The Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival

Sunny Daydream Chen

When & Where October 11 - 13, 2024, Friday 2 - 8, Sat. 12 - 8, Sun. 12 - 6 | Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre

Reviewer Ross Michael Pink

 

Chinese Canadian singer Sunny Daydream Chen dazzled the audience on October 12 that the Roundhouse during the Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival. The performance was introduced by MC Laura Fukumoto. The Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival showcases the impressive talent of performing and visual artists.

Sunny performed songs with a powerful, emotional and lovely voice that enthralled the audience. She is a singer with a gift for connecting instantly with her audience with a warm smile, cheerful tone and lovely voice that projects power and emotion. While singling, a video backdrop portrayed two women playing on a swing, a cheerful and uplifting backdrop to the music.

Part of the performance featured local dancers Jennifer Tong and Lissy Allan who joined Sunny in moving with energy to the music. Tong is also known as an accomplished actress in the Netflix/CBC series Fakes.
The three song set included vitamin D, natural born leaders and VirgoVenus. Sunny is a performer who uplifts audiences with emotion and beauty in her songs.

Future performances include the Battle of the Bands called Shindig in November and December.


Interview with Sunny Daydream Chen
By Ross Michael Pink

RMP: How did your musical interest start?
SDC: I have always been singing. When I could talk I could sing. I was born in Nanjing, ChinSDC: My Grandmother had a restaurant and I would sing songs at an early age. I always wanted to share my voice.

RMP: Can you describe your musical training?
SDC: We moved to Langley as a child and in school I joined the choir and learned about working with a team. In high school, I went to Idaho for a jazz concert and to Anaheim to perform.

RMP: Who were early influences upon your musical career?
SDC: My Mother was supportive. She grew up in an impoverished village in Ping-Xiang , China and was the first to go to University eventually obtaining a PhD in Forestry. She put me into piano at the age of 3 and enrolled me in drawing classes. In high school I took hip hop dance. My Mother put Me into every art and music class that I wanted to learn. As an artist I am influenced by Fefe Dawson and Avril Lavigne.

RMP: Can you describe the message of your music?
SDC: I want music to connect people and affirm that healing is possible for all people. The message of my performances is that we can connect with people and nature. Thinking about people, nature teaches us about empathy.

© 2024 Ross Michael Pink