Kris Wu is one of the biggest stars in Asia and now making his name in the West. In spite of the controversy his new album, "Antares," has been through, the 28-year-old star proved that he is an icon in the making. In a series of interviews, the former EXO member talked about his life experiences, his one particular Chinese song, and how he coped up after the alleged chart manipulation accusations.
Kris Wu tried his luck at the American market by releasing "Antares" internationally. The Canadian-Chinese actor wanted to bridge the gap between the East and the West through his music.
"Antares" features international artists like Travis Scott, Jhené Aiko, and Rich the Kid. Now looking back to his past career, Kris Wu told the Fader that he could also be a basketball player with his height after he watched Allen Iverson play for the first time.
He also recalled the time when he first bought Andy Lau's cassette and when he memorized Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" after he watched the movie "Titanic." Kris Wu also remembered the body aches he felt when he got his first job as a dishwasher.
The Louis Vuitton model also told a story about his mother and brought to mind the times when she was often away to provide him a living. So to honor her mom, Kris Wu wrote the song "Lullaby" and always performed it on his birthday every year.
Talking about "Antares," Kris Wu told Billboard that the album has one song, "Tian Di" (天地), which is in pure Chinese. He intentionally didn't translate the track into English to add a different touch to his LP. He also wanted the international fans to know his ethnicity.
Kris Wu revealed that "Tian Di" means heaven and earth. "It just means, sky's the limit," he added. The song is about "breaking and conquering boundaries," and freeing yourself from people's doubts. It also means having a "very positive energy and strong attitude."
According to SupChina, Kris Wu finds peace and energy through tradition, and this is his way to cope up from the controversies. He loves to explore nature, drink tea, and have a conversation with elderly men to also break away from all the stress and pressures of his work. Although "Tian Di" seems to be another Chinese rap song, it tells how to overcome hate, obstacles, and get away from negative influences. Hence, the song is also his way to show the Chinese culture.
