Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Wayne Hsu, Singer/Songwriter
By
tien mao
Published Jan 17, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
tien mao
Published Jan 17, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Born in Taipei and currently based out of Philadelphia, Wayne Hsu's music is "the kind of music your mom will like too!" Tomorrow, Wayne will have a release party for his debut EP, "A Boy Named Hsu" at Coda in Manhattan.
How would you describe your music? Would you compare it with anyone else?
I would like to describe it as organic elevator music; it's lounge-tastic, and we call it "Lounge-Core" music. If I have to compare it with someone else I would say Burt Bacharach meets Jack Johnson.
You recently started playing shows with a backup band. Has that changed your approach at all? How has it changed your sound?
I don't really think of them as a "backup band". Instead of having them simply just play as my backup band, I give them lots of space to do whatever they need to do and we end up sounding much bigger because it becomes this big composition.
You came to the United States for High School - does your Taiwanese background influence your music at all?
I'm sure it has one way or another but I never really listened to much Taiwanese music when I was young.
"Making it" in music is hard enough, do you find being an Asian musician makes it even harder or does it open up doors?
it definitely has opened up doors for me. There aren't that many Asian singer-songwriters in this area so people definitely would remember me; it makes me stand out a lot more.
What is your favorite/least favorite memory involving New York?
One time in this hotel room on 45th street... Oh wait, are you talking about musically?
Is there a difference in the New York music scene from your own local scene?
New York fans seem to get more excited.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about playing shows in New York?
The fact that you can go home and say " yeah so we did a show in NYC last night..."
What's the most played song on your iPod (or an equivalent music playing device) in the past week?
Bird of Beauty- Stevie Wonder
What was the first/last album you bought on the day it was released?
A Time to Love- Stevie Wonder
If Josh Schwartz, creator of the OC, asked your band to perform on his tv show (as Modest Mouse, the Killers and the Walkmen recently have) would you?
Yes please.
Wayne Hsu's CD release party is tomorrow, January 18th at Coda (34 E. 34th St.). With the $10 admission fee comes a CD of Wayne's music. You can listen to some of his music on Wayne's myspace page.
Tagged
A HREF
Burt Bacharach
high school
If I
interview
Jack Johnson
manhattan
Music
people
philadelphia
united states
tien mao
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Inside the hidden chamber that controls Lincoln Center's magnificent fountain
Gothamist went behind the scenes to learn how the NYC landmark keeps its majestic waters flowing.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 23, 2026 at 6:00 a.m. ET
In the algorithm age, NYC college radio DJs are still broadcasting the funky stuff
We dropped by WNYU to see what the next generation of radio DJs is up to. The answer is "Br00tal Beats To Study/Relax To."
By
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
In the algorithm age, NYC college radio DJs are still broadcasting the funky stuff
We dropped by WNYU to see what the next generation of radio DJs is up to. The answer is "Br00tal Beats To Study/Relax To."
By
James Ramsay
A Queens prop shop shutters, bunnies find a home uptown, and more openings and closings
By
Hannah Frishberg
A new film invites you to eavesdrop on one of the greatest conversations in NYC history
By
Sonia Rao
The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .