By Rich Monetti
Princess Long Long is a multi-talented singing star and personality who performs in off-Broadway venues, television, movies, and A-list venues on the national and international stage. Over her career, she’s covered a lot of ground, not just in the United States. She has sung during the opening ceremony at Cannes, won the Monaco Royal Voice competition at the Monte Carlo Country Club in 2017, and swooned to souls as a Blue Carpet VIP at Harrah’s Elvis Presley’s Heartbreak Hotel in Concert.
Princess Long Long’s voice has put her on a globe trot that few can match, but her real secret may be that she’s never in anyone’s sights look enough to pin her down to a single look or perspective. “I’m constantly creating a different image,” she said.
Her varied cultural, education, and professional background goes a long way to helping her do that. Raised in China, Long Long has an MBA from Maastricht University in Holland, studied classical voice at Juilliard, dabbles in fashion, and splits her time in China, Europe, and Manhattan. Never at rest, she’s also, among other international designations, a Global Goodwill Ambassador and Ocean Ambassador for UN World Tourism Organization and a Wockhardt Foundation World Peace Ambassador.
However, all the glitz that’s always raising her profile can’t replace what has driven her since she was little. “My dream is to promote the Chinese culture on the international stage.”
Chinese Mythology was an early fascination and led her to study under the former Director of the Chinese Culture and Art Committee for 15 years. “I realized how beautiful and mysterious our culture is.”
At the age of only 7, she was scribbling her own songs, but her overprotective father was concerned about Princess Long Long’s future. He pushed her toward a less risky career in business, so Princess Long Long did what she could to hide her calling. “I threw away my compositions when my dad came around to make sure I was doing my homework.”
She was pressured to be a banker or a businesswoman but had a more important bottom-line to consider. “That is not my soul. I always dreamed of being an artist in America.”
So she embarked in 2006 and was accepted at Juilliard in 2010. Nonetheless, Long Long did not complete her studies because she felt options for opera singers were limited. The Manhattanite also felt she had a pretty good handle on the curriculum. “I already had the fundamentals to use my voice and increase my energy and power.”
Otherwise, her focus dissipated and led her away. She went back to China in 2012 and immersed herself in mythology. Eight months later, Long Long completed Moon Goddess.
The impetus was not a flight of fancy either. In 2015, she got a backer to fund her musical, but unfortunately, the visions didn’t match up. “They wanted a domestic story, and I believe my story is for the international market,” she said.
At this point, she feels close to getting funding and is waiting for the right person. Still, the acknowledgments didn’t pay any bills. Her delivery came in the form of a 2015 off-Broadway part in Whatever Happened to Beverly Daniels. “It’s very rare for an Asian to be selected for a show,” said Princess Long Long, and the Chinese press coverage began a cascade.
She was selected as the opening singer for the New York Women’s Film Festival, and Princess Long Long was on her way. Riding the wave, she knows the importance of dressing the part and takes an active role. An image emerges, she finds a professional seamstress, and together eye-popping pieces come to life.
On fire, her Eastern Dragon Princess won first prize of the Italian Royal Carnival in 2016, and fittingly, her music development follows a similar pattern. Mixing jazz, pop, and Broadway tunes with her classical expertise, she worked together with a composer to refine the piece.
Ah! Je Veux Vivre is a favorite from Romeo and Juliet that she performs at events. “Wherever I go, this song drives people crazy.” But you probably shouldn’t just take her word for it. A Hollywood producer at Cannes, Steven Nia, Chairman of Wardour Studios, was so impressed that he wants Long Long’s voice for two upcoming films: Crossroads to Shaolin (with Mike Tyson), and The Chinese Schindler. The big picture doesn’t end there either.
Princess Long Long recently got the attention of music producer Earl Cohen. Working with the likes of Lady Gaga, Pink, and Whitney Houston, Cohen envisions a collaboration that merges Princess Long Long’s east-west delivery. “I am very excited to put together a special team to work with me on creating and crafting new music for her with her own unique sound that will generate thousands of new fans across the globe,” Cohen said.
Leaving Princess Long Long in transit as usual, she should have no problem traversing the crossover and adding to her aria.
But despite the world travels and love of her European and American culture, Princess Long Long still clicks her heals for home. “My heart is Chinese,” she concluded with pride.
