need to redo or relive. Moments in the past happened for a reason and they’ve made me the person I am today. Instead of going back to a point in time, I’m feeling like I’m back to being myself.
You’ve done a stellar job at keeping autonomy in your artistry and image. In the modern day, that can be tough, so how have you faced that challenge?
It can be tough since so much of today’s world lives online. For me I just try to log off, focus on my craft, get in the studio and create.
What’s next for you?
Next, it’s time for my tour! An Evening With KUN Tour is kicking off in Los Angeles on April 4. Very excited for what we’ve got in store for you so I’ll see you on the road!
