Ansonbean interview: Hong Kong’s new generation of pop stars is building momentum, and the talent show King Maker helped create a runaway boy band across the city. Last year it also introduced Ansonbean (陳毅燊), a young performer whose rare popularity has fast tracked him into both the music and fashion worlds.
He is known for single eyelids that narrow into a sunlit smile, giving him a boyish, earnest look. Beyond that, his constant energy and physical dynamism left a strong impression on judges when he first auditioned for King Maker III.
When he auditioned he was just 19 and a first year university student; Ansonbean is now about to turn 21. He has been on the scene less than a year, and he signed with Cool Style as the agency’s first artist, according to Cool Style. He has also drawn commercial interest from several major brands.
Dance runs in his family. His mother is a dance teacher with three decades of experience, and Ansonbean and his younger brother trained in dance from childhood under her guidance. He calls himself a person who seeks challenge and likes to leave his comfort zone, and that drive led him to audition despite limited experience with rapping.
“The harder something is, the more I want to try it,” he said, describing a willingness to fail and keep experimenting. That restless, innovative spirit is a central part of his public persona and helps explain why he stands out as a representative of a new generation.
Asked to pick one word for a photo shoot concept, he chose “HULK.” When pressed on what inner strength that name represents, he smiled and stepped in front of the camera, ready to let his energy speak for itself.
“I want to release music that influences people,” he said
“I think my trait is that I am more, well, bouncy,” he said, using the Cantonese sense of the word to describe lively movement and quick thinking.
His background is both an advantage and proof of his ability. His mother taught him street dance from a young age, and even after enrolling at a university in the U.K. he returned to Hong Kong to pursue more performance opportunities. His run on King Maker III ended with a third place finish and launched his career.
He calls his mind “bouncy” as well. On set he kept improvising ideas, dropping into push ups, lifting a chair as an impromptu weight, and moving with a constant, contagious energy.
That quickness also makes him impatient. He said he often speaks before fully organizing his thoughts, which can look chaotic, but he has turned that urgency into a performance advantage. “Although it can be a weakness, if I channel it well I know it can become a strength,” he said.
He is trying to temper impatience so it does not undercut performance, and he said developing calm will help him enjoy his craft more. That mix of restlessness and reflection is how he “jumped” into the industry.
Before he debuted, music had been his way into the scene. “I heard artists use music to express their feelings and to influence people, so I think music is very powerful,” he said. “I want to put out music that can affect people, like the songs and stories that moved me.”
“Reinventing yourself is a way to challenge the new you”
“Because you only get one chance in life, I think there are a lot of things worth trying,” he said.
He cites Michael Jackson and Leslie Cheung as early influences. “They were legendary, and they gave me the initial inspiration to love performing. I watched many clips and I saw their confidence on stage, and how they consistently brought new things to the audience,” he said.
He sees reinvention as a form of self challenge. “Innovation comes from life and from what surrounds you. If you apply those daily experiences to your work, you can create something new,” he said.
Although he appears nonstop in front of the camera, he describes himself as calm and clear minded underneath. For the new generation of artists, he says, the essential quality is the ability to feel, to absorb life and turn that into inspiration. “I am still learning in that area,” he added.
Confidence, attitude, boldness, and clear goals form the foundation for any newcomer, he said. But he also believes in stepping back sometimes to let the senses take in life, because that is where creative ideas originate.
He most admires his idols’ confidence and distinctive style. “They knew how to bring ideas and messages from inside out to everyone, and that is hard to replace,” he said.
“I like to keep seeking new kinds of stimulation”
“On stage and off stage there is a slight difference,” he said, smiling.
He can move from a few steps and a drop into a one arm takeoff into a backflip, land clean, then grin so charm takes over. That combination of hard technical skill and soft charisma is part of his appeal.
He says he loves trying exciting things, and that the prospect of a high energy performance pushes him to be more explosive and confident on stage. After a show he can feel less confident, but he uses the thrill of risk as fuel.
He likens himself to denim, saying denim is versatile and can be styled many ways. On the shoot he wore items from the Levi’s Red collection and described the oversized, workwear pieces as comfortable and easy to pair with a T shirt, tank top, or button down.
He released his first single, CRUSH (oh no!), in July last year, and two months later he followed with the single you made my day. According to the official music video on YouTube, the second single had more than 150,000 views within two weeks.
He said the new single moved away from upbeat rap and dance toward a lighter, sweeter sound. “I am confident I will keep trying and bring good things to everyone,” he said.
As a newcomer he knows experience matters and must be earned, but he also knows building confidence is essential before opportunity arrives. The rush of trying new things is the fuel he prefers, and he plans to keep revealing different sides of himself through future releases.
He said he hopes to show the most authentic version of himself as he grows. “As I release work over time, I want people to see my changes and growth,” he said, adding that his aims are steady and sincere rather than flashy.
Asked about his immediate hopes after debuting, he brightened. “I look forward to trying new things and refining my skills. As my technique improves, I can take on more thrilling performances. I hope people will like what comes next.”
For a newcomer a pat on the back may be enough, but with Ansonbean that would feel too small. He lives by a motto: do not fear difficulty, fear not making things difficult enough. Keep watching as this small seed takes root and grows into something larger. Go Ansonbean.
Executive Producer: Angus Mok
Producer: Vicky Wai
Photography: Karl Lam
Videography: Andy Lee, Man Tam
Styling: Vicky Wai
Make Up: Jenny Shih
Hair: Alex So @ The Attic
Video Editor: Andy Lee
Editor: Carson Lin
Designer: Edwina Chan
Wardrobe: Levi’s Red
