🕷️ Crawler Inspector

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Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 193 (from laksa030)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa193.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.augustman.com/my/covers/jj-lin-cover-story-interview-malaysia-concert/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.augustman.com/my/covers/jj-lin-cover-story-interview-malaysia-concert/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/covers\/jj-lin-cover-story-interview-malaysia-concert\/","crawl_time":1775899264,"first_indexed_time":1750987862,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,augustman!www,\/my\/covers\/jj-lin-cover-story-interview-malaysia-concert\/ s443","src_root_hash":"7892994540438346193","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"JJ Lin On The Discomfort Of Fame And His Malaysian Concert | AugustMan Malaysia","meta_descriptions":["Singer-songwriter JJ Lin reflects on a music career that has spanned over 20 years and talks about his struggles with being a celebrity."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Three hours into the shoot,\nthere was minor panic in the studio. JJ Lin had accidentally burned his hand. One photograph needed Lin to hold a burning piece of paper towards the camera, his eyes burrowing a hole in the lens. Precautions had been taken. A bucket of water, out of sight, sat below Lin’s outstretched hand, ready to extinguish any flames. Still, fire is a mercurial element, and one lick of it hissed on Lin’s palm.\nA lightning flash of worry creased my mind when that happened. Here was the region’s golden child, arguably the most talented singer of his generation, injured in the middle of his world tour because an editor wanted him to play with fire—literally. Lin, ever the consummate professional, laughed it off. He said he was fine, and the studio, collectively holding its breath, let out a sign of relief.\nJJ Lin is wearing the Clash de Cartier necklace in white gold and a lambskin hooded parka from Tod’s.\nMillions (I’d imagine) of words and hundreds of pictures have been devoted to Lin’s long career, sartorial choices, extensive discography, business interests, probably even romantic liaisons, and more. I, along with thousands of Asian millennials, grew up with his music. While I never learned Mandarin, the lyrics 夢為努力澆了水 (Mèng wéi nǔ lì jiāo le shuǐ), 愛在背後往前推 (Ài zài bèi hòu wǎng qián tuī) have been ingrained in my mind, belted with passion by my peers in school and karaoke rooms. It was impossible to avoid his honeyed voice. Listen to the song below.\nBut while my once-black hair is now speckled with grey and those dastardly crows have left their footprints around my eyes, Lin still looks the same as he did when he debuted 20 years ago. His signature bangs still make their presence felt on his forehead, and his dimples are as pronounced as ever. The jawline is perhaps the most noticeable change. The baby fat is gone, replaced with a definition you can only get through experience and life’s lessons.\n“Hell of a roller coaster ride!” Lin says, laughing when I asked him to describe his career in a sentence. “We’ve come a long way. There have been ups, downs, slow moments, rushed moments. You just have to go with the flow sometimes and enjoy it much as you can while it still lasts. It has felt incredibly fast and short at times.”\nThe days are long, and the years are short, I remark. “That’s exactly right,” Lin says. “Everyone has the same number of hours and days in their lives. But we all choose differently.” It intrigues Lin, this concept that the ramifications of our decision-making alter the course of our lives. It can be something simple. Neglect brushing your teeth and soon enough, cavities will form and force you to go to the dentist. But Lin is interested in the nitty gritty. Those cavities causing you pain? If it’s bad enough, you’ll have to extract your teeth, which alters the shape of your mouth and subsequently, jaw, potentially causing bruxism and affecting your sleep. It’s the butterfly effect in chaos theory—a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil can potentially trigger a tornado in Texas.\n“As you get older, every decision you make, no matter how big or small, becomes more precious. When you’re young, you think you have your whole life ahead of you. So, you can just do whatever you want and fail because you can do it again repeatedly until you succeed. It’s like an arcade game; just insert another token. But now, I’m older, wiser. How many more 20-year careers can I have, right?” Lin contemplates.\nJJ Lin is wearing a Panthère de Cartier watch in yellow gold, a Panthère de Cartier bracelet in yellow gold with onyx, emeralds, and diamonds, a Clash de Cartier ring in yellow gold, and a Juste un Clou necklace in white gold, all from Cartier.\nDon’t get him wrong, though. This is not regret. Far from it. The self-professed eternal optimist believes he wouldn’t be where he is now without the decisions, good and bad, he’s made in his life. He loves performing and is inspired when people find meaning in his works or the things he does. “That makes all the work worthwhile. It honestly gives me energy and encouragement to keep writing and creating,” Lin says.\nHe also admits to struggling with stardom. Even after 20-over years of cameras being thrusted into his face, strangers crowding him for pictures and autographs, and journalists like me prying into his life, he still gets uncomfortable sometimes. It’s the curse—and boon—of the celebrity. They remain relevant only as long as the media eye is trained on them. But the mob is fickle. It asks for, nay, demands for fresh faces all the time to feed their voracious entertainment appetite. So, Lin must pander to the camera, even though he says that it can get too overwhelming.\n“I am human, after all. I’m also a huge introvert deep inside. Since day one, there’s always this person within me who doesn’t want to be in the limelight, who doesn’t want to be seen. But there’s also this ingrained need to share my feelings. I once read this quote, ‘Artists are people driven by the tension between the desire to communicate and the desire to hide.’ That resonates with me a lot,” he says.\nJJ Lin is wearing a Panthère de Cartier watch in yellow gold, a Panthère de Cartier bracelet in yellow gold with onyx, emeralds, and diamonds, a Clash de Cartier ring in yellow gold, and a Juste un Clou necklace in white gold, all from Cartier.\nHe’s still striking this balance. But he doubts that he’ll ever be able to meet in the middle. That is the artist’s dilemma, vacillating from one end of the spectrum to the other in that constant search for inspiration. Some of humanity’s best creative works come from a place of pain, regret, loss, and longing. Unfortunately, it comes at great personal expense.\nLin faces similar challenges. Age and wisdom, however, have made him more equipped to deal with them. He freely admits that the past decade has been a struggle on many fronts. But Lin, who is a Christian, believes that God will test you at the edge of your limit, and never beyond. Growth, after all, only comes from discomfort.\nAt 44, Lin is also thinking about the next phase of his life. He’s not retiring, God forbid. But he wants to do more. “I don’t want to just be counting down to my 25th anniversary in music and lose four to five years. What’s next in music for me? What’s next in life?”\nHe’s ventured into business with Miracle Coffee, a chain specialising in pour-over coffee using its own roasted, single-origin beans. It first started in Taiwan in 2017 before opening a pop-up, then a permanent flagship outlet in Singapore at the ArtScience Museum in Marina Bay Sands. Lin loves coffee. When he’s at home with friends and family, nothing gives him more joy than grinding coffee and making hot roasted cuppas for them.\nHe also has a label called SMG (an acronym for Still Moving Under Gunfire). It operates an esports organisation of the same name and a streetwear fashion brand. Lin’s passion for gaming is well-documented. His love for design, however, is less known. Since young, with a pen in his hand, he would doodle in between writing songs. He’d draw fantastical shapes or items rooted in reality. He’d design tees and trousers, and everything else in between, on a piece of paper. Like music, it was another creative outlet for him. So, Miracle Coffee and SMG are his passions turned into business. “I wanted to show myself that I was serious about these interests. They still are my hobbies, but I wanted to see them take shape and become real products, eventually.”\nJJ Lin is wearing a Santos-Dumont watch in yellow gold with leather strap, a Panthère de Cartier ring in white gold with emerald, onyx, and diamonds, and a Panthère de Cartier brooch in white gold with emerald, onyx, and diamonds, all from Cartier. His outfit is from Hermes.\nBut, unlike music, business requires a different skillset. Emotions, which are critical in music, must be cast aside when he’s looking at numbers, products, and Excel spreadsheets. Hard decisions need to be made, even if it means short-term pain. “What I’ve discovered about myself through business, however, is that I’m not suitable for it!” says Lin, laughing uproariously. It’s hard to switch off those emotional and creative buttons, he shares. “I see something beautiful, and I get too emotional. ‘Why doesn’t this have a market? Or why isn’t this selling better than another design that I think isn’t as nice?’ But you must look at statistics in business and make decisions based on that. That’s not me. I decide based on feelings.”\nThat’s why all of Lin’s ventures are with partners he trusts. They can study the data and give advice that’s potentially different from what he thinks. They also challenge him, and Lin welcomes that. It takes someone incredibly self-aware to understand their limitations and recognise their faults. Lin has that in spades.\nHe’s also cognisant of his privileged position in life, which is why he’s setting up a music academy. It had never been in his plans until recently when he met James Fauntleroy, who is the founder of the 1500 Or Nothin’ musical ensemble. On Fauntleroy’s invitation, Lin visited the 1500 Sound Academy in Los Angeles. There, walking along the plush hallways dotted with recording studios filled head to toe with music equipment, he had an epiphany. What if he could combine the best of the West with the musical sensibilities of the East? Lin could be that bridge. “I wanted to blend these visions and pass down musical knowledge and life advice to the younger generation so that they could learn from us, and our mistakes,” he says.\nJJ Lin is wearing a Santos de Cartier watch, a Panthère de Cartier ring, and a Juste un Clou bracelet from Cartier; with a wool polo shirt with embossed monogram effect and glass-pearl buttons, from Louis Vuitton.\nHe turns contemplative, staring into the distance. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, and lately, Lin’s mind is filled with thoughts of legacy. He’s not so narcissistic as to imagine himself immortal. Rather, he believes he has a responsibility. “If I don’t do it, who will? If I’ve been through all of these and not want to pass my lessons on, then who else would even think about that? It’s not just a business. It goes beyond that,” he says after much thought.\nDeep down, Lin understands the rollercoaster ride is soon coming to an end. The park attendant, once far behind him, is now appearing as a speck again on the horizon, ready to unload passengers. For so long, Lin has been singer-songwriter. But when the ride is over, he’s asked himself: who am I? A younger Lin grappled with these questions of identity. If he lost his voice, would he still be JJ Lin? The one sitting in front of me now, with makeup on his face and the dimples burrowing deep into his cheeks, is no longer concerned with this. “If I take everything away, would I still be me? Now, I can say yes. In another universe, I could be a painter or a photographer, and not a singer, but I would still approach life with the same gusto. I’m still the same JJ Lin from day one that started this journey over 20 years ago. I’ve always been telling myself that: remember why you started.”