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Joanna Wang
Joanna Wang (cropped).jpg
Born
Wang Ruolin

(1988-08-01) 1 August 1988 (age 36)
Taipei, Taiwan
Occupation Singer-songwriter
Years active 2008–present
Parent(s) Bing Wang (father)
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese 王若琳
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin Wáng Ruòlín
Musical career
Also known as Joanna, New Tokyo Terror, Chicken Joanna, Alferd Packer, Poocat
Genres Folk, jazz, pop, video game music, alternative, geek rock
Instruments Vocals, guitar, piano, kazoo
Labels Sony Music Taiwan

Joanna Wang (Chinese: 王若琳; pinyin: Wáng Ruòlín) (born 1 August 1988), is a Taiwanese-American singer-songwriter, daughter of music producer Bing Wang [zh] (王治平). Born in Taipei but raised in Los Angeles, California, Wang dropped out from Gabrielino High School when she was 16. Her debut album, Start from Here, was released in January 2008 as a double-disc set, one in English and the other in Chinese. The album reached No.1 in Taiwan and has been popular throughout Southeast Asia. In June 2008, it was released in Japan. Her second album, Joanna & Wang Ruo-lin, which includes her all-original endeavor, The Adult Storybook, was released in January 2009.

Career

As she was raised in the United States, Wang was exposed to many pop music acts, including The Beatles, Queen, and Oingo Boingo. Among her major influences are Danny Elfman, Yoeko Kurahashi, Paul McCartney, and video game music, most notably those from the Castlevania, Zelda, and Mario series. She has stated in her YouTube videos and in interviews that she dislikes her debut and rejects it as her own work.

Wang is a left-handed guitarist.

She has performed some of her own work and has covered various popular songs in English and in Chinese on Taiwanese television programs.

Starting in 2013, Wang began occasionally performing with a band under the name Alferd Packer & The Weird Uncles.

In March 2016, Wang performed in a production of the musical Turn Left, Turn Right, based on the illustrated book of the same name, sometimes known as A Chance of Sunshine in English.

Wang's rendition of "Pure Imagination" from her album Midnight Cinema was used for the Samsung Galaxy Fold product unveiling advertisement in February 2019.

Wang would release her twelfth album, Hotel La Rut in 2024, a concept album inspired by the Kids In The Hall sketch of the same name.

Awards

  • 2008: Singapore Hit Awards 2008 – Outstanding Newcomer
  • 2008: 9th CCTV-MTV Music Awards – Most Popular New Female Artist of the Year in Hong Kong and Taiwan
  • 2008: Metro Hits Music Awards – Metroshowbiz Hits Mandarin Songwriter Singer Big Award
  • 2008: Metro Hits Music Awards – Metro Radio Hits Most Voted Newcomer Award
  • 2008: China Mobile Wireless Music Awards – Most Potential New Female Singer
  • 2008: 2008 Beijing Chinese Pop Music Awards – Best Composer-Singer Newcomer

Discography

Original Albums

  • The Adult Storybook (2009)
  • The Adventures of Bernie the Schoolboy (2011)
  • Galaxy Crisis: The Strangest Midnight Broadcast (2013)
  • Bob Music (2015)
  • House of Bullies (2016)
  • Modern Tragedy (2018)
  • Hotel La Rut (2024)

Cover Albums

  • Start from Here (2008)
  • Joanna & Wang Ruo-lin (2009)
  • The Things We Do for Love (2011)
  • Midnight Cinema (2014)
  • Love is Calling Me (2019)

EP

  • H.A.M. (Happy Accessible Music)(w/ Chinese Title: "火腿") (2016)
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