Wendy Wang Writes Songs About Her Pets

On September 25, Wendy Wang released her sophomore album songs inspired by my pets: vol. 2. It’s the sequel to vol. 1, an EP from 2024. Each of the 10 songs corresponds to different animal. “I wanna be a vampire” is dedicated to Klaus the cat. A meerkat named Akina inspired “let me know.”

Wang split her childhood between China and the Bay Area, always with a love for animals. She attended Berklee College of Music in Boston and settled in Los Angeles after graduation. Her first single, “will u miss me” arrived in 2022. The chilly New England day depicted on the cover is a sharp contrast from the sunny California landscapes in her recent music videos.

We visited Wang at her LA home right after the album’s release. Klaus, Severus the snake, and Cub the dog joined Wendy for a photoshoot.

What inspired you to create a whole project based around your pets?
Music and animals are the two greatest passions of my life, so I wanted to create a project that brings them together. As someone who cares for everything from cats and dogs to reptiles, bugs, and invertebrates, I want to give a voice to all creatures through my music. Especially those so often overlooked or misunderstood in our world. Each track tells a story drawn from or dedicated to one of my pets, and it's a way for me to keep their memory alive forever through music that I can always look back on.

Ultimately, I hope this body of work resonates with anyone who loves or cares for animals. For me, the bond I share with my pets is deeper than almost anything else, and I want to show people just how much unconditional love, comfort, and connection you can find through them.

Which pet matches their song the best?
I’d say ‘orchid’! It’s inspired by my orchid mantis Orchi. She was such a soft, delicate, and ethereal creature, which matches the tender and dreamlike atmosphere of this love song.

Why do snakes make good pets?
Growing up, I was afraid of snakes like most people are, but over time I fell in love with how quiet, misunderstood, and fascinating they are. After getting to know them, I realized they’re super gentle and grounded! They’re also super low maintenance.

What music did you grow up listening to?
I grew up listening to lots of classical music and older Chinese songs that my parents played around the house while I was living in China as a kid. Beyond that, I listened to whatever was on my older sister’s iPod. Mostly Chinese pop, along with artists like Owl City, Avril Lavigne, and Lenka.

When did music become serious to you, something that could be a career?
Definitely when I was at Berklee. Being there made me realize I wanted to turn my passion for music into a real career, and I didn’t wanna do anything else.

What did you enjoy most about going to Berklee?
I loved being in an environment full of creative people who genuinely loved what they were doing. It was so inspiring to be around that energy, and I’m really grateful for the friends I made while I was there.

What have you been listening to recently?
Recently I’ve been listening to beabadoobee and Phoebe Bridgers’ new albums. They’re amazing!