Happy Birthday Jackson Wang: Tracing a trail of ‘Magic Man’ and his artistic expression

Jackson Wang is a Chinese rapper and singer, who rose to fame as a member of the K-pop group GOT7.

By Nandini Iyengar -

March 28, 2023 - 4:40 PM IST

Being an artist is all about telling a story that resonates with the masses. You know you have truly touched hearts when your words and music transcend the barriers of language and communicate on a global level. One’s own journey from the ground up is often an inspiration to tell stories, and it often serves as solace for the audience. Jackson Wang is one such musician who incorporates his personal and professional ups and downs which reach out to his listeners. He started his music journey as a K-pop artist and soon found his footing in the industry as a soloist globally. On Jackson Wang’s birthday today, we trace his journey of over a decade as he gets closer to music, his own self, and his fans.

Happy Birthday Jackson Wang: Tracing a trail of ‘Magic Man’ and his artistic expression

A MEMBER OF GOT7
What started as a sports activity for Jackson, put him on the track to become an Olympic athlete. But there were other plans for him and his aim to strive for the best brought him to music and dance. Jackson might hail from China, but he made a place in the hearts of not only South Korean but global fans after he debuted as a rapper with GOT7. He and the other six members brought in a wave of new and fresh music that was at par with the times we all lived in. Ranging from cheesy romantic pop songs to ballads painting a picture of a beautiful heartbreak, GOT7 gave it all. As years went by, Jackson started participating in the music for GOT7’s discography along with the rest of the group. In doing so, the group brought forth a new edge to their music. There came an edge to the lyrics and composition which reflected their individuality but at the same time tied them together as a whole.

SOLO VENTURE
While still a member of GOT7, Jackson dabbled into his solo venture. While as a member of GOT7 Jackson was mostly into rapping, as a soloist he turned to the sultry tunes of R&B. His album as a soloist Mirrors reflects a smooth concoction of these two musical identities of his. He started churning out songs in Chinese and English. The songs he produced as a soloist brought out a new side to artistry where he expressed his views about love, life and everything in between. He even set up his own production studio Team Wang to carve out his mark as a soloist. Soon, collaborations flooded in with artists like BoyToy, Gucci Mane, Nicholas Tse, Lai Kuan-lin, Rain, Afgan, Amber Liu, Epik High, to name a few. After GOT7’s departure from JYPE, Jackson Wang zoned his complete focus on a journey to reinvent himself as a musician and an artist. He opened up about his personal and professional struggles. With each of the songs he produced, he made sure he nodded to his culture and his heritage.

At the turn of 2022, Jackson Wang surprised his fans with the surprise mixtape Lost & Found which further set the stage for his next album, and in the same year, he gave us Magic Man. Where Lost & Found was a set of recorded songs, Magicman was something raw, something new. The mixtape was symbolic of Jackson shedding his older identity and gearing up to embrace a new one. The album charts Jackson’s innermost feelings as he battled identity issues, struggled to find a balance between work and personal life, and also dealt with the changes around him. Jackson Wang’s Magicman is also a beacon of hope to his fans, his listeners who look up to him as an artist and inspiration.

Along with making music, Jackson Wang also donned the director’s hat. He pitched in to direct the music videos for his songs like ‘Alone’, ‘Magnetic’, and also the 90s Hong Kong-inspired track ‘LMLY’.

THE MAN BEHIND MAGIC MAN
Fans have loved Jackson’s quirky behavior during the promotions for GOT7 albums and even during his solo ventures. The guy can be alone in a room with a rock and would easily make the rock talk. Jackson’s energy is infectious. The fun and playful approach that Jackson Wang has brings forth a new energy to the room. There was always a smile on his face regardless of the struggles he was in. His personality shone through during the times when the camera was not pointed at him. Success does not come easy for it brings pressure to excel and live up to everyone’s expectations. There are days when one feels they are not true to their art. Jackson Wang went through these phases. He put on a brave face in front of his fans until he finally couldn’t. But he was honest with himself. He looked into the mirror and made a promise that he would rise from his challenges and rise up, he did.

With the turn of 2022, Jackson began piecing together his experiences to form a stellar kaleidoscope of emotions which translated into the lyrics for his songs. He was honest, raw, and vulnerable when he put himself out in front of his fans. But he could do it partially because he believed in himself and also because he believed that his fans would find themselves in his music. He became susceptible to the response not only from his fans but the world as a whole.

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INDIA DEBUT
Jackson Wang graced the stages of Lollapalooza India on January 29, 2023, finally making his and his Indian fans’ wishes to be together on Indian soil come true. He came to the stage, performed the trance-laced tracks from his album Magicman and owned it. He showered his fans with love and his fans loved him back. His set was undoubtedly one of the most anticipated acts and he sure lived up to the hype. In between his songs, Jackson also gave an ending statement or two where he spoke to the fans from his heart.