Thomas Ng is a star in the making; he brings a fresh approach to R&B, combining personal stories with diverse musical influences. His sound draws from a mix of jazz, Motown, and rock, creating something timeless and new. 

Thomas’ introduction to music was far from conventional. Growing up, his mother enrolled him in dance classes, setting the stage for an eventual immersion into the world of sound and rhythm. “My mom enrolled me in dance classes as a kid – she was always one for chasing dreams,” he recalls. However, it wasn’t until his exposure to iconic artists like Alicia Keys, Norah Jones, Michael Jackson, and T-Pain that he truly discovered his passion for music. These early musical influences provided the foundation upon which he would later build his own sound. “I started to fall in love with music when I was introduced to artists like Alicia Keys and Michael Jackson,” he says, showing the change from being unsure to fully embracing music’s power.

Despite his early reluctance, Thomas’ eventual decision to pursue music as a career was largely influenced by the encouragement of friends who recognised his potential as a songwriter. Initially envisioning himself in a behind-the-scenes role, Thomas found that his desire to create and perform surpassed his original intentions. “I’ve always loved making people move and feel something through music – the same way it moves me,” he reflects, showing what drives him as an artist.

Thomas’ musical style features a mix of R&B, with touches of jazz, Motown, and rock. This versatility reflects his approach to songwriting, where every track explores heartfelt emotion and personal expression. “I think recently I’ve been trying new things and experimenting,” he states. “But I’d say my music style is smooth R&B, mixed with elements from different genres I love – from Motown to jazz to rock.” Combining these influences gives his work accessibility, providing a framework for his always-evolving sound.

A significant force in shaping Thomas’ musical career was the rise of social media platforms like TikTok, which have enabled him to connect with a global audience in novel ways. “TikTok has both given me and taken away my confidence in ways I couldn’t have imagined,” he admits. The platform has allowed him to engage with various artists and producers, opening up new creative possibilities. By experimenting with trends and collaborating with emerging talents, Ng has leveraged TikTok to increase his presence in the music scene. “It opened my eyes to how huge the community of artists out there is,” he observes, acknowledging social media’s role in shaping his artistic evolution.

One of the most significant milestones in Thomas’ career came with the viral success of his track One Last Dance, featuring New Zealand artist Milky Day. The song’s popularity was further boosted by the rise of open-verse challenges on TikTok, where users, including other artists, contributed their own interpretations of the song. “It’s cool seeing people from so many different backgrounds – different tastes in music and different cultures – reinterpret my songs,” the artist notes. This interaction with his audience speaks to the universality of music as a medium of shared experience, showing how social media platforms have altered the traditional relationship between artist and listener.

Thomas’ creative process also extends into his production methods, where he seeks to balance authenticity with innovation. His Duet Me series, born out of a desire to share unfinished tracks, allowed him to engage directly with the listeners and collaborators. “At the time, I also had low self-esteem with my production, so it was a way for me to face my fears,” he explains. Through this series, Thomas overcame self-doubt and developed a more spontaneous, less self-critical approach to music-making. “It’s motivated me to produce more and to be more creative without overthinking too much,” he adds, emphasising the importance of embracing vulnerability in the creative process.

Thomas’ recent projects, including his 2024 singles Straight A’s and With You (a collaboration with Echo Huang), further reflect his growing confidence and ability to experiment within different musical spaces. “Straight A’s was a reflection of how I was looking at life at the time. I’d just gone through some tough moments, which made me reevaluate my self-esteem and confidence,” he explains. The song sums up his personal journey, turning feelings of self-doubt into a narrative of strength and growth. The collaboration with Echo Huang on With You presents another layer of Thomas’ creative process, where a simple chord progression evolved into a full-fledged composition through Huang’s lyrical contribution. “With You started as just a chord progression I sent to Echo. After she wrote over it, she completely changed how I saw the song,” he recounts.

Thomas’ diverse cultural background, which spans Boston, the UK, and Hong Kong, has profoundly influenced his musical style and approach. “Being from all over but never really feeling like I belonged anywhere forced me to create and search for my own identity,” he shares. His experiences in these varied cultural contexts have allowed him to absorb different musical traditions, further enriching his songwriting. “I met all kinds of people with different tastes in music, and I took pieces from each place to help find myself,” he explains, drawing attention to the importance of cultural fluidity in his artistic development.

As an artist who draws inspiration from a wide range of genres, Thomas notes that his listening habits differ from the music he creates. “Most of the artists I listen to are different from what I make,” he admits. Yet, the influence of foundational figures like Earth, Wind & Fire, Jay Chou, T-Pain, and The Pied Pipers is undeniable. “They all have this sense of nostalgia and feel like artists who made music from a genuine place,” he reflects. While Thomas recognises the influence of these artists, he is cautious about replicating their styles too closely, preferring instead to make his own path.

Thomas’ creative process also involves a fluid integration of improvisation and composition. “Composing is improvising, and improvising is composing,” he asserts. This integration of improvisation into his work allows for greater freedom and emotional depth, bringing up a dynamic exchange between intention and intuition. “The best improvisers move with intent, and the best composers can move freely while staying connected to the song,” he explains, offering insight into his approach to music-making.

Looking toward the future, Thomas is excited to continue growing as an artist. He is currently working on new singles and an EP, with the possibility of a Mandarin-language debut on the horizon. “I’m going back to my roots of smooth R&B, and I hope you all will like it!” he says with enthusiasm. With his distinctive mix of cultural influences and personal expression, I hope he continues to bring fresh perspectives to the genre while building on his already-established sound.

Written and interviewed by Maggie Gogler

Featured image courtesy of Thomas Ng

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to films, music, and arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. With rich content already available to our readers, we aim to expand our reach and grow alongside our audience by delving deeper into emerging platforms such as K-pop and Asian music more broadly. At the same time, we remain committed to exploring the vibrant and ever-evolving global landscape of film, music, and the arts, celebrating the immense talent and creativity that define these industries worldwide.}