Anchen Ji worked with talented Berklee alumni Chengcheng (Troy) Tang and Tyller Bolton on "Wait It Out". The idea of this song is based on Anchen's experience. Anchen used to love a boy. They met some obstacles, such as the long distance and age difference. He wants to leave. She wants him to wait it out. "Wait It Out" has a happy and touching pop voice, giving hope to listeners that real love will overcome obstacles. The track was produced by Tang and composed by Tang and Bolton in collaboration with Anchen Ji.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Kamil) Hey Anchen Ji, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What first got you into music?
I discovered music late in life. I had some great changes in my life in the past two years, such as divorce and change a job. I feel happy when I sing. I started to study vocal performance and music business at Berklee Online from 2021, where I learned how to become the author of my life story.
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Wang Yibo. He is my idol, a famous dancer, singer, and actor from China.
Your latest song is 'Wait It Out'. Can you tell us more about the making of it and if there were any unusual things happening during the process?
This song is based on my previous experience. I used to love a boy. We met some obstacles in reality, such as long distance and age difference. He wanted to leave, but I wanted him to wait it out. I talked with my producer, Chengcheng (Troy) Tang and my songwriter, Tyller Bolton, about this song idea in August 2022. We discussed it on Zoom, because they both live in Los Angelis, USA and I live in Boston, USA. Then we created this song. I recorded this song in December 2022 at a Berklee studio. The unusual thing was that I was so excited in the recording session and forgot to record the backing vocal. In January 2023, I recorded the backing vocal at home and sent it to my producer. My producer finalized this song in February 2023. I released this song in March 2023.
What are you focusing on right now?
I’m working on my third single with my producer and songwriter right now. The song is about love in parallel spacetimes. It is at a very early stage. Please be patient with us. I’m taking 3 classes at Berklee Online: guitar for beginners, sight-singing, and artists management. I’m pretty busy now and planning to take more music classes in the next couple of years.
What are you most proud of?
I think I’m pretty proud of having my life goes to way I want right now. I want to be a successful singer, scientist, and a mom for the rest of my life. I have a daily job as a scientist in a pharmaceutical company in Boston area. I treat music as my second career. I also have a lovely teenager.
What is the biggest challenge of being an artist?
I want to learn a lot of things, but I only have 24 hours a day, especially I have a daily job and need to do my own marketing, such as updating my website and social media and doing TikTok Live.
How do you structure your day?
I sleep around 10 pm and get up around 8 am. I’ll eat breakfast and do half an hour meditation. I start my daily job from 9am to 5pm, there are meetings starting at 8am or 8pm occasionally. I work from home 3 to 4 days a week. In the evenings, I do my singing and guitar daily routine and check my marketing emails and update my social media and website, whenever needed. I learn the Berklee Online classes and complete all assignments during the weekend. I perform and chat with fans via TikTok Live on every Saturday 8pm-8:55pm EST (TikTok @anchenji).
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of music?
I like to write in a diary every day. I record my dreams and my music inspiration in my diary before I forget it.
Do you sing in the shower? What songs?
No.
What are your plans for the future?
I’m planning to study more vocal performance and music business knowledge and skills and release more music in the next couple of years. If I have extra time, I want to learn dance and performance art too.