\nThere’ll be another city to perform at, another stage to stand on top of, and a sea of adoring fans hanging on to his every lyric. But when the bright lights have been switched off and the crowd has dissipated, Lin is still that same nervous young man waiting in the wings for his cue to face the reporters at his first press conference. He’s wearing a white shirt and long black vest and he’s only 22. But that racing heart, that furrowed brow, they all disappear once Lin starts tinkling the ivories. Take a bow, JJ Lin.\nJJ Lin’s Concert In Bukit Jalil Stadium\nOn 10 May, JJ Lin turned Bukit Jalil into a “Little Big Us” moment on May 10, uniting over 50,000 fans together through music, memories, and pure emotion. He also brought guest artistes Rynn Lim and Jasmine Sokko on the stage during the concert. There was some rain that pittered pattered its way onto the concert goers, but everyone kept their spirits up. Finally, it stopped. But, rain or shine, the crowd stayed loud and KL got the first full look at the FINAL LAP stage. The concert also marked JJ Lin’s collaboration with streetwear brand A Bathing Ape (BAPE). The singer wore several pieces from the collaboration, featuring his signature purple and exclusive tour graphics. There are three pieces in the collection, available at the BAPE store in Suria KLCC.\nThe tour now heads to Taipei and Seoul, but check out the gallery above for a night you won’t forget.\nThe information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.","attrs_markdown":"![](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/tr?id=367733393847634&ev=PageView&noscript=1)\n\n[![AugustMan Malaysia](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/07\/28141707\/am-logo.png)](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/)\n\nMY\n\n- [SG](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/sg\/)\n\n[![AugustMan Malaysia](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/07\/28141707\/am-logo.png)](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/)\n\n- [Fashion](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/fashion\/)\n  - [Trending](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/fashion\/trending\/)\n  - [Guides](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/fashion\/guides\/)\n- [Grooming](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/grooming\/)\n  - [Haircare](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/grooming\/haircare\/)\n  - [Skincare](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/grooming\/skincare\/)\n- [Watches](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/watches\/)\n- [News](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/news\/)\n- [Entertainment](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/entertainment\/)\n  - [Culture](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/entertainment\/culture\/)\n    - [Art](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/entertainment\/culture\/art-design\/)\n    - [Design](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/entertainment\/culture\/design\/)\n    - [Events](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/entertainment\/culture\/events\/)\n    - [Music](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/entertainment\/music\/)\n  - [Travel](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/entertainment\/travel\/)\n  - [Film & TV](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/entertainment\/film-tv\/)\n  - [Living](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/entertainment\/culture\/living\/)\n- [Gear](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/gear\/)\n  - [Motoring](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/gear\/motoring\/)\n  - [Tech](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/gear\/tech\/)\n  - 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[Living](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/entertainment\/culture\/living\/)\n- [Gear](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/gear\/)\n  - [Motoring](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/gear\/motoring\/)\n  - [Tech](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/gear\/tech\/)\n  - [Gaming](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/gear\/gaming\/)\n- [Dining](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/dining\/)\n  - [Food](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/dining\/food\/)\n  - [Drinks](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/dining\/drinks\/)\n- [Wellness](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/wellness\/)\n  - [Fitness](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/wellness\/fitness\/)\n  - [Health](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/wellness\/health\/)\n  - [Astro](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/wellness\/astro\/)\n- [People](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/people\/)\n  - [A-Listers](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/a-listers\/)\n  - [August Mentors](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/people\/august-mentor\/)\n- [Men of the Year](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/men-of-the-year\/)\n- [The A List](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/the-a-list\/)\n- [E-magazine](https:\/\/www.magzter.com\/MY\/Hubert-Burda-Media-Malaysia-Sdn-Bhd\/Augustman-Malaysia\/Lifestyle\/)\n- [Sports](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/sports\/)\n- [Covers](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/covers\/)\n\n[Home](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/ \"Home\") \\> [Entertainment](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/entertainment\/) \\> **JJ Lin On The Discomfort Of Fame And His Malaysian Concert**\n\n![JJ Lin On The Discomfort Of Fame And His Malaysian Concert](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/07163748\/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60)\n\n[Covers](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/covers\/ \"Covers\")\n\n# JJ Lin On The Discomfort Of Fame And His Malaysian Concert\nBy\\&nbsp[Farhan Shah](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/author\/farhan-shah\/)  \\|\n\nPublished: Jun 02, 2025 10:57 AM MYT   \\| 12 min read\n\n[![Add as a preferred source on Google](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/wp-content\/themes\/augustman-2021\/images\/google-preferred-badge.png)](https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=augustman.com \"Add AugustMan as a Preferred Source on Google\")\n\nThree hours into the shoot, there was minor panic in the studio. JJ Lin had accidentally burned his hand. One photograph needed Lin to hold a burning piece of paper towards the camera, his eyes burrowing a hole in the lens. Precautions had been taken. A bucket of water, out of sight, sat below Lin’s outstretched hand, ready to extinguish any flames. Still, fire is a mercurial element, and one lick of it hissed on Lin’s palm.\n\nA lightning flash of worry creased my mind when that happened. Here was the region’s golden child, arguably the most talented singer of his generation, injured in the middle of his world tour because an editor wanted him to play with fire—literally. Lin, ever the consummate professional, laughed it off. He said he was fine, and the studio, collectively holding its breath, let out a sign of relief.\n\n![JJ Lin is wearing the Clash de Cartier necklace in white gold and a lambskin hooded parka from Tod's.](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/07163748\/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60)\n\nJJ Lin is wearing the Clash de Cartier necklace in white gold and a lambskin hooded parka from Tod’s.\n\nMillions (I’d imagine) of words and hundreds of pictures have been devoted to Lin’s long career, sartorial choices, extensive discography, business interests, probably even romantic liaisons, and more. I, along with thousands of Asian millennials, grew up with his music. While I never learned Mandarin, the lyrics 夢為努力澆了水 (Mèng wéi nǔ lì jiāo le shuǐ), 愛在背後往前推 (Ài zài bèi hòu wǎng qián tuī) have been ingrained in my mind, belted with passion by my peers in school and karaoke rooms. It was impossible to avoid his honeyed voice. Listen to the song below.\n\nBut while my once-black hair is now speckled with grey and those dastardly crows have left their footprints around my eyes, Lin still looks the same as he did when he debuted 20 years ago. His signature bangs still make their presence felt on his forehead, and his dimples are as pronounced as ever. The jawline is perhaps the most noticeable change. The baby fat is gone, replaced with a definition you can only get through experience and life’s lessons.\n\n“Hell of a roller coaster ride!” Lin says, laughing when I asked him to describe his career in a sentence. “We’ve come a long way. There have been ups, downs, slow moments, rushed moments. You just have to go with the flow sometimes and enjoy it much as you can while it still lasts. It has felt incredibly fast and short at times.”\n\nThe days are long, and the years are short, I remark. “That’s exactly right,” Lin says. “Everyone has the same number of hours and days in their lives. But we all choose differently.” It intrigues Lin, this concept that the ramifications of our decision-making alter the course of our lives. It can be something simple. Neglect brushing your teeth and soon enough, cavities will form and force you to go to the dentist. But Lin is interested in the nitty gritty. Those cavities causing you pain? If it’s bad enough, you’ll have to extract your teeth, which alters the shape of your mouth and subsequently, jaw, potentially causing bruxism and affecting your sleep. It’s the butterfly effect in chaos theory—a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil can potentially trigger a tornado in Texas.\n\n“As you get older, every decision you make, no matter how big or small, becomes more precious. When you’re young, you think you have your whole life ahead of you. So, you can just do whatever you want and fail because you can do it again repeatedly until you succeed. It’s like an arcade game; just insert another token. But now, I’m older, wiser. How many more 20-year careers can I have, right?” Lin contemplates.\n\n![JJ Lin is wearing a Panthère de Cartier watch in yellow gold, a Panthère de Cartier bracelet in yellow gold with onyx, emeralds, and diamonds, a Clash de Cartier ring in yellow gold, and a Juste un Clou necklace in white gold, all from Cartier.](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/07163748\/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60)\n\nJJ Lin is wearing a Panthère de Cartier watch in yellow gold, a Panthère de Cartier bracelet in yellow gold with onyx, emeralds, and diamonds, a Clash de Cartier ring in yellow gold, and a Juste un Clou necklace in white gold, all from Cartier.\n\nDon’t get him wrong, though. This is not regret. Far from it. The self-professed eternal optimist believes he wouldn’t be where he is now without the decisions, good and bad, he’s made in his life. He loves performing and is inspired when people find meaning in his works or the things he does. “That makes all the work worthwhile. It honestly gives me energy and encouragement to keep writing and creating,” Lin says.\n\nHe also admits to struggling with stardom. Even after 20-over years of cameras being thrusted into his face, strangers crowding him for pictures and autographs, and journalists like me prying into his life, he still gets uncomfortable sometimes. It’s the curse—and boon—of the celebrity. They remain relevant only as long as the media eye is trained on them. But the mob is fickle. It asks for, nay, demands for fresh faces all the time to feed their voracious entertainment appetite. So, Lin must pander to the camera, even though he says that it can get too overwhelming.\n\n“I am human, after all. I’m also a huge introvert deep inside. Since day one, there’s always this person within me who doesn’t want to be in the limelight, who doesn’t want to be seen. But there’s also this ingrained need to share my feelings. I once read this quote, ‘Artists are people driven by the tension between the desire to communicate and the desire to hide.’ That resonates with me a lot,” he says.\n\n![JJ Lin is wearing a Panthère de Cartier watch in yellow gold, a Panthère de Cartier bracelet in yellow gold with onyx, emeralds, and diamonds, a Clash de Cartier ring in yellow gold, and a Juste un Clou necklace in white gold, all from Cartier.](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/07163748\/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60)\n\nJJ Lin is wearing a Panthère de Cartier watch in yellow gold, a Panthère de Cartier bracelet in yellow gold with onyx, emeralds, and diamonds, a Clash de Cartier ring in yellow gold, and a Juste un Clou necklace in white gold, all from Cartier.\n\nHe’s still striking this balance. But he doubts that he’ll ever be able to meet in the middle. That is the artist’s dilemma, vacillating from one end of the spectrum to the other in that constant search for inspiration. Some of humanity’s best creative works come from a place of pain, regret, loss, and longing. Unfortunately, it comes at great personal expense.\n\nLin faces similar challenges. Age and wisdom, however, have made him more equipped to deal with them. He freely admits that the past decade has been a struggle on many fronts. But Lin, who is a Christian, believes that God will test you at the edge of your limit, and never beyond. Growth, after all, only comes from discomfort.\n\nAt 44, Lin is also thinking about the next phase of his life. He’s not retiring, God forbid. But he wants to do more. “I don’t want to just be counting down to my 25th anniversary in music and lose four to five years. What’s next in music for me? What’s next in life?”\n\nHe’s ventured into business with Miracle Coffee, a chain specialising in pour-over coffee using its own roasted, single-origin beans. It first started in Taiwan in 2017 before opening a pop-up, then a permanent flagship outlet in Singapore at the ArtScience Museum in Marina Bay Sands. Lin loves coffee. When he’s at home with friends and family, nothing gives him more joy than grinding coffee and making hot roasted cuppas for them.\n\nHe also has a label called SMG (an acronym for Still Moving Under Gunfire). It operates an esports organisation of the same name and a streetwear fashion brand. Lin’s passion for gaming is well-documented. His love for design, however, is less known. Since young, with a pen in his hand, he would doodle in between writing songs. He’d draw fantastical shapes or items rooted in reality. He’d design tees and trousers, and everything else in between, on a piece of paper. Like music, it was another creative outlet for him. So, Miracle Coffee and SMG are his passions turned into business. “I wanted to show myself that I was serious about these interests. They still are my hobbies, but I wanted to see them take shape and become real products, eventually.”\n\n![JJ Lin is wearing a Santos-Dumont watch in yellow gold with leather strap, a Panthère de Cartier ring in white gold with emerald, onyx, and diamonds, and a Panthère de Cartier brooch in white gold with emerald, onyx, and diamonds, all from Cartier. His outfit is from Hermes.](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/07163748\/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60)\n\nJJ Lin is wearing a Santos-Dumont watch in yellow gold with leather strap, a Panthère de Cartier ring in white gold with emerald, onyx, and diamonds, and a Panthère de Cartier brooch in white gold with emerald, onyx, and diamonds, all from Cartier. His outfit is from Hermes.\n\nBut, unlike music, business requires a different skillset. Emotions, which are critical in music, must be cast aside when he’s looking at numbers, products, and Excel spreadsheets. Hard decisions need to be made, even if it means short-term pain. “What I’ve discovered about myself through business, however, is that I’m not suitable for it!” says Lin, laughing uproariously. It’s hard to switch off those emotional and creative buttons, he shares. “I see something beautiful, and I get too emotional. ‘Why doesn’t this have a market? Or why isn’t this selling better than another design that I think isn’t as nice?’ But you must look at statistics in business and make decisions based on that. That’s not me. I decide based on feelings.”\n\nThat’s why all of Lin’s ventures are with partners he trusts. They can study the data and give advice that’s potentially different from what he thinks. They also challenge him, and Lin welcomes that. It takes someone incredibly self-aware to understand their limitations and recognise their faults. Lin has that in spades.\n\nHe’s also cognisant of his privileged position in life, which is why he’s setting up a music academy. It had never been in his plans until recently when he met James Fauntleroy, who is the founder of the 1500 Or Nothin’ musical ensemble. On Fauntleroy’s invitation, Lin visited the 1500 Sound Academy in Los Angeles. There, walking along the plush hallways dotted with recording studios filled head to toe with music equipment, he had an epiphany. What if he could combine the best of the West with the musical sensibilities of the East? Lin could be that bridge. “I wanted to blend these visions and pass down musical knowledge and life advice to the younger generation so that they could learn from us, and our mistakes,” he says.\n\n![JJ Lin is wearing a Santos de Cartier watch, a Panthère de Cartier ring, and a Juste un Clou bracelet from Cartier; with a wool polo shirt with embossed monogram effect and glass-pearl buttons, from Louis Vuitton.](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/07163748\/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60)\n\nJJ Lin is wearing a Santos de Cartier watch, a Panthère de Cartier ring, and a Juste un Clou bracelet from Cartier; with a wool polo shirt with embossed monogram effect and glass-pearl buttons, from Louis Vuitton.\n\nHe turns contemplative, staring into the distance. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, and lately, Lin’s mind is filled with thoughts of legacy. He’s not so narcissistic as to imagine himself immortal. Rather, he believes he has a responsibility. “If I don’t do it, who will? If I’ve been through all of these and not want to pass my lessons on, then who else would even think about that? It’s not just a business. It goes beyond that,” he says after much thought.\n\nDeep down, Lin understands the rollercoaster ride is soon coming to an end. The park attendant, once far behind him, is now appearing as a speck again on the horizon, ready to unload passengers. For so long, Lin has been singer-songwriter. But when the ride is over, he’s asked himself: who am I? A younger Lin grappled with these questions of identity. If he lost his voice, would he still be JJ Lin? The one sitting in front of me now, with makeup on his face and the dimples burrowing deep into his cheeks, is no longer concerned with this. “If I take everything away, would I still be me? Now, I can say yes. In another universe, I could be a painter or a photographer, and not a singer, but I would still approach life with the same gusto. I’m still the same JJ Lin from day one that started this journey over 20 years ago. I’ve always been telling myself that: remember why you started.”\n\nThere’ll be another city to perform at, another stage to stand on top of, and a sea of adoring fans hanging on to his every lyric. But when the bright lights have been switched off and the crowd has dissipated, Lin is still that same nervous young man waiting in the wings for his cue to face the reporters at his first press conference. He’s wearing a white shirt and long black vest and he’s only 22. But that racing heart, that furrowed brow, they all disappear once Lin starts tinkling the ivories. Take a bow, JJ Lin.\n***\n## JJ Lin’s Concert In Bukit Jalil Stadium\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02105047\/f392592a-d0c5-4cc0-b926-f008580becdf-1024x683.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02105041\/f9bcde93-32cd-4d80-84cb-67721bcf55f4-683x1024.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02104642\/2bd80581-81cf-4c01-904f-3a7706bbc28a-683x1024.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02104654\/03fc06f6-49ea-4ad1-85a2-2d2dd72afb9b-683x1024.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02104723\/08ccddbc-1d0c-46ff-8345-cc8e1c0475a4-683x1024.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02104736\/33ae53c6-eacf-4f1b-aa10-040bfb5da13f-683x1024.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02104742\/43d22541-5ec6-4058-b567-f5125aeb8725-683x1024.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02104753\/61de7bc8-2e02-49f9-be98-9053cc079a08-683x1024.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02104847\/910ae405-2558-4294-82de-69b3a8fe6a77-683x1024.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02104915\/826578ce-bed1-416d-9d2c-7cf041def04e-683x1024.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02104810\/82edd836-3557-4dea-ad1e-eaf14436bee31-683x1024.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02104816\/092f5276-0e4f-4518-92a2-a73feb1493bb-683x1024.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02104841\/907d419e-f457-4a4b-92a9-3bdbaf032bd0-683x1024.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02104853\/5360e2ec-7a8d-450a-816e-7b9a8f5be5b6-1024x683.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02104859\/7631f339-d2b0-44b4-b013-fedb409c486f-1024x683.jpg)\n\nOn 10 May, JJ Lin turned Bukit Jalil into a “Little Big Us” moment on May 10, uniting over 50,000 fans together through music, memories, and pure emotion. He also brought guest artistes Rynn Lim and Jasmine Sokko on the stage during the concert. There was some rain that pittered pattered its way onto the concert goers, but everyone kept their spirits up. Finally, it stopped. But, rain or shine, the crowd stayed loud and KL got the first full look at the FINAL LAP stage. The concert also marked JJ Lin’s collaboration with streetwear brand A Bathing Ape (BAPE). The singer wore several pieces from the collaboration, featuring his signature purple and exclusive tour graphics. There are three pieces in the collection, available at the BAPE store in Suria KLCC.\n\nThe tour now heads to Taipei and Seoul, but check out the gallery above for a night you won’t forget.\n\nNote:\n\nThe information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.\n\n[Cartier](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/tag\/cartier\/) [celebrities](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/tag\/celebrities\/) [cover story](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/tag\/cover-story\/) [JJ Lin](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/tag\/jj-lin\/) [music](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/tag\/music\/)\n\nwritten by.\n\n[![JJ Lin On The Discomfort Of Fame And His Malaysian Concert](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/07163748\/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60)](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/author\/farhan-shah\/)\n\n[Farhan Shah](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/author\/farhan-shah\/)\n\nEditor-In-Chief, Singapore and Malaysia\n\nFarhan believes that every man needs a good tailor and a better barber. You can usually find him at the gym, the bar or the poker table, usually all three in one night.\n\n## Most popular\n[Covers](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/covers\/ \"Covers\")\n\n[Pop’s Big Bang: Jung Kook Makes His Return With A Bang 1 week ago \\| 8 min read](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/covers\/jung-kook-makes-his-return-with-a-bang\/)\n\n![Pop’s Big Bang: Jung Kook Makes His Return With A Bang](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/07163748\/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60)\n\n[Covers](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/covers\/ \"Covers\")\n\n[Olympic Gold Medallist Tom Daley Dives Into A Post-Sports Career 1 month ago \\| 22 min read](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/covers\/tom-daley-olympian-diver-post-career-interview\/)\n\n![Olympic Gold Medallist Tom Daley Dives Into A Post-Sports Career](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/07163748\/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60)\n\n[Covers](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/covers\/ \"Covers\")\n\n[The Becoming of Caelan Moriarty 2 months ago \\| 11 min read](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/covers\/caelan-moriarty-interview\/)\n\n![The Becoming of Caelan Moriarty](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/07163748\/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60)\n\nView all Articles\n\n[Covers](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/covers\/ \"Covers\")\n\n[The Umwelt Of Tony Leung 3 months ago \\| 11 min read](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/covers\/tony-leung-silent-friend-interview\/)\n\n![The Umwelt Of Tony Leung](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/07163748\/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60)\n\n[Covers](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/covers\/ \"Covers\")\n\n[Jeremy Allen White On Playing Rock Icon, Bruce Springsteen 4 months ago \\| 11 min read](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/covers\/jeremy-allen-white-bruce-springsteen-movie-cover\/)\n\n![Jeremy Allen White On Playing Rock Icon, Bruce Springsteen](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/07163748\/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60)\n\n[Covers](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/covers\/ \"Covers\")\n\n[Dr Iman Taheri Is Trading Scalpels For Scripts 5 months ago \\| 9 min read](https:\/\/www.augustman.com\/my\/covers\/dr-iman-taheri-actor-poet-interview\/)\n\n![Dr Iman Taheri Is Trading Scalpels For Scripts](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/07163748\/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60)\n\n×\n\n[Follow us @Augustmanmy](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/augustmanmy\/)\n\nNever miss the latest in men's fashion, watches, and lifestyle again. 