Backstage at KUN's Headlining Concert In L.A.

About this video
Join Young Hollywood as we head backstage at the Fonda Theatre in L.A. to catch up with Chinese singer-songwriter KUN (aka Cai Xukun) following his headlining concert in L.A. where he treated fans to performances of his latest song "Deadman" as well as a first listen to his brand new single "Jasmine"! He reveals to us his creative process, his biggest musical inspirations, and his boy group origins, plus he tells us his biggest birthday wish!
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Key Moments (5)
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Key Topics (6)
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Full Transcript
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Let me know who is ready for Jasmine.
Hey guys, Leslie Roberts here for Young Hollywood, joined by global superstar Quinn.
Thank you for having me.
Thank you for having me at your show.
You just got off the stage at the legendary Fonda Theater here in Hollywood, of course.
Yes.
Blown away.
All the research, every clip I watched of you, I studied you.
Nothing could prepare me.
My pleasure.
For you live.
But today not only was your first U. S. headlining concert.
The boys' birthday.
Happy birthday.
Thank you so much.
I mean, first time at the Fonda.
I'm feeling great.
I'm feeling blessed right now.
Your crowd out there was beyond happy.
They were ecstatic.
They were euphoric.
Blown away.
You've been busy non-stop leading up to this show.
What does rehearsal look like for you?
Uh, we prepared for three days, just for this show.
Yeah, non-stop, every day, rehearsing.
We work very hard.
And so the fans that came to the show tonight, they heard your newly released single, That Man.
That man.
That man.
But they also got to hear some new stuff.
Exactly.
I'm dropping the next single, Jasmine, August 8th.
And the music video is coming soon as well.
We shoot in New York.
I hope you guys will like it.
Jasmine really smells good too.
You think so?
Yeah.
I love Jasmine.
It's my favorite flower.
Did you throw, what kind of flowers were in the bouquet that you threw?
That's exactly Jasmine.
Very curious who got that flower.
I did not.
I did not get it.
I did not get it.
Just I hope you trust in me.
Up in my chest like, where do we go, where do we go?
Jasmine.
Jasmine.
Don't you be so sad to leave.
Up in my chest like, where do we go, where do we go?
For the fans that were not here, that didn't get to hear your new music.
Yes.
Tell me what it's like.
Tell me what the vibe is.
What's the feel?
What can fans expect?
Right.
So every sing basic, um, basically is my personal taste, my personal style.
Like what I listen to, I listen to jazz, classic, like old records.
And we make the old school to the new school.
That's exactly what it felt like.
Who were some of the artists that maybe inspired you to be who you are today?
Wow, man.
There's a lot.
Amy Winehouse.
James Brown.
Frank Sinatra.
Queen, Elvis.
I still listen to them like all the time.
Every day.
When I was growing up, my parents had me listen to like oldies in the car and that's all I had to listen to.
And you brought that back, but for like now.
It was hot.
It was sexy.
Can I say that?
Thank you.
Yeah.
Thank you.
Is that what you were going for?
That That's a part of it.
That's a part of it.
All those records, we have different style, different side of me.
You all represent myself.
Yeah.
Like Jasmine, I think it's sexy.
That man is a little bit painful.
You're a triple threat.
I mean, you're a producer, you're a singer, and you're a songwriter.
So take me into the creative process.
Right.
In the studio.
When I walk in the studio, the first thing is I'm just telling everybody how I feel right now.
What's the feeling I got?
What I want to talk about?
Um, as an artist, as a as a singer, as a human, what I want to talk about?
I I write a lot of like notes in my phone.
Then we start playing instruments, like guitar, piano.
I start freestyling.
I start freestyle melodies, you know?
That's what I do.
You basically live on airplanes.
You live in hotels.
But you're based out of China, pretty much, predominantly.
Take me back from like your beginnings in China to getting here now, musically.
You started on music reality shows, which is incredible.
Yeah.
You know, I I got two boy groups before.
And, um, that was that was very fun.
And right now I'm starting this solo thing.
Uh, as a solo artist, I'm just doing the things I love, I really love.
I truly believe in this.
So I feel like when you really believe in something, inside of your body, like something will reborn, you know?
That's what I believe.
So I'm just starting doing the things I really love, put out a message I really want to put out.
Being authentic, myself.
I feel like that's the key.
That's what I'm doing.
It's a new journey.
I'm creating a new world, a new face for the people who know me, who doesn't know me.
Like, who haven't heard my music before.
I think That Man is a start of new journey for me.
Well, you talk about being authentic and who you are.
Yeah.
Fashion is a huge part of who you are.
Thank you.
So, I mean, let's talk about the suit.
Very handsome.
Oh, thanks.
Did you pick it out yourself?
Thanks.
Yes.
So, you're a fashion icon.
You've made like tons of fashion top lists globally.
Thank you.
You're an ambassador for like huge brands.
Where do you shop?
You got to you got to tell me where you shop.
Where do I shop?
Where do you shop?
Do you mean anything?
Really?
It's like, you know, every time when I land somewhere, I'll buy a whole new set.
Just feels like, oh, I'm here now.
Just to feel the vibe.
Wait, now when you say set, just one suit or like an entire new wardrobe?
Like new, everything new.
Yes.
Yes.
So wait, in China, which is home base, you have closets for every city you've been?
Like I got this in Berlin and this in Paris and this in LA.
That's a good nice way to organize your closet.
Yeah, exactly.
Yes, yes.
I feel like that's fun.
Yeah.
Wow.
I got a lot of inspiration from David Bowie.
He's definitely the the icon.
You're not like David Bowie.
Oh, no, no, no.
No.
Yes.
That's what it is.
You think so?
Yes.
Yes.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
That's it.
Um, I mean, he's definitely the icon.
I love fashion.
I think I think um it's a way you can tell people who you are, like who you really are.
So, given that it is your birthday.
Yeah.
What does one get the man who has everything for his birthday?
I feel like, um, this moment, right now, the stage, the fans and you, you all come to the show.
That's my best birthday gift.
At the end of the show, they gave you a beautiful cake for your birthday.
You seem surprised.
You blew out the candle.
Do you want to tell me what you wished for?
I didn't really get time to make a wish.
But I feel like if I make one right now, Yeah.
I feel like everything is starting right now.
So I feel like I hope this album, I hope you guys will like the album.
I hope I I hope um all the people I love we we can we can make this album big, make it make it great.
And, um, then more and more people to hear it.
That's that's my wish.
Yeah.
They got to see you live.
See him live.
Thank you.
Timestamps are approximate — click one to jump the player.
PEOPLE MENTIONED
- KUN
The interviewed artist and singer-songwriter
- Cai Xukun
KUN's real name
- Leslie Roberts
Young Hollywood interviewer
- Amy Winehouse
Musical inspiration for KUN
- James Brown
Musical inspiration for KUN
- Frank Sinatra
Musical inspiration for KUN
- Queen
Musical inspiration for KUN
- Elvis
Musical inspiration for KUN
- David Bowie
Fashion inspiration for KUN




