1 00:00:00,150 --> 00:00:01,810 Sandra P.: Hey y'all, I'm Sandra Pham. 2 00:00:02,070 --> 00:00:03,610 Minh V.: And I'm Minh Vu. 3 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:09,380 Welcome to our season three premiere of Asian in Austin. 4 00:00:20,959 --> 00:00:23,279 Sandra P.: Wow, can you believe we have made it? 5 00:00:23,279 --> 00:00:24,599 We're on season three. 6 00:00:25,095 --> 00:00:26,545 I mean, it's awesome. 7 00:00:26,605 --> 00:00:30,905 I think we always take a moment to reflect on previous seasons 8 00:00:30,905 --> 00:00:33,215 and our intentions for new season. 9 00:00:33,215 --> 00:00:35,195 So I'm excited about this one. 10 00:00:35,195 --> 00:00:41,624 I think we're super grateful for our listeners and those that have really 11 00:00:41,625 --> 00:00:42,944 supported us from the beginning. 12 00:00:42,945 --> 00:00:46,605 But it's, it's pretty incredible for us to say we're on season three. 13 00:00:46,785 --> 00:00:47,114 Minh V.: Yeah. 14 00:00:47,115 --> 00:00:50,330 And I think being able to take these breaks at the beginning 15 00:00:50,330 --> 00:00:52,480 of the year really does help. 16 00:00:53,310 --> 00:00:57,489 Kind of sit with the stuff that we've been able to do when we go out and 17 00:00:57,489 --> 00:01:04,254 like, go to different events and we hear from the listeners from y'all about 18 00:01:04,325 --> 00:01:09,445 how you've been able to engage with the podcast and the episodes and how some 19 00:01:09,445 --> 00:01:10,934 of the episodes really resonate for you. 20 00:01:10,934 --> 00:01:17,305 It really does, I think, give us an even bit of a bigger boost of 21 00:01:17,335 --> 00:01:22,425 energy going into the new season to be able to still provide these 22 00:01:22,425 --> 00:01:24,485 important stories from our community. 23 00:01:24,485 --> 00:01:29,244 So we really appreciate y'all for supporting us like Sandra was saying 24 00:01:29,255 --> 00:01:32,274 and continuing to just be there for us. 25 00:01:32,384 --> 00:01:37,134 And yeah, we're excited to continue to share these stories. 26 00:01:37,780 --> 00:01:42,590 Sandra P.: It's also, uh, an important month for us and we're always center 27 00:01:42,620 --> 00:01:46,470 our seasons around launching and premiering around this month, but 28 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:52,349 for those that don't know, it is a AANHPI Heritage Month, which is really 29 00:01:52,349 --> 00:01:57,619 important and kind of a pretty staple to the podcast and how we operate 30 00:01:57,619 --> 00:01:59,570 here, but how are we feeling this year? 31 00:01:59,630 --> 00:02:04,509 Obviously, you and I have already been involved in a couple events and it is so 32 00:02:04,509 --> 00:02:06,850 nice to be within community in person. 33 00:02:07,994 --> 00:02:15,894 Minh V.: Yeah, it is always fun to be in a majority room full of Asian 34 00:02:15,894 --> 00:02:23,604 Americans and just being able to feel the community and be in community in ways 35 00:02:23,605 --> 00:02:26,665 that may not be always so consistent. 36 00:02:27,170 --> 00:02:31,650 You know, I was, I was thinking about this growing up, like, I've had a pretty, 37 00:02:32,170 --> 00:02:36,349 I feel fortunate to have a pretty, like, diverse group of friends, not leaning 38 00:02:36,350 --> 00:02:38,630 in one majority or, or the other. 39 00:02:39,009 --> 00:02:44,240 It does feel nice that, you know, to have this month and really be grounded 40 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:50,389 in this aspect of our community, our identity, and things like that. 41 00:02:50,470 --> 00:02:51,570 And yeah, I don't know. 42 00:02:51,570 --> 00:02:56,584 I think it's especially -- with everything, you know, there was a recent 43 00:02:57,415 --> 00:03:02,704 demographic report that came out and this continues to be the trend for Austin, but 44 00:03:03,135 --> 00:03:09,704 the Asian American population being one of the fastest growing demographics in 45 00:03:09,705 --> 00:03:16,805 Austin is just still kind of blows my mind a bit and, and to see how the community 46 00:03:16,805 --> 00:03:22,354 shows up, continues to evolve, continues to provide resources, figuring out what 47 00:03:22,354 --> 00:03:26,125 our needs are has been really cool to see. 48 00:03:26,285 --> 00:03:31,845 And in some ways to be part of that feels like a small contribution 49 00:03:31,855 --> 00:03:34,915 through this podcast or what have you feels like a privilege. 50 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:36,950 Sandra P.: Yeah, for sure. 51 00:03:36,989 --> 00:03:42,739 I think compared to other large cities where there are much larger AAPI 52 00:03:42,799 --> 00:03:47,399 populations and communities, I do think Austin is very unique in that 53 00:03:48,079 --> 00:03:52,539 it feels a little bit rare to be in a room with majority Asians, right? 54 00:03:52,539 --> 00:03:55,012 I think you have to be super aware. 55 00:03:55,012 --> 00:03:55,157 Yeah, definitely. 56 00:03:55,157 --> 00:03:55,229 Yeah. 57 00:03:55,620 --> 00:03:59,769 Intentional about creating those spaces and finding those spaces versus like an 58 00:03:59,880 --> 00:04:02,350 LA, Orange County, Houston, you name it. 59 00:04:02,820 --> 00:04:05,410 I think you could walk anywhere and you know exactly where you're going 60 00:04:05,410 --> 00:04:07,120 to find that crowd versus Austin. 61 00:04:07,610 --> 00:04:11,799 What we hear from a lot of our friends who have moved here from California, 62 00:04:11,830 --> 00:04:13,599 they're like, where are the Asians? 63 00:04:13,989 --> 00:04:15,030 Where do they hang out? 64 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:16,589 Like, where's y'all's Chinatown? 65 00:04:16,599 --> 00:04:20,290 Where can I find community and my people? 66 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:24,680 And to be honest with you, it's it is harder to find, and so I am 67 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:29,380 definitely encouraged by the spaces that you and I have been invited 68 00:04:29,390 --> 00:04:32,150 into and seeing that more frequently. 69 00:04:32,180 --> 00:04:36,730 And, you know, even coming up this month, obviously, with it being AAPI 70 00:04:36,780 --> 00:04:41,920 Heritage Month, a ton of night markets are popping up, meetups, like all, all 71 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:45,770 these amazing things, so many events that we can't even keep up with, but like, 72 00:04:46,230 --> 00:04:49,560 that for sure, like, just energizes me. 73 00:04:50,010 --> 00:04:50,350 Yeah. 74 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:55,550 Minh V.: Today's episode, music is super important to us. 75 00:04:55,880 --> 00:05:05,300 I'm excited to be able to have on our premiere, the artist promqueen to talk 76 00:05:05,300 --> 00:05:07,320 a little bit more about her music. 77 00:05:07,975 --> 00:05:14,515 experience, her inspirations, and just like the insane year 78 00:05:14,525 --> 00:05:16,405 that she's been able to have. 79 00:05:16,724 --> 00:05:18,794 And we'll, we'll get into that in a little bit. 80 00:05:18,844 --> 00:05:24,035 But Sandra, how are you feeling about our guest this month? 81 00:05:24,764 --> 00:05:25,655 Sandra P.: Super excited. 82 00:05:25,705 --> 00:05:29,560 We were able to book her on the brink of really big announcements 83 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:30,950 that I know you're going to share. 84 00:05:31,340 --> 00:05:36,520 She is incredible, amazing, really has done an amazing job of just kind of 85 00:05:36,570 --> 00:05:39,480 mixing musical genres, really inspires me. 86 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:43,210 So yeah, I'm thrilled we were able to, to have her on. 87 00:05:43,550 --> 00:05:43,970 Minh V.: Yeah. 88 00:05:44,450 --> 00:05:47,700 All right, I'll share a quick bio and we'll get into the interview. 89 00:05:48,270 --> 00:05:52,199 promqueen is a second generation queer Vietnamese American pop rap 90 00:05:52,260 --> 00:05:54,300 artist based in Austin, Texas. 91 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:58,319 As a daughter to Vietnamese born parents, promqueen draws lyrical 92 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:03,360 inspiration from her family history, own experiences, and self reflection as a 93 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:05,144 second generation raised Asian American. 94 00:06:05,145 --> 00:06:06,245 in Texas. 95 00:06:06,565 --> 00:06:10,395 Alongside music, promqueen thrives in collaborative environments as a 96 00:06:10,395 --> 00:06:15,825 multidisciplinary artist across acting, community organizing, and writing. 97 00:06:16,455 --> 00:06:20,434 promqueen is active in the AAPI community performing at Asian Culture 98 00:06:20,434 --> 00:06:26,485 Fair, Asia World Night Market, the Austin Asian American Film Festival 99 00:06:26,485 --> 00:06:33,974 Gala, AARC TonesFest, and UT's Silk Club 10th Zine release anniversary. 100 00:06:34,435 --> 00:06:38,835 Through her music, she hopes AAPI folks feel encouraged to process, express, 101 00:06:38,885 --> 00:06:40,964 and share their art to the world. 102 00:06:41,344 --> 00:06:44,690 And you'll hear this in the interview, but it was recently announced that 103 00:06:44,690 --> 00:06:50,535 promqueen will be taking the ACL stage for this year's festival 104 00:06:50,595 --> 00:06:53,300 in October, and that's huge. 105 00:06:53,340 --> 00:06:57,570 We were so we, we actually interviewed her on the day that that was announced. 106 00:06:57,570 --> 00:07:01,459 So you'll hear more about her reaction there in the 107 00:07:01,459 --> 00:07:04,560 interview, but let's get into it. 108 00:07:13,799 --> 00:07:14,940 Sandra P.: Welcome promqueen. 109 00:07:14,959 --> 00:07:19,169 We are so excited to have you on the Asian in Austin podcast. 110 00:07:20,060 --> 00:07:20,500 promqueen: Awesome. 