[ENG] 20190123 SinaEnt/Yuqing Lab interview with ZTAO
[ENG] 20190123 SinaEnt/Yuqing Lab interview with #ZTAO
Link to original: https://goo.gl/Fy2GGN
Huang Zitao: Don’t be too cocky in front of me, newbies! You’re “dead” if I catch you!
Today, I went to have a chat with Huang Zitao
Friends, have you ever accidentally unliked or unfriended your idol because he changed his social media account id?
That has happened to Huang Zitao’s fans.
Recently, Huang Zitao, in conjunction with his upcoming new drama, changed his weibo ID to “Chong Liming is coming”, something that would definitely confused people who don’t follow him (Chong Liming is the character he’s playing)
Paired with that anime avatar, if you’re not a fan, who could tell that this is a star???
Since Huang Zitao changed his id to “Chong Liming is coming” before the drama Yan Shi Fan is due to air.. does that mean that, after it airs, it will change to ““Chong Liming is now here”, “Chong Liming is leaving”, ““Chong Liming goodbye”…. Does he know that even for paying members, you can only change your weibo ID 5 times in a year?
“Why don’t you ask him directly” says my boss, showing up behind me, with a glass of tea in hand.
“eh? My hand shook, and then as destiny would have it, I got the assignment to go to the press conference for Yan Shi Fan.1 minute before it struck one on 22nd Jan 2019, I made my way through loads of floral displays from fans to go meet Taotao. I’ll remember this minute because of the strange mixture of smells from the roses and the packed lunches by the side.
We’ve only just finished setting up the machines when Huang Zitao arrived in a hurry, saying “ah I’m so sorry”, while commenting to me about lunch being too spicy. Then he went asking for water from his staff. Your Tao is still so very interesting and cute.
After sitting down, Tao suddenly stood up again, saying that he wishes to see how his new hairstyle looks. He says that since it’s new, he doesn’t know whether it looks good on camera.
After checking the photograph, he said he’s pretty satisfied with it, and would give his hairstyle, “6-7 points I guess~”
“Didn’t you say you’re pretty satisfied? That’s only a passing score?”
“well it’s for the camera, so it’ll be perfect if I was thinner.” As he said that, he kneaded/pinched his chin.
Sparring verbally with me and then with himself
The new hairstyle is to refresh himself, give himself a new start in the new year. Taotao says that it doesn’t matter if it looks good or not. Him checking the camera is also because he had “rested for slightly more than half a month, and didn’t do much except eat every day.” So he feared that he would look fat in front of the cameras, after all, he still has to be scrutinized by the rest of the world.
“If I were thinner, and my chin was sharper, it would be perfect.” .
Speaking of sharp chins, that reminds me of the much treasured bout of happiness brought about the many videos of Huang Zitao’s Little Elf.
I told him that many folks are waiting for updates to that Little Elf series, so when is he intending to do an update to satisfy the fans?
Adorable as he is, Taotao refused, saying, “if you all feel that that is good, that watch the old stuff. I won’t do it again simply because it got popular after you all watched it. I won’t! He says he is not willing to just simply following what is trending/popular, not even if he is the one who started it!
Fine, Boss Huang is really very strict.
I quietly rebutted, “You previously said that Little Elf is ugly, but yet your actions say otherwise!”
Taotao explained that he was really letting go of himself when talking that way, “you have to know that when I’m recording that, the sound and my expressions are all especially…tsk.. ah! You won’t want to see how I actually look like when recording Little Elf. “
We all know that this year, all the male idol audition variety shows will be highly competitive against each other. I asked him if he had any suggestions for the boys.
Taotao feel that he definitely is supportive if the candidate is grounded with his dream/goal in mind. However, many youngsters these days are very cocky/overconfident. They don’t even greet their seniors when they see them, he feels that that is very rude.
He gave an example. Previously when filming an advert, he overheard a staff member saying that a newbie basically just refused to film on set, and even threw the script at others.
“Why be an idol/artiste in that case? In any way, don’t let me catch them in action. They’re dead if so, really.”
Cried for 8 months, nearly sunk into depression
I didn’t’ forget the purpose of my trip, and so I asked him if he was going to change his weibo id again after the drama “Yan Shi Fan” airs. “
Taotao replied firmly, “Nope! I know that you can only change your weibo id 5 times a year.” So he’ll keep Chong Liming in the “he’s coming” condition, until he finishes watching the drama with everyone.
“So have you thought about what your next ID is going to be yet?”
“Yes!”
“What is it?”
Huang Zitao (so so innocent) , “It’s XXXXX” (am not revealing it for now for Taotao’s sake)
“You do know that by revealing it, everyone will go fight for that ID first?”
Huang Zitao “??? Then why did you trick me???”
After have tricked Taotao, I felt really good, and so I continued to tell him that fans tried to hold on to his previous id “@CPOPKING-黄子韬”, in case he wanted it back.
Taotao said it was alright, “It’s ok, hold on it. That id’s a bit much anyway, there are many news ids out there~”
Looks like Taotao’s really quite satisfied with the character Chong Liming. He’s not even going to look back on that weibo id change.
When asked about how he understands Chong Liming’s character, he says, “He’s someone who’s so much more tired/exhausted living than dead, and cries 3 times a day.”
So he had crying scenes every day, and a major crying scene every 3 days. “I basically cried for 8 months, and nearly got depression.” Huang Zitao said, Jackie Chan even sent him a very long message, telling him how to deal with all the negative emotions that result from acting.
Making his own real person variety show
Before coming for the interview, I have asked fans for questions on weibo, so Taotao answered some here. Such as the concert that everyone’s so concerned about.
Taotao says that there’ll only be one concert this year and it’ll be in June in Shanghai. You all can start planning your schedule~ He says he wishes to rest for the first half of the year, so he won’t be filming dramas. He’s just going to write songs, prep for his concert and he also intends to release an album this year.
That’s called resting?? Ok…
So what does he like to do when “resting”?
Taotao looked at me, perplexed. “Go out! Play! What else? Eat & drink and basically have fun. “
And then he started counting for me, saying that he likes driving, watching movies (having watched Bumblebee and Aquaman recently, he recommends it to fans) and getting friends to go over to his place for a chit chat. But they can only chat now, because he’s gotten the rabies vaccine shot, so he can’t drink.
After “resting”, in May, his company will be cooperating with another platform to present a travel related real person/life variety show, and he has two dramas coming in the latter half of the year.
Even though he doesn’t want to exhaust himself through variety shows, he feels that he should still do at least one per year. Because he likes travelling, so he wishes to do the sort of programme where one really focuses on the travel, with no missions. “It’s the sort of variety show that shows you who’s generous and who’s petty, the kind of loads of details.”
“So are you a generous or petty traveller?” I thought he would say the former, but he’s very clear about the situation. “It depends on who I’m with. If I don’t like that person, I won’t spare a single cent. But if it’s someone I like, then it doesn’t matter. “
So now I have gotten all the key information for you all. I said good bye to Tao and walked out of the interview room, as I heard him say (cutely) to staff, “ahhh haven’t done an interview in ages, I feel I don’t know how to talk much anymore~~”
Now there are plenty of fans outside the interview room waiting to enter the hall. I revealed to the fans as I left, “Huang Zitao’s hairstyle today is very handsome”. Everyone went ahhhhhh!!
So I left amidst all those envious looks..
A video of an interview is coming but here’s an extract of it:
Q: Your first impression of Chong Liming when reading the script?
Tao: In the beginning I had not read the script, it was the producer Liang Zhenhua who told me the story. I took on the project because he absolutely moved me. Chong Liming is the sort who cries three times a day, no joke. I basically have crying scenes every day and a big one every 3 days. He’s actually a very pitiful person. He looks as if nothing matters on the surface, but he’s just holding it all inside. Basically he’s so much more exhausted living than dying.
Q: Do you think you share similarities with Chong Liming
Tao: I don’t think so. I live a happy life (laughs heartily)
Q: You’ve set up a new company in 2018, so what are the plans for the company?
Tao: My dad’s managing it. I’m just in charge of completing my acting projects. The plan is to well, achieve something. Hope the things produced by our company will be well liked and well received, doesn’t disappoint the market and audience. And if I’m in it, then all the more I’ll have ensure it doesn’t disappoint.
Q: Chinese New Year is near, so can you reveal your year end prize with us, Boss Huang?
Tao: My dad’s in charge of that.. I.. I want year end prize too!! Money will do!!! Hahahaha! If it’s a lucky draw, I hope others in the company will get more. If I get something big, I’ll just split it on the spot, but I’m not the lucky kind.
Q: Evaluate/comment on your two variety shows last year.
Tao: Actually, the street dance and produce 101 programs… I don’t think I’m particularly suited to those. They required more outstanding candidates. There’s not much meaning to me being a mentor. I prefer Takes A Real Man, with everyone living and experiencing life together. That sort of show I liked, so I want to make something like that.
Q: Actually everyone likes the sequence of videos which showed you getting startled/a fright. They feel it’s funny. What’s your view on that?
Tao: Pretty good. That’s my natural reaction. I feel that as an artiste, no matter what I do, be it when I’m on a variety show or the gifs produced after, it’s good that it brings laughter to all. At least everyone’s smiling because of me, that’s the energy I bring to everyone I guess.
Q: You’re not scared of being labelled a comedian?
Tao: nope. I have my works.
Q: There will be 2-300 new male idols from all those male audition shows this year. As an experienced senior, what suggestions do you have for them?
Tao: if they have their dreams in mind, then I would support. But a lot of youngsters these days are very cocky. Some don’t even manage basic courtesy, not even greeting seniors when they see them. Very arrogant and rude. For example, I overheard a staff member saying that a newbie basically just refused to film on set, and even threw the script at others. Why be an idol/artiste in that case? In any way, don’t let me catch them in action. They’re dead if so, really.
Q: So promote yourself to all those who will fall in love/like you after watching Yan Shi Fan
Tao: If you all got to know me or like me through Yan Shi Fan, I hope you all can better understand just what kind of artiste I am. When a show is airing, I’ll be super active. But when I’m working, I’ll be totally silent. That’s because of the process of me learning, accumulating experiences while trying to present a better piece of work. I believe my following works will be better and better and won’t disappoint everyone. And I hope everyone can really treat me as an actor, and not a singer who happens to be act. I really want to break that label… so If I don’t manage to with these 3 dramas, then I’ll keep trying.. next year I’ll continue to work hard at filming.. if I don’t break it by 30.. then I guess not then.. (laughs)
Q: So what happens then?
Tao: I tell you, that won’t happen. It will definitely be better and better. Can’t become an actor after Yan Shi Fan finish airing. I cried for those 8 months, almost getting depression. I messaged Jackie Chan who sent me such a long message, saying how I can deal with it. Even though you see that I’m all smiles and laugher when chasing “The Negotiator”.. well, in part that was to promote the show, but secondly, I forget that I’m the character when I’m watching it. When filming Yan Shi Fan, the happiest thing was for me to back and watch a new episode every night. So I was really exhausted filming this, I feel that all that effort will definitely be rewarded!
“I was very mischievous as a kid. When I was 7 years old, I insisted on racing an uncle. He said no, but I didn’t care and started running. In the end I fell to the ground, and the back of my head hit on a sharp edge. There was no bleeding, but you can see bruises. At about 12 midnight, I suddenly started vomiting, and so my parents sent me to the hospital. Afterwards my doctor said that the injury on my head had began to put pressure on the nerves and if they had come 2-3 minutes later, I would have died or become a vegetable.”
Even though his head hurt, Huang Zitao was still smiling when he went on the operation table. And then he fell asleep. He had craniotomy (surgical operation) done, got dozens of stitches, and till now, there’s still a scar on the back of his head.
