chuong

chuong (pronounced "chew-ong") is an Vietnamese Canadian anti-pop artist who grew up in a world where his name was always mispronounced—"chuong" (meant to be "chyung") became "chew-ong" because that’s what he was called. Raised in Canada, he quickly learned to adapt, crafting an identity that blends cultural shifts and defiance into his music. Now, with a name that speaks to the tension between where he’s from and where he’s going, chuong creates music that’s anything but ordinary.

From his debut single "hole in my soul," which fuses midwest emo, country, and autotune, chuong’s sound is a raw expression of contradiction. The track is an anthem for anyone who's ever felt the pull of something bigger, something deeper, and something unexplainable. Inspired by his time in Nashville, he absorbed the rootsy vibe of the Midwest and collided it with his own diverse influences—from Joji and Kanye West to My Bloody Valentine—creating a sound that feels like a massive, emotional wave breaking over you.

But chuong’s journey is as much about breaking barriers as it is about running from expectations. Born into a family of doctors (his brother’s a Harvard surgeon, no big deal), he felt the pressure to follow the conventional path that so many Asian kids are expected to walk. But he chose a different route—one that’s messy, imperfect, and entirely his own. This rebellion isn’t just in his music; it’s part of his DNA. He’s always searching for a way to prove that success doesn’t need to look the same for everyone.

chuong has spent months each year in Saigon, reconnecting with his roots and navigating the tension between being Vietnamese and being Canadian. It’s there that he’s immersed in a culture that’s both familiar and foreign, and that journey continues to shape how he makes music—an ongoing conversation between two worlds. It’s that tension, that push and pull, that makes his work resonate with anyone who’s ever felt like they don’t fully belong anywhere.

As the founder of the Bahay Collective, chuong is building something more than just a music scene in Montreal. It’s a movement—a space for BIPOC artists to come together, create something powerful, and show the world what happens when you break from the norms. For him, it’s about making something that doesn’t fit the mold. Something raw, real, and unapologetic.