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JJ Lin had accidentally burned his hand. One photograph needed Lin to hold a burning piece of paper towards the camera, his eyes burrowing a hole in the lens. Precautions had been taken. A bucket of water, out of sight, sat below Lin’s outstretched hand, ready to extinguish any flames. Still, fire is a mercurial element, and one lick of it hissed on Lin’s palm.\n\nA lightning flash of worry creased my mind when that happened. Here was the region’s golden child, arguably the most talented singer of his generation, injured in the middle of his world tour because an editor wanted him to play with fire—literally. Lin, ever the consummate professional, laughed it off. He said he was fine, and the studio, collectively holding its breath, let out a sign of relief.\n\n![JJ Lin is wearing the Clash de Cartier necklace in white gold and a lambskin hooded parka from Tod's.](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/07163748\/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60)\n\nJJ Lin is wearing the Clash de Cartier necklace in white gold and a lambskin hooded parka from Tod’s.\n\nMillions (I’d imagine) of words and hundreds of pictures have been devoted to Lin’s long career, sartorial choices, extensive discography, business interests, probably even romantic liaisons, and more. I, along with thousands of Asian millennials, grew up with his music. While I never learned Mandarin, the lyrics 夢為努力澆了水 (Mèng wéi nǔ lì jiāo le shuǐ), 愛在背後往前推 (Ài zài bèi hòu wǎng qián tuī) have been ingrained in my mind, belted with passion by my peers in school and karaoke rooms. It was impossible to avoid his honeyed voice. Listen to the song below.\n\nBut while my once-black hair is now speckled with grey and those dastardly crows have left their footprints around my eyes, Lin still looks the same as he did when he debuted 20 years ago. His signature bangs still make their presence felt on his forehead, and his dimples are as pronounced as ever. The jawline is perhaps the most noticeable change. The baby fat is gone, replaced with a definition you can only get through experience and life’s lessons.\n\n“Hell of a roller coaster ride!” Lin says, laughing when I asked him to describe his career in a sentence. “We’ve come a long way. There have been ups, downs, slow moments, rushed moments. You just have to go with the flow sometimes and enjoy it much as you can while it still lasts. It has felt incredibly fast and short at times.”\n\nThe days are long, and the years are short, I remark. “That’s exactly right,” Lin says. “Everyone has the same number of hours and days in their lives. But we all choose differently.” It intrigues Lin, this concept that the ramifications of our decision-making alter the course of our lives. It can be something simple. Neglect brushing your teeth and soon enough, cavities will form and force you to go to the dentist. But Lin is interested in the nitty gritty. Those cavities causing you pain? If it’s bad enough, you’ll have to extract your teeth, which alters the shape of your mouth and subsequently, jaw, potentially causing bruxism and affecting your sleep. It’s the butterfly effect in chaos theory—a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil can potentially trigger a tornado in Texas.\n\n“As you get older, every decision you make, no matter how big or small, becomes more precious. When you’re young, you think you have your whole life ahead of you. So, you can just do whatever you want and fail because you can do it again repeatedly until you succeed. It’s like an arcade game; just insert another token. But now, I’m older, wiser. How many more 20-year careers can I have, right?” Lin contemplates.\n\n![JJ Lin is wearing a Panthère de Cartier watch in yellow gold, a Panthère de Cartier bracelet in yellow gold with onyx, emeralds, and diamonds, a Clash de Cartier ring in yellow gold, and a Juste un Clou necklace in white gold, all from Cartier.](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/07163748\/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60)\n\nJJ Lin is wearing a Panthère de Cartier watch in yellow gold, a Panthère de Cartier bracelet in yellow gold with onyx, emeralds, and diamonds, a Clash de Cartier ring in yellow gold, and a Juste un Clou necklace in white gold, all from Cartier.\n\nDon’t get him wrong, though. This is not regret. Far from it. The self-professed eternal optimist believes he wouldn’t be where he is now without the decisions, good and bad, he’s made in his life. He loves performing and is inspired when people find meaning in his works or the things he does. “That makes all the work worthwhile. It honestly gives me energy and encouragement to keep writing and creating,” Lin says.\n\nHe also admits to struggling with stardom. Even after 20-over years of cameras being thrusted into his face, strangers crowding him for pictures and autographs, and journalists like me prying into his life, he still gets uncomfortable sometimes. It’s the curse—and boon—of the celebrity. They remain relevant only as long as the media eye is trained on them. But the mob is fickle. It asks for, nay, demands for fresh faces all the time to feed their voracious entertainment appetite. So, Lin must pander to the camera, even though he says that it can get too overwhelming.\n\n“I am human, after all. I’m also a huge introvert deep inside. Since day one, there’s always this person within me who doesn’t want to be in the limelight, who doesn’t want to be seen. But there’s also this ingrained need to share my feelings. I once read this quote, ‘Artists are people driven by the tension between the desire to communicate and the desire to hide.’ That resonates with me a lot,” he says.\n\n![JJ Lin is wearing a Panthère de Cartier watch in yellow gold, a Panthère de Cartier bracelet in yellow gold with onyx, emeralds, and diamonds, a Clash de Cartier ring in yellow gold, and a Juste un Clou necklace in white gold, all from Cartier.](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/07163748\/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60)\n\nJJ Lin is wearing a Panthère de Cartier watch in yellow gold, a Panthère de Cartier bracelet in yellow gold with onyx, emeralds, and diamonds, a Clash de Cartier ring in yellow gold, and a Juste un Clou necklace in white gold, all from Cartier.\n\nHe’s still striking this balance. But he doubts that he’ll ever be able to meet in the middle. That is the artist’s dilemma, vacillating from one end of the spectrum to the other in that constant search for inspiration. Some of humanity’s best creative works come from a place of pain, regret, loss, and longing. Unfortunately, it comes at great personal expense.\n\nLin faces similar challenges. Age and wisdom, however, have made him more equipped to deal with them. He freely admits that the past decade has been a struggle on many fronts. But Lin, who is a Christian, believes that God will test you at the edge of your limit, and never beyond. Growth, after all, only comes from discomfort.\n\nAt 44, Lin is also thinking about the next phase of his life. He’s not retiring, God forbid. But he wants to do more. “I don’t want to just be counting down to my 25th anniversary in music and lose four to five years. What’s next in music for me? What’s next in life?”\n\nHe’s ventured into business with Miracle Coffee, a chain specialising in pour-over coffee using its own roasted, single-origin beans. It first started in Taiwan in 2017 before opening a pop-up, then a permanent flagship outlet in Singapore at the ArtScience Museum in Marina Bay Sands. Lin loves coffee. When he’s at home with friends and family, nothing gives him more joy than grinding coffee and making hot roasted cuppas for them.\n\nHe also has a label called SMG (an acronym for Still Moving Under Gunfire). It operates an esports organisation of the same name and a streetwear fashion brand. Lin’s passion for gaming is well-documented. His love for design, however, is less known. Since young, with a pen in his hand, he would doodle in between writing songs. He’d draw fantastical shapes or items rooted in reality. He’d design tees and trousers, and everything else in between, on a piece of paper. Like music, it was another creative outlet for him. So, Miracle Coffee and SMG are his passions turned into business. “I wanted to show myself that I was serious about these interests. They still are my hobbies, but I wanted to see them take shape and become real products, eventually.”\n\n![JJ Lin is wearing a Santos-Dumont watch in yellow gold with leather strap, a Panthère de Cartier ring in white gold with emerald, onyx, and diamonds, and a Panthère de Cartier brooch in white gold with emerald, onyx, and diamonds, all from Cartier. His outfit is from Hermes.](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/07163748\/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60)\n\nJJ Lin is wearing a Santos-Dumont watch in yellow gold with leather strap, a Panthère de Cartier ring in white gold with emerald, onyx, and diamonds, and a Panthère de Cartier brooch in white gold with emerald, onyx, and diamonds, all from Cartier. His outfit is from Hermes.\n\nBut, unlike music, business requires a different skillset. Emotions, which are critical in music, must be cast aside when he’s looking at numbers, products, and Excel spreadsheets. Hard decisions need to be made, even if it means short-term pain. “What I’ve discovered about myself through business, however, is that I’m not suitable for it!” says Lin, laughing uproariously. It’s hard to switch off those emotional and creative buttons, he shares. “I see something beautiful, and I get too emotional. ‘Why doesn’t this have a market? Or why isn’t this selling better than another design that I think isn’t as nice?’ But you must look at statistics in business and make decisions based on that. That’s not me. I decide based on feelings.”\n\nThat’s why all of Lin’s ventures are with partners he trusts. They can study the data and give advice that’s potentially different from what he thinks. They also challenge him, and Lin welcomes that. It takes someone incredibly self-aware to understand their limitations and recognise their faults. Lin has that in spades.\n\nHe’s also cognisant of his privileged position in life, which is why he’s setting up a music academy. It had never been in his plans until recently when he met James Fauntleroy, who is the founder of the 1500 Or Nothin’ musical ensemble. On Fauntleroy’s invitation, Lin visited the 1500 Sound Academy in Los Angeles. There, walking along the plush hallways dotted with recording studios filled head to toe with music equipment, he had an epiphany. What if he could combine the best of the West with the musical sensibilities of the East? Lin could be that bridge. “I wanted to blend these visions and pass down musical knowledge and life advice to the younger generation so that they could learn from us, and our mistakes,” he says.\n\n![JJ Lin is wearing a Santos de Cartier watch, a Panthère de Cartier ring, and a Juste un Clou bracelet from Cartier; with a wool polo shirt with embossed monogram effect and glass-pearl buttons, from Louis Vuitton.](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/07163748\/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60)\n\nJJ Lin is wearing a Santos de Cartier watch, a Panthère de Cartier ring, and a Juste un Clou bracelet from Cartier; with a wool polo shirt with embossed monogram effect and glass-pearl buttons, from Louis Vuitton.