Jackson Wang Gets Candid With Esquire India

Honestly, Jackson Wang isn’t just here to entertain. He’s here to connect. And if you’re lucky enough to talk to him, you’ll know if from the very first second.

Seated comfortably in Fairmont Mumbai, in an all-black outfit, with his hair slinged back perfectly, he’s easy to read.

He’s in India for reasons that aren’t entirely clear—maybe a movie, maybe not, maybe something with Hrithik Roshan, maybe just a spiritual pit stop—but Wang rarely does anything the traditional way. He’s not performing anymore. He’s present. That’s the new era he’s in. One where the grind doesn’t chase clout, but clarity and human connection. He’s walked away from the rigid machinery of K-pop, built his own creative empire with Team Wang, and poured his contradictions into music that feels visceral and raw—from the theatrical high of 'Magic Man' to the stripped-back honesty of his latest performances.

But the most surprising thing about him? For all his world tours, stadium screams, and Billboard peaks—he’s disarmingly human. He carries a surprising stillness and humility when he talks. He can make you laugh just as easily. It’s a refreshing attitude from someone who has garnered more than 33.3 million followers on Instagram.

His latest album, 'Magic Man 2', is less a record than a reckoning: with fame, with loneliness, with the very idea of identity. "It’s not based on just one thing," he says. "It’s exactly how I feel—about everything.”

After thinking about it a lot, I can only think of multi-hyphenate ways to describe him: he’s the Hong Kong-born, K-pop trained, China-dominating, Billboard-charting, fashion-building, fandom-ruling, global pop icon—all before hitting his thirties.

He’s allergic to chili, but can eat wasabi like it’s air. He DMs icons like Diljit Dosanjh and turns it into bangers. He wears his legacy lightly but thinks about it often. “I just hope,” he says, “that when people think of me, they remember I was real.”

Thoughtful, honest, and occasionally philosophical, he opens up to Esquire India about his love for India’s food and culture, how he’s building a legacy beyond music, and why he wants his fans to think bigger—about life, about identity, about themselves.

One thing’s for sure: the man’s on fire.

What do you love most about India and what surprised you the most after you got here?

I like visiting India—that’s why I’m back again. This is my second time here and I really wanted to feel the city, to just be human here, you know? To be present in a place I want to learn from, absorb, and also share a bit of where I come from—my motherland, where I grew up.

As for what surprised me the most, a lot of people think I can’t handle spicy food—but that’s not true. I’m actually allergic to chili, not spicy. I can take a lot of wasabi, and if it’s pepper or something else spicy, I’m totally fine. But chili? I can’t do it.

I actually looked into it and found out that when you eat spicy food, especially chili, it activates this compound—capsaicin—but it tricks your body into thinking it’s overheating. And then I start sweating. That’s what happens to me. I don’t know if it’s a condition or what, but I guess I’m just allergic to that specific compound. So yeah, that was kind of a surprise.

Is there anything you’re missing with chili that you can’t have?

Yeah, so many things! I can’t eat tteokbokki, I can’t eat kimchi, even mala—none of it. Anything with chili, even the tiniest bit, I just can’t handle. And I hate that about my body. I really want to fix it somehow.

Let’s talk a little bit about your album 'Magic Man'. The first one came out in 2022, hit number 15 on the Billboard 200 charts, and got a lot of love. It had that raw, old-school Arctic Monkeys feel—experimental and bold. What can we expect from 'Magic Man 2'?

'Magic Man 2' is really personal. I spent a whole year creating it. I don’t know if people will think it’s the best or even good music—that’s subjective. But one thing I can say for sure is: it’s the most honest music I’ve ever made.

It’s exactly how I feel—about everything. The industry, the public eye, reality, society, humanity… it’s all there. It’s not based on just one thing—it’s a mix of everything I’ve felt in my late 20s. No specific inspirations, just pure experience. That’s what shaped this album.

Is there one song in particular from 'Magic Man 2' that’s especially close to your heart?

Honestly? Every single song. Every track means a lot to me. But I’d say the mid-tempo and slower ones? They’re really my heart. They hit deep.

This brings me to your song Buck—your collaboration with Diljit Dosanjh. How did that come about? And what was it like working with him?

I met him at Coachella. Back then, I just thought—man, if I could collab with him one day, that would be amazing.

And then, two years later, while I was working on Buck, he popped into my head. I just thought he’d sound so good on the track. So I DM’ed him—and surprisingly, he showed me a lot of love. And we just made it happen. We shot the music video, all the content—everything—together. It was really dope.

You love wearing rings and earrings. But if you had to choose just one set of accessories—what would it be?

That situation would never happen. [laughs] There’s no way I’m picking just one.

You travel a lot and your schedule is famously hectic. Is there one grooming or wellness tip you’d like to share with men on the go?

Honestly? I’m barely taking good care of myself most of the time. But I try my best—especially with food. I know that sounds like common sense, but seriously, everybody’s body is built differently. You have to figure out what works for you. It’s not just about the calories. It’s about what you’re putting in your body. So I try to be extra careful with that.

Sleep is tough—I barely sleep. There’s just so much behind-the-scenes work. Being an artist isn’t just about making music or being creative—that’s the easy part. But it’s the logistics, the planning, the pushing forward, the preparation—that part really wears me out. So I’ve kind of given up on getting enough sleep.

But yeah—food, sleep if you can, and exercise. That’s the balance. Also! Skincare. What you put on your face matters.

But yeah, everyone’s body and skin are built differently. You’ve really got to find your own way. And to do that, you just have to go try. Experiment. Find what works for you!

Is there something you always carry with you while travelling—something that reminds you of home?

Not really, but my phone’s screensaver is a picture of me and my mom, from when I was a kid. And sometimes it’s just baby me. That’s enough to remind me of home. Also, my luggage is already overweight—so I can’t really carry anything extra! [laughs]

Let’s talk legacy. What do you hope the world remembers when they think of Jackson Wang?

I hope that in the future, people remember me as someone who was just… himself.

And I hope that in some way, I can be part of their emotional support system. Everyone goes through dark days, right? In those moments, I hope I can give people even a little bit of positive energy or motivation—whether through my music, or just by being me.

I want them to know they’re not alone in feeling how they feel. We’re all human. We have different jobs, different skill sets, but at the end of the day, we’re all just humans living on Earth. And that’s enough.

And everyone’s definition of happiness is different. I just hope you find yours. And if ever, in a moment when you need something—whether it’s a song, a show, an interview—I hope I can be that for you. That when people think of Jackson Wang, they think: “he gave me that energy when I needed it.”