What’s your stage name and where are you from?
My stage name is ‘Chong Ali’. I’m from Brisbane, Australia.
What’s the story behind your stage name?
My stage name was chosen because ‘Chong’ was used as a racial slur growing up (Ching-Chong). I used to box in my teens at the local PCYC and loved Muhammad Ali, so I would try to emulate his style. People saw this and would call me ‘Ali’, not because I was any good at boxing, but because they saw that I was trying to copy his in-ring swagger.
Describe your musical journey in three sentences.
I started my journey in Hip Hop as a bboy and eventually progressed into producing beats. I then decided I wanted to dedicate more time to music, so I got a Diploma in Technical Production where I met a lot of really cool people in the music industry. After I learned how to build my bedroom studio, I fell in love with producing music and rapping.
Share an interesting experience you had while creating your latest track.
I was struggling with writer’s block for about a year before writing this song, and I couldn’t figure out why. It felt like the more I sat down and tried to write, the more trash I would produce. However, after traveling to Thailand for a solo trip, I found myself overwhelmed with inspiration, and for the first time in a long time, it felt like I wasn’t overthinking the raps. It all flowed through me like a river, and all I had to do was direct it to the sea.
What message do you want to convey through your music?
Authenticity. Being real and championing your community is a practical, tangible way that you can create change.
Tell us about a challenge you faced during production and how you overcame it.
To be honest, the mixing process was a headache. I went with a new engineer, and he just couldn’t quite get the sound I was looking for. I spent more money trying to get it to sound the way I wanted, but in the end, I mixed it myself and got it closer to how I imagined it. It can be so tricky sometimes with music because everything is so subjective, and there are no wrong answers—it’s purely all based on taste.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
I’m a huge fan of Pjnboys from Vietnam and would absolutely love to collaborate with him given the opportunity. Him and his crew just look like they’re always having a great time making music, and I love their vibe. I appreciate how he represents Vietnamese street culture in a genuinely authentic way.
Where do you see your music taking you in the next year?
I’ve made some great connections in Vietnam, so I would love to play some shows over there. I just love the way they embrace music and celebrate their artists. It’d be really cool to connect with more people in the music scene over there.
What’s the next big step for you as an artist?
My next big step as an artist is growing my festival called ‘Southside by Night’. It’s a festival that celebrates car culture, Hip Hop culture, and Street Food Culture and is held during Lunar New Year as part of BrisAsia Festival. We’re in our fourth year now, and I’m so proud to have a platform where I can showcase my fellow artists in a meaningful way in front of an amazing community that has come together as a result of this festival.
Where can we hear/watch your most recent work?
Spotify and YouTube is where my music lives. I also have remixes and rare finds on my SoundCloud.
What is the best way to contact you if fans want to give feedback or if other artists/producers want to collaborate?
Shoot me a DM on Insta @chong_ali. Keen to chat and connect.
