Linda Vang
Artist Spotlight: Linda Vang — Finding Her Voice and Embracing Her Creativity
From discovering early K-pop through Windows Media Player to exploring original songwriting, Linda Vang shares her musical journey, the artists who inspire her, and the importance of embracing her authentic self.
Every artist has a story, and for Linda Vang, her musical journey began long before she stepped onto a stage. Influenced by the music she grew up listening to, her experiences singing in school, and the confidence she developed through performing, Linda has continued to explore her artistry while learning to trust her own voice.
Today, she is entering a new chapter in her musical journey, working on original songs and surrounding herself with people who encourage her to share her talent with the world. Through her experiences, Linda demonstrates that an artist's journey is not always a straight path, but one filled with growth, self-discovery, and the courage to keep creating.
In this XPK artist spotlight, Linda shares her beginnings, creative process, memorable performances, and the lessons she has learned along the way.
Discovering a Love for Music
Linda's love for music began in the early 2000s, when she listened to early K-pop artists through Windows Media Player. During a time when the internet was not as widely used, discovering music looked very different from today. Listeners did not always know how to categorize the music they found, sometimes simply referring to a song as a “good Thai song” or a “good Chinese song.”
Alongside discovering music online, Linda grew up listening to music with her family. Her interest continued to develop throughout middle and high school, where she participated in choir and talent shows. These experiences gave her opportunities to explore her voice, gain confidence, and become more comfortable performing in front of others.
Her musical influences reflect an appreciation for powerful vocals and expressive performances. Artists such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Korean singer Ailee have all helped shape her musical tastes. Ailee, in particular, was one of Linda's favorite singers while growing up.
These early influences helped introduce Linda to different vocal styles and musical expressions, laying the foundation for her own artistic development.
Finding Her Sound
Linda describes her voice as having a slight raspy tone, a quality she has learned to appreciate and incorporate into her singing.
One song that resonates with her is Alicia Keys' “If I Ain't Got You.” She feels the song highlights the qualities she enjoys in a singer's voice and allows her to explore the expressive, slightly raspy tone that suits her own sound. It is also one of the songs she practices before performing.
Preparation plays an important role in Linda's routine. Before taking the stage, she relies on vocal warmups, lip rolls, and humming to prepare her voice. She also massages her neck and shoulders to help loosen up and relax. Lip rolls are particularly helpful for relaxing her cheeks and preparing her vocals.
These routines reflect the importance of preparation and consistency in her approach to performing, helping her feel more comfortable before sharing her voice with an audience.
A Performance to Remember: Anime, Music, and the Crowd
One of Linda's most memorable performances took place during her first time working with XPK.
She performed a set lasting approximately 20 to 30 minutes, with her final song being “Blue Bird,” the iconic opening theme associated with the anime Naruto.
The song held special meaning for Linda because she grew up watching the series. What made the performance particularly unforgettable was the audience's reaction. As she sang, people began jumping around and posing like characters from Naruto, creating an energetic atmosphere that brought the crowd together.
For Linda, the experience was more than simply performing a song. It was a moment when music, nostalgia, and a shared love for anime connected the audience in a memorable way.
Her experience demonstrates how music can bring people together through shared interests and emotions, turning a performance into a collective experience that both the artist and audience can appreciate.
The Creative Process: Letting the Music Speak First
When it comes to songwriting, Linda often begins with a beat rather than a set of lyrics.
She enjoys searching YouTube for free instrumentals, particularly those influenced by soul, jazz, and R&B. Instead of immediately trying to write words, she begins by humming along to the music, experimenting with melodies, and moving with the rhythm.
As she explores the beat, she gradually develops a sense of what the song might be about. Once she identifies a melody and the direction she wants to take, she begins introducing lyrics that fit the rhythm and emotion of the music.
Her process allows her to discover the feeling of a song before deciding what she wants to communicate through its words.
For Linda, creativity is not always about having a complete idea from the beginning. Sometimes, it starts with a melody, a feeling, or simply allowing room for experimentation until something meaningful begins to take shape.
From YouTube Covers to Original Music
Approximately eight to twelve years ago, Linda began sharing singing covers on YouTube. Those early experiences gave her an opportunity to showcase her voice, but creating original music presents a different kind of challenge.
She is currently working on several songs with a friend and hopes to release some of them before the upcoming festival.
Writing original lyrics requires a different level of vulnerability. Rather than interpreting another artist's work, Linda has the opportunity to communicate her own thoughts, feelings, and experiences through music. It also means learning to accept constructive criticism and becoming comfortable with sharing something personal.
Looking back, Linda recognizes that there were times when she felt afraid to express herself fully. That realization has become an important lesson as she works on new material and continues developing her songwriting abilities.
