For US singer-songwriter Greyson Chance, every tour feels like a homecoming, but the one in China carries a special weight.
From Oct 6 to Saturday, Chance, 28, returned to China, with stops that included Guangzhou in Guangdong province, Beijing, Wuhan in Hubei province, and Chengdu in Sichuan province.
It marked his third tour in the country, a place that has played a key role in his career since he was just 14. Chance has traversed countless milestones since his first visit and now, as he took the stage in cities across China once again, there's a deep sense of gratitude and nostalgia woven into his performances.
"To be honest, it feels surreal to still be here, still singing, still doing it," Chance told China Daily on Oct 14. "I came to China for the first time when I was 14. Now, years later, I'm performing for people who were once my age, and they're bringing their families to the shows. It's humbling to know that we've all grown up together."
Chance's connection to his Chinese fans goes beyond the typical artist-audience relationship. The depth of their shared journey is apparent every time he steps on stage. This tour, however, marked a deliberate effort to make the experience even more intimate and unique. Drawing from years of touring internationally, Chance tailored the show with subtle but meaningful touches for his Chinese audiences.
"With this tour, I wanted to make sure the show felt like it was made for China," he says. "We have a full LED design. I've included Mandarin subtitles for key moments, so fans can fully connect with the experience. It's important to me that this feels personal, like something special for them."
Whether it's the Mandarin subtitles during monologue moments or cues like "scream" and "clap" in Chinese appearing on the screen, every detail has been carefully planned to enhance the connection between Chance and his fans.
One of Chance's favorite parts of the tour was the nightly meet-and-greet, where fans handed him letters filled with stories and messages of support. "I think we all connect through a shared experience of pressure and expectations — whether it's from family, school or work. My songs have always been a release, a way for us to process those pressures together."
Looking back on his career, Chance is candid about the ups and downs he faced, especially as a young artist thrust into the spotlight.
The piano chords rang loudly as Chance's sixth-grade prepubescent voice echoed in an Oklahoma middle school gym. A shaky videographer captured the then-12-year-old performing Lady Gaga's Paparazzi in front of his schoolmates in early 2010, marking the first time Chance sang in front of a crowd.
For Chance, the China tour represents more than just another set of performances; it's a symbol of rebirth, and a chance to reconnect with his past while looking ahead. "This is a new chapter for me," he says. "I'm learning to have more compassion for that earlier part of my career. I was just a kid trying to make sense of everything."
Having achieved fame at a young age, Chance has also grappled with the pressure of being an artist in the public eye. He admits that the worst part of becoming a star at such a young age was the immense pressure — personally and professionally.
But as challenging as the early years were, there is a silver lining. "The best part is knowing that my music is impacting people's lives. It's incredible to think that something I created is helping someone in their daily life," he says.
Songwriting is another cornerstone of Chance's career, and he's proud of how his music comes to life. He describes his process as spontaneous and often random. "It's different for every song," he says. "Sometimes I sit at the piano and the song just flows out. Other times, I'll have an idea for months before it finally clicks."
When asked about his future goals, his answer is refreshingly simple. "I don't have concrete goals anymore. I used to have goals like playing arenas or selling out huge shows, but now I just want to keep going. My goal is to look back at my discography and say, 'You did that on your own terms,'" he says. "That's the artist I want to be. I don't need to chase trends — I just want to create music that feels authentic to me."