111 00:07:20,500 --> 00:07:22,320 Thank you so much for having me here. 112 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:24,520 Thank you so much for that lovely intro. 113 00:07:24,570 --> 00:07:25,580 I'm super excited. 114 00:07:25,580 --> 00:07:30,159 I absolutely love y'all's podcast and love learning about more about other AAPI 115 00:07:30,179 --> 00:07:31,720 folks on this so thanks for having me. 116 00:07:32,235 --> 00:07:35,705 Yeah, of course, and we are obviously a big fan of yours. 117 00:07:35,705 --> 00:07:40,125 And so to our new friends who are listening who aren't familiar with you, 118 00:07:40,135 --> 00:07:43,915 we'd love to give you an opportunity to share some things that we always love 119 00:07:43,915 --> 00:07:48,184 to invite our guests to share are your ethnicities, your pronouns, and any 120 00:07:48,184 --> 00:07:50,384 other identities that you want to share. 121 00:07:51,125 --> 00:07:51,675 Yeah. 122 00:07:52,015 --> 00:07:53,555 So my name is promqueen. 123 00:07:53,575 --> 00:07:55,355 I go by she, her, they, them. 124 00:07:55,765 --> 00:08:00,125 I am a second generation queer Vietnamese American musician right here 125 00:08:00,144 --> 00:08:01,955 in our lovely city of Austin, Texas. 126 00:08:02,655 --> 00:08:07,064 Minh V.: Yes, I am super excited to have you on the show, and we're on, 127 00:08:07,265 --> 00:08:12,380 we're recording this on the heels of a fun announcement that you'll 128 00:08:12,390 --> 00:08:16,540 be on stage at ACL Fest this year. 129 00:08:16,540 --> 00:08:17,270 Congratulations. 130 00:08:17,270 --> 00:08:18,710 That's super, super exciting. 131 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:20,370 How does, how's that feel? 132 00:08:21,329 --> 00:08:22,419 promqueen: Thank you so much. 133 00:08:22,510 --> 00:08:25,400 It feels so many emotions. 134 00:08:25,419 --> 00:08:28,389 I think really me and my team are just surprised. 135 00:08:28,530 --> 00:08:34,319 We are putting out art that feels really meaningful to us and to have advocates 136 00:08:34,340 --> 00:08:39,700 and folks recognize that is like, I'm just like super blown away and just surprised. 137 00:08:39,710 --> 00:08:40,870 It's just great. 138 00:08:40,950 --> 00:08:44,020 Really, gratitude is how I feel that we get an opportunity 139 00:08:44,020 --> 00:08:45,650 to keep doing what we love. 140 00:08:45,950 --> 00:08:49,430 So super surprised and grateful and like all the above. 141 00:08:50,250 --> 00:08:50,770 Minh V.: Yeah. 142 00:08:51,070 --> 00:08:53,669 I mean, one of our first questions was just going to be like, 143 00:08:53,669 --> 00:08:56,140 how's your 2024 going so far? 144 00:08:56,140 --> 00:09:02,350 And I feel like that is already like we're five months in, but an ACL announcement is 145 00:09:02,350 --> 00:09:05,100 a pretty, sounds like a pretty big deal. 146 00:09:05,110 --> 00:09:05,590 So. 147 00:09:06,165 --> 00:09:07,165 Yeah, yeah. 148 00:09:07,195 --> 00:09:09,145 How else is 2024 treating you? 149 00:09:10,074 --> 00:09:10,805 promqueen: For sure. 150 00:09:10,805 --> 00:09:11,334 Yeah. 151 00:09:11,344 --> 00:09:12,235 I love this question. 152 00:09:12,245 --> 00:09:14,615 It helps me to think back like today's announcement was 153 00:09:14,615 --> 00:09:16,165 obviously very, very exciting. 154 00:09:16,174 --> 00:09:19,834 And I had to explain to my mom because she doesn't know what ACL is. 155 00:09:19,844 --> 00:09:21,275 So she's like, oh, that's nice. 156 00:09:21,374 --> 00:09:23,574 And I'm like, yeah, this is what it entails. 157 00:09:23,584 --> 00:09:25,555 She goes, oh, that's great. 158 00:09:25,555 --> 00:09:26,855 So that was kind of fun. 159 00:09:26,895 --> 00:09:28,954 I loved kind of love that she doesn't know what it is. 160 00:09:29,275 --> 00:09:32,500 But this year so far, far has been good. 161 00:09:32,500 --> 00:09:33,930 It's had its ups and downs. 162 00:09:33,939 --> 00:09:36,910 I think the word pivot comes to mind a lot. 163 00:09:37,150 --> 00:09:43,640 So me and my team have had to pivot some projects or directions with projects based 164 00:09:43,640 --> 00:09:46,860 on just like funding, time, bandwidth. 165 00:09:47,349 --> 00:09:53,115 So I think learning how to like, sit with that and saying maybe not right now 166 00:09:53,635 --> 00:09:57,955 has been like the biggest thing that we have and I think it's been really good. 167 00:09:57,955 --> 00:10:02,145 Actually, it's helped us me and my team to even work together and trust each 168 00:10:02,145 --> 00:10:05,464 other more and be really creative with the challenges that have come our way. 169 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:08,640 So I think that's been like our year. 170 00:10:08,700 --> 00:10:11,700 I think it's also just being prepared for all these exciting 171 00:10:11,990 --> 00:10:15,490 opportunities that we've had to, we've had come our way this year. 172 00:10:15,660 --> 00:10:19,430 ACL obviously being like a big one of them and we've had a wonderful 173 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:21,099 partnership with Try Hard Coffee. 174 00:10:21,310 --> 00:10:23,944 They're releasing a vinyl for us for our second record. 175 00:10:24,505 --> 00:10:28,915 Which is really cool and a wonderful program they have for artists in Austin. 176 00:10:29,245 --> 00:10:33,565 So yeah, it's really it's just stepping up our game in every facet. 177 00:10:33,585 --> 00:10:35,614 It's just been really an exciting year 178 00:10:36,305 --> 00:10:39,025 Sandra P.: Yeah, it really has and I want to add to that. 179 00:10:39,025 --> 00:10:44,825 You were also named KUTX's artist of the month So, I mean just such momentum, 180 00:10:44,835 --> 00:10:49,475 but love that you use the word pivot but I think it's also a good opportunity 181 00:10:49,485 --> 00:10:53,425 for us to take a pause and like give you your flowers and celebrate that 182 00:10:53,425 --> 00:10:57,095 right like these are really, really big things like on the heels of today's 183 00:10:57,095 --> 00:11:02,985 announcement of ACL incredible taking a pause to just also reflect on that 184 00:11:02,995 --> 00:11:05,685 and just we we want to celebrate you. 185 00:11:06,319 --> 00:11:07,770 promqueen: Oh, thank you so much, Sandra. 186 00:11:07,780 --> 00:11:12,599 I appreciate you saying that and giving me pause to be like, yeah, good job to 187 00:11:12,599 --> 00:11:16,139 myself and our team, just because, you know, it's easy for me and my team. 188 00:11:16,139 --> 00:11:18,469 And I don't know if y'all can relate, but just to keep working 189 00:11:18,469 --> 00:11:22,099 and grinding and not necessarily like taking a moment to celebrate. 190 00:11:22,339 --> 00:11:23,759 So thank you so much. 191 00:11:23,770 --> 00:11:28,430 It does really mean a lot to be like, yeah, we are KUTX's month 192 00:11:28,449 --> 00:11:30,545 and it is the really exciting. 193 00:11:30,545 --> 00:11:34,844 And again, just, again, just so super grateful and excited that 194 00:11:35,105 --> 00:11:39,605 our art's doing something, you know, outside of our own sphere. 195 00:11:40,805 --> 00:11:45,344 Sandra P.: So I want to dig in into the amazing art that you do create and 196 00:11:45,344 --> 00:11:48,154 how you kind of get into that rhythm. 197 00:11:48,154 --> 00:11:49,304 What is your process? 198 00:11:49,404 --> 00:11:54,465 So something that Minh and I saw was part of the project that you're working on is 199 00:11:54,814 --> 00:11:59,574 getting a little bit more in depth with your family and going through this path 200 00:11:59,604 --> 00:12:03,974 of this family memoir projects, Minh and I can probably both share that that is 201 00:12:03,974 --> 00:12:05,514 something of interest for both of us. 202 00:12:05,555 --> 00:12:09,524 I think we often talk about the fear of losing our family's 203 00:12:09,524 --> 00:12:13,194 history and their stories because it's often not written down. 204 00:12:13,604 --> 00:12:17,660 You know, you hear these generations kind of talk about the joy and 205 00:12:17,660 --> 00:12:19,290 the trauma of, of their lives. 206 00:12:19,290 --> 00:12:23,069 And so I'd love for you to kind of share what spurred that project, how 207 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:28,410 that leads to some of your artistic journey, your songwriting, all of that. 208 00:12:29,224 --> 00:12:30,324 promqueen: Yeah, absolutely. 209 00:12:30,545 --> 00:12:34,504 For me, like I was thinking about this and I remember, I don't know what year it 210 00:12:34,504 --> 00:12:38,665 was, whenever Hunger Games came out, uh, I remember I went to go see Hunger Games 211 00:12:38,695 --> 00:12:40,445 and it's like this epic story, right? 212 00:12:40,904 --> 00:12:43,915 And then the very next day, I went out to breakfast with my dad. 213 00:12:43,915 --> 00:12:46,504 It's something we do, we've done ever since I was a kid. 214 00:12:46,854 --> 00:12:50,385 So I went to IHOP and we're sitting there at IHOP and he's like 215 00:12:50,514 --> 00:12:56,245 dropping down these like intense stories of surviving in the jungle. 216 00:12:56,450 --> 00:13:00,140 Being, like, shipwrecked by Thailand pirates. 217 00:13:00,170 --> 00:13:06,050 And I'm just like, I'm like, you're dropping this on me now, Dad, in an iPod. 218 00:13:06,090 --> 00:13:07,040 Like, what? 219 00:13:07,210 --> 00:13:09,640 It was I was like, you can't make this up. 220 00:13:09,670 --> 00:13:12,070 And I was like, this is, this is my dad's journey. 221 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:17,800 And so whenever I was processing all that and he's just nonchalantly asking 222 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:21,939 for more butter for his pancakes and like saying all this, I was like, you 223 00:13:21,939 --> 00:13:24,310 know, I want to know more, like, and so. 224 00:13:24,610 --> 00:13:26,260 Well, I kept pestering my dad. 225 00:13:26,260 --> 00:13:29,660 I'd be like, Dad, you know, like recording, be like, tell me about 226 00:13:29,660 --> 00:13:33,800 this, you know, and he would just like grunts and then just carries on 227 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:36,220 with the story, which I'm glad he did. 228 00:13:36,319 --> 00:13:38,710 And so I really focused on my dad's story for a while. 