Her advice to fellow musicians reflects this personal growth: artists should not worry about being too much or feel pressured to fit into a particular musical category. Instead, they should explore different styles, embrace creativity, have fun, and avoid letting other people's opinions dictate their artistic direction.
Linda acknowledges that she is still learning herself. Rather than viewing that as a limitation, she recognizes that growth is an ongoing part of being an artist.
Her journey serves as a reminder that music does not have to fit into a single box. Sometimes, the most meaningful artistic discoveries happen when musicians give themselves permission to experiment and find their own identities.
Learning From Life's Detours
When asked about the biggest challenge or mistake she felt she had made, Linda jokingly answered, “Having boyfriends!”
Behind the humor was a more thoughtful reflection on how relationships and other life experiences affected her musical journey.
During the years when she began sharing YouTube covers, Linda found that the attention she gave to relationships sometimes meant she invested less time in music than she could have. Looking back, she recognizes that those experiences taught her valuable lessons about priorities and personal growth.
Rather than dwelling on what might have been, Linda continues to move forward with a renewed focus on her music.
Her experience highlights an important reality for many creatives: life does not always follow the timeline they imagine. Responsibilities, relationships, and personal challenges can shift their priorities, but those detours do not have to mean the end of a dream.
For Linda, the opportunity to continue creating music remains, and she is embracing it.
The People Who Believe in Her
One of the most emotional moments during Linda's interview came when she spoke about her friend Chase, whom she credits with encouraging her to release more music and covers this year.
When Chase reached out to tell her that her voice was really good, the encouragement meant more than he may have realized. Linda explained that she had often thought her voice was just okay, making it meaningful to have someone recognize her ability and encourage her to share it with others.
Chase has also helped her with mixing and mastering, providing practical support as she works toward releasing more music.
As Linda reflected on his influence, she became emotional, revealing how deeply his encouragement had affected her. Having someone believe in her talent helped reinforce the importance of continuing to create and putting her work out into the world.
Linda also expressed gratitude for her husband, Niko, who has consistently supported her musical ambitions. He purchased a computer to help her mix and master music, along with a speaker for her recording room.
Reflecting on their relationship of approximately three to four years, Linda shared how meaningful it has been to have a partner who supports her passion and encourages her to pursue music.
Their support has provided her with both the tools to continue creating and the encouragement to believe in what she can accomplish.
Behind every artist is a personal story, and sometimes the people who make the greatest difference are those who recognize an artist's potential before that artist fully recognizes it themselves.
Managing Stage Anxiety
Even experienced performers can feel nervous before stepping onto a stage, and Linda is no exception.
When asked how she manages stage anxiety, she humorously admitted that she visits the bathroom before almost every performance. She described how nerves can make her feel tingly, particularly during the quiet moments immediately before going onstage.
If she has five minutes to herself before a performance, she often uses that time for a quick bathroom visit. Drinking water also helps her prepare and feel more comfortable.
Her candid answer brought a lighthearted moment to the interview while revealing something many performers can relate to: being passionate about music does not mean being completely free of nerves.
Sometimes, managing performance anxiety comes down to finding small routines that help an artist feel grounded, prepared, and ready to connect with an audience.
Beyond the Stage
Music is not Linda's only creative interest. She also enjoys photography, including wedding photography, family photography, and portraits.
Her interest in both music and photography reflects a creative side that extends beyond the stage, giving her additional opportunities to explore artistic expression and capture meaningful moments.
As a music fan, Linda also appreciates the experience of live performances. She recalled seeing BTS in 2019 as a memorable concert experience and mentioned David Choi's performance at a smaller venue in Charlotte.
The intimate atmosphere of David Choi's performance stood out to her, offering a more personal connection between the performer and the audience.
These experiences reflect what Linda appreciates about music: its ability to create meaningful connections, whether through a large concert filled with fans or a smaller performance where the experience feels more personal.
Looking Ahead: A Voice Still Growing
Linda Vang's journey is a story of rediscovery, personal growth, and learning to trust her own abilities.
From listening to early K-pop tracks and performing in school to sharing YouTube covers and exploring original songwriting, she has continued to develop as an artist. Now, with new music in the works and people around her encouraging her to keep creating, she is embracing the next chapter of her musical journey.
Her message to fellow musicians is simple: do not limit yourself to what others expect. Experiment, have fun, embrace constructive criticism, and give yourself room to discover who you are as an artist.
Linda's journey is still unfolding, and her willingness to learn, create, and share her voice reflects an artist who continues to grow with every experience.
As she works toward releasing original music, audiences have more of her story to look forward to.
Stay connected with XPK — Hmong Music Foundation for more artist spotlights, music stories, and updates celebrating the artists who continue to shape and grow the Hmong music community.