Music as Medicine: On Grief, Purpose, and Connection with Lujang De’Nyangos

Lujang De’Nyangos is a South Sudanese artist whose journey through grief, displacement, and cultural fusion has shaped his sound and purpose. He discovered the healing power of music after the death of his father, realizing it was therapy not just for himself but for others. Having lived in South Sudan, Uganda, Egypt, and Kenya, his music carries influences of Arabic, Swahili, English, and African rhythms, blended into soulful melodies inspired by artists like Jonathan Butler.

For Lujang, music is more than performance. It is a vessel of healing, storytelling, and connection. He acknowledges the thin line between artistic freedom in fragile contexts, balancing the call to speak truth with the risks of survival.

He speaks candidly about the weight of responsibility that comes with artistic gifts, the importance of community in sustaining that burden, and the role of music in emotional education, especially for men navigating stigma around vulnerability and mental health.

Beyond the music, Lujang is intentional about the business of art, learning to view himself as both a brand and a vessel. He aspires to growth rooted in purpose, integrity, and legacy. For him, success is abundance across health, wealth, family, and security. His ultimate aim is to leave behind the memory of a man who pursued what he believed in and touched lives through it.

Visit Lujang’s Website: https://lujangdenyangos.com/

Lujang’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lujangdenyangos

Lujang on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBVfgBU4IffANJPpOfSEPtQ 

Lujang on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5IjZoBaLxwkBGLqHnC4Nbq?si=RnDvKbf2Q-SSDlKLxYX4ew&nd=1&dlsi=ecdf852a1f7c4d93

Transcript

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Welcome to Overnight Wisdom, a show where we sit with changemakers, artists, business leaders, and thinkers. Each conversation is an invitation to slow down, to go deeper, and unearth the quiet insights that shape who we are. If you're seeking honest reflections, unexpected wisdom, and a deeper understanding of what it takes to not merely survive, but to thrive. You're in the right place. Today's guest, Lujang - is more than a songwriter and performer. He's a vessel for healing through music. Born in South Sudan and shaped by the cultures of Uganda, Egypt, and Kenya, his sound carries both the weight of history and the hope of possibility. After losing his father, music became his therapy, a way to name grief, reclaim joy. and build bridges across bothers. In this conversation, we dive into art as responsibility, the dangers of speaking truth in fragile context. And while mental health, especially for men, is one of the hardest but most necessary conversations of our time. This is not just about music, it's about resilience, faith, and the legacy of a man determined to touch lives through sound. This is Overnight Wisdom with Lujang - Hi, Lujang. How are you doing today? I'm good, I'm good, hope you're doing well doing well. Thanks for joining me today for this chat. I'm really looking forward to it. Welcome. Thank you for having me. so I'm gonna jump right into it. We had a conversation a couple of weeks ago and I know that you're somebody who's quite intentional in how you engage in your art and the music you produce, how you move in the world. So I do wanna ask you, when did you first realize that music was more than a craft, that it held power to heal? and to bring you closer to people Yeah, I think when I lost my dad, that's when I realized the power of it because it was therapy for me first. I didn't really realize what it was doing to me. so I would sit somewhere in the corner, playing my guitar. I thought I was just doing it for, just to pass time. But later on, I realized I was actually healing myself, I'm like, if I can do this and it heals me. then definitely it has an effect on other people as well. That's why I realized the power of it's beyond just me. Thanks for sharing. One of the things I'm seeing as well is for a lot of people, a loss of a family member is usually sometimes the trigger, you know, for them to find their calling, their passion, to change their life or trigger their arts. Is that something you resonate with? Yes, much. Yeah, okay. So you've lived, of course, in South Sudan, in Uganda, I believe, in Egypt, and also Kenya. How do you think that these different countries and different cultures inherent in them, how have they shaped your identity, your sensibility, and also your sound? Good question. I realized that we are very similar as human beings despite the country we're in. We have so much commonalities, the way of life, basics of things that make us who we are as human beings. So I realized music and color cross because we have whether white, black, whatever, Asian at the core. We have similar needs and yes, in different places has affected my sound as well because coming from South Sudan, you'll find or you'll hear some Arabic. Yes, you'll hear some Swahili because I also lived in Nairobi for a bit. You'll hear some English, you'll hear all this mashed up into one, so that's has affected how I put out my sound. For sure, yes. I love that. What would you say is your musical influence? Like what genre draw from in putting your sounds together? Good question. I grew up listening to pop So I would say I'm very soulful in my style of delivery. and has lots of strings, guitar. So I think the person I would say I appreciate their music is Jonathan Butler from South Africa. I think... I look up to that sound so much. he fuses the Zulu sound with jazz. So it's something you can listen to with family, yourself, you know. You've described music as a form of healing. What does that process actually look like? Hmm. I think music makes you one with yourself first. I don't know how to make that into a better phrase. But it connects