There’s no secret formula to knowing when your work matters — but for HELANG, it started when she stopped waiting for someone else to tell her it did. The Chinese-American techno producer has spent the past few years carving out a space that’s fully her own, building a process defined by emotional honesty, ritual, and self-discipline — even when validation is nowhere in sight.
Her latest release “Hits Different,” out now on Oliver Heldens’ HILOMATIK imprint, continues that momentum. It’s a track that lives at the intersection of power and mystique, landing at the start of AAPI Heritage Month with a quiet confidence that matches her growing creative force. But the mindset that got her here? That started long before the shows, the label signings, or the interviews.
In this conversation, HELANG shares what it really takes to stay grounded while building your name, how she protects her headspace from outside pressure, and why curiosity — not ego — is what keeps her moving forward.
To find out more about Helang, go to: Instagram | Soundcloud | Twitter | Spotify
For more information on HILOMATIK please visit:Instagram l SoundCloud | Website
What shifted when you started treating your music like it mattered, even before anyone heard it?
Deciding to pursue music seriously was a full circle moment because I have always been musically inclined.
I grew up classically trained on the piano, sang solo and in choirs all through middle and high school and by the time I was 16, I had fallen in love with electronic music. When I got into djing in college, it started for fun as a resident at an on campus bar. After I graduated, I moved to Chicago city and started playing big girl gigs.
That’s when I realized how much music means to me. Music fills my soul up and allows me to do things that no other job has and that’s why I know this is what I’m meant to do.
How do you protect your creative process from being shaped by outside approval too early?
My first two years of producing I treated every project as “fun”, and what I mean by that is when I produce, I produce for myself. I didn’t think about what people would “like” or what would “sell”. It’s almost like putting myself into a trance when I sit down and write. It’s not about going into every session having a specific idea, but creating inspiration as I go.
It’s usually easier said than done but trusting my own judgement and taking feedback with a grain of salt has helped my process a lot.
Have you ever noticed your work improve just by taking it more seriously?
Definitely. When you put consistent effort into something, even if it’s just an hour a day into the studio, you will see noticeable results.
You start investing in your business in multiple ways too, whether it’s PR, audio engineering, marketing etc. For me, it’s definitely a fine balance between working hard and manifesting what I want. It’s not always easy to find that balance but what helps me achieve symbiosis is listening to my body.
When you take care of yourself, things start falling into place.
What held you back from treating yourself like a real artist in the beginning?
The fear of being a “failure”, and also being the perfectionist that I am. It is something I am still working on as I age but I’ve realised that the most important thing to do is to be kind to yourself even on days where you don’t feel great.
Simply showing up counts for a lot. It’s always important to try not to compare yourself to others too much. Comparison is the thief of joy. Reminding myself of the fact that I believe in the person I want to become is all that matters.
How do you stay grounded in your own standards when no one else is validating your work yet?
Setting goals, journaling, meditating, and listening to inspirational TedTalks and podcasts really help me stay grounded in moments of depression, doubt or despair.
I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without learning how to discipline and take care of myself. Finding hobbies outside of music is also very important for me. I love to dance, exercise, travel, and spend quality time with friends.
Sometimes I find myself way too consumed in music and I remind myself that it’s good to do something else. This way I can get those creative juices flowing again.
What’s one mindset that helped you move from experimenting to committing?
Putting my all into something I want to pursue has always been a quality of mine so fortunately this was easy for me to do. I am very dedicated when I decide I want to invest in something. This mindset has carried me through my whole life.
I believe it is very important to be curious about everything in life. Curiosity is what gives us abundance in things we do.
Once I am more open-minded, I was able to transform from experimentation to commitment.
Do you think artists undervalue their own work early on — and what helps fix that?
I think it’s a mix. Sometimes it’s easy to let go of our ego and that can be good and bad. What’s important is being able to recognize when you are stuck in a narrow minded space and how to navigate around that in a healthy way.
For me, I listen to motivational podcasts — Elizabeth Gilbert’s are my favorite. She talks about struggles as an artist and woman and it is very relatable and inspiring. We live in scary but exciting times and I choose to see the best in every situation as possible and take advantage all the resources I currently have.
The post Helang on Protecting Her Process and Finding Strength in Curiosity appeared first on Magnetic Magazine.