Wonderland catches up with Ang Low to talk Stevie Wonder, Gospel roots and doing it for himself

Everyone wants to have that something special in the music world, that bit of spark to make them stand out. Ang Low has it in both hands with his beautiful melodies that have made a name for him in the world of pop. Unconventional as he is, Ang’s smooth vocals don’t drown out amongst the mixture of beat, synths and bass in his new single ‘Wild Horses’ which he co-wrote with Laura Welsh.

Despite the constant moving from home to home during his childhood, Ang Low’s musical stability is as concrete as his sound. Mr Ang Low’s simple mission statement is “music, art, expression” which he follows day and night in order to achieve the immense successes that he has throughout the US and Europe.

We talk to Ang Low about his inspirations, his grandma and the good life.

Describe your sound.

Anything goes but within the core I pull from R&B, Pop and Gospel. I have deep Gospel roots.

What inspires your music?

Everything. I write some songs from experiences, [and] then there is some writing based on everyday events that I observe and put into another perspective. Sometimes I’ll build a track from a short story or poem but even that is influenced by life in some way.

What do you do in your spare time?

I love cooking, riding my bike and yoga. Staying fit and healthy is important to me but I mainly love to just chill alone in the studio.

What is the typical day for Ang Low when creating music?

Nothing is ever the same really. When I’m working on music independently I can start from a lyric, or percussion section, or piano. Usually [it’s] building from there, putting puzzle pieces together every time. I don’t have any specific routines but usually [it’s] a few hours of listening and writing, some production, and of course, a lot of vocals.

Invite anyone dead or alive to one of your gigs, who would it be?

My Grandmother probably. She was big into music, but died when I was young. She never got to see me perform or hear any of my work.

What would you be doing if you weren’t a music artist?

I would be a traveller or vagabond.  No restrictions and no worry. Living everyday as if it were my last. Finding what I can to cook in the different places I pass through. Just living the good life.

Who would you love to collaborate with most?

There [are] so many people I would like to work with. Probably Stevie Wonder though. His voice is crazy!

Your mission statement is ‘music, art, expression’. How did you come up with that, and why is it so important to you? 

It’s pretty simple. Music is my art and I want to express that and be as creative as possible. I wanna do what I love and express myself the way I want. If people are into it then great but that’s not my primary reason for making music.

When will the US/UK tours be? How are you feeling about performing live with your new music? 

We are just working this out now actually! Looking to be soon. I am holed up working on an album now. That’s my main objective, to create a body of work that has a purpose from start to end so I am moving things towards that direction.

How did collaborating with Laura Welsh on ‘Wild Horses‘ come about?

I have a great manager who hooked that up. Great experience for me. She is an incredible talent.

Favourite song ever? 

Impossible to answer!

Words: Faye Smith