you with your soul and your heart first. Because it's like you're singing within, then to bring it to other people, you know? Because... I am the kind of artist that I sing mostly from experiences and things I've gone through. there's a saying that goes, when you take responsibility or you talk about something, it no longer has power over you. You know, you've already. appreciated that this is something I'm going through, something that I have experienced and I accept it. It's freeing, So that's the beginning of healing me that something has happened and I appreciate it has happened. Good or bad, doesn't matter. And when I sing about it, I'm like, I'm at peace now because Whether I've lost something, whatever it is, we're good. I like that. You know, I often say sometimes the hardest thing is to say the thing at least for me, you know, because when I'm feeling something it could be fear, could be worry as long as I'm able to say I'm afraid of losing that thing or I'm afraid of the rejection that comes after that, you know. the power dissipates little by little, that I'm able to name it and put it out into the world. Like the burden at least leaves my body. So that resonates with me when you're talking about this. Is that kind of what you mean? I have a question around, so you talk about, you are the type of person that brings your experiences into your music. How does resistance sound or what does, how do you know like, oh, this sounds like hope? for example, cause a lot of musicians can do that, you know, like sometimes when you're going through it, you listen to music and you're like, okay, I can do this. you listen to a great breakup song and you're like, yes, I'm feeling empowered. How do you know that moment where you're like, yup, this sounds like hope? Hmm, good question. Have you ever had a melody and You realize or you feel like it sounds happy. That's before writing the lyrics before that You hear something and you're like this sounds groovy or sounds happy Then you hear something like this sounds depressing, sounds sad, I think most people can appreciate that, they can hear something before even the words, just the melody alone, alone, you can hear something and say this sounds low, I want something uplifting, I want something I want to feel like I'm in Ibiza, you know, in human beings, we have the instincts to know the melody, even if you're not a musician naturally. we have now in music, we have happy chords or progressions. For example, maybe say... So it's like, celebrate good times, come on. So it feels happy, uh Just because, oh, then if you hear something, let's say. It takes you on a journey, like what's happening. Exactly. uh There are chords that I think naturally as humans we can just feel like this sounds happy, this sounds this. That's why in, for example, in clubs, most times they play something which is... And most times the progression is happy people instinctively know to answer your question as humans we can... Our instincts can tell this is happy. So musicians now capitalize on that like this is a happy chord. We're gonna write Happy song on this happy progression. This is a sad one Anyway, I've answered your questions. Oh, I love this. I feel like I'm getting a treat, you know? Thank you for playing This is great. I love it. I want to talk a little bit about, you know, you talked earlier about loss and I know when we connected a couple of weeks ago, you talked about how political instability, also shifted the trajectory of your life and where you are now. So I wondered if you could talk a little bit about it to our listeners and also share how that has informed not just how, but also what you create. Hmm, yeah, Coming from a war-torn country, most times people expect... I used to be that person, I'm always writing about what's happening in the country. And that's okay, right? I have some songs, there's a song titled No Place Like Home, talking about what's happening and how things can change and whatnot. But I realized later, as much as... war is happening. There people who are also celebrating different things. I can't be stuck in one identity as a musician because some things may not change even after generations. For example, Congo. We're not going to expect only sad songs from Congo, right? We have Fally Ipupa sing about dancing, let's celebrate what we have, that kind of thing. But yes, it's coming from South Sudan. Sometimes it's very, also risky. if you sing about political things, do not mention anything that can get you in trouble. Just sing about we want peace. Don't go deeper than that. Don't go telling, you know, want the president to do this. Don't call no names. and you are good. Because how the peace comes, nobody wants to be told what to do. Don't think about corruption. Okay, think about the word corruption, but don't think about who is being corrupt. So it's a thin line here. So most times, people just want to be happy, really, because it's traumatizing to already experience what you're going through. So most times, people just want to... seeing happy things. So I've come to a point where if I feel whatever I feel I just write it. If it's sad, happy, I'm in a happy place right now and I'm enjoying the journey of this right now. So if I feel like there's something happening that needs to be put a light on, if there's something political for sure, I will do that but also with being careful. So it's a risky... Sometimes it inspires but sometimes also it depresses. Hmm, yeah, thanks for sharing. I mean, I can't imagine what that must feel like, you know, to feel to some degree censored, you know, in always having to be careful. And I think there's also the, burden of an artist, right? A lot of artists and people who are change-making in different spaces have this... thin line as you say to navigate, to what degree can I speak true to power and at the same time stay alive to continue to do so tomorrow. I'm thinking a lot around cultural