Quick Facts
Biography
Joanna Wang (Chinese: 王若琳; pinyin: Wáng Ruòlín) is a Taiwanese-American singer-songwriter, daughter of renowned music producer Wang Zhi-ping (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 & 王若琳, 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 classic pop music acts, including but not limited to: The Beatles, Queen, and Oingo Boingo. Among her major influences are Danny Elfman, Yoeko Kurahashi (倉橋ヨエコ), Paul McCartney, and video game soundtracks, 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, Joanna began occasionally performing with a band under the name Alferd Packer & The Weird Uncles.
In March 2016, Joanna 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.
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
Albums
- Start from Here (2008)
- Joanna & 王若琳 (2009)
- The Adult Storybook (2009)
- The Adventures of Bernie the Schoolboy (2011)
- Galaxy Crisis: The Strangest Midnight Broadcast (2013)
- Bob Music (2015)
- H.A.M. (Happy Accessible Music) (2016)
- House of Bullies (2016)
Cover albums
- The Things We Do for Love (2011)
- Midnight Cinema(2014)