229 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:40,780 And then I was like, you know, my mom has a story. 230 00:13:41,330 --> 00:13:44,800 And so I was like, I went to her, started asking her questions 231 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:46,560 and started writing these down. 232 00:13:46,590 --> 00:13:47,450 I love to journal. 233 00:13:47,450 --> 00:13:48,170 I love to write. 234 00:13:48,170 --> 00:13:49,320 So really just. 235 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:51,630 archiving all of their stories. 236 00:13:51,680 --> 00:13:56,530 And then when I moved to Austin in 2012, I met a lot of wonderful friends, musicians, 237 00:13:56,530 --> 00:13:58,000 and one of my friends who's an author. 238 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:01,060 He was like, well, your story is really important too, you know? 239 00:14:01,510 --> 00:14:03,320 And I was like, really? 240 00:14:03,630 --> 00:14:06,100 Like, it's just not as cool. 241 00:14:06,139 --> 00:14:10,400 Like, I'm not getting shipwrecked by Thailand pirates. 242 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:15,555 Like, you know, I went to college, like, come on, like, you know, but there 243 00:14:15,555 --> 00:14:19,275 was something in that, which was like, what's it like being an immigrant's kid? 244 00:14:19,285 --> 00:14:20,305 How do I process that? 245 00:14:20,305 --> 00:14:24,084 How do I now get the world with what they've sent down for me, right? 246 00:14:24,455 --> 00:14:29,495 So I started the journey in the process of writing this memoir and really rigorously, 247 00:14:29,775 --> 00:14:35,694 In 2016 to 2020, literally putting in like three to five hundred words a day, like 248 00:14:35,694 --> 00:14:40,774 just grinding, putting it in, writing the story, going to writing workshops, like, 249 00:14:41,365 --> 00:14:43,734 how can I really get this to work out? 250 00:14:43,955 --> 00:14:46,325 A memoir is really intense to write. 251 00:14:47,995 --> 00:14:52,370 And I was like, you know, like a a fiction story is easier on some level, 252 00:14:52,390 --> 00:14:58,380 but I think it just got so heavy, and I was just so, so closely into it, that 253 00:14:58,390 --> 00:15:03,359 trying to figure out the vehicle to how to tell our story just could not 254 00:15:03,359 --> 00:15:06,810 come to me, and I, and I was trying to force it at some point, and it didn't 255 00:15:06,810 --> 00:15:09,389 feel right, so I put it on pause. 256 00:15:09,689 --> 00:15:12,310 And I feel like the promqueen project is actually just like 257 00:15:12,310 --> 00:15:13,610 the next evolution of it. 258 00:15:14,149 --> 00:15:17,589 Maybe it's the beta testing of it, like, seeing how, like, I can make 259 00:15:17,589 --> 00:15:19,910 the story in a more multimedia format. 260 00:15:20,429 --> 00:15:24,339 But I say the memoirs on pause because I know that I will come back to it 261 00:15:24,369 --> 00:15:28,520 when it, when it's time, and when that, that format will come back at me. 262 00:15:28,810 --> 00:15:32,449 Minh V.: Yeah, that, there's a lot of things in that, that. 263 00:15:32,710 --> 00:15:33,310 resonates. 264 00:15:33,310 --> 00:15:40,350 And first of all, the sentence of shipwrecked by Thailand pirates, wild, 265 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:45,750 because also my mom has a similar experience of being shipwrecked, 266 00:15:46,110 --> 00:15:48,220 uh, by some pirates as well too. 267 00:15:48,559 --> 00:15:53,630 And I think it's like, I'm, I, I have this little like, like laugh to it 268 00:15:53,630 --> 00:16:00,520 because it also just feels like a very silly sentence to say out loud as reality 269 00:16:00,670 --> 00:16:07,969 as this is one degree removed from us these are our parents who experienced 270 00:16:08,739 --> 00:16:15,675 such a kind of ludicrous sentence that is very short and to the point 271 00:16:15,885 --> 00:16:18,305 and it's like, okay, that happened. 272 00:16:18,334 --> 00:16:25,224 But obviously, and I presume as you dove into, you know, talking to your parents 273 00:16:25,224 --> 00:16:30,349 more, writing this memoir, you find some pretty traumatic stories or things 274 00:16:30,349 --> 00:16:39,464 that like end up sticking with you and shaping how you end up navigating life 275 00:16:39,464 --> 00:16:43,855 or, or just like appreciation for life or, you know, trying to even think about. 276 00:16:44,385 --> 00:16:46,105 Putting yourself in their shoes. 277 00:16:46,165 --> 00:16:49,835 I'm like, I think my mom was a teenager at the time. 278 00:16:49,835 --> 00:16:54,655 And I'm like, I was trying to dry, learn how to drive the streets of 279 00:16:54,664 --> 00:16:59,434 Pflugerville, like same, but not at all. 280 00:16:59,455 --> 00:17:04,444 You know, like, it's just wild so I, I just had to say that, that like 281 00:17:04,494 --> 00:17:08,855 one, it's comforting in some ways to be like, oh my god, another person 282 00:17:08,855 --> 00:17:15,955 who, who has that experience or comes from that experience, right? 283 00:17:16,395 --> 00:17:19,955 Sandra P.: Yeah, I think as children, I think we often are 284 00:17:19,955 --> 00:17:24,775 trying to navigate on how we allow our parents to share those stories. 285 00:17:25,724 --> 00:17:29,825 But a lot of that I think we also carry forward, right? 286 00:17:29,884 --> 00:17:36,695 Like it's respecting them in a way, but I personally feel very, very obligated 287 00:17:36,705 --> 00:17:42,190 to like, hold these stories for my mother because I know that trauma sits 288 00:17:42,190 --> 00:17:47,180 within her but trying to create a safe space for her to be able to share that 289 00:17:47,180 --> 00:17:52,080 and also obviously I recognize the incredible privilege I have because 290 00:17:52,139 --> 00:17:55,839 of those things that have happened and incurred to our parents and carrying 291 00:17:55,840 --> 00:18:00,350 that forward so yeah and it's always amazing and that's why I just love these 292 00:18:00,350 --> 00:18:04,920 conversations that we have because we find such commonalities between A lot of our 293 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:09,550 parents and the way that you're channeling and what I loved you also segued into 294 00:18:09,550 --> 00:18:13,079 was how it's creating your journey and how you want to tell your story. 295 00:18:13,079 --> 00:18:16,010 You absolutely, of course, have a story to tell also. 296 00:18:16,010 --> 00:18:21,049 And so just going a little bit more into this amazing art form that you're 297 00:18:21,049 --> 00:18:26,720 exploring with promqueen, I'd love to just talk about some of some of the songs that 298 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:28,660 you've written and what's inspired that. 299 00:18:28,660 --> 00:18:28,784 Yeah. 300 00:18:29,185 --> 00:18:33,315 promqueen: Yeah, so, wonderfully, the memoir, since I had so much 301 00:18:33,325 --> 00:18:37,925 content and stories, a lot of them have inspired my songs. 302 00:18:37,965 --> 00:18:41,065 Yeah, the first one that came up to me was a song off of Season 1 303 00:18:41,115 --> 00:18:42,585 album, it's called Lightweight. 304 00:18:43,035 --> 00:18:46,265 It's a really fun, it's a bouncy one, it's like Doja Cat vibes. 305 00:18:46,535 --> 00:18:48,525 It's about my mom, growing up. 306 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:53,019 She worked service industry jobs, she was a server, and at the end of 307 00:18:53,019 --> 00:18:56,129 the week when she got her paycheck, she'd drive me to a pawn shop. 308 00:18:56,449 --> 00:18:59,199 I would sit in the car, because I'm like, I'm in fifth grade, I 309 00:18:59,199 --> 00:19:02,379 don't want to go into the store with my mom, you know, right? 310 00:19:02,879 --> 00:19:05,760 So she would go in there, sometimes she drives me with her, and I go in 311 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:09,700 there, and she's like putting a payment, a layaway payment, on some jewelry. 312 00:19:09,940 --> 00:19:11,010 Really good jewelry. 313 00:19:11,060 --> 00:19:14,650 I mean, she's got an eye for good gold, good diamonds. 314 00:19:14,690 --> 00:19:17,969 I mean, she could spot them a mile away. 315 00:19:18,409 --> 00:19:20,389 And so she'd put layaway pavements on them. 316 00:19:20,700 --> 00:19:23,090 And I was reflecting in this song, it's called Lightweight. 317 00:19:23,100 --> 00:19:24,520 It's about taking a day off. 318 00:19:24,590 --> 00:19:26,100 And it's really about her. 319 00:19:26,109 --> 00:19:32,545 It's about how She just lavishes herself with like nice things, even though 320 00:19:33,085 --> 00:19:36,445 she's working, you know, a service industry job, but this is for her. 321 00:19:36,704 --> 00:19:39,735 So like, for example, that made its way into a song. 322 00:19:40,374 --> 00:19:45,124 And then another one recently, Mountain, is coming out on season two album. 323 00:19:45,184 --> 00:19:46,834 That's coming June 28th. 324 00:19:47,295 --> 00:19:51,455 This song was heavily inspired by my dad and those stories he told me in IHOP. 325 00:19:51,764 --> 00:19:54,565 And it's just about this sense of perseverance. 326 00:19:55,020 --> 00:19:58,550 So, going back to what you were saying, Sandra, you know, you were like, things 327 00:19:58,550 --> 00:20:02,640 that we, and Minh too like, things that our parents have laid down, or 328 00:20:02,670 --> 00:20:06,009 things that they have influenced us, what do we sort of take forward, and, 329 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:10,340 and that apply to our lives in ways, and, That sense of perseverance and 330 00:20:10,340 --> 00:20:14,250 resilience is certainly what's really the heart of that song Mountain. 