In the spare performance video for “Roses,” Chon (pronounced “Chern”) is cast in black and white with just the songwriter and acoustic guitar in frame though we hear other instrumentation like an electric guitar and a touch of synth. What shines most is Chon’s delicate energy as a vocalist. It’s a bit different from her former life as the lead vocalist in Vietnamese Nü Metal band Bodies On the Floor but the weight of emotion remains and even through the subtle layers of melody and texture, Chon’s voice is an apt vehicle for lyrics that are romantic in tone and reflect a personal insight into the essence of another person that can only come from knowing oneself unguardedly with a compassionate sense of self-awareness that the cruelty of the world often comes from internalizing its trauma and interpreting it back out. But with this song we hear a songwriter for whom a rote pronouncement of love is a shallow platitude and “Roses” comes off more like extending a humble insight with care, affection and sensitivity. There may be a folk element with the song but its musical alchemy transcends genre specificity. Watch the video for “Roses” on YouTube and listen to more Chon on Spotify.
Queen City Sounds and Art 
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