Taiwan’s 9m88 on Acting, Songwriting and the Space Between: ‘Both Fall Under Performing Arts, but in Many Ways They Feel Almost Contradictory’

For Taiwanese artist 9m88, the creative spheres of music and cinema are complementary, even if she admits they can feel like contrasting worlds. The performer, celebrated for her fusion of jazz, soul, and Mandarin pop, has concurrently established a notable screen presence. Her filmography includes roles in "A Foggy Tale" and "Double Happiness," where she played an irrepressibly cheerful wedding planner—a disposition she had to consciously cultivate. "That level of optimism isn't my default setting," she observes. "Inhabiting that character was like trying on a new outfit, and it ultimately taught me something valuable."

Her artistic journey recently intersected with high-profile cinema at the Hong Kong Asian Film Awards, where her film "Girl" was showcased. The project holds special significance as the directorial debut of acclaimed actress Shu Qi and premiered at the prestigious Venice Film Festival. On the event's sidelines, 9m88 engaged in a relatively rare industry discussion, approaching it with characteristic humility. "I consider myself very much a newcomer in these forums," she stated, highlighting her open-minded perspective. She draws a clear distinction between her creative outlets: film is a collaborative endeavor where she learns to empathize with a character, while songwriting is a solitary excavation of self. "The latter can feel like staring into a void," she notes, "constantly questioning your own identity."

This interdisciplinary mindset is deeply rooted in her training. After studying music in New York City, where an innovative class partnered acting students with jazz and classical musicians for improvisational work, she returned to Asia with a transformed outlook. "That experience was a masterclass in how disparate artistic languages can communicate," she recalls. Her earlier background in fashion design, where the interplay of materials is fundamental, further cemented this collaborative instinct. This foundation proved invaluable for live performance, which itself became a training ground for screen work. "An audience detects hesitation instantly," she explains. "So I learned to lean into the unplanned—a technical glitch can become a unique, creative moment."

Returning to music after intensive film work has prompted new questions about scale and narrative. "Cinema operates on such a grand storytelling canvas," she admits. "Condensing that scope into a three-minute song is a fascinating challenge, though perhaps an unnecessary one, as each medium serves a different purpose." She is careful not to frame her diverse projects as a strategic career shift. For 9m88, it's a holistic pursuit of growth as a performing artist. Music remains her foundational passion, but she credits film—a competitive yet rewarding field—with accelerating her personal development. Looking forward, she envisions a harmonious coexistence between her musical and cinematic pursuits, guided by opportunity rather than a rigid plan. "I'm most thankful for projects that arrive when the moment feels aligned," she concludes, embracing a fluid artistic path.