\n\nHe turns contemplative, staring into the distance. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, and lately, Lin’s mind is filled with thoughts of legacy. He’s not so narcissistic as to imagine himself immortal. Rather, he believes he has a responsibility. “If I don’t do it, who will? If I’ve been through all of these and not want to pass my lessons on, then who else would even think about that? It’s not just a business. It goes beyond that,” he says after much thought.\n\nDeep down, Lin understands the rollercoaster ride is soon coming to an end. The park attendant, once far behind him, is now appearing as a speck again on the horizon, ready to unload passengers. For so long, Lin has been singer-songwriter. But when the ride is over, he’s asked himself: who am I? A younger Lin grappled with these questions of identity. If he lost his voice, would he still be JJ Lin? The one sitting in front of me now, with makeup on his face and the dimples burrowing deep into his cheeks, is no longer concerned with this. “If I take everything away, would I still be me? Now, I can say yes. In another universe, I could be a painter or a photographer, and not a singer, but I would still approach life with the same gusto. I’m still the same JJ Lin from day one that started this journey over 20 years ago. I’ve always been telling myself that: remember why you started.”\n\nThere’ll be another city to perform at, another stage to stand on top of, and a sea of adoring fans hanging on to his every lyric. But when the bright lights have been switched off and the crowd has dissipated, Lin is still that same nervous young man waiting in the wings for his cue to face the reporters at his first press conference. He’s wearing a white shirt and long black vest and he’s only 22. But that racing heart, that furrowed brow, they all disappear once Lin starts tinkling the ivories. Take a bow, JJ Lin.\n***\n## JJ Lin’s Concert In Bukit Jalil Stadium\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02105047\/f392592a-d0c5-4cc0-b926-f008580becdf-1024x683.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02105041\/f9bcde93-32cd-4d80-84cb-67721bcf55f4-683x1024.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02104642\/2bd80581-81cf-4c01-904f-3a7706bbc28a-683x1024.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02104654\/03fc06f6-49ea-4ad1-85a2-2d2dd72afb9b-683x1024.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02104723\/08ccddbc-1d0c-46ff-8345-cc8e1c0475a4-683x1024.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02104736\/33ae53c6-eacf-4f1b-aa10-040bfb5da13f-683x1024.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02104742\/43d22541-5ec6-4058-b567-f5125aeb8725-683x1024.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02104753\/61de7bc8-2e02-49f9-be98-9053cc079a08-683x1024.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02104847\/910ae405-2558-4294-82de-69b3a8fe6a77-683x1024.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02104915\/826578ce-bed1-416d-9d2c-7cf041def04e-683x1024.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02104810\/82edd836-3557-4dea-ad1e-eaf14436bee31-683x1024.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02104816\/092f5276-0e4f-4518-92a2-a73feb1493bb-683x1024.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02104841\/907d419e-f457-4a4b-92a9-3bdbaf032bd0-683x1024.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02104853\/5360e2ec-7a8d-450a-816e-7b9a8f5be5b6-1024x683.jpg)\n\n![](https:\/\/images.augustman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/02104859\/7631f339-d2b0-44b4-b013-fedb409c486f-1024x683.jpg)\n\nOn 10 May, JJ Lin turned Bukit Jalil into a “Little Big Us” moment on May 10, uniting over 50,000 fans together through music, memories, and pure emotion. He also brought guest artistes Rynn Lim and Jasmine Sokko on the stage during the concert. There was some rain that pittered pattered its way onto the concert goers, but everyone kept their spirits up. Finally, it stopped. But, rain or shine, the crowd stayed loud and KL got the first full look at the FINAL LAP stage. The concert also marked JJ Lin’s collaboration with streetwear brand A Bathing Ape (BAPE). The singer wore several pieces from the collaboration, featuring his signature purple and exclusive tour graphics. There are three pieces in the collection, available at the BAPE store in Suria KLCC.\n\nThe tour now heads to Taipei and Seoul, but check out the gallery above for a night you won’t forget.\n\nThe information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.","meta_canonical":null}

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Boilerpipe Text	Three hours into the shoot, there was minor panic in the studio. JJ Lin had accidentally burned his hand. One photograph needed Lin to hold a burning piece of paper towards the camera, his eyes burrowing a hole in the lens. Precautions had been taken. A bucket of water, out of sight, sat below Lin’s outstretched hand, ready to extinguish any flames. Still, fire is a mercurial element, and one lick of it hissed on Lin’s palm. A lightning flash of worry creased my mind when that happened. Here was the region’s golden child, arguably the most talented singer of his generation, injured in the middle of his world tour because an editor wanted him to play with fire—literally. Lin, ever the consummate professional, laughed it off. He said he was fine, and the studio, collectively holding its breath, let out a sign of relief. JJ Lin is wearing the Clash de Cartier necklace in white gold and a lambskin hooded parka from Tod’s. Millions (I’d imagine) of words and hundreds of pictures have been devoted to Lin’s long career, sartorial choices, extensive discography, business interests, probably even romantic liaisons, and more. I, along with thousands of Asian millennials, grew up with his music. While I never learned Mandarin, the lyrics 夢為努力澆了水 (Mèng wéi nǔ lì jiāo le shuǐ), 愛在背後往前推 (Ài zài bèi hòu wǎng qián tuī) have been ingrained in my mind, belted with passion by my peers in school and karaoke rooms. It was impossible to avoid his honeyed voice. Listen to the song below. But while my once-black hair is now speckled with grey and those dastardly crows have left their footprints around my eyes, Lin still looks the same as he did when he debuted 20 years ago. His signature bangs still make their presence felt on his forehead, and his dimples are as pronounced as ever. The jawline is perhaps the most noticeable change. The baby fat is gone, replaced with a definition you can only get through experience and life’s lessons. “Hell of a roller coaster ride!” Lin says, laughing when I asked him to describe his career in a sentence. “We’ve come a long way. There have been ups, downs, slow moments, rushed moments. You just have to go with the flow sometimes and enjoy it much as you can while it still lasts. It has felt incredibly fast and short at times.” The days are long, and the years are short, I remark. “That’s exactly right,” Lin says. “Everyone has the same number of hours and days in their lives. But we all choose differently.” It intrigues Lin, this concept that the ramifications of our decision-making alter the course of our lives. It can be something simple. Neglect brushing your teeth and soon enough, cavities will form and force you to go to the dentist. But Lin is interested in the nitty gritty. Those cavities causing you pain? If it’s bad enough, you’ll have to extract your teeth, which alters the shape of your mouth and subsequently, jaw, potentially causing bruxism and affecting your sleep. It’s the butterfly effect in chaos theory—a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil can potentially trigger a tornado in Texas. “As you get older, every decision you make, no matter how big or small, becomes more precious. When you’re young, you think you have your whole life ahead of you. So, you can just do whatever you want and fail because you can do it again repeatedly until you succeed. It’s like an arcade game; just insert another token. But now, I’m older, wiser. How many more 20-year careers can I have, right?” Lin contemplates. JJ Lin is wearing a Panthère de Cartier watch in yellow gold, a Panthère de Cartier bracelet in yellow gold with onyx, emeralds, and diamonds, a Clash de Cartier ring in yellow gold, and a Juste un Clou necklace in white gold, all from Cartier. Don’t get him wrong, though. This is not regret. Far from it. The self-professed eternal optimist believes he wouldn’t be where he is now without the decisions, good and bad, he’s made in his life. He loves performing and is inspired when people find meaning in his works or the things he does. “That makes all the work worthwhile. It honestly gives me energy and encouragement to keep writing and creating,” Lin says. He also admits to struggling with stardom. Even after 20-over years of cameras being thrusted into his face, strangers crowding him for pictures and autographs, and journalists like me prying into his life, he still gets uncomfortable sometimes. It’s the curse—and boon—of the celebrity. They remain relevant only as long as the media eye is trained on them. But the mob is fickle. It asks for, nay, demands for fresh faces all the time to feed their voracious entertainment appetite. So, Lin must pander to the camera, even though he says that it can get too overwhelming. “I am human, after all. I’m also a huge introvert deep inside. Since day one, there’s always this person within me who doesn’t want to be in the limelight, who doesn’t want to be seen. But there’s also this ingrained need to share my feelings. I once read this quote, ‘Artists are people driven by the tension between the desire to communicate and the desire to hide.’ That resonates with me a lot,” he says. JJ Lin is wearing a Panthère de Cartier watch in yellow gold, a Panthère de Cartier bracelet in yellow gold with onyx, emeralds, and diamonds, a Clash de Cartier ring in yellow gold, and a Juste un Clou necklace in white gold, all from Cartier. He’s still striking this balance. But he doubts that he’ll ever be able to meet in the middle. That is the artist’s dilemma, vacillating from one end of the spectrum to the other in that constant search for inspiration. Some of humanity’s best creative works come from a place of pain, regret, loss, and longing. Unfortunately, it comes at great personal expense. Lin faces similar challenges. Age and wisdom, however, have made him more equipped to deal with them. He freely admits that the past decade has been a struggle on many fronts. But Lin, who is a Christian, believes that God will test you at the edge of your limit, and never beyond. Growth, after all, only comes from discomfort. At 44, Lin is also thinking about the next phase of his life. He’s not retiring, God forbid. But he wants to do more. “I don’t want to just be counting down to my 25th anniversary in music and lose four to five years. What’s next in music for me? What’s next in life?” He’s ventured into business with Miracle Coffee, a chain specialising in pour-over coffee using its own roasted, single-origin beans. It first started in Taiwan in 2017 before opening a pop-up, then a permanent flagship outlet in Singapore at the ArtScience Museum in Marina Bay Sands. Lin loves coffee. When he’s at home with friends and family, nothing gives him more joy than grinding coffee and making hot roasted cuppas for them. He also has a label called SMG (an acronym for Still Moving Under Gunfire). It operates an esports organisation of the same name and a streetwear fashion brand. Lin’s passion for gaming is well-documented. His love for design, however, is less known. Since young, with a pen in his hand, he would doodle in between writing songs. He’d draw fantastical shapes or items rooted in reality. He’d design tees and trousers, and everything else in between, on a piece of paper. Like music, it was another creative outlet for him. So, Miracle Coffee and SMG are his passions turned into business. “I wanted to show myself that I was serious about these interests. They still are my hobbies, but I wanted to see them take shape and become real products, eventually.” JJ Lin is wearing a Santos-Dumont watch in yellow gold with leather strap, a Panthère de Cartier ring in white gold with emerald, onyx, and diamonds, and a Panthère de Cartier brooch in white gold with emerald, onyx, and diamonds, all from Cartier. His outfit is from Hermes. But, unlike music, business requires a different skillset. Emotions, which are critical in music, must be cast aside when he’s looking at numbers, products, and Excel spreadsheets. Hard decisions need to be made, even if it means short-term pain. “What I’ve discovered about myself through business, however, is that I’m not suitable for it!” says Lin, laughing uproariously. It’s hard to switch off those emotional and creative buttons, he shares. “I see something beautiful, and I get too emotional. ‘Why doesn’t this have a market? Or why isn’t this selling better than another design that I think isn’t as nice?’ But you must look at statistics in business and make decisions based on that. That’s not me. I decide based on feelings.” That’s why all of Lin’s ventures are with partners he trusts. They can study the data and give advice that’s potentially different from what he thinks. They also challenge him, and Lin welcomes that. It takes someone incredibly self-aware to understand their limitations and recognise their faults. Lin has that in spades. He’s also cognisant of his privileged position in life, which is why he’s setting up a music academy. It had never been in his plans until recently when he met James Fauntleroy, who is the founder of the 1500 Or Nothin’ musical ensemble. On Fauntleroy’s invitation, Lin visited the 1500 Sound Academy in Los Angeles. There, walking along the plush hallways dotted with recording studios filled head to toe with music equipment, he had an epiphany. What if he could combine the best of the West with the musical sensibilities of the East? Lin could be that bridge. “I wanted to blend these visions and pass down musical knowledge and life advice to the younger generation so that they could learn from us, and our mistakes,” he says. JJ Lin is wearing a Santos de Cartier watch, a Panthère de Cartier ring, and a Juste un Clou bracelet from Cartier; with a wool polo shirt with embossed monogram effect and glass-pearl buttons, from Louis Vuitton. He turns contemplative, staring into the distance. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, and lately, Lin’s mind is filled with thoughts of legacy. He’s not so narcissistic as to imagine himself immortal. Rather, he believes he has a responsibility. “If I don’t do it, who will? If I’ve been through all of these and not want to pass my lessons on, then who else would even think about that? It’s not just a business. It goes beyond that,” he says after much thought. Deep down, Lin understands the rollercoaster ride is soon coming to an end. The park attendant, once far behind him, is now appearing as a speck again on the horizon, ready to unload passengers. For so long, Lin has been singer-songwriter. But when the ride is over, he’s asked himself: who am I? A younger Lin grappled with these questions of identity. If he lost his voice, would he still be JJ Lin? The one sitting in front of me now, with makeup on his face and the dimples burrowing deep into his cheeks, is no longer concerned with this. “If I take everything away, would I still be me? Now, I can say yes. In another universe, I could be a painter or a photographer, and not a singer, but I would still approach life with the same gusto. I’m still the same JJ Lin from day one that started this journey over 20 years ago. I’ve always been telling myself that: remember why you started.” There’ll be another city to perform at, another stage to stand on top of, and a sea of adoring fans hanging on to his every lyric. But when the bright lights have been switched off and the crowd has dissipated, Lin is still that same nervous young man waiting in the wings for his cue to face the reporters at his first press conference. He’s wearing a white shirt and long black vest and he’s only 22. But that racing heart, that furrowed brow, they all disappear once Lin starts tinkling the ivories. Take a bow, JJ Lin. JJ Lin’s Concert In Bukit Jalil Stadium On 10 May, JJ Lin turned Bukit Jalil into a “Little Big Us” moment on May 10, uniting over 50,000 fans together through music, memories, and pure emotion. He also brought guest artistes Rynn Lim and Jasmine Sokko on the stage during the concert. There was some rain that pittered pattered its way onto the concert goers, but everyone kept their spirits up. Finally, it stopped. But, rain or shine, the crowd stayed loud and KL got the first full look at the FINAL LAP stage. The concert also marked JJ Lin’s collaboration with streetwear brand A Bathing Ape (BAPE). The singer wore several pieces from the collaboration, featuring his signature purple and exclusive tour graphics. There are three pieces in the collection, available at the BAPE store in Suria KLCC. The tour now heads to Taipei and Seoul, but check out the gallery above for a night you won’t forget. The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
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JJ Lin had accidentally burned his hand. One photograph needed Lin to hold a burning piece of paper towards the camera, his eyes burrowing a hole in the lens. Precautions had been taken. A bucket of water, out of sight, sat below Lin’s outstretched hand, ready to extinguish any flames. Still, fire is a mercurial element, and one lick of it hissed on Lin’s palm. A lightning flash of worry creased my mind when that happened. Here was the region’s golden child, arguably the most talented singer of his generation, injured in the middle of his world tour because an editor wanted him to play with fire—literally. Lin, ever the consummate professional, laughed it off. He said he was fine, and the studio, collectively holding its breath, let out a sign of relief. ![JJ Lin is wearing the Clash de Cartier necklace in white gold and a lambskin hooded parka from Tod's.](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/04/07163748/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60) JJ Lin is wearing the Clash de Cartier necklace in white gold and a lambskin hooded parka from Tod’s. Millions (I’d imagine) of words and hundreds of pictures have been devoted to Lin’s long career, sartorial choices, extensive discography, business interests, probably even romantic liaisons, and more. I, along with thousands of Asian millennials, grew up with his music. While I never learned Mandarin, the lyrics 夢為努力澆了水 (Mèng wéi nǔ lì jiāo le shuǐ), 愛在背後往前推 (Ài zài bèi hòu wǎng qián tuī) have been ingrained in my mind, belted with passion by my peers in school and karaoke rooms. It was impossible to avoid his honeyed voice. Listen to the song below. But while my once-black hair is now speckled with grey and those dastardly crows have left their footprints around my eyes, Lin still looks the same as he did when he debuted 20 years ago. His signature bangs still make their presence felt on his forehead, and his dimples are as pronounced as ever. The jawline is perhaps the most noticeable change. The baby fat is gone, replaced with a definition you can only get through experience and life’s lessons. “Hell of a roller coaster ride!” Lin says, laughing when I asked him to describe his career in a sentence. “We’ve come a long way. There have been ups, downs, slow moments, rushed moments. You just have to go with the flow sometimes and enjoy it much as you can while it still lasts. It has felt incredibly fast and short at times.” The days are long, and the years are short, I remark. “That’s exactly right,” Lin says. “Everyone has the same number of hours and days in their lives. But we all choose differently.” It intrigues Lin, this concept that the ramifications of our decision-making alter the course of our lives. It can be something simple. Neglect brushing your teeth and soon enough, cavities will form and force you to go to the dentist. But Lin is interested in the nitty gritty. Those cavities causing you pain? If it’s bad enough, you’ll have to extract your teeth, which alters the shape of your mouth and subsequently, jaw, potentially causing bruxism and affecting your sleep. It’s the butterfly effect in chaos theory—a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil can potentially trigger a tornado in Texas. “As you get older, every decision you make, no matter how big or small, becomes more precious. When you’re young, you think you have your whole life ahead of you. So, you can just do whatever you want and fail because you can do it again repeatedly until you succeed. It’s like an arcade game; just insert another token. But now, I’m older, wiser. How many more 20-year careers can I have, right?” Lin contemplates. ![JJ Lin is wearing a Panthère de Cartier watch in yellow gold, a Panthère de Cartier bracelet in yellow gold with onyx, emeralds, and diamonds, a Clash de Cartier ring in yellow gold, and a Juste un Clou necklace in white gold, all from Cartier.](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/04/07163748/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60) JJ Lin is wearing a Panthère de Cartier watch in yellow gold, a Panthère de Cartier bracelet in yellow gold with onyx, emeralds, and diamonds, a Clash de Cartier ring in yellow gold, and a Juste un Clou necklace in white gold, all from Cartier. Don’t get him wrong, though. This is not regret. Far from it. The self-professed eternal optimist believes he wouldn’t be where he is now without the decisions, good and bad, he’s made in his life. He loves performing and is inspired when people find meaning in his works or the things he does. “That makes all the work worthwhile. It honestly gives me energy and encouragement to keep writing and creating,” Lin says. He also admits to struggling with stardom. Even after 20-over years of cameras being thrusted into his face, strangers crowding him for pictures and autographs, and journalists like me prying into his life, he still gets uncomfortable sometimes. It’s the curse—and boon—of the celebrity. They remain relevant only as long as the media eye is trained on them. But the mob is fickle. It asks for, nay, demands for fresh faces all the time to feed their voracious entertainment appetite. So, Lin must pander to the camera, even though he says that it can get too overwhelming. “I am human, after all. I’m also a huge introvert deep inside. Since day one, there’s always this person within me who doesn’t want to be in the limelight, who doesn’t want to be seen. But there’s also this ingrained need to share my feelings. I once read this quote, ‘Artists are people driven by the tension between the desire to communicate and the desire to hide.’ That resonates with me a lot,” he says. ![JJ Lin is wearing a Panthère de Cartier watch in yellow gold, a Panthère de Cartier bracelet in yellow gold with onyx, emeralds, and diamonds, a Clash de Cartier ring in yellow gold, and a Juste un Clou necklace in white gold, all from Cartier.](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/04/07163748/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60) JJ Lin is wearing a Panthère de Cartier watch in yellow gold, a Panthère de Cartier bracelet in yellow gold with onyx, emeralds, and diamonds, a Clash de Cartier ring in yellow gold, and a Juste un Clou necklace in white gold, all from Cartier. He’s still striking this balance. But he doubts that he’ll ever be able to meet in the middle. That is the artist’s dilemma, vacillating from one end of the spectrum to the other in that constant search for inspiration. Some of humanity’s best creative works come from a place of pain, regret, loss, and longing. Unfortunately, it comes at great personal expense. Lin faces similar challenges. Age and wisdom, however, have made him more equipped to deal with them. He freely admits that the past decade has been a struggle on many fronts. But Lin, who is a Christian, believes that God will test you at the edge of your limit, and never beyond. Growth, after all, only comes from discomfort. At 44, Lin is also thinking about the next phase of his life. He’s not retiring, God forbid. But he wants to do more. “I don’t want to just be counting down to my 25th anniversary in music and lose four to five years. What’s next in music for me? What’s next in life?” He’s ventured into business with Miracle Coffee, a chain specialising in pour-over coffee using its own roasted, single-origin beans. It first started in Taiwan in 2017 before opening a pop-up, then a permanent flagship outlet in Singapore at the ArtScience Museum in Marina Bay Sands. Lin loves coffee. When he’s at home with friends and family, nothing gives him more