It was 8 at night, in a dressing room in Beijing. Dressed in a simple white tee and pale blue denim jeans, he sat in front of the makeup mirror, talking about that childhood story of his, all the while looking a tad tired. As he spoke he leaned towards the mirror, examining his eyes, which were bloodshot as he had been working for 10 hours straight.
However, according to what we’ve heard, despite the dangerous situation, he fell asleep on the operation table smiling.
Huang Zitao also had high fever. He was just 9 days old, and had to stay a total of 15 days in the hospital. And towards the end of 2016, he suddenly fainted at the airport. That rigorous and relentless schedule had taken its toll on his heath.
“I’ve been through a lot, including moments like these where I’m close to death. But I’ve made it through, “he said, summing it all up.
“So do you have the feeling like good fortune is bound to follow after surviving all those difficulties & hardship?” “Yes”
24-year-old Huang Zitao shows his talents unabashedly and doesn’t compromise/settle with perceived norms. His weibo id is “SwaggyTao” (note: it’s CPOPKing-SwaggyT now) and the number of people he follows is zero. Swaggy (in slang) means cool. He likes to show his right profile, cares about his hairstyle, loves to have eyeliner makeup for stage performances, but doesn’t like always being asked questions about this or that. That is the part he is stubborn about.
He has grown and changed much in various areas too. Such as acting. “When I first came back, I didn’t want to act. But later on I found out that that couldn’t work. Being purely a singer, means that others might not necessarily know who you are. “
“Railroad Tigers” was his first proper movie. While filming in the bitter coldness of North-eastern China, he was down with chicken pox. There was a scene which was shot on top of the train, and there were a few dangerous moves that required the actor to be tied up. Each time the cloth/rope tightened or pulled on him, the sound of the chicken pox bursting could be heard. Because he couldn’t do anything to ease the itch, he cried as he was filming.
Acting helped him to truly know himself. In “The Game Changer”, he played Fang Jie, a frank, hot-blooded, sometimes brash and impulsive young man who also really valued friendship and ties. “I feel that there are certain similarities in Fang Jie and my character.”
But that sort of character also put him at a disadvantage. 2 years ago, the smear attacks on him were widespread and vicious.
The way Huang Zitao dealt with it is truly remarkable. “All those who said I wasn’t good, I didn’t respond to them directly. I wrote it all in my rap. So please, those of you who likes to vilify me, criticize me or quote me out of context, please do continue to attack me. That way I can write even better stuff for my rap.”
Since his return in 2015, Huang Zitao has released in total, 1 physical album, 1 mini EP, and dozens of original singles. He’s been recognised as the leader of C-POP. C-POP is Chinese pop, popular music that belongs to China. Huang Zitao wants to let the whole world listen to China’s music. “I’m willing to hold the flag of C-POP.”
The staff says that he’s a typical Taurus when it comes to work. He’s more stubborn, and will stand firm when it comes to things that he wants to persist on/continue with, such as making music, or maintaining his figure. For about 2 years, he essentially didn’t eat dinner so that he could slim down and look better on screen.
Compared to his hardwork and stubbornness, Huang Zitao wins over his fans more by his unpredictability. There’s such a comment on him from Zhihu (a Chinese Q&A website) :” forthright, with a natural sense of humor, ability to poke fun at himself, and is a very attractive/charming person.”
He’s very wiling to talk about the little elf videos he’s been posting on Weibo story, and is proud that he has managed to make so many people laugh. His staff revealed that sometimes when they are chatting, Huang Zitao will suddenly pat someone at the back to scare them. If he sees that everyone’s mood is somewhat down and gloomy, he’ll sing to liven things up. Because of this, when on set, all the crew likes him.
He’s also very down to earth. He’s super good at bargaining. Recently during at trip to a theme park, a staff member spent 20 bucks on rabbit ears. He said that he’ll be able to get in just 5 bucks. When fans gave him a small toy duck, he asked fans how much that cost. He then took a look and said that the price they’ve gotten it at was too high.
He carries a bit of a “idol burden” when he has no makeup on in private, but is astonishingly candid. Once when he was in the States, fans wanted to take a photo with him. His reply was “I can’t but I can go on the roller coaster ride with you once.” Another incident was in China where someone wanted to take a photo of him. He said, “Sorry you can’t, but you can secretly take one.” It’s not hard to understand why fans lovingly call him “the silly, sweet boy”.
But the 24-year-old idol already understands the price of fame. He says “Dreams are wonderful, but they are also cruel. “He himself feels that he been through more things than say a 34 year old, but his staff’s own critique of him is that, “There’s two sides to him, the three year old and the thirty year old. Right now, there’s more of the thirty-year-old present.”
He’s also very conscious/aware and feels that “there’s no need to care too much about things like popularity. In the long run, what’s going to be passed down are your works. When you have solid work, popularity will naturally follow.” That brings to mind a phrase from his book “Iteration 2.4”. “I may have had my spirits dampened by reality once, but I’m still as passionate as ever before.”
Q&A : Tearing down labels that don’t belong to me
Q: Why do you not follow anyone on Weibo?
ZTAO: I don’t use weibo much. Lately I haven’t been posting much of anything except on Instagram. Because Instagram is quite popular overseas, I have used it to share many music videos. I feel that hip hop culture belongs to foreigners. C-POP has not really happened in China. Right now, what I’m doing, is a good start. Many overseas folks do follow me, I have this ability.
Q: What are the differences in the requirements for tune/lyrics, in making music for everyone versus making music solely for China?
ZTAO: I don’t think about that that much. I just feel that if I wrote it in English, then it wouldn’t be C-POP. I’ll sing it in Chinese, and it’s ok if the overseas folks can’t understand it. Just listen to the melody. Let me tell you what is Chinese rock. I feel that it’s no longer an age whereby people looks solely at lyrics. That age has already passed.
Q: Then what do you care about?
ZTAO: The simplest things are the best. I don’t write about others. The things I write about are all my personal experiences, using the simplest way to express all of it. That’s my song. It’s alright that some people prefer listening to the type of songs in the past. There are also people who like me. And I feel that the songs I write, will get the attention of those born in 2000s, and possibly even the folks 20, 30 years later. I want to conquer the youth market. The new era will come. China’s music industry has been down for so long, it’s time for it to come back.
Q: So are you a person full of positive energy in private?
ZTAO: I have a lot of principles, which I actually rarely talk about with others. Once you’ve been through and survived a lot of setbacks, you’ll find that you’ve grown again. Now I’m 24 years old. All that I have and own, might be more than say, a 34-year-old. Hence, when a person has so much, why don’t/shouldn’t they treat others better?
Q: What’s your attitude towards being attacked/having labels thrust upon you?
ZTAO: Basically, I never responded to those attacks. I just used my works to slowly prove myself. I have not done anything bad, harmful or illegal. It’s all labels and things that others pin onto me. I have used at least 2 years, to tear down those labels. I believe time will prove everything.
Q: Back when you weren’t so strong, have you had moments when you were close to breaking down?
ZTAO: It’s never one single incident or matter that causes a major breakdown. It’s the accumulated stress, repression and all that negativity. Things that never happened somehow became a big deal, but I had not done anything wrong. That really made me feel very unhappy.
Q: Before the airing of “A Chinese Odyssey: Love of eternity”, you seemed pretty rueful, and wrote down some reflections on life in Weibo.
ZTAO: Actually I didn’t quite want to take on the project in the beginning. I feel that there was no need to play something that’s such a classic. I’m not really a good fit for the image of a monkey. Later on I took it on because eI felt that, regardless of how classic Stephen Chow’s take on the character is, I could make one that’s entirely my own.
Q: We’ve heard that all that monkey fur and makeup took 4 hours when you were filming in Yinchuan?
ZTAO: It was 4-5 hours in the beginning and gradually reduced to 2-3 hours. Had to wake up at 5 to do the makeup. It was the happiest set I had been on. The atmosphere was good.
Q: The Monkey King has superpowers. And this is usually realized through technology in the modern society. Amongst those futuristic/technological movies, which do you like?
ZTAO: I pretty much like all of Marvel’s series, such as X-Men, Wolverine etc. The degeneration of humans begin as technology becomes more and more advanced. I feel that AI will triumph over the human brain.
Q: That’s rather pessimistic of you. Humans have no superpowers, but as an artist, you need some, what’s your view of that?
ZTAO: Actually I can focus on doing one thing, it’s just that my endurance’s not that great. I can’t stay on set every day for 3 months. I can’t. I need to take a break. It could be just a trip out to another event and I’ll be fine when I get back.
Q: In the new drama “The brightest star in the sky”, you’re the lead role, producer and music producer. Why make this drama?
ZTAO: I play a singer in this drama, and it’s similar to my own story. After I’ve made the decision to do a drama related to music, I looked over many scripts before making changes to one, forming a team etc. It feels custom made. Later on when I got set, we changed almost every scene, a lot of what’s so dead on the script came alive.
Q: On the inside, you need to steadily build up the layers to your identity and energy. For your appearance, your makeup each time is always so attention grabbing. What are your views on make up?
ZTAO: Makeup gives me more creativity, it also helps to refine a man’s looks, and make me more confident in myself. Each time I make the decision with my makeup artist, depending on the needs of the different events.
Huang Zitao: “Iteration”is the way in which I grow”
SELECTION FROM HUANG ZITAO’S FIRST PHOTOBOOK “ITERATION 2.4”
I’ve once said this in the promotional video for “2017 Promise Concert Tour”. “I hope each time when I’m presenting something to everyone, it is one in which everyone looks forward to more eager than the last, and which is always even more drastically different. The Huang Zitao that appears each time is always s better version than the one that’s appeared before. I feel that that is the only way I can repay those who like me”
Using my works to accompany and grow up along with everyone, this is the “promise” that belongs to us. Up till today, I’m still writing music, and in variety shows, movies, dramas and concerts, I’ve been showing different sides of my personality. Even though There are some regrets in certain places, but in order to fulfil my dream, I’ve worked and fought hard. Each day I let myself accumulate the experience and growth bit by bit, and replace my previous self with one that shines brighter, and with that, step by step, I walk towards my stage.
Hence, every day, Huang Zitao’s growing and improving. When one has, in his/her mind, a direction in which one wishes to achieve, then don't’ over analyse things, don’t be held back by being too careful, don’t be frightened by the difficulties you foresee. Do it, and it’ll be right.
I wish to use words to record the journey I’ve been on, and write down what I’ve been through. Hence this book is born.
“Iteration” is a term which I’ve mulled over for a long time and using it to describe my way of growth is very suitable. This is a mathematical term. But to my understanding, it is a way in which one grows and matures. It is impossible for us to attain perfection or reach the peak in one single step. But in order to accomplish our dreams, we need to constantly break down the goals ahead of us and despite of difficulties, move forward one step at a time. If it’s not done well, then keep on doing it, gain the power to grow in the repeated setbacks and failures. Keep replacing your past self with a new and better one, and continue the cycle.
Even now, I’m still in a state of “constant iteration”. That’s because I know that my works are far from perfect, and they would attract a lot of debate. But each time a piece of work is completed, is always a way in which one learns and improves. Each day, I’m changing and improving myself. That’s why, the Huang Zitao you are seeing today, will produce more and better works in the future.
I like moving forward one step at a time. Because I know very well that everything that’s great and wonderful is never achieved in one big leap. And in the process (of moving forward one step at a time), I’ll face many obstacles. But each time I overcome one, I become a brand-new version of me. And I’m prepared to meet the increasing number of obstacles in my way.
The number “2.4” is not fixed. It’s more like versioning, and so the number would keep changing. What this means is that I’m improving, and also that, each version of me is different. In each update, I fix the bugs in me, upgraded my functions and gets ever closer to perfection.
“Iteration” is the way in which I grow; “2.4” represents who I am now. That’s why it also represents the most real version of me.