fusion in your music in particular. And I know when we spoke, from what I know about you, music has become more than an expression There's a sacredness, you carry with you it's almost as though you know in the conversations we've had in the past it's an offering from yourself to other people and that is like something you handle with great care so i want to ask what does it mean to actually carry that kind of responsibility as an artist It's a huge responsibility because sometimes you wish you did not discover that. you know, to whom much is given, is required. Sometimes you're like, you wish you didn't discover the talents you have, because now it's a responsibility. You wake up, you're happy, you're like, oh my god, I can do this, I can sing, And then later you're like, wait a minute, this is actually a burden. So it's... It's tough because you want to create a balance you want to be free. you want to be a vessel that freely brings out what you want the world to hear. But coming from where I come, also you have to put filters. And then... the responsibility is... is there but it's sometimes you just you know don't carry it as much because sometimes it can really weigh you down because you feel like you're carrying something from God literally It's a huge task really that you need friends to help. That's why if you have a good circle around you, sometimes I want to give up to be honest. I want to give up because it's a weight to carry. So what helps me is encouragement from people like you're doing a good job. Don't stop, keep doing it. When I hear that, I refresh, you know, like, okay. Let's go again. So as an artist or creative, whatever you do, I think surround yourself with not necessarily similar people who do the same thing, but also just can be from any other walk of life who can call out the best in you and encourage you to keep doing it so it can make the responsibility less, you know, less heavy. Hmm. I'm thinking about as people, the importance of feeling seen and heard, that people can see what you're doing and say, see you, or that they hear you and they're able to go, yeah, that was good. you're doing a great job and that sounded wonderful. And I think, as people, do need that. Of course, I can imagine sometimes, doing the kind of work that you do or being in any kind of change making or even arts or creation can feel isolating but even when people don't fully grasp or understand you know the lengths to which you have to go to pull out whatever it is you're pulling out from yourself to create just having that community is so so important right Yes. I think one of the things we bonded on was mental health. I know it's something that is important to you and it's also very important to me. And I think we are talking about the lack thereof of, at least structures or even conversations about mental health within a lot of African contexts. And you had talked about mental health systems that were previously embedded in traditional way of life, like storytelling around the fireside. You also talked about just that importance of community. And now we are very much in a, everyone for themselves type of society. It's becoming increasingly fragmented. So I guess my question with mental health in mind, do you think it is possible to actually reclaim those rituals of connections from you know from like your lens? Hmm... It's tough to be honest because people are already used to a particular way of life but maybe we can incorporate it in our education systems that is part of the syllabus. We can have a say topic on mental health, you know. in every class as the student grows so that they know it's something really important. It's good to look after your mental health. It's how do you cope when you're going through grief so you don't get to the extremes. I feel like if it's incorporated into our education system, by the time we get to a certain age, it's no longer news. It's part of what we know as children. into adults. But I think so far it's people are already trying to create awareness, especially on social media. That's really amazing. But I think we need to go to the root of everything so that we're knowing about it as 18-year-olds, 20-year-olds, 30-year-olds, so that it's part of us. I think that's really smart and how does it become a part of our curriculum I'm reflecting on the stigma around mental health, like as though even needing support, needing community. I don't know how you experience it, but I experience it even from an African context, even from a very Western context as something almost to be ashamed of. And because of that stigma, people do not ask for help when they might need it. You know, there's this idea of be strong, pull yourself up But there's a significant lack of those structures, with, you know, community support. I'm very curious around the reality for boys and men and you are man. So let's talk a bit about this. Because I know for women, you know, it's quite easy. We're pre-programmed to talk to our girlfriends, cry to our sisters, reach out and say, even if... I know that I may not get a solution. It is okay to share. It is okay to be vulnerable. And I think that's a lot more difficult, from what I understand for men. So I guess my question here for you is, what does it take to normalize emotional well-being education and vulnerability for men, especially within the context you're operating, say in South Sudan, in Kenya, you know, in Uganda, for example. Hmm. I think I like how churches operate. Churches have a system that I think people don't make a big deal out of, but it's actually therapy groups, like cell groups, women fellowship, men of valor, that kind of thing. I feel like we can take advantage of those groups. even if you're not a churchgoer but if we can get something from how those systems operate or sports clubs because men love sports right men watch a lot of football so if you can have like uh amateur football club or around the