Justin Peng, a singer-songwriter and a soulful storyteller hailing from China and now flourishing in the UK, is the embodiment of a rising newcomer. Recognised by Vogue China as a beacon of promise, Justin’s journey is illuminated by the praise of industry leaders, including Nichole Scherzinger.

“When it comes to music, I started to sing when I was five years old. I have two sisters back at home in China that I used to love to sing with. In the early 2000s, there was this great, golden Taiwanese girl group called S.H.E. They were super big. My sisters and I were huge fans of theirs, and I remember that there was this song, Superstar, that every Chinese person was familiar with – [Justin sings a verse to me in Mandarin]. My sisters and I loved to pretend that we were in the group. That was really my first step into music”, reminisced Justin. 

His upbringing in China introduced him to traditional instruments like the Hulusi and Bamboo Flute, amplifying his reverence for the broad language of music. “My dad would send me to school every weekend to get private lessons and [learn to play instruments]. I really loved it, and my parents supported me when it came to playing instruments. I also sang at school and performed at art festivals. That was during my time living in China. But singing was always something on the side; I never really thought it could be my career or that I could be a singer.”

The path to stardom is often marked by an accidental discovery. Justin’s journey took an unexpected turn when he found himself on the stage of the X Factor in the UK. “The whole artist idea came around when I went on the X Factor in the UK. That initially started as a prank”, Justin chuckled, then added, “What happened was my friends said we would be going to a party in Birmingham and that they rented a bus to get there. I was like, ‘Cool, let’s go to Birmingham’. And then, when I showed up, they said I was auditioning for the X Factor. I said, ‘No, I am not’. It was a big thing, as outside of the International Convention Centre there were huge crowds, so I decided to go. So, stage after stage, I met all the judges, and I really enjoyed the whole process. That was also the first time I thought, ‘Maybe I will become a superstar! [laughs]’. Unfortunately, my parents weren’t supportive of me being on the show, so I eventually dropped out at the judges’ house. And then I went to university. My parents often told me that being an artist is not a very stable career. When I went to university, I went on to produce music and write songs for other people, but I never really wrote anything for myself”. What began as a joke transformed into a realisation that music was his destiny, catapulting him into auditions and stages where he discovered a basin of talent within himself. 

Three years ago, an extraordinary thing happened to Justin when he travelled to China. “The Chinese competition [Bravo Youngsters] happened in 2020, and I decided to try again because I was about to graduate from my Master’s degree, and if I should do it, I should do it now. Maybe I could convince my parents and myself that I can really do it, you know? And that was a huge affirmation when I ended up winning that competition; people voted for me. For my parents, when I was on Chinese TV, it was a big deal, as now they could talk to family about it as well as their friends. Since then, I’ve said to myself, ‘It’s now or never’”, Justin confessed. 

“I also believe in the concept that if you want to do something well, you must have 10,000 hours of practise, and I think it is legitimate – every second you practise is vital”, Justin emphasised, underlining his consistent commitment to his music-making and songwriting.

The songs Best Friend, Blue Eyes, and Lost & Not Found offer a glimpse into Justin’s soulful songwriting process. “For example, Blue Eyes came from modern-day dating. It’s like when someone has ‘blue eyes’ you fell in love with, and that somebody sits across the room and you just met, and it is that special feeling you get”, Justin elaborated. 

“In terms of Best Friend, I wrote this song back in 2020 while dealing with a long-distance relationship. It’s a love poem about falling head over heels for someone and fantasising about your future with them, even though you’ve only just met. So, if you are a hopeless romantic like me, and have felt this way before, I promise you will relate! Through this song, I wanted to express love and affection in the boldest and most direct way possible. And the reason why I included Chinese rapping in there is because I felt like when I speak Chinese, it feels very authentic. Lost & Not Found, on the other hand, has [a different story behind it]. I was inspired by a thief who stole my laptop. I remember I was comforting my friend as he was having a bad day, and before I noticed, my bag was gone. I went to the lost and found office, but unfortunately, my bag wasn’t found”, Justin added with a chuckle. 

The blend of a British and Chinese upbringing has shaped Justin into a unique artist, proficient at blending discipline with adaptability. “Obviously, life in China and my current life in the UK have been very different. And the lifestyle I have here in London is the lifestyle that I prefer. Life in certain countries can be restrictive at times, and when you leave your home, you realise that it was the freedom you wanted. In China, the society you live in is very different from what I am experiencing here in London”, Justin explained, then continued, “Whatever I went through in China and in the UK, I’m so glad that I went through that because it makes me such an interesting person. I do think that my strict Chinese upbringing also allowed me to adapt to difficult scenarios when I travel abroad. I can adjust to most of the situations. I do believe that over the years, my upbringing in China helped me become an artist who is disciplined. Looking at my life, I am glad that I am in Europe. It probably wouldn’t be the same for my sisters because they love living in China. They feel safe, they feel happy, they have their husbands, and they live good lives. I think life is about finding the environment in which you feel the most comfortable in and going for it”.

Emerging as an artist is a journey filled with challenges. “I face challenges every day. But the top would be the lack of emotional and financial support at times. As we all know, musicians and artists don’t get paid enough”, Justin admitted. It can be extremely lonely too, you need to believe in yourself at all times. Luckily, I have a group of supportive best friends who would be there for me whenever I need them.  Yet, his aspirations extend beyond personal success. “I’d love to support other people along the way,”  he added.

As the spotlight illuminates Justin’s path, his upcoming album, Growing Out, takes centre stage. “Growing Out means being someone else from what your family and the society have taught you to be”, Justin revealed. With One on One as its title track, the album promises a very personal journey of Justin’s evolution and growth as an artist. He revealed that the full-length album will also contain a Christmas song, as well as a song dedicated to his father, Set Me Free. In addition, the artist promised to release One on One soon, on top of two other singles, with Growing Out being released next year. 

Justin Peng’s story is one of resilience and artistic examination. As he emerges as a rising star, he symbolises the potential for dreams to become concrete realities, showing us that the world is ready to embrace his voice and message with open arms.

Written and interviewed by Maggie Gogler

_{View of the Arts is a British online publication that chiefly deals with films, music, and art, with an emphasis on the Asian entertainment industry. We are hoping our audience will grow with us as we begin to explore new platforms such as K-pop / K-music, and Asian music in general, and continue to dive into the talented and ever-growing scene of film, music, and arts, worldwide.}