joy than grinding coffee and making hot roasted cuppas for them. He also has a label called SMG (an acronym for Still Moving Under Gunfire). It operates an esports organisation of the same name and a streetwear fashion brand. Lin’s passion for gaming is well-documented. His love for design, however, is less known. Since young, with a pen in his hand, he would doodle in between writing songs. He’d draw fantastical shapes or items rooted in reality. He’d design tees and trousers, and everything else in between, on a piece of paper. Like music, it was another creative outlet for him. So, Miracle Coffee and SMG are his passions turned into business. “I wanted to show myself that I was serious about these interests. They still are my hobbies, but I wanted to see them take shape and become real products, eventually.” ![JJ Lin is wearing a Santos-Dumont watch in yellow gold with leather strap, a Panthère de Cartier ring in white gold with emerald, onyx, and diamonds, and a Panthère de Cartier brooch in white gold with emerald, onyx, and diamonds, all from Cartier. His outfit is from Hermes.](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/04/07163748/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60) JJ Lin is wearing a Santos-Dumont watch in yellow gold with leather strap, a Panthère de Cartier ring in white gold with emerald, onyx, and diamonds, and a Panthère de Cartier brooch in white gold with emerald, onyx, and diamonds, all from Cartier. His outfit is from Hermes. But, unlike music, business requires a different skillset. Emotions, which are critical in music, must be cast aside when he’s looking at numbers, products, and Excel spreadsheets. Hard decisions need to be made, even if it means short-term pain. “What I’ve discovered about myself through business, however, is that I’m not suitable for it!” says Lin, laughing uproariously. It’s hard to switch off those emotional and creative buttons, he shares. “I see something beautiful, and I get too emotional. ‘Why doesn’t this have a market? Or why isn’t this selling better than another design that I think isn’t as nice?’ But you must look at statistics in business and make decisions based on that. That’s not me. I decide based on feelings.” That’s why all of Lin’s ventures are with partners he trusts. They can study the data and give advice that’s potentially different from what he thinks. They also challenge him, and Lin welcomes that. It takes someone incredibly self-aware to understand their limitations and recognise their faults. Lin has that in spades. He’s also cognisant of his privileged position in life, which is why he’s setting up a music academy. It had never been in his plans until recently when he met James Fauntleroy, who is the founder of the 1500 Or Nothin’ musical ensemble. On Fauntleroy’s invitation, Lin visited the 1500 Sound Academy in Los Angeles. There, walking along the plush hallways dotted with recording studios filled head to toe with music equipment, he had an epiphany. What if he could combine the best of the West with the musical sensibilities of the East? Lin could be that bridge. “I wanted to blend these visions and pass down musical knowledge and life advice to the younger generation so that they could learn from us, and our mistakes,” he says. ![JJ Lin is wearing a Santos de Cartier watch, a Panthère de Cartier ring, and a Juste un Clou bracelet from Cartier; with a wool polo shirt with embossed monogram effect and glass-pearl buttons, from Louis Vuitton.](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/04/07163748/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60) JJ Lin is wearing a Santos de Cartier watch, a Panthère de Cartier ring, and a Juste un Clou bracelet from Cartier; with a wool polo shirt with embossed monogram effect and glass-pearl buttons, from Louis Vuitton. He turns contemplative, staring into the distance. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, and lately, Lin’s mind is filled with thoughts of legacy. He’s not so narcissistic as to imagine himself immortal. Rather, he believes he has a responsibility. “If I don’t do it, who will? If I’ve been through all of these and not want to pass my lessons on, then who else would even think about that? It’s not just a business. It goes beyond that,” he says after much thought. Deep down, Lin understands the rollercoaster ride is soon coming to an end. The park attendant, once far behind him, is now appearing as a speck again on the horizon, ready to unload passengers. For so long, Lin has been singer-songwriter. But when the ride is over, he’s asked himself: who am I? A younger Lin grappled with these questions of identity. If he lost his voice, would he still be JJ Lin? The one sitting in front of me now, with makeup on his face and the dimples burrowing deep into his cheeks, is no longer concerned with this. “If I take everything away, would I still be me? Now, I can say yes. In another universe, I could be a painter or a photographer, and not a singer, but I would still approach life with the same gusto. I’m still the same JJ Lin from day one that started this journey over 20 years ago. I’ve always been telling myself that: remember why you started.” There’ll be another city to perform at, another stage to stand on top of, and a sea of adoring fans hanging on to his every lyric. But when the bright lights have been switched off and the crowd has dissipated, Lin is still that same nervous young man waiting in the wings for his cue to face the reporters at his first press conference. He’s wearing a white shirt and long black vest and he’s only 22. But that racing heart, that furrowed brow, they all disappear once Lin starts tinkling the ivories. Take a bow, JJ Lin. *** ## JJ Lin’s Concert In Bukit Jalil Stadium ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02105047/f392592a-d0c5-4cc0-b926-f008580becdf-1024x683.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02105041/f9bcde93-32cd-4d80-84cb-67721bcf55f4-683x1024.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02104642/2bd80581-81cf-4c01-904f-3a7706bbc28a-683x1024.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02104654/03fc06f6-49ea-4ad1-85a2-2d2dd72afb9b-683x1024.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02104723/08ccddbc-1d0c-46ff-8345-cc8e1c0475a4-683x1024.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02104736/33ae53c6-eacf-4f1b-aa10-040bfb5da13f-683x1024.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02104742/43d22541-5ec6-4058-b567-f5125aeb8725-683x1024.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02104753/61de7bc8-2e02-49f9-be98-9053cc079a08-683x1024.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02104847/910ae405-2558-4294-82de-69b3a8fe6a77-683x1024.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02104915/826578ce-bed1-416d-9d2c-7cf041def04e-683x1024.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02104810/82edd836-3557-4dea-ad1e-eaf14436bee31-683x1024.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02104816/092f5276-0e4f-4518-92a2-a73feb1493bb-683x1024.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02104841/907d419e-f457-4a4b-92a9-3bdbaf032bd0-683x1024.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02104853/5360e2ec-7a8d-450a-816e-7b9a8f5be5b6-1024x683.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02104859/7631f339-d2b0-44b4-b013-fedb409c486f-1024x683.jpg) On 10 May, JJ Lin turned Bukit Jalil into a “Little Big Us” moment on May 10, uniting over 50,000 fans together through music, memories, and pure emotion. He also brought guest artistes Rynn Lim and Jasmine Sokko on the stage during the concert. There was some rain that pittered pattered its way onto the concert goers, but everyone kept their spirits up. Finally, it stopped. But, rain or shine, the crowd stayed loud and KL got the first full look at the FINAL LAP stage. The concert also marked JJ Lin’s collaboration with streetwear brand A Bathing Ape (BAPE). The singer wore several pieces from the collaboration, featuring his signature purple and exclusive tour graphics. There are three pieces in the collection, available at the BAPE store in Suria KLCC. The tour now heads to Taipei and Seoul, but check out the gallery above for a night you won’t forget. Note: The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication. [Cartier](https://www.augustman.com/my/tag/cartier/) [celebrities](https://www.augustman.com/my/tag/celebrities/) [cover story](https://www.augustman.com/my/tag/cover-story/) [JJ Lin](https://www.augustman.com/my/tag/jj-lin/) [music](https://www.augustman.com/my/tag/music/) written by. [![JJ Lin On The Discomfort Of Fame And His Malaysian Concert](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/04/07163748/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60)](https://www.augustman.com/my/author/farhan-shah/) [Farhan Shah](https://www.augustman.com/my/author/farhan-shah/) Editor-In-Chief, Singapore and Malaysia Farhan believes that every man needs a good tailor and a better barber. 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Readable Markdown	Three hours into the shoot, there was minor panic in the studio. JJ Lin had accidentally burned his hand. One photograph needed Lin to hold a burning piece of paper towards the camera, his eyes burrowing a hole in the lens. Precautions had been taken. A bucket of water, out of sight, sat below Lin’s outstretched hand, ready to extinguish any flames. Still, fire is a mercurial element, and one lick of it hissed on Lin’s palm. A lightning flash of worry creased my mind when that happened. Here was the region’s golden child, arguably the most talented singer of his generation, injured in the middle of his world tour because an editor wanted him to play with fire—literally. Lin, ever the consummate professional, laughed it off. He said he was fine, and the studio, collectively holding its breath, let out a sign of relief. ![JJ Lin is wearing the Clash de Cartier necklace in white gold and a lambskin hooded parka from Tod's.](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/04/07163748/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60) JJ Lin is wearing the Clash de Cartier necklace in white gold and a lambskin hooded parka from Tod’s. Millions (I’d imagine) of words and hundreds of pictures have been devoted to Lin’s long career, sartorial choices, extensive discography, business interests, probably even romantic liaisons, and more. I, along with thousands of Asian millennials, grew up with his music. While I never learned Mandarin, the lyrics 夢為努力澆了水 (Mèng wéi nǔ lì jiāo le shuǐ), 愛在背後往前推 (Ài zài bèi hòu wǎng qián tuī) have been ingrained in my mind, belted with passion by my peers in school and karaoke rooms. It was impossible to avoid his honeyed voice. Listen to the song below. But while my once-black hair is now speckled with grey and those dastardly crows have left their footprints around my eyes, Lin still looks the same as he did when he debuted 20 years ago. His signature bangs still make their presence felt on his forehead, and his dimples are as pronounced as ever. The jawline is perhaps the most noticeable change. The baby fat is gone, replaced with a definition you can only get through experience and life’s lessons. “Hell of a roller coaster ride!” Lin says, laughing when I asked him to describe his career in a sentence. “We’ve come a long way. There have been ups, downs, slow moments, rushed moments. You just have to go with the flow sometimes and enjoy it much as you can while it still lasts. It has felt incredibly fast and short at times.” The days are long, and the years are short, I remark. “That’s exactly right,” Lin says. “Everyone has the same number of hours and days in their lives. But we all choose differently.” It intrigues Lin, this concept that the ramifications of our decision-making alter the course of our lives. It can be something simple. Neglect brushing your teeth and soon enough, cavities will form and force you to go to the dentist. But Lin is interested in the nitty gritty. Those cavities causing you pain? If it’s bad enough, you’ll have to extract your teeth, which alters the shape of your mouth and subsequently, jaw, potentially causing bruxism and affecting your sleep. It’s the butterfly effect in chaos theory—a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil can potentially trigger a tornado in Texas. “As you get older, every decision you make, no matter how big or small, becomes more precious. When you’re young, you think you have your whole life ahead of you. So, you