This is why I’ve written this story about me, naming it “Iteration 2.4”. I hope that this iterative style of growing of mine, would give my Hailangs, the power to move forward, and the courage to explore and take risks for their dreams.
[ENG] ZTAO in L’officiel Hommes China 2017 special edition
MANY POSSIBILITIES: HUANG ZITAO, BREAKING OUT & SHOWING THERE’S MORE THAN ONE SIDE TO HIM
When talking about people in the entertainment industry who are still able to maintain being true to themselves, we believe that the name Huang Zitao pops up immediately. Rather than just attributing it to him being a type AB, why not say that it’s because our “30-year-old! Tao” keeps being a “3-year-old! Tao” at heart. Having so many sides to him allows him to retain more of the potential & possibilities in his character amidst the ever-changing public sentiments
In the 5 years since he became an artist, Huang Zitao is often at the centre of various hot topics. But the public knows and understands very little about how he is really like. Be it the memes, the top searches or being a magnet for negative and hostile attention…..all those are merely a snapshot of his personality taken out of context. We might even say that his character’s been over-simplified. Either he’s the arrogant and blunt 3-year-old!Tao or the considerate and mature 30-year-old!Tao. Rarely is there a chance for him to completely show the side of him that’s paradoxical and not as adorable. The many sides to his personality only truly became more concrete to people, after the aid of the many variety shows and movies. The charm exuded from the variety show, shown as he transitioned from the unruly rookie to becoming the “soldier king” who’s so passionate about the army, provided a whole new perspective of him to viewers. So it turns out that the Huang Zitao of many memes and controversies, is actually very adorable, funny, real & slightly narcissistic. Yet when his teammates are facing hard times, he chooses to quietly support them from behind. This lets many people see the considerate, heart-warming and sensitive side of him.
ALWAYS EXPLORING NEW SIDES TO HIMSELF
Huang Zitao never seems to run out of things to say when chatting about his days in the army. Because that has left him with too many touching memories. “The last time I cried, it was when I was still in the army. Because I really couldn’t bear to leave my fellow comrades and squad leaders. I feel that if I am not a singer, I would definitely go join the army!” Huang Zitao, who constantly surprises the masses, has attracted more attention through his multifaceted personality.
And this generous display to the outside world, as shown in the variety shows, is still, in the end, a way to attract more people to his infinite potential in music and acting. Huang Zitao says that he won’t be taking part in any reality tv shows for the time being. It is, after all, a means to bring more attention to his works. His focus, from now on, will still be on music and dramatic works. In the music that he’s released this year, he’s used the style of EDM (electronic dance music) to create a new C-POP song “Time”. In terms of fashion, he has tried different possibilities. In the drama “The Brightest star in the Sky”, he’s not only playing the lead and investing in the project. He’s also serving, for the first time, as the drama’s music producer. As he takes on more roles and gets every more enriching exposures to different areas of work, Huang Zitao’s constantly exploring new sides to himself along with everyone. He doesn’t set limits for himself and he doesn’t want to be typecast. The “3-year-old! Tao” is a free spirit, pursuing his true happiness to the end. The “30-year-old! Tao” is determined and responsible, never letting the past trap or stop him, and never fearing the future. After all, the future’s always new and unexpected. There are too few interesting souls out there. So perhaps you should keep an eye and look forward to Huang Zitao.
BEING HONEST AND FRANK IS NOT A CHARACTER SETTING FOR ME
From being the “honest and frank” boy to the “untamed horse in the military”, if you are still sticking labels on to Huang Zitao, then perhaps you have missed too many interesting sides to him. His participation in the variety shows have gained him loads of attention and fans, but that’s just to help him get people to recognize his infinite potential in music and acting. He’s both “3-year-old! Tao” and “30-year-old! Tao” , maintaining a youthful heart while being very grounded.
When you enter the words “Huang Zitao” into a search engine, it will show you gazillions of search results, with related searches like “Huang Zitao memes”, “Huang Zitao hats” & “Huang zitao rap”. To people who don’t quite understand him, these few labels form what the public sees of Huang Zitao, a topic generator. After all the debate and controversies, nowadays, the image that Huang Zitao gives to people is more of the forthright, and spontaneous sort. Even though it looks a little like a total reborn/remaking of him to people who don’t know him, all along he’s only just been using his own ways to face the trials and challenges. Despite the fact that planning and pre-setting how his life would pan out would be a steadier choice, he has never intended to live that way. To use his own words, “There’s really no “setting” per se to my character. I’m just being myself. Oftentimes the AB side of me would show itself, and that’s the “3-year-old! Tao” and “30-year-old! Tao” . Sometimes even I don’t know which side would surface.”
The unpredictability of Huang Zitao, is actually a choice to reclaim and live life as true to oneself as possible. In this complicated entertainment industry, and operating outside of those “pre-set answers and moves”, he always sounds true and full of confidence. He attributes all that as part of his style. With him, there’s no “unspoken rules”. The only rule is to be happy. The AB side of him, is something that’s really within all of us. All the self-praise and recognition that we deem as vain, all the weaknesses and wilfulness that we seem to want to hide from others, or the tiny temper tantrums that are not accepted in the adult’s world… Those are things that he “3-year-old! Tao” expresses in its most primitive form. Naturally, that very real and open-mindedness about him, is all the more easily accepted and loved by this world which is governed by too many rules and restrictions. Some people may teach you how to negotiate your way through the world, but Huang Zitao only wishes to say to you, “don’t hold your true self back”.
The genius “3-year-old! Tao”
“Perfect side profile”, “great chest muscles”, “self-proclaimed genius”… Huang Zitao’s praise of himself never fails to ignite waves of searches on weibo. All the “golden quotes” he utters, always becomes the focal point of people’s discussions. This generous praise of himself and the way he lives so feely, has helped Huang Zitao find his own set of “rules of survival in the entertainment world”. That is how Zitao, who knows himself sufficiently well and is sure of the direction he wishes to pursue, has found a more direct way to show his true self and ambition. Not bothering to waste time on explanations but rather, focusing on doing things seriously and letting time prove everything.
After the first incident where he was late to a fashion event, most people felt that he would probably stay away from anything fashion related. A blogger even asked in an interview last year, “Why do you still dare to come, after the backlash that happened after your previous fashion week visit?” Huang Zitao calmly expressed that, “The only thing that incident made him do, was to want to make sure that he will not be late the next time. So, in the fashion events that followed, he would get to the venue 2 hours ahead of time. This has also become a standard for him. Be it filming on set or waiting, he will not attempt to explain too much about the incidents. The correct way to resolve that is by improving himself and showing it through his actions.
That’s how Huang Zitao treats his mistakes, and that’s also how he treats misunderstandings about him. “When other people misunderstand you, they might not listen to any explanations you may offer. But the fact remains and so you must wait, wait for time to prove that you are right.” So at the height of all those controversies, despite how shaken he felt deep inside, he still chose to remain silent. He went to the States to work on his music, choosing to immerse himself entirely in work. Not explaining nor shying away. Letting time wash away the mud, and show how he is truly like. That rare silence is an interesting contrast to how frank he is these days. “Don’t care about those gossip and rumours, but longs for recognition of his works”. That’s the source of everything. In Huang Zitao’s minds, it seems that there’s always a compass. He knows where he comes from and at the same time, he never forgets, what he needs to do to get to where he wants to be. There will always be obstacles in the way forward, which causes some to waver or become lost. “Your self-confidence is not built on how much recognition others can give you. Rather it’s more of whether you are in control of your self-confidence. What abilities do you possess that gives yourself that confidence? What is it in your that lets others believe in what you tell them? Well, the answer is in your actions.” Huang Zitao has said that in conclusion during several interviews. All his flamboyance, carefreeness and self-confidence are all built upon this.
He started working and earning money at the age of 15, debuting at 19, and starting out again to focus on his music and acting at 22. Up until today, this is what he has to say “I think it’s my belief and determination that has allowed me to arrive at where I am today. Don’t care about what others say about you, or what they feel that you can’t possibly do. You yourself have to believe that you can do it, and then proceed to achieve it, one step at a time.” As “30-year-old! Tao” said that, all the brashness of youth is gone from him. Each word is uttered like an oath engraved upon his heart.
“30-year-old! Tao” has this to say
“The things that don’t kill us, only makes us stronger.” That’s the promotional slogan of the the drama “The Negotiator”, of which Huang Zitao is the male lead. Huang Zitao, who is really only just starting out in the TV/movie industry, is almost an unstoppable force. From his first major role in the movie “Railroad Tigers”, to the drama “The Negotiators” where he teams up with Yang Mi, he’s releasing 3 movies and 2 dramas in less than a year. Working non-stop, Huang Zitao’s still filming “The brightest star in the sky” now. It seems that a lot of times, he prefers to move and not stop. Practising, absorbing and changing like a workaholic. Because “it’s more enriching to be constantly working”
Huang Zitao, who once said candidly that he doesn’t really watch movies, may be mistaken as one who’s “good at nothing”. As to the public who has doubts about his acting, he has responded with his “being a genius”. But behind all that joking around, is the actual experience he’s accumulated through the constant learning in the various projects he’s taken on. It’s the norm for actors to have to wait in between scenes. Some may choose to chit chat, read a book or even play games. Huang Zitao uses it to learn from the others. Through the director’s discussions with other actors, through observing, taking notes, and going through scenes with every actor, through taking on characters that are closer in various aspects to how he is. Through all that, he’s learning the rules of acting, and has begun to break those rules to mould it in into something that’s his own style. It’s like how he first started composing, making music. There’s always a memo on his musical inspirations in Huang Zitao’s phone. No matter when it is, so long as inspiration comes, he doesn’t want to miss this “luck”. Only when he notes it down or has the melody recorded will he feel at ease. It’s also like his determination in filming action movies. Combing the many years of his training with his acting ability, working hard to release his potential and show what he has learned in the captured scenes. This maybe what constitutes the “genius” in Huang Zitao, that so many co-workers and senior actors see in him.
To himself, he’s very strict. To his co-workers, he’ll try hard to build the rapport. He sets very high goals for himself, but during work, is very humble. His personality is such that he doesn’t want to disappoint the crew’s expectations in him and the efforts they’ve put in. During the filming of “Railroad Tigers”, not even being covered with chicken pox and sub-zero temperatures could keep him from taking part in filming. And it’s all so that he won’t be the cause of delays in the filming schedule. This made Jackie Chan give him high praises. In the beginning stages of filming “Edge of Innocence”, the entire crew had doubts about his acting ability and attitude. But with his insistence on not using doubles in fight scenes, and him continuing without complaint to finish his scenes despite having been accidentally injured by the stunt guys, he ultimately won the recognition of everyone.
In filming “The Negotiator”, Huang Zitao kept more of his time to be alone with the character he plays, “Xie Xiaofei”. This is so that he can examine the similarities and differences between his own growing up experiences with the character’s. The naivete that’s a result of an affluent background with no major setbacks in life, the ambition towards his career and life after growing up, are parts that he can pull readily from his own experiences. At the same time, he’s able to spend more effort in working on the parts which he doesn’t have. He finds his way of portraying the character through acting and discussions. Acting to him is, “all about focus. That and being diligent and getting into the character. The more you can get in character, the more perfectly it is being portrayed. As to my acting skills… well, in the past, all that stuff about being a genius... it’s all joking. I know I still have much room for improvement, and so I’ll learn more things, to change all that’s bad about me. It doesn’t matter if people remembers me or not. What matters is that they remember the character “Xie Xiaofei”.
Q&A
Q: What role do you play in “The Negotiator”? What are the similarities or differences between the role and you?
