MANILA, Philippines -- As Jackson Wang brings his "Magicman 2" World Tour to the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Nov. 2, the Hong Kong-born singer, rapper, and producer promises Filipino fans more than a concert but a story of growth, truth and self-discovery.
Hong Kong-born singer, rapper and producer Jackson Wang PHOTO FROM INSTAGRAM/JACKSONWANG852G7
Marking his first solo world tour in nearly two years, "Magicman 2" blends music, visuals, and storytelling into what Wang calls an "immersive experience" that unfolds like a film. Each act represents an emotional chapter -- Strength, Seduction, Realization, Wild, and Acceptance -- mirroring the highs and lows of his personal journey.
"I think the main reason for that was I've never really shown my honest side," Wang said in a sit-down interview with The Manila Times when asked how the project explores his identity.
"Because growing up in the commercial world, debuting in the commercial world, there are some sort of appropriate and inappropriate things that the label restricts. So I don't know. And also because some of the songs that when I sang in the past, I didn't even know what it means. I just received a song and I just sang it. Okay, I wake up. This is the dance. Okay, go," he continued.
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"I just felt like I needed this as an artist in my life, at least once, to talk about how I feel about everything, how I feel about life. That's why every single song in the album, there's a message. And also my lifestyle, who I am, like 360 as a person, I try my best to let my fans know even understanding that I might lose everything. But I would rather die as me," Wang added.
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A personal chapter
Written and produced entirely by Wang, "Magicman 2" continues the narrative from his 2022 album "Magicman." The record debuted at No. 13 on the Billboard 200 in August, marking the highest-charting debut by a Chinese artist in history.
"I think every single song in my album is straight from my personal journals. So there wasn't any song that was hard to write. There's no inspiration. It was just from, it was literally from my journal, every single song. So I just took what I wrote in the journal and I just changed it into a song format," he shared.
Still, one track stood out emotionally.
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"Oh, maybe the one, the song that I wrote for my parents, it's called 'Sophie Ricky.' When we finished, because I know it's for my parents, I start to think, like, is this good enough? And I change a lot of different versions. But then I went back to the first version because it was the most, the first instinct," he pointed out.
He reflected on the song's message saying, "I think my parents sacrifice a lot and I've realized... growing up as a kid you won't understand that until down the road when you age. You start to think, hey, they didn't have to raise us. You get me? So this is just some thoughts that I had."
Finding his center
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Wang described his current mindset as a balance between control and peace.
"Find my center -- it's about being in control and also of everything and also even like the fans and community. They know exactly who you are," he said.
"The more I age, I'm just going with the flow. 'Cuz back then and I realized you know as a young age I try to plan a lot of things but a lot of time life just changed in the last second you know so I just want to be now... when I get sad I'm like okay it's not that sad you know when I'm happy it's very happy but not that happy you know like I'm just more neutral about everything," he added.
Meanwhile, running his own label, Team Wang, and managing a global career come with heavy pressure.
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"It's hard that's why that's it sucks it really sucks I want to give up honestly I'm so helpless every single day but it is what it is reality you know so you just got to accept it and move on and just work hard. If everything is easy then everybody succeed right yeah," Wang said.
Still, he finds fulfillment in his craft.
"I enjoy it because there's some things it's the things that I love to do so when you're doing stuff that you love to do you don't think it's work yeah," he continued.
Looking back, he said the defining moment of his career is happening now.
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"Maybe I don't have a global hit song but I feel like at least in Magicman 2 I'm being me and I think I'm very happy that it is it is who I am you know so yeah," he pointed out.
As Magicman 2 unfolds on stage, Wang said fans can expect an honest reflection of who he truly is and he hopes audiences will take home not just the energy of the performance, but the heart behind it.
"I hope you can take away not just the performance but about the message that I'm talking about," he finally said.