barbecue, intentional 15 minutes can change so much. what actually helped me is I think around maybe five, almost eight years ago, my first time to actually realize the topic of mental health, I did a program called Man Enough. It's helping you deal if you have childhood traumas, or things that maybe you feel like you want to talk about. And it was a church program, but it covered so many things, of everything as a man. So how to deal with this, to deal with these relationships, you know, everything. So that helps me really to even up until now the things that I still remember and I'm like, I can apply this here and there. So I'll say that if we can as men take advantage of these small groups that we have, football groups, weekend hangouts, I come from a place where right now talking about mental health, it's like. What you talking about? You're a man, like, handle your business. in Kenya, it's already, yeah, it's a bit easier because people actually are aware of what's happening. people are enlightened about what's happening in the world. Here can be bit tricky, so that's why I'm saying we can just tell people about it with small groups, cell groups, men's group, sports. Yeah, that's I think the effective way for where I come from. Hmm. Yeah, I think it's really brilliant, you know, kind of like what you're saying around Find where men already gather where they already go. So it's not an additional thing They have to go to it's not something else that they have to attend but go where they already are it's the churches. It's the sport clubs, the gathering at the park for example And how do you slowly start? you know, talking about mental health without even naming it as mental health, because sometimes I think it's the name that creates that sense of stigma, right? Whereas if we're like, hey, let's just chat, let's work, let's eat together, let's play football and we're supporting each other, I think that goes a long way. the word mental already is like, you know, you think I'm mad, just mental. actually, think that's a good point you made. We should not actually say the phrase like that. Sometimes some people do not receive that, a word well. Hmm. there ways we can play around it. But some people don't receive it well, It's a bit of a sensitive topic. absolutely. I think maybe that's also the importance of like, you know, meeting people where they are. meeting them where they are in language and communication and gently interrupting, systems and structures that do not support, well-being and mental health. you talked about the church and the impact it can have in the sports club. I wonder what about music and arts, like let's talk about music because I mean, that's your domain. How might music become part of this emotional education initiatives? because we've already established, They have a significant role in helping people heal and feel. So how can it also be further integrated? Because we all listen to music. We all dance, no matter what is happening in our countries. Because everybody listens to music subconsciously or consciously. Whether you're just going for work by the roadside, in your car, listening to news on maybe radio and then a song pops up like there's music part of your day for sure. So the media houses, for example, mental health awareness month, maybe we can play a jingle with, how we take care, like one minute jingle, just have you talked to somebody today? Have you done this? Like push the music first, a nice melody, and then the message. Maybe have a... a soothing voice behind the music and then pass the message, a 30 seconds message. Then unintentionally I'm listening to it, I'm like, okay, I get it. Then it's going to play in my subconscious because at end of the day I'll end up doing what I need to do. But then also as a musician, my responsibility would be writing songs that are uplifting and encouraging somebody to take care of themselves as well. 2019 I went for a community outreach to somewhere in Nairobi. I think they call it hospice. Yeah, a place where people are really doing badly health-wise and everything like that. Most are like, cancer stage four, most are maybe elderly and just want to just spend the last final, months. so I was going through, to each and every ward and of the hospital and just I went with my guitar, played music to singing for them. I made them happy. And then the doctor told me like, we actually have music around like lunchtime. We play music, they have small speakers in the hospital words. We just play something soothing for them. It's part of their either recovery or transition to calm them down. So I'm like, wow. I went and Googled it and I realized there's actually, the course, music for therapy. music is actually a very powerful tool. So, and yeah. Hmm. Yeah, that's beautiful. music does a lot, you know, I'm a Proper music listener, you know when I'm walking somewhere when I'm exercising Sometimes when I'm just like resting and need to decompress and It's very powerful in how we can connect us to people to ourselves and also calm us, in moments where We need it Okay, so I want to shift gears a bit and look at your career, you've been in music for a bit now and you're still actively building your music career, not just as an artist, but also as a business, because you do a lot of other things as well on the side. So my question is, what has most surprised you about the work behind the music, like the work it takes to build this company, this business? What I noticed is that sometimes it's beyond the talent. Sometimes the least talented people can make very good artists, not musicians, artists, because they're handling their business well, the music business part of their career well. And like maybe someone who feels they're very talented, but it's not handling the business side well. So we're in a day and age where the two need to balance. Otherwise, it doesn't matter how talented you are, if you want this for a good