can just do whatever you want and fail because you can do it again repeatedly until you succeed. It’s like an arcade game; just insert another token. But now, I’m older, wiser. How many more 20-year careers can I have, right?” Lin contemplates. ![JJ Lin is wearing a Panthère de Cartier watch in yellow gold, a Panthère de Cartier bracelet in yellow gold with onyx, emeralds, and diamonds, a Clash de Cartier ring in yellow gold, and a Juste un Clou necklace in white gold, all from Cartier.](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/04/07163748/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60) JJ Lin is wearing a Panthère de Cartier watch in yellow gold, a Panthère de Cartier bracelet in yellow gold with onyx, emeralds, and diamonds, a Clash de Cartier ring in yellow gold, and a Juste un Clou necklace in white gold, all from Cartier. Don’t get him wrong, though. This is not regret. Far from it. The self-professed eternal optimist believes he wouldn’t be where he is now without the decisions, good and bad, he’s made in his life. He loves performing and is inspired when people find meaning in his works or the things he does. “That makes all the work worthwhile. It honestly gives me energy and encouragement to keep writing and creating,” Lin says. He also admits to struggling with stardom. Even after 20-over years of cameras being thrusted into his face, strangers crowding him for pictures and autographs, and journalists like me prying into his life, he still gets uncomfortable sometimes. It’s the curse—and boon—of the celebrity. They remain relevant only as long as the media eye is trained on them. But the mob is fickle. It asks for, nay, demands for fresh faces all the time to feed their voracious entertainment appetite. So, Lin must pander to the camera, even though he says that it can get too overwhelming. “I am human, after all. I’m also a huge introvert deep inside. Since day one, there’s always this person within me who doesn’t want to be in the limelight, who doesn’t want to be seen. But there’s also this ingrained need to share my feelings. I once read this quote, ‘Artists are people driven by the tension between the desire to communicate and the desire to hide.’ That resonates with me a lot,” he says. ![JJ Lin is wearing a Panthère de Cartier watch in yellow gold, a Panthère de Cartier bracelet in yellow gold with onyx, emeralds, and diamonds, a Clash de Cartier ring in yellow gold, and a Juste un Clou necklace in white gold, all from Cartier.](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/04/07163748/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60) JJ Lin is wearing a Panthère de Cartier watch in yellow gold, a Panthère de Cartier bracelet in yellow gold with onyx, emeralds, and diamonds, a Clash de Cartier ring in yellow gold, and a Juste un Clou necklace in white gold, all from Cartier. He’s still striking this balance. But he doubts that he’ll ever be able to meet in the middle. That is the artist’s dilemma, vacillating from one end of the spectrum to the other in that constant search for inspiration. Some of humanity’s best creative works come from a place of pain, regret, loss, and longing. Unfortunately, it comes at great personal expense. Lin faces similar challenges. Age and wisdom, however, have made him more equipped to deal with them. He freely admits that the past decade has been a struggle on many fronts. But Lin, who is a Christian, believes that God will test you at the edge of your limit, and never beyond. Growth, after all, only comes from discomfort. At 44, Lin is also thinking about the next phase of his life. He’s not retiring, God forbid. But he wants to do more. “I don’t want to just be counting down to my 25th anniversary in music and lose four to five years. What’s next in music for me? What’s next in life?” He’s ventured into business with Miracle Coffee, a chain specialising in pour-over coffee using its own roasted, single-origin beans. It first started in Taiwan in 2017 before opening a pop-up, then a permanent flagship outlet in Singapore at the ArtScience Museum in Marina Bay Sands. Lin loves coffee. When he’s at home with friends and family, nothing gives him more joy than grinding coffee and making hot roasted cuppas for them. He also has a label called SMG (an acronym for Still Moving Under Gunfire). It operates an esports organisation of the same name and a streetwear fashion brand. Lin’s passion for gaming is well-documented. His love for design, however, is less known. Since young, with a pen in his hand, he would doodle in between writing songs. He’d draw fantastical shapes or items rooted in reality. He’d design tees and trousers, and everything else in between, on a piece of paper. Like music, it was another creative outlet for him. So, Miracle Coffee and SMG are his passions turned into business. “I wanted to show myself that I was serious about these interests. They still are my hobbies, but I wanted to see them take shape and become real products, eventually.” ![JJ Lin is wearing a Santos-Dumont watch in yellow gold with leather strap, a Panthère de Cartier ring in white gold with emerald, onyx, and diamonds, and a Panthère de Cartier brooch in white gold with emerald, onyx, and diamonds, all from Cartier. His outfit is from Hermes.](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/04/07163748/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60) JJ Lin is wearing a Santos-Dumont watch in yellow gold with leather strap, a Panthère de Cartier ring in white gold with emerald, onyx, and diamonds, and a Panthère de Cartier brooch in white gold with emerald, onyx, and diamonds, all from Cartier. His outfit is from Hermes. But, unlike music, business requires a different skillset. Emotions, which are critical in music, must be cast aside when he’s looking at numbers, products, and Excel spreadsheets. Hard decisions need to be made, even if it means short-term pain. “What I’ve discovered about myself through business, however, is that I’m not suitable for it!” says Lin, laughing uproariously. It’s hard to switch off those emotional and creative buttons, he shares. “I see something beautiful, and I get too emotional. ‘Why doesn’t this have a market? Or why isn’t this selling better than another design that I think isn’t as nice?’ But you must look at statistics in business and make decisions based on that. That’s not me. I decide based on feelings.” That’s why all of Lin’s ventures are with partners he trusts. They can study the data and give advice that’s potentially different from what he thinks. They also challenge him, and Lin welcomes that. It takes someone incredibly self-aware to understand their limitations and recognise their faults. Lin has that in spades. He’s also cognisant of his privileged position in life, which is why he’s setting up a music academy. It had never been in his plans until recently when he met James Fauntleroy, who is the founder of the 1500 Or Nothin’ musical ensemble. On Fauntleroy’s invitation, Lin visited the 1500 Sound Academy in Los Angeles. There, walking along the plush hallways dotted with recording studios filled head to toe with music equipment, he had an epiphany. What if he could combine the best of the West with the musical sensibilities of the East? Lin could be that bridge. “I wanted to blend these visions and pass down musical knowledge and life advice to the younger generation so that they could learn from us, and our mistakes,” he says. ![JJ Lin is wearing a Santos de Cartier watch, a Panthère de Cartier ring, and a Juste un Clou bracelet from Cartier; with a wool polo shirt with embossed monogram effect and glass-pearl buttons, from Louis Vuitton.](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/04/07163748/am-placeholder-img.png?tr=q-60) JJ Lin is wearing a Santos de Cartier watch, a Panthère de Cartier ring, and a Juste un Clou bracelet from Cartier; with a wool polo shirt with embossed monogram effect and glass-pearl buttons, from Louis Vuitton. He turns contemplative, staring into the distance. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, and lately, Lin’s mind is filled with thoughts of legacy. He’s not so narcissistic as to imagine himself immortal. Rather, he believes he has a responsibility. “If I don’t do it, who will? If I’ve been through all of these and not want to pass my lessons on, then who else would even think about that? It’s not just a business. It goes beyond that,” he says after much thought. Deep down, Lin understands the rollercoaster ride is soon coming to an end. The park attendant, once far behind him, is now appearing as a speck again on the horizon, ready to unload passengers. For so long, Lin has been singer-songwriter. But when the ride is over, he’s asked himself: who am I? A younger Lin grappled with these questions of identity. If he lost his voice, would he still be JJ Lin? The one sitting in front of me now, with makeup on his face and the dimples burrowing deep into his cheeks, is no longer concerned with this. “If I take everything away, would I still be me? Now, I can say yes. In another universe, I could be a painter or a photographer, and not a singer, but I would still approach life with the same gusto. I’m still the same JJ Lin from day one that started this journey over 20 years ago. I’ve always been telling myself that: remember why you started.” There’ll be another city to perform at, another stage to stand on top of, and a sea of adoring fans hanging on to his every lyric. But when the bright lights have been switched off and the crowd has dissipated, Lin is still that same nervous young man waiting in the wings for his cue to face the reporters at his first press conference. He’s wearing a white shirt and long black vest and he’s only 22. But that racing heart, that furrowed brow, they all disappear once Lin starts tinkling the ivories. Take a bow, JJ Lin. *** ## JJ Lin’s Concert In Bukit Jalil Stadium ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02105047/f392592a-d0c5-4cc0-b926-f008580becdf-1024x683.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02105041/f9bcde93-32cd-4d80-84cb-67721bcf55f4-683x1024.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02104642/2bd80581-81cf-4c01-904f-3a7706bbc28a-683x1024.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02104654/03fc06f6-49ea-4ad1-85a2-2d2dd72afb9b-683x1024.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02104723/08ccddbc-1d0c-46ff-8345-cc8e1c0475a4-683x1024.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02104736/33ae53c6-eacf-4f1b-aa10-040bfb5da13f-683x1024.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02104742/43d22541-5ec6-4058-b567-f5125aeb8725-683x1024.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02104753/61de7bc8-2e02-49f9-be98-9053cc079a08-683x1024.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02104847/910ae405-2558-4294-82de-69b3a8fe6a77-683x1024.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02104915/826578ce-bed1-416d-9d2c-7cf041def04e-683x1024.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02104810/82edd836-3557-4dea-ad1e-eaf14436bee31-683x1024.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02104816/092f5276-0e4f-4518-92a2-a73feb1493bb-683x1024.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02104841/907d419e-f457-4a4b-92a9-3bdbaf032bd0-683x1024.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02104853/5360e2ec-7a8d-450a-816e-7b9a8f5be5b6-1024x683.jpg) ![](https://images.augustman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/02104859/7631f339-d2b0-44b4-b013-fedb409c486f-1024x683.jpg) On 10 May, JJ Lin turned Bukit Jalil into a “Little Big Us” moment on May 10, uniting over 50,000 fans together through music, memories, and pure emotion. He also brought guest artistes Rynn Lim and Jasmine Sokko on the stage during the concert. There was some rain that pittered pattered its way onto the concert goers, but everyone kept their spirits up. Finally, it stopped. But, rain or shine, the crowd stayed loud and KL got the first full look at the FINAL LAP stage. The concert also marked JJ Lin’s collaboration with streetwear brand A Bathing Ape (BAPE). The singer wore several pieces from the collaboration, featuring his signature purple and exclusive tour graphics. There are three pieces in the collection, available at the BAPE store in Suria KLCC. The tour now heads to Taipei and Seoul, but check out the gallery above for a night you won’t forget. The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
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