A: I’m playing “Xie Xiaofei”. He’s someone who changes and grows up a lot in the show. In the beginning, he’s the sort who might not really care about a lot of things. Because life has been smooth-sailing for him. He changed quite a bit after going through a lot, and becomes more mature in his life and career. But I’m quite different from him. I’ve gone to work when I was young and made my debut at a relatively young age. So, my mental state’s probably around 30-40 years old. I do find a lot of what Xie Xiaofei does in the earlier parts of the drama childish. But that confidence and ambition he has towards his career after he matures is still pretty much like me.
Q: What’s the most boring bit about filming that you find, when compare to making music? How do you handle those negative emotions?
A: When I’m writing songs I’m usually alone, so I feel that time passes very quickly. But filming is something done by a lot of people together, so there will be a lot of wait time. Because I’m the sort who will wait by the side if I don’t have any scenes, so that in the event when they do need me, I can go over immediately. As such, there’s quite a bit of time spent just waiting. But actually, it’s still fine, because that is something that you, as an actor, must done.
Q: Between the set and the recording studio, which is the one that makes your “nerves shake”?
A: Right now, actually it’s both. But if I must choose one, it would be the recording studio. But it would be shaking because of excitement
Q: What do you think about the issue of extensive use of green screens/CGI (note: more to save time actors have to spend on set etc.) in the filming of dramas? Are there any “unspoken rules” in the industry that you are not comfortable with?
A: Actually, I do not support the use of that technique. But a lot of times, due to the requirements from the crew, and for post-production, it would be utilised. So, it’s unavoidable in a way I guess. But I don’t know what are “unspoken rules”. In any case, there are none with me.
Q: Do your desires or wants change according to increases in your income?
A: No. All the material stuff around you don’t really matter. What you want to persist and maintain is your pursuit of your dreams and beliefs. That’s the true meaning of life.
Q: Occasionally we see you clocking your hours at the gym through your posts online. When did you started taking note of your health, and started to work out? What plans have you put in place and how do you guarantee that you follow them through?
A: I started working out before the concert tour began this year. Back then it was so that I would have better stamina for the concert. Later on, it was so that I would be in better shape for filming in the new drama. But now working out has become a habit. If I don’t go running and exercising every day, I would feel weird. And I’ve been eating more healthily now.
Q: Would you watch movies to help you improve your acting? Do you watch your own movies? How does it feel to watch yourself on the big screen?
A: I don’t really have much time to rest, so I have had no time to go and watch movies. I can only learn and improve myself in the process of filming. It’s still rather interesting to watch my own movies. Sometimes I can get back into character just by watching it for a short while. By recalling how that character was feeling then, it really makes you feel for him.
[ENG] 170627 YOHO ARTICLE ON ZTAO - EVERYONE WANTS TO BE HUANG ZITAO BUT DON’T DARE TO ADMIT IT
In the beginning, we hoped to choose this era’s bad boy, the sort who’s raved about by everyone everywhere. You can see all sorts of “rebellious” qualities commonly shared by many of the youth of this era in him: arrogant, temperamental, rash, blunt…. And it’s a super magnified version. His “badness” comes from his unabashed desire and insistence on being his true self. In the end, as fate would have it, we finally managed to get an appointment with him, Huang Zitao.
That night, Huang Zitao was recording his new song when the director Jenny and us got to the recording studio in L.A.
During that period, he had been recording and vacationing in the United States. Perhaps it’s because he’s relaxed, Huang Zitao’s behaviour was a tad like those big boys that you and I would commonly see around us.
I’ve been thinking about why is it that Huang Zitao keeps getting attacked so viciously. Is it that he truly has a low EQ or just what is it about him that people have a problem with? How is it that he has managed to continue despite all that constant berating and mocking? Just how much has all this cost him?
All these questions, you have seen and heard of, but you’ve never heard it from his own lips.
In the next few days we transitioned from his studio to his daily life, and chatted with him about “being an idol”, “making music” and “being himself”, all those quotes that never fails to shock and amaze others, and listened to his reflections on growing up and his aspirations, and his insistence on being himself.
A few days later, we can roughly understand why is that everyone likes to mock him so. Because he, like many of today’s youth, would show himself, his true self, without fear nor reserve. Yet, at the same time, we could also understand why fans love him so, and why his seniors dote so much on him. Because in terms of facing him true self head on, he’s the first when it comes to good looking Chinese idols. His likes and dislikes are clear and distinct. It’s important to be cool and he himself is important. At the same time, whether the way he expresses his concern for others is cool or not is also important. (For example, he threw a tantrum as he’s exhausted and doesn’t want to work, yet later he’ll take the opportunity to secretly do it well according to what is required. But he never would admit defeat verbally
In each era, everyone loves Bad Boys but are afraid of them too. Because we crave the glory of reality but is afraid of being scorched by it. All in all, the daring Bad Boy whom we love, is the person whom we all wanted to become once but never became.
“Making music, I want to be the king of C-POP”
“I’ve never treated myself as an artiste. Be it in making music, movies or dramas, or in variety shows, it’s all a job to me.”
It’s not surprising to everyone that that’s the way Huang Zitao chooses to express his view of being an artiste, a star.
At the age of 14, Huang Zitao fell in love with singing under the influence of idol Jay Chou, and begun his dreams of being a star. Later he wrote a long letter to his dad, saying that he wanted to quit school, and do something he wanted to do. And Zitao’s Dad, whose image, due to the influence of media, had become somewhat silly to most people, is actually a bold father who is very supportive of his son.
The martial arts learnt 18 years ago, and the naturally “not bad” singing skills, got Huang Zitao onto the path of becoming an artiste.
Later, despite his injuries, contract dissolution and controversies, Huang Zitao still wants to make music today and create his ideal C-POP. He told us: “It’s because I like it, and it doesn’t cost much. I don’t have much to spend on usually, so why should I just blindly hold on to all that money every day for the rest of my life?”
“The things I write and sing about are all real experiences and feelings. I don’t care about how many people will like it or sing it. If you like it, listen to it. If you don’t, well fine. I just want to write down what’s in my heart. There are too many fake things these days.”
Later he added this on, “I’m not releasing a new album this year. It’s all going to be singles. Because I feel that if I do an album, a lot of the very nice songs will not be given the attention it deserves. That’s why I wanted to release it song by song and promote each one.”
Ever since he brought his concept of C-POP to producer Daryl (Huang Zitao’s had worked with him from his very first album released in China) in 2015, the two of them has made C-POP more varied and enriched.
“C-POP’s really more about the reason behind writing the song. It’s not just a music genre. To us, we want to try to create a new style of music. This is also one of the unique points of Tao’s music. He won’t copy other people’s stuff. All his music is a result of his preferences. We also do R&B, because he doesn’t want to do only POP. C-POP’s more about representing one-self. I’m a Chinese, and I want to tell the world that.”
-- Daryl
Having been through 6 years since his debut, Huang Zitao now have a new dream, one that is even more difficult and out of reach – to get foreigners to like his music, to be able to understand it and sing along with it.
Being an idol
I don't need to be perfect
The topic of those negative news , vicious comments and attacks on Huang Zitao is unavoidable when talking about him. A random search on the internet will show you loads, from the contract issues with SM, discord with his team mates, the fashion week incident etc, plus all the other negative tags that people have placed him etc etc etc.
He’s like the new era bad boy of the entertainment circle, and he seems to have bore the burnt of all the negativities in it. Regardless of whether it’s true or false, since it’ “news” that came from the industry, you have to shoulder it not matter who you are.
In the 6 months when he first returned home, Huang Zitao had once lost control of his emotions when talking about these issues. “I was still young then, I felt that I just couldn’t understand what’s wrong with these people. I just couldn’t. There are too many netizens who like to vent their emotions online.”
Slowly he learnt not to care, and instead got to know how to make use of it. “All those nonsense are not real. I don’t need to care about those. What a person neds to care about is those around you, those whom you will meet in the future, and those who are good to you now. You have to care about them, and your family.”
“There are also people who come daily to leave lengthy comments to scold me.. The number of comments can suddenly just triple because of that. Isn’t that great? They keep reblogging, and keep on the attacks, looking for materials to make memes of me, giving higher viewership to shows that I’m in. Quick! Go and do it! Don’t stop! What can you actually do to me? That’s just how I feel, my life’s fine.”
The way Huang Zitao speaks and the way he just hits right back, is perhaps the reason why he often gets attacked.
He often emphasizes that artistes are not perfect. From his role, it seems like he’s trying to make excuses for himself. But when we reflect on this after a few days being with him, it’s a scream at the helplessness of this industry and for everyone who’s in it.
The idols these days must have a certain affinity with the viewers. They need a perfect image on screen and in the news. But looking around the world, excellent artistes all have very distinct personalities and attitudes towards music, even politics. And the ones who does become legends, never pander to the audience’s wishes. Rather, they’ve managed to gather a bunch of likeminded people based on their works and charisma. Huang Zitao may not yet be a legend, but at least he’s clear on that. He hopes that the fans he has gathered is able to appreciate what’s good about him, and is about to accept or at least, ignore, the weaknesses or flaws in his personality.
Growing up is a rather complicated matter. It’ll a cycle of constant rebuilding, going through several rounds of dissolution, and then picks something up, burying the bad and putting the good upfront. Being in the entertainment world, Huang Zitao grows at an even faster rate than normal. But as a rebellious person, he questions everything, and places both the good and the bad outside for everyone to view.
“I really didn’t want to go. Later on it’s because my grandparents were soldiers and they wanted me to go. So then, ok, I’ll go. I was resistant to it at first as I’ve been living with such freedom. My mind and body just didn’t adapt in time. Later on it slowly became good. A lot of times I simply don’t want to do a lot of things. But I know that by doing those things, it’s good for me. So now I’ve learnt to say yes. Even if I don’t like it, so long as I know it’s good for me, then ok fine. So since I’m already there, ok, just do it. Even though I say everyday that I’m not doing this. I still do it.” – his reason for taking part in “Takes A Real Man S2”, it’s that simple.
Being myself
I’ve always been this way
We asked Daryl about his impression of Tao. He spoke of this incident. “In 2015, one of the photographer wanted to touch up Tao’s legs, to just make it look longer. Then he said, “no, I’m the way the photographs reflect, don’t do it.” To me, he’s a person who’s very true to himself. He doesn’t care about the fake stuff, only the real things. It’s something that’s hard to find in the entertainment industry, or perhaps, even in most people.”
Daryl still recalls how Huang Zitao took care of him when he first got to Beijing. He says, “he’s just like any other normal guy. He doesn’t care what others say. That time I only knew Maan Coffee, and he basically says, “let’s go.” It’s very special. He doesn't make you feel distant in the things he does.”
It’s precisely this lack of distance, that makes Huang Zitao give us such a strong feeling. Rarely do idol artistes behave like this, showing off his imperfections which are real. “Getting people to buy into a personality/ character setting” is something childish and laughable to him. This is a tad moving. Because in this 20 something boy, be it out of wanting to be cool, or what most Asian guys call a sense of responsibility, you can feel his resolve. No matter right or wrong, he’ll shoulder the consequences, and is mentally prepared to take responsibility for his behavior. This courage has got nothing to do with youth.
Almost everyone has asked him, why he doesn’t use stunt doubles when doing action scenes or just stuff that are very tough. He always answers “but then, why use stunt doubles? You shouldn’t in the first place. You’ve taken on this project, so what’s the meaning in getting a double to do it? The logic behind asking this question itself is strange. Is being an actor something great? Is being an actor more superior than others? I don’t think so.”
It’s with that kind of attitude that he made the film “Railroad Tigers” with Jackie Chan. In temperatures of minus 18 degrees, he had to film a scene. During that period, he had chicken pox all over him, people could see the pox bursting as he filmed, but he gritted his teeth and continued with the repeat takes.
Later on, when filming “A Chinese Odyssey”, he had a scene with the Bull Demon King at the very end. That day, he rushed to the set the minute he got off the plane, sat for 4 hours of make-up and went straight into filming until 6 in the morning. It was fight scenes all the way through. He kept telling himself that it’s alright, that it’ll be fine after he gets some sleep.