331 00:20:14,500 --> 00:20:17,800 And it's kind of silly, like the chorus is, I'm a mountain. 332 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:21,929 But truly though, in times of endurance and challenges, you have 333 00:20:21,929 --> 00:20:25,900 to like, just coach yourself and be like, you can do this, you know? 334 00:20:26,229 --> 00:20:30,850 And so that song is very inspired by my dad and his stories and 335 00:20:30,900 --> 00:20:32,520 resilience is really the theme. 336 00:20:32,550 --> 00:20:35,480 So that's how they manifest mostly in my songs. 337 00:20:35,570 --> 00:20:38,600 Just my parents stories, my own stories, my own take on things. 338 00:20:38,970 --> 00:20:41,980 And like, probably I would say it's like a mixture, a blend of a blend of 339 00:20:42,110 --> 00:20:44,349 both since it's coming through my POV. 340 00:20:45,039 --> 00:20:46,500 Minh V.: Yeah, I love that. 341 00:20:46,639 --> 00:20:54,285 And so how have, if we can get like a, maybe an example or like a 342 00:20:54,285 --> 00:20:57,905 takeaway of how that shows up for you. 343 00:20:57,905 --> 00:21:02,194 So you, for example, talk about resilience and it can be that or it 344 00:21:02,194 --> 00:21:06,934 can be something else, but taking some of the learnings that you have from 345 00:21:07,254 --> 00:21:11,979 the memoir, your own life experience, like what's really stuck with you? 346 00:21:12,290 --> 00:21:16,170 stuck with you since, you know, the 2016 of starting the 347 00:21:16,170 --> 00:21:19,400 memoir to now to promqueen. 348 00:21:19,420 --> 00:21:22,700 Like, what are some themes that really stick with you that 349 00:21:22,710 --> 00:21:27,340 have that blend of maybe your parents, but also your experience? 350 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:30,200 promqueen: Yeah, that's a great question. 351 00:21:30,290 --> 00:21:35,800 So I would say from the memoir to now, things, themes that have stuck with me 352 00:21:35,810 --> 00:21:41,409 is, I don't know if there is a word for this, innovative, maybe, yeah, innovation, 353 00:21:41,469 --> 00:21:46,310 being able to like do something with a little, like, if my parents were given a 354 00:21:46,310 --> 00:21:50,590 stick and a piece of paper, they'd be able to like, provide for the family with it. 355 00:21:50,590 --> 00:21:51,440 You know what I mean? 356 00:21:52,180 --> 00:21:55,870 And so for me, that's something I take with me in my day 357 00:21:55,870 --> 00:21:57,830 to day life with my team. 358 00:21:58,100 --> 00:22:03,239 We may not have a lot or a ton of funding, but what we do have, we will 359 00:22:03,239 --> 00:22:07,250 give it our best and make something creative and exciting out of it. 360 00:22:07,750 --> 00:22:12,284 So I think that's something that the sense of innovation, For my parents is 361 00:22:12,294 --> 00:22:17,504 something I definitely take with me and the sense of letting myself off the hook. 362 00:22:17,514 --> 00:22:19,665 Kind of going back with Sandra, what you were saying, I don't know, 363 00:22:19,665 --> 00:22:24,975 there's something earlier, but our parents have done so much and there's 364 00:22:24,975 --> 00:22:28,635 a lot that we carry from that and sense of obligation or maybe just 365 00:22:28,635 --> 00:22:30,804 like guilt or shame that we have. 366 00:22:30,804 --> 00:22:31,214 Right? 367 00:22:31,255 --> 00:22:34,835 And like we're driving in Pflugerville and like mom was over 368 00:22:34,835 --> 00:22:36,525 there getting water from the well. 369 00:22:36,715 --> 00:22:38,115 How do you navigate that? 370 00:22:38,115 --> 00:22:39,425 So I think for me. 371 00:22:40,350 --> 00:22:44,320 Hearing their stories helps me to humanize them a little bit more, and 372 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:47,500 also think like, you know what, they were doing their best, like, with 373 00:22:47,500 --> 00:22:53,809 what they knew, and I'm doing my best with what I know, and like, it's okay. 374 00:22:54,290 --> 00:22:57,150 And I've learned to be less mean to myself... 375 00:22:57,610 --> 00:23:00,440 over the years and less tough on myself. 376 00:23:01,020 --> 00:23:03,980 I have a wonderful partner that helps encourage me in that journey. 377 00:23:04,350 --> 00:23:09,469 So it's just like, I think the sense of like, you're doing enough, you're 378 00:23:09,469 --> 00:23:11,220 doing enough and you're, you're enough. 379 00:23:11,250 --> 00:23:15,940 And that sense, that theme has like been something I've been really working 380 00:23:15,940 --> 00:23:17,909 through and trying to actualize. 381 00:23:18,499 --> 00:23:19,039 So, yeah. 382 00:23:19,909 --> 00:23:22,079 Minh V.: Oh, I love that. 383 00:23:22,635 --> 00:23:25,355 Everything that you just said, and thank you for sharing it. 384 00:23:25,755 --> 00:23:28,655 Self actualization is one of my 2024 goals. 385 00:23:29,045 --> 00:23:32,204 So I love that you said the word actualize as well, too. 386 00:23:32,205 --> 00:23:36,685 And I think it is just putting into practice all of these things of letting 387 00:23:36,685 --> 00:23:41,685 yourself off the hook and feeling like, yes, you want to honor where 388 00:23:41,685 --> 00:23:45,475 you come from and the experiences that your parents went through. 389 00:23:45,844 --> 00:23:50,774 And at the same time, be able to be truthful to yourself of how you 390 00:23:50,774 --> 00:23:54,905 want to navigate the world, how you want to navigate your life and 391 00:23:54,905 --> 00:23:56,245 what you want out of your life. 392 00:23:56,575 --> 00:24:00,455 And hopefully those things can intersect, but it's also okay that 393 00:24:00,455 --> 00:24:07,785 they're not completely dictated or ruled by the experiences of before. 394 00:24:08,004 --> 00:24:09,495 So I really appreciate you sharing that. 395 00:24:09,895 --> 00:24:10,274 Sandra P.: Yeah. 396 00:24:10,274 --> 00:24:14,365 And I just want to add one piece is recognizing that the best way 397 00:24:14,365 --> 00:24:17,985 to honor yourself and your family is just simply by existing, right? 398 00:24:18,044 --> 00:24:19,835 Your existence matters enough. 399 00:24:20,265 --> 00:24:22,175 And so thank you so much for sharing that. 400 00:24:31,895 --> 00:24:36,645 Minh V.: Okay, so promqueen you've got a lot of swag and style. 401 00:24:36,665 --> 00:24:40,725 I'm loving kind of how this manifests for you. 402 00:24:40,755 --> 00:24:45,135 But I'm curious, like, what was the origin story for promqueen? 403 00:24:45,154 --> 00:24:47,205 How did you come up with this look? 404 00:24:47,345 --> 00:24:51,985 And why Why this type of expression for you? 405 00:24:52,035 --> 00:24:54,875 What was kind of motivating that or what was the creative 406 00:24:54,875 --> 00:24:57,545 process around the styling? 407 00:24:57,795 --> 00:25:01,294 Sounds that you wanted to explore and focus on what's kind of 408 00:25:01,295 --> 00:25:03,905 the promqueen origin story? 409 00:25:04,455 --> 00:25:08,935 promqueen: So I always like to say that promqueen is literally the manifestation 410 00:25:08,975 --> 00:25:15,835 of my two year old self in the living room, we have like forest green carpet, a 411 00:25:15,845 --> 00:25:20,685 big ol television set, and I'm two years old singing karaoke, like Vietnamese 412 00:25:20,685 --> 00:25:24,954 English karaoke, and I have like an Easter Sunday hat and a diaper on, 413 00:25:25,074 --> 00:25:29,635 and my parents are videotaping this, but I'm having the time of my life. 414 00:25:29,770 --> 00:25:32,380 Expressing, singing, and moving around. 415 00:25:32,630 --> 00:25:35,770 And so promqueen is literally that. 416 00:25:35,810 --> 00:25:40,699 When I get on stage, I hand the mic off to her, and she has the time of her life. 417 00:25:41,140 --> 00:25:46,380 So as far as, like, styling, so promqueen origin story, promqueen 418 00:25:46,399 --> 00:25:48,230 was actually never meant to happen. 419 00:25:48,429 --> 00:25:51,264 It was not fabricated. 420 00:25:51,604 --> 00:25:54,195 I didn't try to plan this out in any way. 421 00:25:54,195 --> 00:25:57,524 It's like literally a wonderful, delightful surprise to myself. 422 00:25:57,905 --> 00:26:00,694 I moved to Austin in 2012 to pursue music. 423 00:26:00,995 --> 00:26:01,925 I played in bands. 424 00:26:02,145 --> 00:26:05,675 And then later on in my career, I wanted to do more songwriting and co writing. 425 00:26:05,824 --> 00:26:09,504 So, at the time, there wasn't too much of a co writing culture in Austin. 426 00:26:09,504 --> 00:26:11,205 There is in Nashville and L. 427 00:26:11,205 --> 00:26:11,465 A. 428 00:26:11,784 --> 00:26:16,205 so, I like, I used my paycheck, I flew out there, I worked that co writing 429 00:26:16,205 --> 00:26:22,025 muscle, and then, you know, pandemic happened, live music was at a halt. 430 00:26:22,615 --> 00:26:25,355 So it held me to think, I was like, you know, I don't think I want to do 431 00:26:25,355 --> 00:26:29,304 the performing artist route anymore, I think I'm content with, at the time 432 00:26:29,305 --> 00:26:32,825 I was really heavily pursuing acting and working on the memoir, so, I was 433 00:26:32,825 --> 00:26:36,135 like, I'm really content with this, I'm gonna hang that up, you know, later. 434 00:26:36,830 --> 00:26:39,949 And then my co manager was like, well, let's write like a song for 435 00:26:39,949 --> 00:26:42,560 like a commercial sync for our agent. 436 00:26:42,570 --> 00:26:47,689 And we were really inspired by this track by MILLI and she raps and 437 00:26:47,719 --> 00:26:49,139 it's a song called Mirror Mirror. 438 00:26:49,179 --> 00:26:51,840 And she raps in her language and also English. 439 00:26:51,850 --> 00:26:54,669 And he was like, why don't you throw in Vietnamese? 440 00:26:54,669 --> 00:26:58,959 And I was like, well, I don't think my mom would like that because 441 00:26:58,959 --> 00:27:00,879 she wants me to speak English. 