TONG’s latest track, “Is It Real,” invites listeners into a space where 90s hip-hop swagger dances with the grit of funky house. Anchored by a elating vocal topline and propelled by tech house drumwork and a slick, rolling bassline, the song rolls forward with an energy that’s playful yet intense – a sonic cocktail that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly immediate and a perfect set closer for nights that refuse to end.
Originally from China and now crafting her vision from Los Angeles, TONG’s story unfolds with a quiet defiance of convention. Her early forays into sound were marked by a relentless experimentation that leaned into house music’s broad possibilities. Moving to the U.S. offered a chance to deepen her sound, transforming raw potential into a signature style. Her tracks speak to the universal push-and-pull of rhythm and melody, inviting audiences to lose and find themselves within the music.
TONG’s rise has fast-paced. In 2022, her remix of Matroda’s “Gimme Some Keys” earned her a win at the EDC Orlando Discovery Project, spotlighting her among Insomniac’s roster of rising stars. By 2024, her hard work led to triumph in the Toolroom Remix competition, culminating in a polished rework for Essel. With releases across Insomniac, Hexagon, and Toolroom. “Is It Real” scores high marks all around and is easy put on repeat.