It’s all because he feels that this sort of persistence pays off, as the fight scenes were spectacular.
“I’ve never treated myself as any sort of idol, artiste or those nonsense. I just know that since I’m doing this, I need to do my work well, be professional and responsible. Let myself slowly become more cultured and improve my abilities. I’ve learnt some of that professionalism from other actors, and I’ve used it on myself. I feel very happy, that is, when you’ve finished a scene and everyone applauds. When you thank everyone for their hard work, that really feels good, instead of simply walking away, and then constantly being late and asking for stand-ins so that one can finish 3 months’ work in just one. When I saw that article, I was pretty speechless.”
To be myself. Those three words may look simple, but after so many years of working, and gaining the so called “growth”, many will find that “they themselves” has disappeared. They have in fact, become those which they loathe. There’s indeed youth’s brashness and childishness in Huang Zitao’s stubborn attitude, but you can’t help but admit that, in this era, what is lacking is this determination and persistence in maintaining one’s principles, and the bare & blunt truth.
Yes, he has indeed said silly stuff, made mistakes and have had several embarrassing moments. You can, because he’s under the spotlight, judge and criticize him mercilessly on the internet or offline. You might even go further and insult his family.
But don’t forget, all the things that he dares to do, to shoulder, to be truthful on, to dream big. He dares to, but you might not.
“I have my own values, I know the reason that I exists on this world. Everyone does. Everyone can treat themselves as the leading character in their own domains, because the meaning of life is different for everyone”
[eng]170626 - Netease article on ZTAO’s new song “还来得及”
Link to original: https://media.weibo.cn/article?id=2309614122843536308380&jumpfrom=weibocom
Popular C-POP singer-songwriter, all-rounder Huang Zitao is going to release a new song after just having finished his tour of Paris Fashion Week!. The new song, "Hai Lai De Ji" (Still in Time), once again written and composed by him, has had its poster revealed today and will be released on 30th June. In the poster, unlike the previous ones in which only parts of his features are revealed, this time round, almost "half his face" are seen in the poster. His eyes are ever so seductive, and the pastel color scheme is very dreamy and romantic. This looks very fresh and makes one can't help but look forward to the surprises that this song may bring!
According to what we know, this song is still very much a sad and helpless love story, very much like an offshoot to his previous song "Exposed". The lyrics are direct and basically goes with the flow, but it's attitude is still simple, straight to the point and impactful. Don't dwell on what has passed, "everything's the best arrangement, everything's still in time. " And musically speaking, it's a piece of electro dance music, there are spaces and also rise and fall in the song, and the arrangement's very dreamy and elegant. There's loads of depth to its sound, making it seem like one has fallen into a giant musical maze, making one so engrossed in it, swaying to the music, easily forgetting the pain of lost love and the boredom of life.
At the same time, this song also possess the psychedelic elements of trap music, the sensitivities of IDM and the infinite possibilities of Future. Even though it's a sad story, there's not hysteria, nor loss of control. Rather it's a light and beautiful interpretation, both sensitive and literary in nature. It's very much similar to Huang Zitao's optimistic nature and the way he goes all out when he does things. The rhythm is also pretty catchy, and gets hold of the listener's attention very easily. From being numb to relaxed, from feeling down to smiling, listening to it one time is all it takes for the melody to be stuck in your head. That's probably the charisma of it. It's a different sort of improvement compared to his previous songs. Please look forward to its release on 30th June.
[ENG] 170613 - SinaEnt news on ZTAO’s Drama “The Brightest Star in the Sky”
Original URL: https://ent.sina.cn/tv/tv/2017-06-13/detail-ifyfzfyz3641774.d.html
Huang Zitao and Wu Qian as a Couple
Produced by TH Entertainment and set to be filmed in Beijing, Los Angeles and Cancún etc, the original youth idol drama, “The Brightest Star in the Sky” has formally announced that Huang Zitao and Wu Qian would be playing the lead roles. They had also recently revealed the names of its production crew. In the drama, Huang Zitao plays the role of the super popular singer, Zheng Boxun, while Wu Qian plays Yang Zhenzhen, the innocent girl who’s passionate about music and has moved to Beijing.
The drama is a story about 3 young people who’s working hard together to pursue their musical aspirations, and their complicated love-hate relationship with each other. An original singer-songwriter and also the leader of creating original C-POP amongst the post 90-ers, Huang Zitao plays a proud and uninhibited popular idol singer who has succeeded early in his career, and is passionately devoted to music. There is a degree of similarity to Huang Zitao himself. As for Wu Qian, she plays a novice manager who starts from the very bottom and suffers repeated setbacks due to misunderstandings. Never giving on her aspirations on music, she finally becomes a successful manager through hard work. Although it’s set in the music industry, it reflects the indomitable spirit of the younger generation.
This drama is the third one (in a leading role) played by Huang Zitao, after having previously done “The Negotiator” and “A Chinese Odyssey”. And the director for this drama happens to be Liu Yizhi, who also directed “The Negotiator”. With regards to this, Huang Zitao expressed that, “It’s my second time working with director Liu Yizhi. When filming “The Negotiator”, he gave me a lot of guidance on acting, and so I hope I’ll perform even better this time and together with the director, create a character that everyone will like even more. “Wu Qian has had several dramas out recently, and her participation in “The Brightest Star in the Sky”, which boasts of such an excellent production crew, makes people look forward to it even more.
The drama “The Brightest Star in the Sky” is directed by Liu Yizhi and produced by TH Entertainment. It is produced with meticulous care in collaboration with a superb crew. Be it the director, cameraman, art director, editing or stylist, they are all the elites in their field, who has all joined forces to help make this drama a success. This drama will begin filming on 16th June, and the entire cast list will be announced then. It’s scheduled tentatively to be broadcast in 2018, please look forward to it.
[ENG]20170604 - Iqiyi article/interview with ZTAO on Edge of Innocence
Original link: http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MjM5NzI5NTQwMA==&mid=2650138964&idx=1&sn=ab3d2679462eaa7fb6bdd89b530a0a0c
There may be some spoilers involved. so beware
Since his debut, the ever forthright Huang Zitao has not only shown his unique talent in singing and dancing, but has also done well in variety shows and movies. In 2016, he acted in Jackie Chan’s Railroad Tigers and had a surprising performance in it. And this year, he’s played the lead in “Edge of Innocence”, directed by Golden Horse Award winning director Chang Jung-Chi. It is an adaptation of a novel by renown Japanese mystery writer Shimada Soji.
In the movie, Huang Zitao plays a 19 year old college student Kang Qiao who falls in love with the female lead at first sight and risks it all just for love. His first scene in the movie is that of a very cool one of him speeding on a bike along the road. His portrayal of Kang Qiao’s emotions, thoughts at that scene are precise and accurate, showing the individualistic, forthright & uninhibited side to the character. In the movie, there are no overly exaggerated changes to Kang Qiao’s facial expressions, body languages and speech etc but the slow, gradual change of his feelings towards to female lead, Xia Yingying are thoroughly transmitted to the audiences. He has accurately portrayed, that sense of confusion as a youth of 19 years falls in love, that inexperienced yet firm, with ease.
Gave many of his “firsts” to the film; drank a bottle of whisky to boost his guts for the love scenes but fell asleep when it was done.
This is Huang Zitao’s first real lead role in a piece of work. In it, he gave many of his “firsts”. His first time being a male lead in a movie, first kiss scene, first bed scene... There was one in which he and the female lead Yang Caiyu kissed in the water. When asked about his first on screen kiss. Huang Zitao acted very maturely. “The kissing scenes are fine. We just kissed when we rose out of the water. Just a kiss and no more.” We (the interviewer) pressed on and asked if he really wasn’t shy about the scene. Huang Zitao said, “There’s nothing to be shy about a kiss. In the movie I’m Kang QIao. That I can kiss someone whom I love, is a very blessed and happy thing. I won’t hesitate in kissing her, because Kang Qiao loves Xia Yingying a lot.”
Filming bed/love scenes a mere 10 days after they have just met to a new actor, is quite a bit challenge. Tao Tao also admitted this, saying “Do feel a bit shy when it comes to bed scenes. Just not too used to it, with you asking me to kiss facing the camera and taking off my clothes. But prior to that, me and Caiyu prepared by drinking. I have a good alcohol tolerance so I drank a whole bottle of whisky. She got more Mojito. Both of us finished the scene under the influence of alcohol, and that makes it not so embarrassing. “ Upon this part, Tao got a bit embarrassed. He said, “I drank a tad too much, so in middle after we got through a part, I fell asleep. The camera focused on my eyes for a while in that scene in the movie; that’s the second one at me, after I had fallen asleep and was all dazed. After the entire scene was done and the director said “Cut”! I fell asleep and in the end the staff carried me out.”
When we asked if this was considered a breakthrough for him since he gave so many of his firsts in this movie, Tao said, “No, All these really are no big deal!”
Professional Tao!: Falling off a motorbike. swimming in the sea with just a pair of shorts on in winter
In the movie, the male lead Kang Qiao was hospitalized after falling of his motorobike. He was attracted by the girl who lived in the villa across the road, and a series of events happened after that. Speaking of motorbikes, actually Huang Zitao does not like being on bikes, and he usually don’t ride on them. But the character is one who likes motorbikes a lot and drives at a very high speed. So he specially went to practice before shooting. “It was harder at the beginning, I fell off it twice or trice and got injured, just some scrapes mostly. Was really thrown off the bike for the scene. They got the stuntmen to do a take first, and I kept watching. To be honest I was a bit scared, but in the end I still did it myself, as I wanted to try.
It was winter when they were filming. Although it was in Taipei, the temperatures were still very low. When filming in the water, Huang Zitao revealed that he had only had a pair of loose shorts on. When asked if the scenes in the water was tough, Tao said, “
It’s hard for the female lead. The weather was cold. She could only have very thin clothing on and was asked to look very beautiful as she got out of the water. They wanted that instant that appeals to Kang Qiao. Caiyu couldn’t swim. Although I wasn’t afraid of water, I was of the cold. I only had some big shorts on and the waves were fierce, It was hard remaining steady on my feet but we persisted on. That scene took a long while to shoot, about 3 to 4 hours.
”
To a newbie who’s just gotten into the movies, crying scenes can be tough. And the character Kang Qiao whom Huang Zitao plays, is the sort who’s daring in love and has loads of rich, emotional scenes. Having seen the movie, we feel that TaoTao’s crying scenes are indeed good; so heartbreakingly good that it tugs at your heart. When asked about which scene did he had the most NGs in, Huang Zitao thought about it and replied, “the scene with the most NGs is the one in the hospital. Because the female lead had been reported as a killer, so it was huge mental blow. He suspected that the nurse Zhou Min is the actual killer, and was frantically looking for her. After the first take was gone, I’ve basically shed all my tears. The director said it was no good. But at that time, I didn’t know how to control myself at crying scenes so I’ve basically shed all my tears in that. In the second take, I just couldn’t get into the frame of mind required. So I told the director to give me some time. But I still couldn’t do it after half an hour. The director spoke a lot with me, and analyzed the scene with me. I felt that the director was right and so threw myself wholeheartedly into the scene again.”
Singer on set; Insistent on original work, working hard to bring C-POP to the world
Huang Zitao’s also the mood-maker and “travelling live concert singer” in the movie crew. He often sings on the set. “I sing the minute I have nothing to do. Because sometimes I don’t have time to go the studio to practice my singing while filming, so I find time to do it myself.” His pal Calvin Tu also says that Tao’s basically a walking concert machine, often singing on set, from the first minute he steps into the make-up room until he leave the set. Li Meng also says that Tao basically sings everything, from English to Chinese. He’s constantly singing and it sounds great.
