Jeffrey interview Hong Kong: From Reality TV to Music

Jeffrey interview Hong Kong: After appearing on the reality show Be a Better Man, Jeffrey (魏浚笙) has, in under two years, moved into advertising, television, variety shows, film, and music, and become a social media favorite.

Fans call themselves “coffee beans,” a name the crowd adopted early, and they have watched him shift from a handsome newcomer often mistaken for a playboy to someone he describes as loyal and ready to commit when he finds the right partner. The contrast between his boyish, slightly goofy candor and his polished public image has helped make him one of Hong Kong’s most talked about young talents.

The ZTYLEZ production team and photographer Miss Bean created a set filled with museum like displays of Hong Kong objects from the 1970s and 1980s. The retro props were chosen to evoke past lifestyles and artistic trends, and to complement the mixed heritage look of Jeffrey. On the shoot day, beyond the well publicized contrast between his looks and manner, he shared the sketch of a dream he has been building toward. The 25 years old Taurus has ambitions that go well beyond his current profile.

Storytelling through music

As the first new music artist in 2023 from his circle, Jeffrey says he will focus on music this year and is preparing new work for release. He plans to record three to four songs, each with a different theme, and will be heavily involved from concept through production and music video shoots.

“I want to present music as a way of telling stories,” he said. “First I need to move myself, then I can pass the feeling on to listeners through my work.” Last year he invested a six figure sum in Hong Kong dollars to fund his debut single, an effort he called a personal dream come true, made possible by a supportive team.

His first single, “First Confusion,” was written and produced by a team that includes lyricist Wyman Wong, singer and songwriter Hins Cheung, and Edward Chan. Jeffrey called the song a love letter to anyone working hard to get by, a message that faith and persistence can make a dream come true.

He recalled a high profile live debut earlier this year on a major Hong Kong radio chart show, an appearance that won praise but left him nearly panic stricken. “I was really scared that night,” he said. “When I get off my game while filming I usually scream once to reset, but that night the screams did not work, so I decided to go all in and enjoy the moment.” He laughed as he described a playful stress relief trick he sometimes recommends to friends.

Natural talent and the acting path

Jeffrey said he never planned to pursue entertainment when he was younger, and had little interest until he took an acting class. “The deeper I went into it, the more interesting it became,” he said. “I realized I had room to explore and grow in areas I never knew about before.”

The last two years have been a period of discovery, he said, a time to test different creative fields and identify his strengths. He is now focused on improving both his acting and singing so he can produce stronger work in both areas.

On set stories and mentors

He told a set anecdote about a film shoot where a bee flew past while the camera was rolling. “I heard it from a distance and started to physically tremble, then I ran away because I was terrified,” he said, and the cast around him laughed at the memory, including fellow performers Hins Cheung and Bai Ji.

Meeting Hins Cheung was, he said, one of the most remarkable encounters since he entered the industry. “Before I joined the field, he was an artist I admired; I never thought we would get to know each other. He has been very kind and attentive to younger performers, and that warmth made it easy to feel comfortable the first time we met.”

Fashion instincts and personal style

Jeffrey has now added model and singer to his early acting work, and he said he hopes to branch into fashion more deeply, including building his own label someday. He credits magazines with shaping his sense of style and said he enjoys experimenting with color and proportion, often choosing pieces only when he truly loves them.

He said he favors vintage inspired looks and that his wardrobe never fills with repeat items because he buys only when he truly likes a piece. “Here is a tip,” he said, “try it on; if you feel impressed, buy it. If you only feel okay, then it is not worth it.”

He recalled a childhood Halloween memory that shaped his playfulness in costume and presentation, and said that when he is not working he enjoys wandering older neighborhoods such as the Yau Ma Tei area and Temple Street to soak up local scenes like neon signs and market carts.

On keeping some things unchanged

He said he values the present and would not trade his life now to live in another era. “I might like to visit the 1980s or 1990s to see it, but living there might be harder than it seems,” he said. For him, appreciating what you have now is the simplest and deepest way to live.

For this profile and shoot, the production said the goal was to mix nostalgia with contemporary styling and to present Jeffrey as someone building a multi facet career in music, film, and fashion.