Wendy Wang – The Sweet Hurt’s Splendid Treat

With the millions of wannabe rock stars out there, it’s no surprise to find young hopefuls flocking to the city of lights each year with big hopes and dreams. Some want fame, some want fortune and shamelessly, there are those who just want their fifteen minutes. The mega hit show American Idol has managed to secure a following of viewers from all around the world. In the process it has produced a cast of pop stars, some who have found celebrity status. A far cry from Idoldom madness is Wendy Wang of The Sweet Hurt. This unassuming twenty-something grew up in Southern California and has an Economics degree from UCLA. She’s so close to being a CPA that you may want to call her come tax time! But don’t let the normalcy fool you. Wang is a musical virtuoso and a hidden gem in the industry. She has been writing and producing her own music for some time as well as collaborating with many other bands. Her acoustic style and melancholy songs are sweet envy to anyone’s ears. With that, she exudes a pureness in her voice that’s undeniable. Check out her latest EP In the Shade of Dreams available now. Wendy Wang; smart girl, smart music, the way it should be.

Asiance sat down with Wendy as she shared her thoughts about her band The Sweet Hurt, role models, and life’s little joys like kickball, really.

ASIANCE: How did you start The Sweet Hurt?

Wendy: I’ve been playing music in LA for a little bit, then I got musicians I knew, who I like to be around with, and I asked them if they would play with me, so yeah, it’s a pretty supportive community so..

ASIANCE: How did you ask other musicians to be in TSE?

Wendy: Through bands that I’ve played in or performed with, everybody’s kind of friends and I’d be like ok I need a drummer so I’m gonna ask this guy….friends of friends, or if I joined a new band and then I meet a bunch of new musicians and then they’d recommend people.

ASIANCE: Is TSH the only band you’re in or are there others?

Wendy: I sit in with a bunch of bands. So I’m not like an official member of a lot of bands but I was a member of Lets Go Sailing, Honeyhoney, and Correatown. I’m in Obi Best, The Bird and The Bee, The Californian, and I Make This Sound now.

ASIANCE: Where did you grow up?

Wendy: I grew up in Los Angeles, in the suburbs. Aren’t they all suburbs though? Yeah, I grew up in Southern California and I went to school here, pretty much have been LA based my entire life. It’s kind of cool.

ASIANCE: Did you always know that you wanted to be a musician?

Wendy: Not really, because I never thought it could be a feasible like occupation. I wasn’t ever the bomb at the violin or I didn’t think I’d ever go to college for performance or anything like that. Yeah, I didn’t know anybody who was a working musician when I was growing up so I didn’t have somebody to look up to and think “wow, they can do it” Everybody had professional service jobs, like a lawyer, a doctor, an accountant, from an Asian background. I know so many lawyers, doctors, and accountants, it’s really funny.

Watch the music video for “Bright Ideas”

ASIANCE: Did your family ever pressure you into doing traditional jobs?

Wendy: Oh yeah! My parents obviously want me to have a secure job where I’m making good money consistently. They strongly encouraged me to take certain routes and study certain things for school. I went to school for accounting.

ASIANCE: Did you really? That’s very different.

Wendy: Yeah. I’m so close to being a CPA it’s really funny. I really liked my accounting classes and econ (economics) classes. They were great. They were really analytical; I really like that kind of stuff.

ASIANCE: What does your family think about you pursuing a music career?

Wendy: They’re really supportive. I think they’re just worried that I’ll starve. Ha ha. They’re really cool. I feel guilty that they’re so supportive. I sometimes think if following my dream is selfish sometimes…not selfish but too into my thing, not looking a head.

ASIANCE: Do you think that is due to your Asian background?

Wendy: I guess I’ve always been pretty practical. I don’t want to say that only Asians are practical but I guess I see more non-Asians going for what they’re passionate about than Asians.

ASIANCE: Where did you go to college?
Wendy: UCLA. I totally stayed in Los Angeles.

ASIANCE: Did you play in any bands during college? And when did you start The Sweet Hurt?

Wendy: Around 2003. My friend who I met at a music internship encouraged me to put a band together. I sent him demos that I did at home.

ASIANCE: What’s your ethnic background? Are you full Asian?

Wendy: Yeah.

ASIANCE: I assumed you were mixed.

Wendy: Why, is it because I’m pale? Ha ha. My parents are both from Taiwan.

ASIANCE: Do you speak Taiwanese?

