Meet Ponpon Chen | Singer & Jazz Guitarist & Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ponpon Chen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ponpon, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I’m Ponpon Chen, a 22-year-old singer-songwriter from Taipei, Taiwan. In 2022, I made the bold decision to pursue my musical dreams in the United States. Music has been my lifelong passion, beginning with my exploration of classic tunes and forays into jazz on the piano at a young age. Additionally, I’ve honed my craft as a professional singer for over 8 years.

Over the past decade, my musical journey has been filled with diverse experiences—competing, appearing on TV, recording sessions, collaborating across borders, and even dabbling in theater music design. Before my venture to the U.S., I organized and performed in several concerts in my hometown.

My journey truly took off at the age of 12 when I began competing in music contests. I’ve been fortunate to have many performance opportunities, especially in Taipei and China, thanks to my major in Drama both in high school and college. Those years were a whirlwind of musical growth and exploration.

Then came the pandemic, completely altering my plans. Confined indoors, I delved deeper into my aspirations, stumbling upon a transformative video of George Benson on the guitar. Inspired by his mastery, I made the decision to pursue jazz guitar in the U.S.

Thankfully, my family fully supported my dreams, allowing me to leave college after first year. I dedicated myself to mastering the guitar, refining my skills, and immersing myself in jazz. In my second year of learning guitar, I chose to study at the Musicians Institute, which was pivotal for me! It was there that I met my first jazz guitar mentor and delved into the rich history of jazz music.

Through hours of practice and immersion in jazz records and literature, I aspire to follow in the footsteps of jazz legends like George Benson and Chet Baker, blending guitar melodies with scat singing while infusing my cultural roots into my music.

I’ve been fortunate to have the support of incredible mentors, friends, and fans who have stood by me through it all. Their unwavering belief in me fuels my determination to keep pushing forward, trusting in myself as they do in me.Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m especially proud of my performance with the renowned Chinese pop singer Roy Wang on the TV show “Come Sing With Me 3”. The first night of the show garnered an astounding 540 million views, making it the top-rated program of the night!

If you ask me how I got to where I am today, I would say it’s been about staying true to myself, working hard, and embracing what I love. Keeping my curiosity alive and believing in my abilities has been key. I’ve learned to be open about my passions and bravely acknowledge my shortcomings, always striving to improve. With sincerity and genuine passion, I believe that we all will find our paths to success. These are principles I’ve always kept in mind and remind myself every day. Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take them to all the cool jazz bars in town, such as The Baked Potato, The York, Sam First, General Lee’s, The Barkley, Cicada, etc. Wherever there’s a jazz gig, I’ll be there.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First of all, I want to express my deepest gratitude to my family for their unwavering support in chasing my dreams. Additionally, I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to several remarkable human beings and groups who have played pivotal roles in my journey.

I must start by giving a special shoutout to my guitar teacher in Taiwan, Geddy Lin, who generously provided me with his Gibson 175 to support my growth in jazz guitar. And to my vocal coaches, Tony Yang, Hao Ku, and my piano teacher, Yun-Hui Hung. They have been teaching me since I was 15. I’d say, without meeting them and getting training from all of them, I wouldn’t be who I am today.

Next, I want to express my thanks to Mark Cally, my first jazz guitar teacher, who served as one of my private instructors at Musicians Institute. Not only is he an extraordinary teacher, but he’s also a genuinely kind person.

In addition, big thanks to my mentor, Bruce Forman. His invaluable guidance and support have made a significant impact on my musical journey, and I’m truly grateful for everything he has done for me.

I also want to express my immense appreciation to Frank Vignola and his Big Jersey Guitar Club. The support and encouragement I’ve received from Frank and his manager, Joni, have been truly inspiring. I can’t thank them enough!

Last but certainly not least, I want to extend my thanks to my band, The Ponpon Jazz Band, and my other guitar instructor, Graham Dechter, vocal coach Michele Wire, as well as all the talented musicians, wonderful friends, and lovely audiences that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting over the past two years. Your support and friendship mean the world to me. I love you all.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ponpon__chen/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ponpon0405/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ponpon8154

Other: ​Weibo : https://weibo.com/u/5533308488 My original song : https://streetvoice.com/lovepon0405/songs/699711/ My performance Videos : https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkAyLNtPx8S-tQ6qCQ0k-8wDkqeY2EbVX&si=Yl3jKbbMBbNnjNv_

Image Credits
First 1-3 photos : These three pics are for my first question. The 4-6 photos : It’s the moment I’m most proud of, singing on a major TV show with Roy Wang. The 7-9 photos : My highlight in the U.S. last year was getting the chance to play with all of my guitar heroes in the Frank Vignola’s Big Jersey Guitar Camp!