442 00:27:00,909 --> 00:27:03,409 And like, she would really harp on me. 443 00:27:03,910 --> 00:27:06,710 And he was like, Oh, come on, just, just try just for this commercial 444 00:27:06,720 --> 00:27:10,889 song, you know, and I was like, okay, so I try to think of a fun word. 445 00:27:10,889 --> 00:27:12,649 I was like, what's a word that my parents used to call me? 446 00:27:12,659 --> 00:27:12,970 Oh, yeah. 447 00:27:13,010 --> 00:27:20,129 Xi Xon xi xon sanh se that means like attitude, sexy, fashionable. 448 00:27:20,609 --> 00:27:24,330 So I like started rapping for the first time. 449 00:27:24,370 --> 00:27:28,515 And like, put it together and I was like, I love this. 450 00:27:28,575 --> 00:27:31,045 It was like a coalesce of all the things I enjoy. 451 00:27:31,055 --> 00:27:31,645 That is rap. 452 00:27:31,685 --> 00:27:33,545 I was like, it's wordplay. 453 00:27:33,725 --> 00:27:34,665 It's rhythm. 454 00:27:34,945 --> 00:27:37,125 It's changing subject matters. 455 00:27:37,125 --> 00:27:40,125 Like it's just, it's a powerful message and storytelling in 456 00:27:40,125 --> 00:27:41,555 a way that I not explored. 457 00:27:41,804 --> 00:27:43,815 And I was like, we looked at each other at the end and we 458 00:27:43,825 --> 00:27:46,925 were like, whoa, that was cool. 459 00:27:48,425 --> 00:27:50,965 There's like two kids being like, whoa, I'm real. 460 00:27:51,005 --> 00:27:52,085 This could be something. 461 00:27:52,085 --> 00:27:52,135 Yeah. 462 00:27:52,135 --> 00:27:52,145 Yeah. 463 00:27:52,145 --> 00:27:52,154 Yeah. 464 00:27:52,825 --> 00:27:55,595 And so that's how the music part started out. 465 00:27:55,615 --> 00:28:00,005 And Waverly, he is my co producer, co manager, and he 466 00:28:00,005 --> 00:28:01,625 has such great musical instinct. 467 00:28:01,634 --> 00:28:06,174 And we both work so well together in that route that I felt safe to express. 468 00:28:06,205 --> 00:28:10,355 And he's Cambodian American, so also just like, really shared 469 00:28:10,355 --> 00:28:13,855 experiences that I just finally felt safe to just share my story with. 470 00:28:14,245 --> 00:28:17,295 So we started there, and that's how the music part evolved. 471 00:28:17,335 --> 00:28:21,135 And then I thought to myself, like, well, the thing I've always struggled most 472 00:28:21,154 --> 00:28:22,874 is like how to do my hair for shows. 473 00:28:23,595 --> 00:28:26,845 I just never could find one that stuck with me, and I was like, I don't 474 00:28:26,845 --> 00:28:28,895 want to have to worry about my hair. 475 00:28:29,755 --> 00:28:30,615 I'll get a wig. 476 00:28:31,145 --> 00:28:35,465 And so I went to Coco Coquette, which is a wig shop on East 477 00:28:35,475 --> 00:28:37,325 Cesar Chavez in Austin, Texas. 478 00:28:37,785 --> 00:28:43,254 And I, I walk in, Annemarie's sweet, she's like, go try on a couple of wigs. 479 00:28:43,255 --> 00:28:46,105 You got to try on a few to find the one that's for you. 480 00:28:46,345 --> 00:28:47,185 And I was like, okay. 481 00:28:47,525 --> 00:28:51,455 So I walk in and I kid you not y'all, I pick this one. 482 00:28:52,155 --> 00:28:54,465 I like go, that's the one for me. 483 00:28:54,765 --> 00:28:59,275 And I put it on and I looked in the mirror and I was like, and nobody was 484 00:28:59,275 --> 00:29:00,705 in the room, but I was like, are you. 485 00:29:01,175 --> 00:29:02,715 Are y'alls, what? 486 00:29:02,925 --> 00:29:06,355 Like it just sat, it wore me, you know what I mean? 487 00:29:06,425 --> 00:29:11,485 And it was so exhilarating and I was like, I think I found the wig, you know? 488 00:29:11,985 --> 00:29:14,364 And so I took a picture of my co manager producer. 489 00:29:14,365 --> 00:29:15,425 I was like, Waverly, what do you think? 490 00:29:15,435 --> 00:29:16,745 He's like, that looks great. 491 00:29:16,784 --> 00:29:17,895 I was like, cool. 492 00:29:18,635 --> 00:29:21,264 So, in good fashion, every time I got a paycheck, I went 493 00:29:21,264 --> 00:29:22,405 in and bought another one. 494 00:29:22,675 --> 00:29:25,815 And my mom, because my mom's always like, If you like something, buy a 495 00:29:25,815 --> 00:29:27,875 lot of it, because it might run out. 496 00:29:28,545 --> 00:29:31,125 Well, it did run out, so I'm glad I did buy a few of them. 497 00:29:31,514 --> 00:29:35,514 And then the style, you know, it's just really, like, vibrant, fun, you know? 498 00:29:35,514 --> 00:29:38,495 And, like, I, you know, the chokers and everything, like, it just 499 00:29:38,595 --> 00:29:41,735 feels so, like, just loud and fun. 500 00:29:41,745 --> 00:29:46,700 It's like, again, my two year old self being like just pulling everything out of 501 00:29:46,710 --> 00:29:52,499 mom's closet like let's go and just put things together and like be loud and proud 502 00:29:52,540 --> 00:29:56,500 Minh V.: And for our listeners who may not definitely you need to check out our 503 00:29:56,500 --> 00:30:01,220 social so you can and check out promqueen so you can see this visual but i'm 504 00:30:01,220 --> 00:30:03,550 wondering promqueen if you could describe. 505 00:30:03,560 --> 00:30:04,840 I mean, it's very poppy. 506 00:30:04,860 --> 00:30:09,280 You were already saying like vibrant stuff what do you what do you got on 507 00:30:09,280 --> 00:30:14,010 today for our listeners who are maybe just listening and not able to see. 508 00:30:14,815 --> 00:30:15,605 promqueen: I love that. 509 00:30:15,685 --> 00:30:16,395 Great question. 510 00:30:16,465 --> 00:30:20,435 I am wearing a black and white checkered long sleeved top. 511 00:30:20,765 --> 00:30:24,564 It kind of looks like what you would see a hairdresser wear at a salon. 512 00:30:24,564 --> 00:30:26,485 It's just really flowy and silky. 513 00:30:26,715 --> 00:30:32,544 And then I have like a black collar choker with also a silver chain 514 00:30:32,575 --> 00:30:35,215 and also my mom's Vietnam necklace. 515 00:30:35,215 --> 00:30:37,695 I don't know if you can see it, but it's just the shape of Vietnam. 516 00:30:37,695 --> 00:30:39,905 And it's, it's oh, I love that. 517 00:30:40,480 --> 00:30:44,660 So I try to wear that at every show and then I got my classic 518 00:30:44,820 --> 00:30:47,660 stone gray is the wig color. 519 00:30:47,780 --> 00:30:49,800 I'd say it's stone gray. 520 00:30:49,999 --> 00:30:52,579 It hits about right up my chin bone. 521 00:30:52,579 --> 00:30:57,550 So it's like a short bob, very like Ella Fitzgerald 1920s 522 00:30:57,560 --> 00:30:59,400 style with like short bangs. 523 00:30:59,910 --> 00:31:01,970 So it's a nice little sweet little bob. 524 00:31:01,970 --> 00:31:02,420 I can just, pop on 525 00:31:03,680 --> 00:31:05,150 Minh V.: It's full of attitude. 526 00:31:05,190 --> 00:31:05,940 I love it. 527 00:31:06,050 --> 00:31:12,980 I love seeing you perform and yeah, it just seems like the attitude and stage 528 00:31:12,980 --> 00:31:17,169 presence you bring with the style, it feels like it just all comes together. 529 00:31:17,169 --> 00:31:21,850 So I'm really happy that you found this magical bob that I 530 00:31:21,850 --> 00:31:24,310 feel like pulls it all together. 531 00:31:24,535 --> 00:31:25,525 And everything like that. 532 00:31:26,025 --> 00:31:29,665 So you mentioned, you know, English karaoke, things like that. 533 00:31:29,665 --> 00:31:32,095 I'm, let's get Vietnamese a little bit here. 534 00:31:32,095 --> 00:31:37,544 But like, how did maybe some of the Vietnamese music growing up influence 535 00:31:37,544 --> 00:31:38,664 the music that you make today? 536 00:31:38,664 --> 00:31:41,964 I know you incorporate the Vietnamese language, but I'm curious if there's 537 00:31:41,964 --> 00:31:47,345 like, any particular artist or like programs that might have inspired you. 538 00:31:47,465 --> 00:31:52,315 I remember watching a bunch of like Paris by Night stuff growing up and 539 00:31:52,395 --> 00:31:56,995 that was always a kind of a trip but I'm curious if that was anything 540 00:31:57,115 --> 00:32:00,684 that resonates with you or if you you pulled from from any of that. 541 00:32:01,250 --> 00:32:04,210 promqueen: I think describing it as a trip is absolutely accurate. 542 00:32:04,210 --> 00:32:05,190 Paris by Night. 543 00:32:05,240 --> 00:32:09,400 It's a Vietnamese French inspired variety show for those listening. 544 00:32:09,410 --> 00:32:11,830 And yes, I also grew up with Paris by Night. 545 00:32:12,120 --> 00:32:15,360 I was floored by how many outfit changes the hosts always had. 546 00:32:15,560 --> 00:32:16,870 So that was really fun to watch. 547 00:32:16,919 --> 00:32:20,520 But yeah, the particular artist, which I'm sure a lot of Vietnamese people 548 00:32:20,520 --> 00:32:22,280 can relate to is Lynda Trang Dai 549 00:32:22,590 --> 00:32:25,510 she is the Vietnamese Madonna. 550 00:32:25,570 --> 00:32:27,610 And she definitely inspired me. 551 00:32:27,980 --> 00:32:30,875 You know, when she pop on there and sing Holiday by Madonna. 552 00:32:30,875 --> 00:32:33,775 I was just like jaw dropped like doing the moves with her. 553 00:32:34,095 --> 00:32:38,485 She's definitely someone I looked up to a lot and sang like those karaoke songs. 554 00:32:38,865 --> 00:32:43,575 There's this other song and I don't know there's different artists who sing it but 555 00:32:43,575 --> 00:32:46,604 it's a song called Mao Niam Ban Tung Hai. 556 00:32:46,604 --> 00:32:50,580 It's the Basically, a Vietnamese transcription of a Chinese song. 557 00:32:50,640 --> 00:32:55,190 There was like some sort of Chinese war romance movie in the 1980s. 558 00:32:55,230 --> 00:32:58,219 And I don't know, a Vietnamese artist took it and just like wrote 559 00:32:58,569 --> 00:33:00,030 Vietnamese like lyrics to it. 560 00:33:00,380 --> 00:33:04,530 And it's a very like powerful love ballad. 561 00:33:04,749 --> 00:33:05,990 I mean, it's intense. 562 00:33:05,999 --> 00:33:08,200 Like those big like drums. 