MetaMoon Music Festival 2022

photographed by William Park, written and interviewed by Yoko Zhu

The MetaMoon Music Festival, a cultural experience celebrating Asian artists, launched in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center last Saturday, November 26. Organized by Hong-Kong based entertainment company Graceful Media in partnership with Live Nation, the night was filled with performers such as Lay Zhang, Amber Liu, Tia Ray, Tyson Yoshi, ØZI, Sury Su, Karencici, 9m88, and host MC Jin, who incited enthusiasm from the audience. 

Headliner EXO member Lay Zhang made his solo U.S. arena debut, singing his hit “Honey” and songs from his latest EP “West.” His choreography included ten backup dancers on the neon-lit Barclay stage.

Zhang expressed his love for music and the significance of connection through his art, stating that “performing in front of people never gets old” in a MetaMoon press conference.

Other headliners such as f(x)’s Amber Liu and Tina Ray amplified the crowd’s energy, prompting screams from the audience and an arena of iPhone flashlights shining like luminescent stars.

Amber Liu told Rice & Spice that vulnerability and openness are topics she explores. “With music, there’s this weird click that happens. I feel less alone… putting that into my writing is a cathartic experience.”

Beyond music, MetaMoon Musical Festival featured MetaMoon Food Crawl, where from November 1 to November 26, attendees could collect stamps from local API eateries to redeem samples and prizes. On the day of the event, MetaMoon Market, in collaboration with API organization Gold House, hosted a variety of API-owned brands as well. Proceeds from both will be donated to Heart of Dinner, a nonprofit that combats food insecurity and isolation faced by New York City’s Asian American seniors. The event, with all its entertainment, aims to “engage local communities and businesses through the discovery of Asian artists and pop culture,” as stated in its press release the following Monday. MetaMoon seeks to bridge East and West through eye-catching performances.

MC Jin

Karencici

9m88

ØZI

Tyson Yoshi

Tia Ray

Amber Liu

Lay Zhang