Modern Pioneers

By Kunal

March 23, 2016 9:00 am

JOHN CHO
ACTOR / FOODIE

John Cho was born in Seoul but lives in L.A. now; you probably know him best as the taller half of hazy-eyed buddy comedy duo Harold and Kumar. But he’s also a talented musician, the frontman of L.A. garage rock outfit Viva La Union.

He says it’s this latter discipline — something he controls, a muse to turn to whenever and wherever he needs it — is what keeps him sane. “You owe it to yourself to evaluate whether whatever you’re doing is bringing you closer to happiness or not,” Cho says.

And if it’s not?

“Do something about it.”

“The single most excited I’ve been by an actor is Brando in Streetcar. I watched three versions of Streetcar in a week. Sometimes I think that version should be in that rocket that is hoping to be discovered by aliens, like “This is what humans are capable of.”

Photo Credit: A Street Car Name Desire ©Warner Bros.

Cho moonlights as the lead vocalist of Viva La Union, an L.A.-based rock band originally formed as Left of Zed in 2000. “Musicians, generally, are the most well-adjusted people.” says Cho. “They tend not to be frustrated. You can always play music.” Listen to Viva La Union’s self-titled debut album here.

“
Like all immigrants, [my parents] were risk takers … Ironically, those people are very conservative with their own children. That lesson didn’t take with me.
I might’ve been emboldened by their journey.

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