563 00:33:08,290 --> 00:33:08,690 Yeah. 564 00:33:09,130 --> 00:33:12,280 I remember hearing that at the age of two and just being like, 565 00:33:12,390 --> 00:33:15,100 oh, this is singing my soul. 566 00:33:15,130 --> 00:33:18,500 And it's just like, what in the world is a two year old can relate to that? 567 00:33:18,530 --> 00:33:22,490 But like that song really inspired me musically. 568 00:33:22,799 --> 00:33:28,150 It's a really dynamic song, great melodies, great cadences that like my 569 00:33:28,159 --> 00:33:33,030 ear just kind of draws to that, like draws to like dynamic vocalist melodies. 570 00:33:33,655 --> 00:33:34,235 Rhythms. 571 00:33:34,445 --> 00:33:37,435 And in fact, that song is playing and I'll have to do a really quick plug. 572 00:33:37,655 --> 00:33:40,315 I'm doing a KUTX My Artist DJ set. 573 00:33:40,595 --> 00:33:41,635 It airs May 25th. 574 00:33:42,245 --> 00:33:44,005 That's the first song that's on there. 575 00:33:44,545 --> 00:33:45,895 Minh V.: Let's go. 576 00:33:46,094 --> 00:33:46,795 promqueen: Pretty great. 577 00:33:46,825 --> 00:33:48,845 And that song really influenced me. 578 00:33:48,905 --> 00:33:49,604 I love that. 579 00:33:49,715 --> 00:33:52,825 I think one thing about Vietnamese music, especially cai luong, it's, you know, 580 00:33:52,825 --> 00:33:55,775 it's very, it's, it's storytelling. 581 00:33:55,805 --> 00:34:00,485 It's very, it can be very, almost like, painstaking isn't the right 582 00:34:00,485 --> 00:34:04,905 word, but they're, they're talking about things like what life was 583 00:34:04,925 --> 00:34:11,125 like back in the home country and almost like musical theater of sorts. 584 00:34:11,195 --> 00:34:15,655 And so I think it's wonderful to hear some of your influences 585 00:34:15,664 --> 00:34:18,255 specifically from Vietnamese music. 586 00:34:18,295 --> 00:34:18,655 Sandra P.: Yeah. 587 00:34:18,735 --> 00:34:23,045 And a big part of the influence and to your music obviously is also rap. 588 00:34:23,045 --> 00:34:25,869 And I'll admit, I haven't seen Paris by Night in a while. 589 00:34:26,250 --> 00:34:30,820 Idris since I've been a kid, but I'm curious if, and I don't know if 590 00:34:30,820 --> 00:34:35,769 they do this currently, if they've kind of pulled in music genres that 591 00:34:35,770 --> 00:34:39,109 are a little bit more popular now and incorporating into that, but 592 00:34:41,770 --> 00:34:45,619 who are some of your rap influences that you've kind of looked to 593 00:34:45,620 --> 00:34:49,270 to also kind of fuse with, with your Vietnamese background? 594 00:34:50,030 --> 00:34:51,260 promqueen: Yeah, absolutely. 595 00:34:51,460 --> 00:34:52,540 It's so interesting. 596 00:34:52,560 --> 00:34:52,720 Yeah. 597 00:34:52,720 --> 00:34:57,400 Like I said, you know, earlier that I never thought to, but I 598 00:34:57,400 --> 00:34:59,100 always have written like poetry. 599 00:34:59,240 --> 00:35:02,870 So I really, I mean, rap is truly poetry and powerful storytelling. 600 00:35:02,870 --> 00:35:06,069 So I've always been interested in like the cadences of words 601 00:35:06,100 --> 00:35:08,050 and like the rhythmic components. 602 00:35:08,360 --> 00:35:12,350 So yeah, I think I've always been drawn to you know, I think in the same 603 00:35:12,350 --> 00:35:14,400 category as rappers is like some poetry. 604 00:35:14,410 --> 00:35:17,760 Poetry has always been part of things I've gravitated. 605 00:35:17,860 --> 00:35:23,760 Rappers, honestly, like, you know, I think I, I really enjoyed, like, Missy 606 00:35:23,760 --> 00:35:27,460 Elliott's probably the first person I heard, like, rap growing up on the radio. 607 00:35:27,790 --> 00:35:32,350 And just, like, really amazed by her change in character and tone. 608 00:35:33,095 --> 00:35:33,595 Yeah. 609 00:35:33,815 --> 00:35:34,895 Um, it's awesome. 610 00:35:34,965 --> 00:35:38,505 Like, it's just so cool to play with those different textures 611 00:35:38,515 --> 00:35:40,495 and tones to create the story. 612 00:35:40,785 --> 00:35:46,395 And then also, I absolutely love, like, 90s hip hop rap artists, namely Nas 613 00:35:46,775 --> 00:35:51,855 is the first rapper I heard that I was like, this is pure poetry and so musical. 614 00:35:51,865 --> 00:35:53,935 His delivery is so musical. 615 00:35:54,310 --> 00:35:55,530 Even though he's rapping. 616 00:35:55,800 --> 00:35:58,860 And so I think that like really turned my ear towards it. 617 00:35:58,860 --> 00:36:00,300 Like, Oh, this is incredible. 618 00:36:00,480 --> 00:36:03,890 And the amount of word play message that you can go. 619 00:36:04,400 --> 00:36:06,730 You can hit on so many themes and just like two minutes. 620 00:36:07,260 --> 00:36:10,820 And it just blows my mind that the words can play this role of. 621 00:36:11,380 --> 00:36:14,370 Being an instrument and storytelling. 622 00:36:15,020 --> 00:36:15,800 Minh V.: Appreciate that. 623 00:36:15,850 --> 00:36:18,510 All, all good names that you just dropped there. 624 00:36:18,540 --> 00:36:20,420 And Missy's coming to Austin, too. 625 00:36:20,430 --> 00:36:27,139 And I'm trying to figure out how I can nab tickets and still, and my 626 00:36:27,139 --> 00:36:28,560 bacon cat will still be happy with me. 627 00:36:28,925 --> 00:36:33,745 I want to talk about, you've already had kind of an incredible 2024 628 00:36:33,755 --> 00:36:38,425 so far, but you also had a pretty big year last year as well too. 629 00:36:38,435 --> 00:36:44,655 Like last June, you, season one came out, you hosted your own prom to like 630 00:36:44,655 --> 00:36:50,435 celebrate the album release, you performed with KUTX and Austin PBS's like indie 631 00:36:50,455 --> 00:36:53,940 orchestra, you, I saw some of those videos, that's, that's incredible. 632 00:36:54,190 --> 00:36:55,480 You performed at Stubb's. 633 00:36:55,770 --> 00:36:59,340 Like, how has this last year felt for you? 634 00:36:59,340 --> 00:37:02,569 Like, is there a standout moment that you can speak a little bit more to? 635 00:37:02,590 --> 00:37:06,490 And then also, like, what's a lesson that you might have learned? 636 00:37:06,490 --> 00:37:11,849 So like, throughout that year that you didn't anticipate maybe 637 00:37:12,540 --> 00:37:14,190 coming across when you start? 638 00:37:14,630 --> 00:37:16,620 You thought about starting your musical career? 639 00:37:16,990 --> 00:37:19,320 promqueen: Yeah, great questions. 640 00:37:19,400 --> 00:37:20,200 Last year. 641 00:37:20,370 --> 00:37:21,140 Yeah, it was. 642 00:37:21,160 --> 00:37:22,480 It was a big year for us. 643 00:37:22,640 --> 00:37:25,800 As much as people were surprised, namely like my friends and family 644 00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:29,299 and others about the project, we too were very surprised. 645 00:37:29,310 --> 00:37:31,779 It was just the same amount of bewilderment. 646 00:37:32,789 --> 00:37:35,320 We're just on stage, like smiling, jumping around, but we were. 647 00:37:35,595 --> 00:37:37,925 Very surprised at the project in general. 648 00:37:38,175 --> 00:37:40,505 A lot of great moments like you had just mentioned just now. 649 00:37:40,735 --> 00:37:46,384 I think two standout moments for me, one being I got to have my mom share 650 00:37:46,384 --> 00:37:52,975 the stage with me, both at prom and at the KUTX PBS Indie Orchestra show. 651 00:37:53,324 --> 00:37:55,544 And great, incredible moment. 652 00:37:55,545 --> 00:37:56,465 I was like, Mom! 653 00:37:57,080 --> 00:38:01,760 Would you mind, like, acting on this song with me? 654 00:38:01,780 --> 00:38:07,180 And she's like, yeah, but why do I have to wear my PJ pants and my slippers? 655 00:38:07,610 --> 00:38:11,769 And I was like, well, because that's the scene. 656 00:38:11,820 --> 00:38:15,180 Everybody has, you know, not everybody, but like, people will relate to this. 657 00:38:15,410 --> 00:38:18,420 And I kid you not, it's so many people come up to me and they're like, when 658 00:38:18,420 --> 00:38:23,000 she came on that stage with their PJ pants, I started bawling, you know? 659 00:38:23,060 --> 00:38:26,459 And so I was like, mom, you're helping create this world and 660 00:38:26,460 --> 00:38:28,360 you're connecting with others. 661 00:38:28,360 --> 00:38:29,350 And it's amazing. 662 00:38:29,350 --> 00:38:34,500 And, and I think selfishly for me, you know, our parents are going to pass and 663 00:38:34,570 --> 00:38:39,710 I get to have these incredible moments with my mom making art on stage, you know, 664 00:38:40,020 --> 00:38:42,620 and living out this world that we had. 665 00:38:42,939 --> 00:38:43,950 The second one is. 666 00:38:44,375 --> 00:38:47,375 Free Week with KUTX and Red River Cultural District. 667 00:38:47,635 --> 00:38:50,745 It was the most incredible crowd I'd ever played for. 668 00:38:50,765 --> 00:38:57,915 Like, the Free Week community is so open and so kind and just down for the show. 669 00:38:58,354 --> 00:39:00,884 And I don't know if y'all have seen my show, but yeah, for 670 00:39:00,884 --> 00:39:04,994 listeners, it's a very, like, narrative, performance driven show. 671 00:39:05,004 --> 00:39:09,025 We have props, we have, you know, we have moments where we act, and so it's 672 00:39:09,025 --> 00:39:10,715 not for everybody, and that's okay. 673 00:39:10,915 --> 00:39:11,895 And this crowd. 674 00:39:12,090 --> 00:39:16,150 Everybody was like, strap me in, take us, you know, on this 675 00:39:16,150 --> 00:39:17,870 rocket ship, we're ready to go. 676 00:39:17,940 --> 00:39:22,760 And I haven't, other than prom, outside of what we've hosted, this was a 677 00:39:22,760 --> 00:39:27,409 moment that it really felt everyone was like on board to journey with us. 678 00:39:27,440 --> 00:39:30,200 And that's exactly how I view every performance. 679 00:39:30,219 --> 00:39:31,310 It's a journey. 680 00:39:31,505 --> 00:39:32,555 from start to finish. 681 00:39:32,585 --> 00:39:34,825 We go somewhere and then we come back together. 