Image: JXCKY. Photo: Francis Biay/ Supplied
For West Melbourne-based, Chinese-Cambodian dark pop star JXCKY, the saying, 鈥淚f you can see it, you can be it,鈥� couldn鈥檛 ring any truer.
As he stood in the happy throng at last year鈥檚 Midsumma Victoria鈥檚 Pride Street Party, watching Keiynan Lonsdale and Jaguar Jonze, he felt empowered to seek a spot for himself. Fast forward a year, and he鈥檒l appear on the Gertrude Street stage during a jam-packed day of music that includes Sycco, Maya Vice and LION.聽
JXCKY wants to pay his joy forward. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 so important for other people who are like me to be able to see themselves reflected in a line-up, sharing their stories, because when I鈥檓 in the audience, I want to be able to listen,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 hope seeing me can potentially spark something in others.鈥�
Music Was The Right Fit
Growing up in Melbourne鈥檚 west as a kid of immigrants, JXCKY loved reading and was always scribbling down his own stories. 鈥淭he hustle and the grind that鈥檚 instilled in you from a young age is very much there,鈥� he says of his creative drive.
Channelling it into music came later, after graduating high school. 鈥淚 wanted a unique way to express myself and for people to listen that wasn鈥檛 writing a book or teaching an English class.鈥澛�
Music was the right fit. 鈥淗ow people listened to and dissected lyrics, how you can write out your story that way in a really fun format, hiding little clues about yourself where people really have to listen, it became a cathartic way for me to express the hurt and pain that I鈥檝e been holding inside of me since I was a teenager,鈥� JXCKY says.
New Single
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of vulnerability behind all the loud noise that鈥檚 often presented with conviction and confidence at surface level, but if you really listen, there鈥檚 a multitude of themes of sadness, revenge, hurt, contempt and guilt.鈥�
New single 鈥楲FG!!!鈥� 鈥� JXCKY says it鈥檚 up to you if you read it as 鈥楲et鈥檚 freaking鈥� or 鈥榝ucking go鈥� 鈥� lets it all out in spectacular style. 鈥淚t鈥檚 basically a gym-hype song,鈥� he laughs. 鈥淪ometimes the only way to get what you need is to really work hard by yourself. And having grown up in an environment where I鈥檝e had to hustle, it鈥檚 created this mindset for me to continue this motivation.鈥�
Hopefully, hearing his might is music to other young people of colour鈥檚 ears this Midsumma.聽
JXCKY is scheduled to perform at Victoria’s Pride Street Party on February 11, 2024