time, for a long time, need to, you know, they need to balance. like right now. I got new management because before I used to do everything myself. I'm like, I'm good. I can sing, play the guitar. handling the business can open doors even to like say commercial modeling being a face of something or just having your song play for a promotion of something, you know. So that goes with the business side of music. So I hope I've answered your question. Yes, absolutely. And I want to lean in on that. do completely agree that, anything these days requires a sound business model. You need a sound process. You need a target. You need marketing. There's so much that goes into, how you build yourself. Because I think sometimes we see musicians and we're like, OK, yeah, they just have to sing. you still have a team, you still have people that you're Responsible for It's a business. You're an employer. You have employees or a team that support you so Right now what are you learning about? Say sustainability within yourself and within your craft and your business that you might not have known like two years ago I'm learning that I have to package myself in a way that I am a business, I'm a brand. I'm not just a singer. Whatever I do, if this is what I do for a living, needs to make financial sense. know? Whether I'm making a 10 minutes appearance somewhere, has to make financial sense. a minute, whatever I do as a brand, even if I'm not singing, I'm invited somewhere. How is that helping me financially? How is that putting bread on my table? Because this is what I'm doing now for a living. Once you understand that, you realize you are a business. You're not just a musician. So businesses always try to make money no matter what they do. A 30 seconds ad of Adidas or LG, life's good. That's it. And they make millions out of that. So I think once as artists we begin to look at ourselves as businesses, I think the game will change because you're longer just singing because you love it. That's how most of us start because we're passionate about it, we just want to sing and be happy and make people happy. But now when we realize we love this too much, more than anything else, it has to make financial sense. I hear you on that. And on that, I also want to talk about, you know, when the craft becomes a livelihood, and I think this transcends just music. This happens everywhere. Like even in my space, know, thinking about at what point do you hold onto your roots so you don't compromise on who you are, your values, your quality for business And especially in social media era, you know, was trendy, was hip right now. So my question is, and I think particularly in the entertainment industry that often pushes artists to compromise message for reach, how do you stay rooted in your purpose while navigating this industry that doesn't always reward depth? Uh-huh. I I've been... blessed to know my purpose early growing up. So no matter what I do, at my core, I know who I am and I'm not losing that despite the industry I'm in. So that's how I can maintain my depth I think I've been privileged to discover my purpose early. So as much as I do what I do. still at my core, I think I mentioned I don't just go clubbing, not because there's something wrong with it, it's just because I want to maintain my integrity as much as I want to socialize. Also, I still don't drink, I still don't do drugs. end of the day, I want to remain the same person that you knew before everything else came. That's how I'm able to maintain the core of who I am. because success and... your core can easily, you know, clash and you may not, you'll not know the person you are anymore. So it's a thin line. That's something even today I need to like constantly remind myself, I don't do this. Hmm. Yeah, I love that for you. And I think it requires a lot of self-discipline. And it can be difficult, especially in the space in which you operate. So to stand your ground and say, OK, no, I'm not going to move like this, I think that's pretty cool. Yeah. You have said that this was I the last time we spoke as well. You had talked about the fact that you believe that everyone has a seed that is planted in them, like kind of like a divine calling. how did you come to recognize your own? where did this begin? When did it begin? Hmm. Hmm. think when... had a mentor who was very gifted in calling out the gifted me. the people around you eventually make who you are. He called out the gift in me. And I think that really changed everything for me because people perish because of what? They lack wisdom, right? And wisdom always comes from a place of knowing who you really are and what you're bringing to the world. Because each one of us has, even if it's not quote unquote as big, Not all of us are called to be presidents. Not all of us are called to be. politicians or doctors but whatever thing you do there's a chain there's an impact calling a purpose and there's something you're called to do in this life so no matter how many or few people you reach that's within your purpose and once you're done well done you know for you so I think when my mentor, who I didn't even know was a mentor then, was just encouraging me because I grew up very introverted and timid and he's like man walk with your head up chest up look to point the eye when you're talking to them you know and don't let anyone speak down on you speak for yourself always make yourself be heard did not stay silent. If something is bothering you, speak out. And I think that changed how I carried myself. Because if you met me, what, 15 years ago, this wouldn't be the same person. So I'd be in a room, you didn't even notice I was there. I was just an axes in the room. that really changed the game for me. I think that's great. I'm hearing like just the importance of taking up space, and I think of course when you're shy, it's even more difficult. I'm quite shy. I'm still quite shy. But my work requires that. I'm