682 00:39:35,115 --> 00:39:38,165 And so that was an incredible experience. 683 00:39:38,275 --> 00:39:39,165 Super high. 684 00:39:39,175 --> 00:39:43,095 That's really hard to come down from, but I'm really grateful for that experience. 685 00:39:43,504 --> 00:39:46,954 Sandra P.: You maybe have teased or mentioned this before, but when 686 00:39:46,954 --> 00:39:51,514 does season two come out and what are some of the key themes and 687 00:39:51,524 --> 00:39:54,614 influences that we can expect on that? 688 00:39:54,694 --> 00:39:55,584 And what's next for you? 689 00:39:55,594 --> 00:39:57,194 What are some big projects and things? 690 00:39:57,224 --> 00:39:57,694 Yeah. 691 00:39:57,704 --> 00:39:57,954 So 692 00:39:57,954 --> 00:40:00,285 promqueen: season two album comes out June 28th. 693 00:40:01,350 --> 00:40:02,160 You heard it here first. 694 00:40:02,160 --> 00:40:03,320 My mom doesn't even know. 695 00:40:04,910 --> 00:40:09,290 Minh V.: And people can find that on like streaming platforms, everything. 696 00:40:09,969 --> 00:40:10,309 promqueen: Yes. 697 00:40:10,330 --> 00:40:15,320 People can find my album on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal any streaming platform. 698 00:40:15,600 --> 00:40:18,519 And you can also go to my Instagram page @saypromqueen. 699 00:40:18,769 --> 00:40:22,390 @saypromqueen to follow all the links that will take you to where you need to go. 700 00:40:22,780 --> 00:40:25,760 But yeah, so June 28th, Season 2 album comes out. 701 00:40:26,370 --> 00:40:30,150 Key themes on this album, so Season 1 was like the introduction of promqueen. 702 00:40:30,170 --> 00:40:33,580 It's bright, it's poppy, you know, it's pretty light. 703 00:40:33,609 --> 00:40:36,070 Season 2, we enter the dark forest. 704 00:40:36,235 --> 00:40:41,035 Where there, you know, there's a big bad wolf, there's some being misunderstood. 705 00:40:41,905 --> 00:40:49,125 There is colonization, you know, just exploring topics of inner racism and 706 00:40:49,125 --> 00:40:50,835 then, you know, family structures. 707 00:40:50,854 --> 00:40:54,995 And it kind of goes into some really dark, dark places and dark processing. 708 00:40:55,294 --> 00:41:00,715 And then comes out with the true resilience and acceptance of. 709 00:41:01,300 --> 00:41:03,170 Who I am as I come out of that process. 710 00:41:03,180 --> 00:41:06,290 So a lot of heavier topics, but it's really fun. 711 00:41:06,610 --> 00:41:07,590 It's a fun ride. 712 00:41:08,460 --> 00:41:09,310 I'm excited. 713 00:41:09,310 --> 00:41:14,069 I think it's important to shine a light on some of the less glossy parts 714 00:41:14,090 --> 00:41:19,019 of our story, and especially some of the truths that might be a little 715 00:41:19,020 --> 00:41:24,250 bit harder to to openly share or just as important to shine a light on. 716 00:41:24,440 --> 00:41:29,000 Any other like exciting things that you're looking forward to later this year? 717 00:41:29,090 --> 00:41:32,780 Yeah, I am very much looking forward to Rock the Park performance 718 00:41:32,780 --> 00:41:37,419 next week with KUTX and June 1st is our first out of town show. 719 00:41:37,419 --> 00:41:39,329 So we'll be playing in the Arlington area. 720 00:41:39,689 --> 00:41:44,350 Super excited to take the full team on the road, my dancers and everyone. 721 00:41:44,360 --> 00:41:46,030 And so we're very excited. 722 00:41:46,180 --> 00:41:47,540 Our second annual prom. 723 00:41:48,015 --> 00:41:50,265 Is coming up July 13th. 724 00:41:50,885 --> 00:41:52,385 We're very excited about it. 725 00:41:52,415 --> 00:41:59,475 We are conceptualizing the venue the stage decor Everything from last year 726 00:41:59,505 --> 00:42:06,054 is literally a step up in so many ways so i'm very very very excited about it. 727 00:42:06,114 --> 00:42:10,585 So july 13th second annual prom It's at the Austin Cinema Makers Space in 728 00:42:10,585 --> 00:42:15,550 Austin, Texas And then ACL, uh, so we're just prepping for that show now 729 00:42:15,560 --> 00:42:19,320 that performance design and everything and how we can make that show again 730 00:42:19,320 --> 00:42:22,940 Just a step up and just elevate the show that we currently have. 731 00:42:22,940 --> 00:42:24,800 So those are our biggest things. 732 00:42:24,810 --> 00:42:28,739 I also have a collaboration with an incredible artist in town. 733 00:42:28,740 --> 00:42:30,289 His name is Xavier Alvarado. 734 00:42:30,550 --> 00:42:33,960 He is an amazing he does so much so much beautiful art. 735 00:42:33,960 --> 00:42:38,380 So we're exploring like the intersectionality between black and Asian 736 00:42:38,380 --> 00:42:41,210 American culture and how they intersect. 737 00:42:41,220 --> 00:42:44,660 And what does it mean to be, you know, our own ethnicity? 738 00:42:44,660 --> 00:42:47,290 So it'll be like art, music pop up. 739 00:42:47,975 --> 00:42:49,145 Kind of thing that we'll do. 740 00:42:49,145 --> 00:42:52,295 So it's like a two-parter popup that we'll do in August. 741 00:42:52,565 --> 00:42:58,685 And then I have a mini doc screening in November at the Asian American Resource 742 00:42:58,685 --> 00:43:04,225 Center, and it captured an event that I did in April for a few Vietnamese 743 00:43:04,285 --> 00:43:10,325 American folks where we had a Vietnamese meal made by a Vietnamese American chef 744 00:43:10,355 --> 00:43:14,365 and shared our stories about processing where we're at in our identities. 745 00:43:14,375 --> 00:43:18,215 So that screening and panel talk will happen November 9th at the 746 00:43:18,215 --> 00:43:19,355 Asian American Resource Center. 747 00:43:19,755 --> 00:43:21,575 And I think that's it for now. 748 00:43:21,615 --> 00:43:22,715 Sandra P.: Booked and busy. 749 00:43:23,134 --> 00:43:24,274 promqueen: Yeah, pretty much. 750 00:43:24,325 --> 00:43:25,124 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 751 00:43:25,305 --> 00:43:25,844 Good stuff. 752 00:43:25,855 --> 00:43:28,044 Stuff that I really love and I'm passionate about. 753 00:43:37,195 --> 00:43:39,425 Sandra P.: Again, want to thank you so much for being on the show. 754 00:43:39,445 --> 00:43:43,545 So something that Minh and I love to kind of wrap up our show with 755 00:43:43,545 --> 00:43:48,025 and ask each of our special guests is, and you kind of teased this, but 756 00:43:48,025 --> 00:43:53,015 I'd love for you to share, how do you view your relationship with your 757 00:43:53,035 --> 00:43:55,215 Vietnamese American identity today? 758 00:43:55,375 --> 00:43:56,905 promqueen: Oh, that's a great, great question. 759 00:43:57,305 --> 00:43:58,875 Being Vietnamese American for. 760 00:43:59,335 --> 00:44:02,915 Me right now, especially through processing a lot of my family, my 761 00:44:02,915 --> 00:44:09,554 stories through the promqueen project has helped me to embrace being okay with not 762 00:44:09,655 --> 00:44:14,224 knowing enough things about my culture and knowing things about my culture just 763 00:44:14,225 --> 00:44:19,145 like being okay and sitting within that and knowing that there's no end point to 764 00:44:19,695 --> 00:44:21,845 fully being Vietnamese American, right? 765 00:44:21,845 --> 00:44:22,815 There's no end point. 766 00:44:22,815 --> 00:44:27,225 It's literally ongoing and and Being okay with that, like it's, 767 00:44:27,235 --> 00:44:28,455 it's a process and a journey. 768 00:44:28,485 --> 00:44:31,645 So I think that's where I'm currently sitting with how I relate 769 00:44:31,655 --> 00:44:33,815 to my ethnic identity right now. 770 00:44:34,615 --> 00:44:40,134 Minh V.: I love that end point visual that you just shared or that concept 771 00:44:40,165 --> 00:44:41,835 because I, that resonates a lot. 772 00:44:41,865 --> 00:44:45,435 I mean, we talk about it a bit on the podcast too, like it's always 773 00:44:45,435 --> 00:44:50,155 evolving your relationship up, uh, with your identity and also like. 774 00:44:50,405 --> 00:44:53,495 Yeah, you, there's not a certain point where you're like, okay, 775 00:44:53,495 --> 00:44:58,415 I am now the ultimate Vietnamese American that I will be. 776 00:44:58,714 --> 00:45:01,985 And now I can focus on other things. 777 00:45:02,015 --> 00:45:03,924 It just continues to evolve. 778 00:45:03,924 --> 00:45:05,505 So I appreciate that answer. 779 00:45:05,905 --> 00:45:08,334 All right, we're going to do, we're going to wrap things up by 780 00:45:08,335 --> 00:45:09,985 doing a little bit of a rapid fire. 781 00:45:09,985 --> 00:45:12,645 So first things that come, to your head. 782 00:45:12,675 --> 00:45:15,395 Our first question, we switched it up this season a little bit, but 783 00:45:15,395 --> 00:45:19,295 our first question is what's like an example of self care for you? 784 00:45:19,305 --> 00:45:20,535 What does that look like for you? 785 00:45:21,245 --> 00:45:21,985 promqueen: Easy. 786 00:45:22,134 --> 00:45:24,675 It is a day for myself. 787 00:45:24,825 --> 00:45:29,125 That could be taking a book to a bookstore and reading there for hours, getting 788 00:45:29,125 --> 00:45:34,935 lost in that, going to a museum, going to the hike, just being by myself, my 789 00:45:34,935 --> 00:45:37,575 thoughts, no obligations to anyone. 790 00:45:38,075 --> 00:45:39,155 Minh V.: Oh, love that. 791 00:45:39,365 --> 00:45:40,914 No obligations to anyone. 792 00:45:41,395 --> 00:45:45,265 is something that definitely resonates as a, as a way to 793 00:45:45,265 --> 00:45:46,915 like provide some self care. 794 00:45:46,915 --> 00:45:49,045 So, favorite Asian snack growing up? 795 00:45:50,065 --> 00:45:52,315 promqueen: One of my favorite Asian snacks growing up was those 796 00:45:52,335 --> 00:45:56,005 little fried egg roll pastries. 797 00:45:56,005 --> 00:45:57,745 They come in like a red tin. 798 00:45:58,355 --> 00:45:59,255 Minh V.: Oh, yes. 799 00:45:59,555 --> 00:45:59,685 promqueen: I don't know. 800 00:45:59,695 --> 00:46:02,355 Like the crepe looking wafer thingies? 