As the leading popular 90-er original C-Pop singer, and all-rounded artist, much attention has been placed on Huang Zitao since his debut. He’s remained highly popular both at home and overseas. Other than fans who proclaim themselves as fans of his looks and/or personality, even more fans are in love with his music. Huang Zitao’s always passionate about his music, and always creates and polishes his own work himself.
And since he return as an solo artist in 2015, he has, in the short 2 years, wrote and composed 21 songs. His title track for his 2017 concert tour, “Promise”, gathered rave reviews in just 1 month of release. He also won the year’s best all-rounded artist award in the 17th Top Chinese Music Festival.
This youth who has remained on his path to pursue his dreams of music, is not one to be satisfied only with creating original works. He hopes to bring all of his works and his favorite C-POP to the world, to get everyone to understand and love it. This is Huang Zitao’s own personal goal and his promise to all Hailangs.
Other than wanted to bring C-POP to the world, Huang Zitao also hopes that Chinese martial arts can continue to shine in the international stage. It wasn’t a mere coincidence that martial arts loving Tao was asked to join the movie Railroad Tigers. If it hadn’t been for his martial arts background, he wouldn’t had caught Jackie Chan’s eye.
Unique attitude in his personal fashion. He’s as persistent as Kang Qiao is when he was 19
Huang Zitao’s fearless attitude in the movie is an accurate portrayal of Kang Qiao’s own fearlessness as a youth of 19 years. He feels that when he was 19, he’s similar to Kang Qiao. “Kang Qiao has that stubbornness and persistence towards love, whereas mine is towards my dreams. I can also risk it all for my dreams, but I will not let it violate my principles.”
Huang Zitao’s private dress sense also carries with it his own unique attitude. He’s able to carry off all the various trendy brands with ease.
In his latest 2017 Promise Concert tour, he’s the first in the world to wear all those clothes in his concerts! Wow!
From “Edge of Innocence” we can see a different Huang Zitao. Other than singing, he’s actually an excellent actor. His perfect portrayal of Kang Qiao’s world, his persistence and strength, makes us look forward to even better performances in the future!
1. The movie, “Edge of Innocence”, for which you are the lead, will be released on 27th May. What kind of person is “Kang Qiao” , the role you are playing, like?
He’s the sort who would risk it all and do everything for the girl he loves. That’s quite similar to me. The minute we are certain, we’ll continue down the path determinedly.
2. What’s the biggest challenge to you in taking on this movie?
It’s my first lead role in a movie. In the beginning, it was very hard to get into character when I was filming scenes alone. Because I had not met the other actors and was basing it all on my own imagination.
3. This movie is an adaptation of a novel by renown suspense writer Shimada Soji. Had you read the novel before this?
I had never read the novel before this. I went straight to the script. But the minute I read the script I was intrigued. (Q: Last year you even met Shimada Soji in person, how’s your impression of him?) He’s a very kind and amiable man. It’s a pity that there’s a language barrier. I don’t speak Japanese. But at that time, he gave me a lot of encouragement.
4. In this year and the coming one, you will have many more dramas and movies released. You are rapidly gaining more experience in acting and performing. What’s the biggest thing you have gained from it so far?
I increasingly like acting. Previously, perhaps I only liked doing action films. But now I feel that being able to take on different roles is still interesting.
5. As a representative of an 90s-er idol (i.e. those born in the 90s), what is your opinion of the popular term “fresh meat”?
I don’t like that phrase. I don’t understand why you have to describe someone as a piece of meat. I just want to be a singer, an actor, a good artiste.
6. So given your years of personal experience on the matter, what do you think is the most important quality/competency that an artist should have?
To be a good artist, the most important thing is for you to actually have what it takes and the talents for it. Of course, you need to work hard, and be confident in yourself. Only then can you truly succeed.
7. They all say you are very straightforward and blunt. With regards to the negative comments, will you rebut them or leave it be?
I won’t rebut them, I just wrote “Underground King”, haha! Actually, I basically just let those who anti/attack me go ahead and say whatever they wish to. But like before, I’ll express what I wish to say in my songs, and sing it out, using it as inspiration.
8. You’ve just celebrated your 24th birthday, compared to how you were last year, what changes have there been?
I think I’m more mature this year. There’s a bit more added to the side of “30 year old!Tao”, and there’s also more music, and works in TV/movies that I can bring to everyone. (Q: What’s your birthday wish this year?) I still hope to be able to continue doing C-Pop, bring C-pop to the world, and at the same time, make even more and better dramas/movies.
9. What type of girl would attract you?
I like those who can carry on a conversation with me, and whom I get along with comfortably. Basically, it would be the kind where you can feel that she’s the one you are looking for, when you are with her. (Q: If you meet you like very much, will you do flash marriage (i.e. get married very quickly after a short courtship)?) Even if she isn’t that pretty, so long as you are sure that she’s the one, I think a flash marriage is possible.
10. Out of a total of 100, how much would you rate your IQ, EQ and looks?
100 for all. Because I love myself the most, haha!
[ENG] Men’s health - Huang Zitao: Nothing can weaken me
scans credit to lunchbox
On 27th May, the movie “Edge of Innocence” will be released in China. His very first movie was praised widely by experienced actors. In the 2nd season of “Takes A Real Man”, he’s the rebellious soldier who in the end, became the top soldier. And now he’s the endorser of the 2017 Super Boy show, with the words “Follow Me” displayed proudly on the posters. Is this still the “Huang Zitao” you knew from before?
The interview took place after the photoshoot. Exhausted, Huang Zitao was sprawled out on the chair, letting the make-up artist remove his make-up first, taking a break before indicating that the interview can begin. Because the chat was done with him facing the make-up mirror, it resulted in a rather symbolic scene. He would stare very hard at himself in the mirror as he answered the questions; at times he would answer back, staring at us in the mirror. Or he would be answering, seeming spaced out, staring into himself in the mirror.
There seemed to be no predictable pattern to him, as he suddenly swings from being high to angry, talkative and then refusing to explain things. But actually, according to psychology, people usually understand themselves through what they see in the mirror. As such, when Huang Zitao’s staring at himself at the mirror while answering the questions, those are things that he’s actually saying to himself. When he’s staring at us (or rather, the people who care about him in the room) and answering, what’s being expressed is the understanding he hopes to gain from others, and the emotional connection. When he’s staring at the interviewer through the mirror (i.e. unfamiliar bystanders) and answering the questions, the cautious attitude is a display of the defensive measures he has put in the place to protect against the hurt he had suffered from before. And as for spacing out and staring at himself or into the distance as he answers, those are things that he’s saying to the future.
This time round, let’s might as well make things a tad more special, and show, in its original form, how the interview took place, and categorize it according to the above categories, throw it a bit of background information, and ultimately, help you get to personally know Huang Zitao.
“Super confident in himself”
Q: We’re having a military theme for this photoshoot, do you like it?
T: Yes! Actually I look good in just about everything.
Q: Which part of you do you think is good looking? Tell us so that we can take note of it more.
T: All of me looks good. When taking photos please photo the right side.
With regards to his looks, Huang Zitao’s forever super satisfied with himself. We’ve heard that he’ll even examine his photos carefully, and tell himself, “Actually I didn’t really put on that much weight, I’m still very handsome.” He’s also very disciplined when it comes to eating. He worries that if he thinks only about eating every day, he’ll look so bad on camera that no one will look at him again. However, afterwards we found out that he’s been taking traditional Chinese medication as he wasn’t feeling well. That’s why he has to eat 3 meals daily, which is quite a challenge as he used to eat only 1 meal a day.
Q: You think you do have a gift for acting, right?
T: I’m a genius. Really. I feel that I have come to this earth with a great mission and responsibility given to me by the heavens. Once I’ve completed with the mission I can go back.
With regards to his acting, a few veteran actors, such as Wang Xueqi from “The Game Changer”, has given high praise for Huang Zitao’s acting, saying that he has a bright future ahead of him. In the filming of “Railroad Tigers”, Huang Zitao’s refusal to use stunt doubles and the ferocity at which he did the stunts himself, made Jackie Chan felt as if he was looking at his younger self. Since then, he has called Huang Zitao as his “beloved student”. Actually what Huang Zitao’s really calling out for is the following, “When everyone’s doubting you, on a very quiet set, when everyone’s looking to see if you can deliver that scene. Be it crying or getting angry, in any case, it’s those sort of important scene. When you are done with the scene, and everyone’s clapping for you. When the silence is broken by the thunderous applause, that kind of recognition is really a great comfort to me. Hence I feel that I do have the talent for this, and have shown my abilities. When everyone feels that I don’t have what it takes, I’ll show them with my abilities. Everyone then slowly start to jokingly call me the best actor. Well of course, it’s because I acted well. So since everyone’s praising me, I’ll accept it.”
Q: In the 2nd season of “Takes A Real Man”, why did you manage to take the spot of the top soldier, i.e. “soldier king”?
T: What do you think is the reason? It’s because I’m a true soldier. I retired from the Leishen commando squad at the age of 23.
Actually that is just a national education program. But Huang Zitao still transformed from a wild, untamed horse, into a real soldier. From him not really knowing where’s home or who’s his family, to slowly growing up step by step, that growth has brought about a whole new understanding of him for everyone. Before leaving the squad, the squad leader gave him a medal from the special operations team. He has tattooed the medal on himself, forever defining himself as a soldier.
Q: What’s your definition of the C-POP that you wish to develop? What’s the style like?”
T: I’m C-POP. C-POP is me. Time can and will prove everything. When you all interview me again 10 years later, I would be the representative of C-POP.
Actually when Huang Zitao first made his debut, what he saw was Korea’s music, K-POP, that had become wildly popular. It’s a mix of Korea’s popular music, electronic music, hip hop, dance etc. He wants to make China’s very own China-POP. Currently for all his songs, it’s arranged and produced by Daryl.K (of his age), while he himself is in charge of most of the composing and lyrics.
“Laying bare his heart”
Q: You’ve previously practiced martial arts, so you must have excellent control over your body. Did you have problem performing the lines when you made your first movie?
T: Initially it was tough remembering the lines. When making EOI, I remembered that there was a rainy scene. Perhaps it was the noise in the surrounding area, but that scene was taking me forever and it just wasn’t good. I got very angry and so I asked the director to give me a minute to rest. I went to vent my frustrations against the wall, hitting it. Once I was done, I went back to the scene again and it was finally done. Now I only need to read it once to remember it.
A lot of times, Huang Zitao has expressed his admiration for those who “really has the skills and abilities.” Because he had benefited a lot from his senior’s experiences. For example, Jackie Chan, whom he met on his second film. Jackie Chan taught him to take note of the position of the cameras. No matter who he’s in the scene with, he has to remember not to block the others from the camera. He has to coordinate his position according to how the cameras moved, and Jackie Chan went into specifics as to what to do at each point, such that he was able to act naturally and at the same time, take note of the cameras.
Q: Are you thankful to the reality TV shows for being such a turning point for your career?
T: I didn’t go on all the reality TV shows for fun. To me, even if those shows are not popular, they are valuable life experiences for me. For example, I went on Korea’s Law of the Jungle when I was 18 years old. I went on it again in China when I was 23. It’s because it gives me memories. You can’t experience that kind of life in reality. Despite not having anything, every day we’re laughing so happily. Nowadays people have basically everything, but yet every day they are so unhappy.
Q: Are you different from the other popular young male idols because you have trained in martial arts since young and hence is not afraid of hardship?
T: Everyone’s afraid of hardship. It all depends on whether you are willing to endure it. I said this during the concert tour press launch earlier on. Artists are actually no different from your cleaners, or normal office workers. It’s just a job. So do it well since a job is given to you. Making a fuss and wanting to go home over a small cut is just so pretentious. I feel that those really are very trivial matters. I’ve never felt that the things I’ve done are hard/tough. Those are my choices. I only have one thought and that is to complete it and do it well.”
