The lights on set are warm, casting an intimate glow over the white studio where JJ Lin is in a mid-outfit change. Somewhere between tweaking the accessories and setting the perfect frame, our fashion director is in a conundrum: The necklace we’d selected for the look is a tad too short for the neckline.

With a flash of inspiration, he pulls a matching bracelet from the same collection, clasping it deftly onto the chain for added length. It works, giving the piece a fresh, layered dimension. JJ, observing the quick fix, quips with a grin, “Oh, you should have told me to bring mine along.” This playful moment sets the tone for the rest of our conversation and reflects JJ’s approach to style—thoughtful, effortless, and ever-evolving. “I used to love bling and flashy colours,” he admits later in our sit-down interview. “Now I lean more toward minimalism. More oversized silhouettes, clean lines, and with a little touch of something special.”

As he settles into the interview, it becomes clear that his charm is rooted in his deep reflections on life, music, and what lies ahead. With his “JJ20 World Tour” heading into its highly-anticipated final lap, JJ pauses to take stock of what the past twenty years have meant to him, including his most recent stop in Chongqing. “Chongqing has always been one of my favourite cities in China,” he shares. “It’s unique, geographically interesting, and massive. To be honest, it’s really a city you don’t just visit but also experience.”

And much like the city, JJ’s career is layered, expansive, and something to be experienced rather than simply observed. After more than two decades in the music industry, JJ has indeed become a household name in the Chinese- speaking world.

Reflecting on the evolution of his career, JJ is as honest as ever. “The whole climate of things is very different from when I first started,” he admits. “My state of mind has changed, too, because I’ve grown up. But what hasn’t changed is the joy I feel when I write a song. It’s the same feeling I had 20 years ago, sitting down with that simple desire to complete something and share it.”

But JJ’s journey hasn’t always been straightforward. He explains that his first decade was about proving himself. “I wanted to prove to myself and the world that I could do it,” he says. “The second decade was about finding myself, putting more of my personal touch into my work so people could see me for who I truly am.” 

Music, for JJ, has always been more than just the perfect combination of melodies and lyrics. It is his diary. “That hasn’t changed,” he reflects. “No matter how the industry evolves, for me, music is still that personal space where I can keep it real.” 

Currently, he is busy preparing for his “Final Lap World Tour”, an extension of the “JJ20 World Tour” that celebrates his storied career. However, he quickly explains that the upcoming tour is something more than just a greatest hits showcase. “If ‘JJ20’ was about celebrating my journey with the fans, this ‘Final Lap’ is about celebrating within myself,” he explains. “It’s more abstract, more introspective. It’s about asking, ‘What’s next?’”

This highly-anticipated tour, which will see him performing for the first time in cities like Boston, San Francisco, and Seoul, will kick off with a two-night performance in Singapore later this month (on 28 and 29 December) at the Singapore National Stadium. On how it will be different from the previous tour, JJ is promising some surprises. “I always like to keep things fresh,” he says, offering little else but a knowing smile. Yet, there’s a palpable sense that these shows will be more personal and reflective than anything he’s done before.

But his celebration of two decades in the industry is not limited to the stage. JJ has also worked on a book chronicling his memorable journey in music. “It’s a lot of reminiscing,” he says of the process. “It’s about remembering those moments and putting them into words. But it’s also about hearing from the people around me—my family, friends, and team. Their perspectives add so much to the story.” 

One of the most touching anecdotes in the book involves JJ’s father. “When I was younger, I used to write him letters because I was too shy to talk to him directly,” he recalls. “I’d leave notes for him to find, and he’d write back. Through the book, I got to hear his thoughts on my career… how he saw me grow up and how he feels now. That really moved me.”

Despite his relentless drive, JJ admits that finding balance has been one of his greatest challenges. “I used to give everything to my work and very little to myself,” he admits. “Now, I’m learning to value my own space more—whether it’s spending time with friends and family or just having moments of quiet for myself.” 

And when he’s not performing or working on his next big project? JJ’s as low-key as they come. “I’m pretty boring,” he laughs. “I like to stay home, watch television, and make coffee. I’m really just your regular dude.”

His love for coffee has evolved into something of an obsession. “I go really in-depth with it—everything from sourcing beans to perfecting brewing techniques,” he says. His café, Miracle Coffee, has become more than a passion project. Last month in November, JJ opened his eighth flagship store in Shanghai. “It’s like being a scientist, but with coffee,” he adds, grinning.

Beyond music and coffee, JJ has another creative outlet that allows him to channel his varied interests: His streetwear label, SMG. For him, the brand isn’t just about fashion but a platform to showcase the things he loves. “I love car racing and the racetrack. I love underground music. I even like skating culture, although I don’t skate. All these elements come together in my streetwear label.”

The label also provides him with a way to stay connected to passions he may not have time to pursue actively. “These subcultures are things I’m into, but they’re not always something I can personally get involved in, like sports,” he says. “I can share that world with others through SMG’s designs and products. It’s fun, everyday, and easy going.” For JJ, SMG is about making niche subcultures more accessible to everyone. “Even if you don’t understand it at first, you can discover it through the brand,” he explains.

So, after 20 years, what’s next for JJ Lin? For the first time in his career, he doesn’t have a concrete plan. And he’s okay with that. “It’s intentional,” he says. “I want to change the rhythm a bit, experiment, and keep things fresh.”

However, he is keen to shift his focus toward nurturing the next generation of artists. He’s been quietly working on plans for a music academy, which he says is a dream that’s close to his heart. “I want to create a space where young musicians can come together to learn and grow,” he shares. “It’s about giving back in a meaningful way.”

JJ doesn’t sugarcoat the realities of the industry, though. “You have to be ready for the whole package—the good and the bad,” he says. “When you’re young, you think you’re ready for anything. But the truth is, you’re never really ready. The key is being able to adapt, to keep going even when things don’t go your way.”

He’s also open to new collaborations and challenges. “I’ve always wanted to work with Bruno Mars,” he shares. “But I’d also love to collaborate with Justin Timberlake or Pharrell Williams. Or even Daft Punk—if they came out of retirement.”

Indeed, it is this openness to exploration and growth that has made him into the global star he is today. As JJ puts it: “The more you know, the more you realise how much you don’t know. It’s about unlearning and relearning, finding balance, and staying curious.”

PHOTOGRAPHED BY SHAWN PAUL TAN
STYLED BY JEFFREY YAN

Producer NAVIN PILLAY
Make-up Artist CLARENCE LEE using Shu Uemura
Hairstylist PETER WU
Photographer’s Assistants MELVIN LEONG; CHAY WEI KANG
Stylist’s Assistant VALECIA LEE