801 00:46:02,355 --> 00:46:02,864 Yes. 802 00:46:02,945 --> 00:46:03,385 Yes. 803 00:46:03,415 --> 00:46:04,235 Ooh, I love those. 804 00:46:04,815 --> 00:46:05,305 Easy. 805 00:46:05,305 --> 00:46:09,185 Could get into the whole thing and like, literally eat it all in one sitting. 806 00:46:09,215 --> 00:46:10,615 I mean, it's dangerous. 807 00:46:10,645 --> 00:46:14,055 I remember just eating the crumbs just fall all over you, you know? 808 00:46:14,194 --> 00:46:15,704 Minh V.: The crumbs of it all, though. 809 00:46:16,785 --> 00:46:17,205 Yes. 810 00:46:17,205 --> 00:46:18,175 That's a good one, though. 811 00:46:18,505 --> 00:46:20,655 And where do you like to have fun in Austin? 812 00:46:21,105 --> 00:46:23,455 I love going to the different, uh, cultural art museums. 813 00:46:23,455 --> 00:46:23,509 Mm hmm. 814 00:46:23,830 --> 00:46:26,470 It sounds slightly boring, but they have a lot of like rotating 815 00:46:26,470 --> 00:46:28,120 exhibits, which is like really cool. 816 00:46:28,120 --> 00:46:30,920 Again, that like alone time self care. 817 00:46:31,220 --> 00:46:33,220 I like going to find different sites. 818 00:46:33,230 --> 00:46:38,299 So I just this weekend went to the Malin, the troll in Peace Park. 819 00:46:38,520 --> 00:46:39,440 Oh, yeah. 820 00:46:39,520 --> 00:46:41,460 promqueen: Really massive tall troll. 821 00:46:41,520 --> 00:46:42,410 That's really cool. 822 00:46:42,649 --> 00:46:44,980 So it was fun to like see a new site. 823 00:46:45,350 --> 00:46:45,670 Minh V.: Yeah. 824 00:46:45,710 --> 00:46:46,200 promqueen: Yeah. 825 00:46:46,200 --> 00:46:49,440 And then I love to go karaoke with my friends. 826 00:46:49,820 --> 00:46:50,790 Minh V.: Private or public? 827 00:46:51,480 --> 00:46:52,010 promqueen: Private. 828 00:46:52,080 --> 00:46:53,480 I'm not, I'm not a public one. 829 00:46:53,750 --> 00:46:54,670 Minh V.: I know. 830 00:46:55,300 --> 00:46:59,720 There, there are people in my life, some of my friends who love a good public 831 00:46:59,730 --> 00:47:02,680 karaoke, and I'm like, I don't know, man. 832 00:47:02,709 --> 00:47:04,940 I think it's private for me. 833 00:47:05,209 --> 00:47:10,079 If I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna do it in the safety of like a private room with my 834 00:47:10,080 --> 00:47:13,079 closest friends, or by myself in my car. 835 00:47:13,480 --> 00:47:16,140 promqueen: Yes, yes, I'm the same. 836 00:47:16,160 --> 00:47:17,080 I'm the same. 837 00:47:17,170 --> 00:47:20,800 So I would say like those are some fun places I like to go and explore. 838 00:47:20,800 --> 00:47:21,330 Minh V.: For sure. 839 00:47:22,070 --> 00:47:25,889 Well, promqueen, thank you so much for joining us on the podcast. 840 00:47:26,540 --> 00:47:30,829 It was so great to be able to learn more about your process, your 841 00:47:30,840 --> 00:47:36,170 journey, what's inspired you, and to like hear all the like awesome 842 00:47:36,180 --> 00:47:37,990 stuff that you have coming up. 843 00:47:38,270 --> 00:47:41,910 It's been really, really awesome to see. 844 00:47:42,395 --> 00:47:45,485 everything going your way, and we're just like rooting for you. 845 00:47:45,495 --> 00:47:49,815 We're, we're like celebrating, uplifting, and like want to see 846 00:47:49,815 --> 00:47:54,885 you continue to do the amazing stuff that you've already started. 847 00:47:54,965 --> 00:47:56,975 So thanks for being with us. 848 00:47:57,515 --> 00:47:59,065 promqueen: Thank you so much, Minh and Sandra. 849 00:47:59,324 --> 00:48:00,014 Y'all are the best. 850 00:48:00,614 --> 00:48:01,444 Sandra P.: Thank you. 851 00:48:11,084 --> 00:48:14,664 Minh V.: That was another great interview. 852 00:48:14,804 --> 00:48:19,825 I'm always in awe of our guests that we are able to bring on and just like, their 853 00:48:19,825 --> 00:48:22,025 experiences that they bring to the table. 854 00:48:22,035 --> 00:48:28,195 Sandra P.: Yeah, I think every time we get the opportunity to bring on a guest and 855 00:48:28,195 --> 00:48:35,234 have these chats, I'm just always blown away and in awe of just how authentically 856 00:48:35,234 --> 00:48:37,195 they show up and how fun it is. 857 00:48:37,635 --> 00:48:42,975 Minh V.: Yeah, and I think one thing too that stood out to me in the interview 858 00:48:42,985 --> 00:48:48,954 was when promqueen was talking about her mom going to the pawn shop and 859 00:48:48,954 --> 00:48:54,000 trying to get something nice for herself, some jewelry, things like that. 860 00:48:54,430 --> 00:48:59,849 And I know that we've been kind of on our own journey with how jewelry can be 861 00:48:59,850 --> 00:49:04,420 tied to our identity or, or the types of jewelry that we feel represent us. 862 00:49:04,429 --> 00:49:07,849 I just remember growing up like the uncles. 863 00:49:08,225 --> 00:49:14,875 Not even related to me, but would have the like white tank and gold chain 864 00:49:14,875 --> 00:49:21,385 with jade on it, or I know you, you have shared before some of your family 865 00:49:21,385 --> 00:49:25,825 members or people in your life that had some specific jewelry that you feel 866 00:49:25,884 --> 00:49:28,525 closely tied to their identity, right? 867 00:49:28,965 --> 00:49:32,245 Sandra P.: Yeah, I'm wondering if it's something that we have 868 00:49:32,460 --> 00:49:34,110 maybe inherited from them. 869 00:49:34,540 --> 00:49:38,020 Yeah, when I have fond memories, I'm thinking of my grandmother and my mom. 870 00:49:38,030 --> 00:49:42,410 They have very special, unique jewelry pieces that I feel like 871 00:49:42,410 --> 00:49:43,629 are tied to their identity. 872 00:49:43,629 --> 00:49:47,270 When I do think of my grandma, I think of like the classic jade 873 00:49:47,280 --> 00:49:48,810 bracelet that was always on her wrist. 874 00:49:49,230 --> 00:49:49,470 Right? 875 00:49:49,470 --> 00:49:52,060 You never take it off, including airports, anywhere. 876 00:49:52,490 --> 00:49:55,780 But that has been just part of her, like, literally. 877 00:49:55,790 --> 00:49:58,670 She has had that the entire time I've known her. 878 00:49:59,150 --> 00:50:01,030 So it's got me thinking a lot. 879 00:50:01,670 --> 00:50:05,499 Jewelry is very important to both you and I, but like, do I really 880 00:50:05,499 --> 00:50:08,940 invest in pieces that I feel like will be part of my identity? 881 00:50:08,980 --> 00:50:10,770 Because I kind of do want to have that. 882 00:50:10,820 --> 00:50:14,280 And I know you and I talked about going into Chinatown 883 00:50:14,280 --> 00:50:15,420 and maybe you want to share. 884 00:50:15,420 --> 00:50:15,450 Yeah. 885 00:50:16,745 --> 00:50:20,165 Minh V.: Yeah, I mean, I remember growing up and going to those, like, 886 00:50:20,295 --> 00:50:25,435 mom and pop shops, like, run by Vietnamese folks who sell jewelry. 887 00:50:25,455 --> 00:50:29,455 There's a lot of jade, a lot of gold, a lot of things like that. 888 00:50:29,474 --> 00:50:33,285 And yeah, we, we did talk recently about what it means to 889 00:50:33,315 --> 00:50:35,064 have some of that for ourselves. 890 00:50:35,115 --> 00:50:40,975 And I was thinking about those gold chains and the, the jade kind of. 891 00:50:41,510 --> 00:50:42,460 emblems. 892 00:50:42,950 --> 00:50:46,750 And I was like, wait, why don't I have one of those things? 893 00:50:46,760 --> 00:50:49,100 You know, like why, why not? 894 00:50:49,140 --> 00:50:52,630 At first there's a whole thing kind of intertwined with like, maybe 895 00:50:52,630 --> 00:50:57,190 that's not me, or that's not, there's some, maybe some toxic masculinity 896 00:50:57,250 --> 00:51:01,430 as well that was like tied into the people that I saw wearing that. 897 00:51:01,800 --> 00:51:06,230 But I think more recently I'm like, that doesn't mean that I can't kind of reclaim 898 00:51:06,230 --> 00:51:12,655 that for what it means to me, how I, still connects me with my Vietnamese identity 899 00:51:12,655 --> 00:51:18,665 and heritage and being able to just rock it, you know, and have that be part of me. 900 00:51:18,675 --> 00:51:22,995 So yeah, I'm happy to say that I, I was able to get that and do that. 901 00:51:22,995 --> 00:51:29,664 And I have this like heart emerald jade necklace that feels more like me. 902 00:51:29,664 --> 00:51:31,145 You know, I could have gotten like the Buddha. 903 00:51:31,155 --> 00:51:35,095 I could have gotten some dragons that they had available, but I chose a 904 00:51:35,095 --> 00:51:40,990 heart that Felt strong and still soft at the same time and being confident 905 00:51:41,000 --> 00:51:46,730 in that right as a it's a queer gay Asian man So yeah, it feels good. 906 00:51:47,070 --> 00:51:50,040 Sandra P.: Yeah, I love that I think I love that you also went kind of 907 00:51:50,049 --> 00:51:53,849 back to your roots and I love that you intentionally also went to an 908 00:51:53,860 --> 00:52:00,520 AAPI owned store locally instead of going to like Mejuri and like finding 909 00:52:00,570 --> 00:52:05,535 an appropriated piece because a lot of it is kind of trendy and in You 910 00:52:05,535 --> 00:52:07,165 know, what a, what a sweet story. 911 00:52:07,165 --> 00:52:13,555 And I think we're recognizing their jewelry is, yeah, I, I just have such 912 00:52:13,555 --> 00:52:15,445 fond memories around that and identity. 913 00:52:15,445 --> 00:52:18,405 So I'd, I'd love to be remembered in that way as well. 914 00:52:19,015 --> 00:52:19,435 Minh V.: Yeah. 915 00:52:19,524 --> 00:52:22,075 A lot of sentimental value in jewelry. 916 00:52:22,194 --> 00:52:22,484 Right. 917 00:52:22,625 --> 00:52:23,805 Well, that. 918 00:52:24,165 --> 00:52:26,555 is our premiere episode. 919 00:52:26,555 --> 00:52:30,655 I appreciate y'all joining us and listening and stay tuned. 920 00:52:30,675 --> 00:52:35,114 We'll have some more episodes to share with y'all very, very soon. 921 00:52:35,115 --> 00:52:36,372 Sandra P.: Bye y'all. 922 00:52:36,372 --> 00:52:37,000 Minh V.: Bye.