It’s precisely this declaration of wanting to do things to the best of his ability once he’s made up his mind, that Super Boy decide to pick him as the spokesperson. He represents that special characteristic of this era; of the freedom and abandon at which the 90-ers expresses themselves, unafraid of controversy and of being “anti-ed”. Having long been “anti-ed” and “vilified”, Huang Zitao has this suggestion for this year’s Super Boy participants, and that is to be always confident in themselves. In this internet age, many people may come under immense stress, getting attacked scolded & vilified online. When that happens, you should always be confident in yourself, never give in and never follow the masses blindly. It’s just like what his lyrics has always conveyed: “to always work hard, and rule this world.”
Q: How’s preparations for the concert?
T: About to start dance practice soon. I’m not good at dancing, so gotta practice.
In the world of music, Huang Zitao’s like a very persistent, hot blooded youth. His staff witnesses how he stays from noon till late into midnight at the recording studio every day. Present in all of his original works, are his persistence towards pursuing C-POP, and his attitude towards life. It’s also as he had said, ‘if you want to really understand me, go listen to my songs.’ There was once when he, after finishing a song, played it for his staff. And it moved one of his female staff, who had recently been through some setbacks in her relationship, to tears. She was sitting at the back, and cried as she listened to it. Huang Zitao quietly passed her some tissue after seeing that, and only said, “I cried too when I was writing the lyrics for this.”
I will not go die easily
Q: Do you still care about how others think about you?
T: 10 years ago when I was in school, I told everyone that I wanted to be a star. No one believed me, and they all felt that there’s something wrong with me, scolding and mocking me. 10 years later, I’m sitting here. I have become a star. I don’t care about whatever it is you say now, it’s really not worth caring about. I only care about whether my future will be better. Right now, I’m just waiting for the right time for all my things (to happen), because I’m ahead of time. As for my talk on my dreams of the future, it really doesn’t matter if you believe in it or not. Because 10 years later I can definitely do it. I can achieve all the things I want to achieve.
Q: We have toy bombs as props today in our photoshoot, and it’s kind of similar to those nasty rumors. Are you still afraid of those things? Previously you have said that though you may not appear to care, deep inside your heart has been pierced through a million times already.
T: I’ve not been afraid (of those) for a very long time.
Q: Do you want to argue/show that you are very hardworking?
T: There’s no need to. What’s the use? Everyone knows how to talk about it.
Q: So does that make the way you live even more unadulterated and individualistic?
T: The way I live my life is very simple. I like the people whom I like, and just do my things. Don’t give a damn about what others say. Isn’t this how life is like? Everyone will die someday, so all the more you must make the most out of the way you live. Those who are wasting time every day, I really don’t know what he’s after. So why should I bother with them? There are better people for me to meet in the future. There are things that I need to slowly think through, and I need to make sure each step I take is a solid/grounded, so I won’t fall down. That’s my life. I have said that I will definitely fulfill my dreams and achieve all that I wish to do. Why? It’s because I have the self-confidence. Because I can. Because I’ll persevere. You can choose not to believe in it. But just wait and see 10 years later. I just want to be the best I can be. I’m working hard to achieve the value of life, and that’s ok. Whether you like me or not it’s up to you.
Q: What if others are unkind to you?
T: Stay far away from him. Even if others harm me, I won’t harm others. That’s my principle.
Q: Who are the people whom you respect?
T: I respect people who are capable, talented and kind. I respect everyone around me, those who are good to me, I respect my family, teacher, friends and fans. As for those whom I don’t know, and who are prejudiced against me despite not knowing the truth, they really don’t matter to me.
Postscript
Lastly, you really don’t need to try to decide whether you like Huang Zitao or not based on your preferences or emotions. We just happened to have one image in our minds. Once there was a young boy who practiced martial arts. Much wrong was done to him and as he gritted his teeth and carried on, he thought, “Why don’t you like me? I don’t care even if you don’t like me! I’m not afraid of hardship; one day I’ll make my name known throughout this world…..” and all the while, he’s practicing his moves tirelessly.
[ENG] Yoho!Girl article - “I’m Huang Zitao｜I have the final say on my life!”
link to source http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/PUx79TVKIWaoThl-qVgVVQ
Yesterday was Huang Zitao’s birthday. Today we at Yoho!Girl present everyone with the final version of the concept trailer for Huang Zitao’s 2017 Promise Concert Tour that we’ve mentioned before. Hailangs! Come and understand the mind of talented TaoTao who’s wholly immersed in the world of music!
At the recent Beijing stop of the Promise Concert Tour, Huang Zitao performed 19 songs live, perfectly interpreting the unique charms of C-Pop. Come take a look at style of his concert with Yoho!Girl
At the Beijing stop, he actually sang a Jay Chou’s classic, “Silence”. He even performed live, the concert’s theme song, “Promise” and performed a new dance.
At the concert, Huang Zitao sang songs like Adore, New Day, Cinderella Girl, M.O.M, Reluctantly etc, all 19 original songs in which he did almost all the writing and composing for. Of the songs, “Underground King”, which caused such a storm in the concert in Nanjing last year was completely turned around. Huang Zitao made his “declarations”, and was super-duper cool, leading all the fans to dance along together.
As 2nd May is his 24th birthday, fans specially prepared a heart-warming and funny birthday celebration for him. Not only did he DIY a birthday cake with them, he even played counsellor on the spot, saying that “Today’s birthday cake is like a blank paper, symbolizing life. C-POP is a dream that I want to fulfil. Even though my drawing may be ugly, but I’ll complete it. Even though there are many trials and hardships on this journey, it’s okie. I’ll complete it with determination.”
Today’s 3rd May, and Yoho!Girl has also prepared a birthday present for Huang Zitao. It is the promotional trailer for his concert tour made jointly by him and us. IT’s like a video recording of his maturing, that will accompany him on his music journey that’s constantly moving ahead.
Y: Do you like socializing?
H: I’ll talk to the person if I like him. It’s simple, I’m just following my feelings. I won’t say things like this or that.
Y: Do you think you are an accomplished youth with the right and proper set of values?
H: I don’t know about that. Others will have to judge.
Y: So can you talk about your outlook on life then?
H: My outlook on life.. there’s too much of it. I feel that everyone should have their own lives, but a lot of people wouldn’t understand my life even if I were to talk about it. So, I’m the one who has the final say on it.
Y: Would you consider your insistence on being yourself as your outlook on life?
H: I think it still depends on the individual. Previously I have always said to just be yourself. But when you think about it carefully, not everyone can be like me and just be themselves. Because everyone has different reasons and are under different circumstances. So a lot of people may wish to do so but he/she can’t do it. But I just feel that if some people were to simply be themselves, they won’t be able to get a lot of things. So perhaps, one may do things that one do not wish to do for the sake of gaining some things.
Y: Do you think you have adjusted to the role of being an artist?
H: I have said it several times. I have never considered or treated myself as an artist. I don’t care about how other artists may feel and view this. But to me, be it being an actor or singer, well, other than the music that I love, those are the other things that I’m willing to do, such as filming. Of course now I also like filming a lot. But even so, I feel that there’s no need to position myself as an artist. Because this is just a job.
Y: It’s more individualistic when making music, while filming a movie requires more team work and cooperation. Do you feel that way?
H: well, making music is just that, making music. Filming is filming. I keep it very separate and do what’s supposed to be done.
Y: What is the thing you enjoy most about making music?
H: The most enjoyable is listening to music, and then when inspiration strikes, writing the lyrics and singing along. That sense of achievement, after I’m done with the lyrics and recording. I especially like sharing the music I’ve just made with other people. My new songs are all done and will slowly be revealed. Plus, the music produced this time round is totally different from those done previously.
Y: How different would it be?
H: Be it in terms of the genre/style, or the tunes and lyrics, it’s all going to be pretty different. People may not dare to believe that these are songs written by Huang Zitao.
Y: What standards do you demand of your works?
H: How do I put this? Comfortable, and I prefer new and trendy things. I like to continually break and surpass my limits. I can’t possibly be fixed in one style or genre forever. I like to make even more new and different things for everyone to hear. That’s one thing I demand of myself. Actually, why do I compose and write these songs? It’s because of these things. Firstly, it’s for me, I want these songs to become part of my life and experiences. Secondly, I want more people to hear my thoughts, and then at the same time, open up their mind, so that they can feel that the songs I write actually resonates a lot with them.
Y: What’s your style of creating/composing?
H: Usually if I say I want to write the lyrics for this, then I have to write it out today. I always only make music when I wish to. When I don’t want to, I don’t write any. When that happens, I might not write a single song for half a year. But when it strikes me, I can make 20 songs a day. It’s a matter of inspiration. When you feel inspired on one day, you may be able to compose the tune and write out the lyrics to a song immediately. But actually, occasionally, even if you feel inspired, the tune comes out only when you are done with the lyrics. However, there are also times where you can only get the tune out but there’s some difficulty coming up with the lyrics.
Y: Do you rest in between recordings?
H: Definitely. You definitely have to rest after singing all day. Because I’ve very relaxed. When I’m making music, I really just go with the flow of things. So I’m very relaxed. When I rest, I may rest for an hour before going into recording again. When recording a song, I usually take about 6 hours or so. It depends on the complexity of the songs. For example, it may take longer for a rap. Because there are more lyrics, and the structure and layers to it are different and particularly complex.
Y: Do you feel troubled by the lack of privacy?
H: Privacy is definitely important. But sometimes, I don’t really have much of that. When I’m in Beijing, I stay in the recording studio and then go home, drink wine at home at night. I rarely go out.
Y: As a public figure, your every move and word is magnified, interpreted and even mis-read. Have you ever been worried about that?
H: Many people have said before that I shouldn’t say things in a certain way. You have to say it this way instead, because only then will everyone like you. But actually a lot of times, I feel that that really goes against my conscience. Because it is true that many other people have done things wrongly. If I’m not happy about it, why can’t I say it? I’m still me, I’ll say what I have to say. I’m a straightforward person, I really am. Be it with friends or at work. I’m just very frank. I won’t care who you are, how great or how high a status you may have. It doesn’t concern me. If I like you, I’ll take to you. If I don’t then I simply won’t bother with you. So I don’t treat myself as an artist. Those artists to me are also not artists. They are also just working, and everyone works in different areas. There’s no high or low, or things to look down upon. Everyone’s having a tough time.
Y: The entertainment industry is a social circle. Is it really fine for you to be alone like this?
H: First of all, I’m not a loner. I have my own friends too. But there’s something that I’ve done very well at. I almost never ask anything of anyone. I don’t trouble others. I don’t ask them to reblog my weibo or friends’ circle posts. I also buy a lot of my own branded clothes, and do not ask the brands for it, other than those I’m endorsing. What’s my principle since young? To depend on yourself. Because no one can help you till the end. You only have yourself. Get yourself on firm ground, and depend on your own strengths and charisma. Once you’ve elevated yourself to a certain height, then everything will come. There’s no use begging others, and I don’t like troubling other people.
Y: But overly individualistic people tend to become arrogant and egoistical. How do you keep yourself clear and level headed?
H: You know why so many artists have such inflated egos these days? It’s because too many people praise them, until they no longer know who they are. Nobody says bad things about them. Nobody dares to so they never know what’s wrong with them and what direction they should be going in. So I think a lot of people do not quite understand the values that an artist should have. Just like me saying that, for an artist, in each and every job, you are nothing without the production team who’s supporting and putting in work behind you. Just like me today, the lighting technician’s been squatting and holding the light the entire time. The cameraman’s been moving around with the camera. Without them, who’s going to be recording things? It’s the same with filming dramas and movies. You don’t become an artist simply by yourself. You only become one with the quiet support and efforts put in by others. So all those things about acting like a big shot etc shouldn’t exist. Just do your job well, leave a good impression on everyone. Be able to live up to yourself, to the staff and director, then I feel it’s ok. Don’t put on airs.