Wendy: I don’t really speak Taiwanese; I know a few terms and phrases. I can speak Mandarin. That was my first language. My parents moved here and I was born here.

ASIANCE: Are people surprised to find out you’re Asian after hearing the album?

Wendy: It’s kind of interesting because my first language was Chinese but I grew up in a mostly Caucasian neighborhood. I’ve heard from others or friend’s of friend’s who commented, ‘I didn’t know she was Asian.’ But I haven’t gotten too much of that. People just assume I grew up here.

ASIANCE: The Sweet Hurt, what’s the meaning behind the name?

Wendy: My friend in college who was an English major got to read a bunch of stuff that an Economics major wouldn’t get to read. We were going through a bunch of different names and one day he suggested The Sweet Hurt. He read it in a Spanish poem and thought it would fit me. I heard it and thought, ‘that’s kind of awesome.’ It has a kind of Gothic feel to it, but I’m not really Goth. When I was little I was really into the Cure. I always talked about how I liked the juxtaposition of it. I think it fits. I’m going to give that credit to my good friend Mike Liu, a great guitar player.

ASIANCE: Who were your musical influences for The Sweet Hurt?

Wendy: I listened to a lot of Ramones. Pop slash punk. Music that wasn’t too aggressive. I really like pop music. I really like this guy, Nick Drake. He was really popular in the sixties.

ASIANCE: How does the whole process work in creating an album?

Wendy: Let me think about this. It’s interesting actually, now looking back at it, how everything got thrown together. It was over the span of a year and a half. It took six months before I recorded after my last EP. The first one, I just demo-ed it out and then my friend who produced it helped me flush it out. Then I got my friend to come in and play drums on it. The second song, I just demo-ed it out and then basically got my friends who are studio musicians to come in and just play what they thought would be cool. We experimented a lot during the recording process. I have the luxury of recording at a studio I work at.

ASIANCE: Do you have any Asian American role models?

Wendy: Everyone in my family. The guy who did the artwork on the album, he’s half Taiwanese and half white. The art work was actually an inspiration of the title of this EP and song number five (In the shade of dreams). His name is Josh Cochran. My friends totally inspire me.

ASIANCE: Are you conscience about being an Asian American role model?

Wendy: I hope Asian kids can feel like they could do something besides going to law school or medical school. It seems like a lot of people are going to med school these days. Yes, I’m aware. I hope I’m saying a lot by just going out and doing it, even being a girl and leading a band. I found that Asian supporters are really supportive.

ASIANCE: Do you have any siblings?

Wendy: Yeah, I have two older sisters. They’re big influence in my life. I’m the baby and I get to do whatever I want! Ha ha.

ASIANCE: What do you have to say to the Asian-American woman out there trying to pursue their music career?

Wendy: First of all, be realistic. A lot of people go on American Idol and say ‘everyone tells me I’m awesome.’ They have to be able to hear that they’re not that great. They can’t just claim to be the next “Britney” or whatever. Number two, they have to practice and work really hard. You can’t just get everything by image. You have to practice your art, which means taking lessons and playing with someone who’s awesome, who’s going to teach you something and not just make you feel bad about yourself. Do everything with integrity. Are you just doing it to be famous or are you doing it because you love it? If you’re doing well not just in the Asian scene but the scene in general, it’s a good sign that you should consider doing this. It’s not easy. Most musicians have a day job too. Another thing is, you should listen to your parents because that’s what the Bible says. They probably care about you. Convince them by your actions and your dedication.

ASIANCE: You mentioned the Bible. Are you active in church and is that something you grew up with?

Wendy: I’ve been active in church since I was a kid. My mom strongly encourages us to go.

ASIANCE: When you’re not working on music, what do you do for fun?

Wendy: I like outdoor activities, like riding my bike, skating, and going on walks, kickball, games, and really dorky things. Haha. I like working out. Once you get started you just can’t stop. I really think music’s a lot of fun so it’s hard for me to think outside of that. I go to shows, I do that a lot.

ASIANCE: When you’re not playing a show, who are you going to see?

Wendy: There are so many! I see a lot of local bands. Occasionally I’ll go and see someone bigger. I like Justin, Christina, and Beyonce. I really like Feist. She’s really amazing. I like main stream pop music. I’m shameless!

ASIANCE: What do you see yourself doing in the next few years?

Wendy: I want to be more active in producing other people. I want to collaborate with other people and write. More writing and producing.

To find out more information about Wendy Wang and The Sweet Hurt go to: www.thesweethurt.com.