out, I'm talking to people, I'm on stages, I'm talking to clients. So I'm always facing people. Even though sometimes after the biggest conference, I need to crash for a week and I don't wanna see a single soul besides my kids. One of the things I'm reflecting on is growing up when I was told if something is said around you and you disagree. and you say nothing, you agree. So kind of like silence is agreement, So if I walk into a room somebody says something that I disagree with and I say nothing, it means I agree. And that kind of started forcing me out of my shell a little bit. And it was a form of encouragement, It's like, who do you want to be? Do you want to be the person who speaks up for your values and what they believe in? Or do you want to be the person who's silent and, agrees? that came up for me when you were talking about this and you know, it resonated as a fellow shy person I want to ask you about legacy, Lujang. What legacy do you want your work to leave in the world? Hum. He went after what he believed in. and he touched lives with that. I love that. You once said that if you could talk to your younger self, you'd tell him to marry early. And I think that is not the common answer I get from people when I ask, like, what would you say to your younger self? And you talked a bit about not out of haste, but because talked about the right relationship, multiplying your purpose. Of course we can look at this relationship from like a marital perspective but I guess we can also tie it out to things like even like the type of partnerships you have in business, the type of mentors that you have, and how that helps you grow. But I want you to speak a little bit around the marriage part of things and then also what type of partnership are you seeking now in your life? Yeah, obviously marriage. my perspective was not only just... a short relationship or just something that is just temporary. I'm talking about someone who is going to do life with you for the rest of your life, who has the best of intentions for you as a man, who knows you inside out and wants the best for you. Growing up you have your mother, your dad, right? But when you grow, you're on your own. Why I feel like personally I believe in marriage or a long-term lifelong commitment to somebody and you committed to them as well is because something it adds to you because they have your best of interest, they're looking out for you because you're going to spend the rest of your life with them. So if they're helping you, they're helping themselves in return. You're a unit, you're one. If they're helping you with your health, if you're becoming fit and healthy, because that's going to in turn also be good to them, you know? So... It's deeper than just... having kids or multiplication. It's for, I think, longevity. research, if you're in a happy and healthy relationship, you can live longer. It's just someone looking out for you and also like They're helping with my career. I'm helping them with their career, whatever they're doing the person who explained this to me said when you're growing up you have your parents, yeah? They have the best of interest for you but when they get older sometimes they're not able to do that all the things for you anymore. You move out, you go and live on your own. The person who is the closest to that is the person you will marry who you will spend the rest of your life with. But beyond that, it's coming home to someone who loves and has the best of your interest. That can change everything for you. All right, so now I want to do a speed round with you. You ready? Yes, let's go. What does success mean to you today, both in numbers and in how it feels? Abundance in every sphere of my life. Health. Wealth. Security. family, having a family of my own is success. Being the only boy, you know, I'm risky out here. Yes, those four things I mentioned are success. Because at the of the day, if I'm happy in those areas, even my career is gonna change for the better. Absolutely. Okay, when someone finishes listening to your music, how do you want them to feel? challenged, I wanted to feel sad, happy, but yeah to do better. Yes. I love it. So you want them to feel all the things. Okay. What are you currently aspiring for? whatever I did last year, want to double it. I to, if it's income, I want to double it. If it's my music, I want to do it better. I'm trying to, can I say, make better. Not necessarily perfection, but make it better than last year. So improvement in every, even like my health. I need to... work out more and everything. Yeah, okay. Love it. What did you use to value that you no longer value as much, that no longer holds the same weight? what people think about me or say. Yeah. oh It's even very recent actually this year maybe. was last past years. my God, you say this about me? What? Do know me? You know, but now I realized I'm not in control of that. Things I can't control. Let it go. It's fine. And also being out in the public. because of the nature of what I do, you don't have control over that, for sure. So, like, there's no bad PR, whatever they say, it's okay. Yeah, love that for you. Okay. What is the most valuable piece of wisdom you ever received? Hmm. Do your best, and let God do the rest. That's... Yeah, but I think... Well, yeah, do your best. Yeah, I love that. A final question for you. Yeah. If you could say something to young Lujang, what would you tell him about where you are now and where you are headed? I'll tell him it's been challenging but there is greener pasture on the other side. Yeah, it's challenging, but we're almost So is that like a move with faith Yeah, okay. All right then. Well, thank you for this chat. It's been really lovely. learning a bit more from your perspective and your experience. Yeah, thanks for being here. All right. Thank you. Thank you for spending time with us on Overnight Wisdom. 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