Y: Do you have any career goals?
H: I’m starting to make my own things now. In the future I may producing movies, dramas etc, by myself.
Y: As you get more and more popular, do you start to feel lonely at the top?
H: No. And it doesn’t matter to me whether I’m popular or not. Be it for my movies or music, I only have one goal, and that is to win the recognition of the professional people in the industry!
Y: You seem to have practiced your set of values pretty well so far?
H: Firstly I don't ask to be popular. Secondly, I’m not after money. I’m just doing the things I like, and my own job. I will not go against my own will or that of others, nor will I harm them. I’m climbing up one solid step at a time. I believe that I will have a very good future. And I don’t seek to compare with others. That’s my values. I never compare, I just concentrate on being the best person I can be. I’m just completing my works as best as I can. I want everyone to see my professionalism and respect for this job, and the sort of person I am, if I can achieve all that I’ve said. So long as it’s something that I, Huang Zitao have said, I definitely can do it. My dreams will definitely be fulfilled. That’s the confidence I have in myself, so it doesn’t matter what others like to say.
[ENG] 170426- Yoho!Girl wechat article : I'm Huang Zitao | I Simply Never Give Up!
link to original: http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MjM5ODI2NzA2NQ==&mid=2667413386&idx=1&sn=892ad143d305771fb2729a7e7c575585
Huang Zitao says, "It's really simply how I've managed to do this for so long, I simply never give up. Regardless of the troubles and difficulties that I run into, I just don't give up, no matter how difficult, tiring or hard it may be!" This was said in the trailer from the newly completed music documentary done jointly by Yoho!Girl and Huang Zitao. It's precisely because Huang Zitao has constantly pursued his music career that preparations for his solo concert tour "Promise" is now on-going (30th April in Beijing, 6th May in Nanjing, 20th May in Taiwan, 27th May in Macau). Perhaps you may think that the Huang Zitao on screen is a very handsome and cool boy with a strong personality. I can tell you this, he's a really very cool boy, a very hardworking cool boy!
The Huang Zitao now is no longer the same Huang Zitao we saw years ago. He has grown up. Everyone might feel that the old Huang Zitao's a very rebellious boy with a very distinct personality. But now he's transformed into a multi-faceted artist, an all rounded artist with his own goals!
Yoho!Girl interviewed Huang Zitao too in the Feb issue not so long ago. He said then, "The things that I write and sing about are all the real experiences and feelings from me and my friends. As to how many people will like it or sing it, I don't care."
We met Huang Zitao face to face again this time. It feels that he has matured even more, compared to 2 months ago. When filming his music documentary, we found that he's become even more passionate and crazy about making music, pursuing the heights that he longs for determinedly!
Q: So have you liked music ever since you were a child?
H: I preferred singing when I was young. Then as I grew up, I started to like rap. Because you can write a lot in rap, and say a lot of what you wish to say in it. You might not be able to express all you want to say in the lyrics of a song, but you can do it in a rap.
Y: Then do you write your own songs?
H: Yes, That's why all my songs are written by myself.
Y: Have you ever had times where you've experienced an explosion of inspiration?
H: Yes yes yes, when I was in Las Vegas, I wrote 4 songs in a day. And those 4 songs are really especially perfect, I feel.
Y: When did you realize that you are gifted in this?
H: It's actually also related to working hard. Because I'm been continually learning, and my sense of inspiration and intelligence are strong. As such I can both accept and learn a lot of things very quickly, I can't describe that feeling. In any case, there's no difficulty at all when it comes to writing things, and really, my inspirations are especially good.
Y: What suggestions do you have for youngsters who are chasing after their musical dreams?
H: There isn't much to my suggestion. It's really simply how I've managed to do this for so long, I simply never give up. Regardless of the troubles and difficulties that I run into, I just don't give up, no matter how difficult, tiring or hard it may be. Even if sometimes I may not be able to write any music, I feel that the songs which others sing are very difficult, I can't sing what he sings. And I'll get angry. I'll question why is it that I can't sing the thing that he's singing. I'll then go and practice practice practice, until I can sing it just like him, or even better. That’s how it's always been. Constantly pushing myself beyond my limits. So, if you like something, you have to do it yourself. Why do those successful people succeed in the things they do? It's because he perseveres and never gives up. It's simple logic that everyone understands but few are able to do.
Y: What habits do you have when you are writing your songs?
H: When I'm doing my song-writing, I don't even look at my phone. The people who knows me never disturbs me. I'll just stay in the recording studio and not leave it. Because each time I go in, I stay until 2-3 and keep on writing. I just can't leave the place because I really want to write it so very much.
Y: Have you ever had differing opinions from your producers when making your music?
H: I'll be honest. Me and my producers are too in sync with each other. Actually I'm the overall producer, even in my company I'm the main producer. So my producer listens to me too. But I'll use all his good ideas, so there hasn't been much differences in opinions, because we have good rapport.
Y: Ever faced any particularly tough difficulties?
H: All that no longer exists. So long as the feelings come to me, I can find it immediately, for example a chord, we have never learnt it, but just hum it out, you can hum out different ones to find the most suitable one.
Y: In creating music, has there ever been anything that made you very angry?
H: I'm extremely happy when I'm working on my music. I've really never ever been angry, I'm never been angry, really I have never been!
Y: Talk about how you are like when you are happy
H: Super simple. When I'm done with a song, I get excited immediately. Why? Because it simply sounds so great, you understand? That's kind of feeling, where you are listening (to it) in the recording studio with the volume turned up to the max. My voice, and the melody starting to flow out from there..I just get very happy, and then I think about what sort of lyrics I should write. I get so excited and then I just want to quickly finish recording it, it's so exciting!
Y: What's your ideal life?
H: To go on vacation, buy clothes when I'm free, accompany my parents out for a meal and stuff, it's actually a very normal life.
Y: What do you think your super power is?
H: I think that I might have broken some heavenly rules and have been chased down to earth by the gods. Making me go through various trials on earth, and then giving me these natural talents. Perhaps these are some of the contributions that the heavens could make after giving me to this earth.
Y: What do you think is the difference between self-centredness and self-importance?
H: The latter means that he can not achieve the things he talks about. For the former, he'll always insist on his own ideas and do what is necessary step by step very grounded-ly. I really look down on those who are all talk and no action.
Y: When was the last time you felt that you are truly living (i.e. not wearing a mask etc..)?
H: Truly living, I've always been living my life truthfully.
Y: Nowadays a lot of people seem to have this same trouble, they feel that
H: I feel that they are too free. They should find something that they should be doing, and not live life that way. Do what you should do, and don't hesitate once you think about something. The more you hesitate, the more time you waste and in the end you won't want to do it.
Y: so are you the sort to take action immediately?
H: I do it when I think of it, I never procrastinate!
[ENG] 20170407 Tencent article – Huang Zitao: I’m also worried that I can’t find a girlfriend, because my standards are too high
Source: http://ent.qq.com/a/20170407/006520.htm
“I have too much self confidence!”
“I, am a genius!”
“Now’s a C-Pop’s dynasty”
“I shall be the one to lead…”
“Who! Else! Is! There!?”
“Up to you all to believe…”
“I, am Huang Zitao~”
“So what’s wrong with that!”
Huang Ztiao is a born rapper. A flow is instantly composed just by plucking a few sentences from what he said on the concert tour press conference.
If not, why don’t you try to rap using those sentences above?
Yesterday, Huang Zitao held the press conference on his 2017 concert tour in Beijing. I was instantly awed by the stage the minute I entered. The concert tour is entitled “Promise”, and the 5 alphabets are made into human sized light boxes and placed on the stage, changing colors along with the stage lights.
It’s been a rather long while since I’ve attended such a flawless press conference. Almost all the reporters’ butts were off the comfortable hotel chairs, and none were reading through their friends’ circles in social media to pass the time. Everyone’s focus was solely on the stage, afraid to miss the next “popular phrase” that Huang Zitao might say.
“He’s really way too daring in his speech!” The cameraman exclaimed. I recommended Huang Zitao’s “Underground King” to him. “Quick listen to this, get a feel of what “not proud even when I have billions of pocket money” is like.
Disregarding the arrangement and the melody, Huang Zitao basically just used that one line of lyric to perfectly demonstrate what he view as the spirit of hip hop.
Using his index finger to point to the front, fiercely poking at the air while speaking is Huang Zitao’s habit. As a result, it seems that he’s making a promise to the heavens each time he says something. In the VCR recorded by his fans, his songs are used as the bgm. And he basically used the press conference as a KTV lounge, happily singing his songs, looking at the screen.
The host asked him to sing the upcoming new song and he quickly whipped out his phone to look at the lyrics. He even had to explain, “although this is written by me, I’m just scared that I might sing it wrongly.” When the company CEO went on stage to make speech, he hugged the boss’s shoulders and sniggered, “He’s been posting selfies at the gym every day, but he still hasn’t gotten himself a girlfriend yet. “
Self-confident, arrogant, egoistical? There seems to be no way of describing this 23-year-old boy on the stage, with his hair dyed blonde and who is wearing his shirt over his windbreaker. In this age of information explosion, idols all seem very much the same. But someone like Huang Zitao, who has constantly gone against the tide, has indeed grown into something different.
In this press conference where there’s unending highlights, Huang Zitao was interviewed by Tencent Entertainment. When asked about one’s choice of life-partners, normal idols would usually answer, “not in a hurry, I want to find the one who feels right.” A more literary inclined idol would say, “leave it to fate, I want to meet the right person at the right time.” But Huang Zitao answered it in this way, “I’m worried too. It’s true that I can’t find one, my standards are too high!”
Q& A:
Tencent: Regarding the incident where you didn’t take a photo with your fans, but said, “you can secretly take a photo of me instead”.. is that incident real? Why did you say that then?
Tao: It’s true. But I’m definitely unwilling if you are photographing me directly right? If you are not taking it directly, and I didn’t spot you, then I feel that it’s fine. But just don’t push your phone into my face to take pictures, please give me some respect.
Tencent: In your last album’s “Underground King”, you’ve mentioned several times that you want to lead the raise of C-Pop. What exactly is C-Pop to you and why do you feel that you can do it?
Tao: it’s simple, because I have works. C-Pop, I’m C-Pop. And if you feel you can be the leader of C-Pop, then you stand out and show me your works. Let’s compare. I believe that one with taste would know (whose work is better). Don’t just talk, it’s no use just talking all day.
Tencent: Have you ever thought of challenging/taking on the Grammys? Are you confident or do you have a plan to get your songs into foreign charts?
Tao: Yes, definitely. Maybe I’ll start next year, because I know I may still have more drama/movies to film this year. That’s why I do not have time to go to the States. Actually I did work with the Grammys previously and they have talked about this. So next time I’ll bring even newer works over to work with them.
Tencent: A lot of fans are worried about your “marital prospects”, you have also expressed a lot of views on love through your songs. What kind of a girlfriend will you look for?
Tao: it depends; I’m worried now too. Actually I too want to find a girlfriend, but I really can’t find one. Because my standards are too high.
Tencent: You have often said that music is your most important dream, so when taking part in variety shows, dramas etc, things not related to music, do you miss the singer side of you? Will all those experiences become material for your songwriting?
Tao: Because music is indeed very important to me. But when I choose to do something, no matter what it is, I’ll complete it seriously.
Tencent: do you prefer your singing voice or rapping? Which do you think is sexier?
Tao: I like both, because it is my voice
Tencent: Use a sentence to describe your concert.
Tao: Promise, I will definitely not disappoint in the promises that I have made to all of you. See you all in the concert, I’ll give you a concert that’s different, because it’s Huang Zitao’s concert.
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