Singer-Songwriter Karencici Produces an Exclusive Track for HYPEBAE
The Chinese creative challenges herself to make a song in one hour.
Earlier this year, music label TEAM WANG announced PANTHEPACK, a new Chinese music group featuring Jackson Wang, Karencici, ICE and J.Sheon. The only female member of the group, singer-songwriter Karencici, along with the rest of her team, has been shaking the country’s music scene with powerful releases like “Too Many.”
In the latest installment of HYPEBAE China’s BEHIND THE SOUND series, Karencici chats about how she got into music, as well as her recent work with PANTHEPACK. She additionally touches on her TikTok journey and how she creates content for her fans. “If I create content, I need to make sure that I like it. I won’t post something just because it’s trending at the moment. I need to feel comfortable in the videos,” she shares in our interview.
Below, the star walks us through how to create fun, eye-catching videos for TikTok. She also challenges herself to produce an HYPEBAE-exclusive track in under an hour.
What have you been up to these days?
We’ve just finished our tour for PANTHEPACK. Currently, I am preparing my album and some visual stuff, which will be coming soon.
You’re the only female musician in PANTHEPACK. What has that experience been like?
I was a little uncomfortable at the beginning because my personality is a little bit relaxed and laid back. We also took a while to adjust to each other’s work patterns. But Jackson, ICE and J.Sheon take care of me very much, so the whole work process has been very comfortable. Being a part of PANTHEPACK can be challenging, but it also allows me to step out of my comfort zone and grow.
When did you first get into music?
I first came across music because my grandmother had a musical dream. When I was five or six years old, she would take me to singing, dancing and piano lessons. It wasn’t until I was 13 or 14 when I fell in love with music. I saw Taylor Swift singing while playing her guitar on stage. She inspired me to try creating music and gradually fell in love with it.
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You moved around a lot growing up. How did the different cultures and cities influence your musical style?
I was 16 years old when I was in Taipei, and I was quite confused at that time. So, I composed some songs that followed the mainstream style. Later I realized that I didn’t like those tracks that much. Throughout the process, I found that I prefer R&B, so I began to pay more attention to this type of music. My style is always changing, depending on what I like at the moment, so maybe I will want to do rock or other genres in the future.
When did you start publishing videos on TikTok? Do you remember what the first video was about?
I am a massive internet addict. As long as I have time, I will always be on TikTok. I get so inspired by all of the funny and creative content out there.
If I remember correctly, my first video was a song cover. After that was released, it got a lot of comments and attention, so I kept going in that direction. I then began to upload some original music.
How do you usually come up with your TikTok content?
If I create content, I need to make sure that I like it. I won’t post something just because it’s trending at the moment. I need to feel comfortable in the videos. I believe people can tell if you like what you’re doing, and they want to see something that’s real.
What do you think are some advantages of short video platforms like TikTok for musicians today?
I think it serves as a great platform to promote their works. Many independent artists can let people hear their music in this way, and establish a direct interaction and connection with the audience.
The popularity of social platforms such as TikTok has indeed opened up new opportunities for many independent music producers. The platform makes it easier for your music to be heard by a wider audience. At the same time, the real-time interaction features of these social platforms also enable musicians to collect feedback from the public in a short time.
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