A New Chapter Begins: promqueen Previews SZN Three at SXSW
Written by James Russell and Shelby Schulz | April 9, 2026
Photo by James Russell
If you listen to promqueen’s discography, you'll notice a theme that spans across her releases. promqueen has released two albums titled SZN one and SZN two. SZN one begins much like the opening of a new story, where you are introduced to promqueen, a character who exists in promland. Through this world-building, listeners are taken through places like promland and loveland. By SZN two, with song titles like “big bad wolf” and “white rabbit,” it becomes clear that listening to promqueen feels like stepping into a modern fairytale. There’s also something poetic in the way she blends English and Vietnamese so fluidly, creating a sound that feels both natural and intentional.
The fairytale continued onstage at Lefty’s Bar during SXSW, as promqueen waltzed onto the stage in a flowing red dress, briefly hiding her face behind a fan. She and her dancers held the audience’s attention through choreographed movement, props, and playful interaction with the crowd. While the set began with songs from her existing albums, the energy shifted when she revealed she would close with new material from SZN three such as “SORRY!”
As SZN three was teased, our trilingual queen gifted the audience a preview of what’s to come, with a full performance of a new song coming out in SZN three called “ky ten.” While SZN two explores themes of immigrant family trauma and the question of identity within that experience, SZN three begins to ask a new question: who is promqueen beyond that trauma? It’s a shift that feels both exciting and vulnerable, diving deeper into personal identity and self-definition.
With SZN three projected for release in fall 2026, promqueen continues to build a narrative that unfolds not just through her music, but through her performances. The way she tells stories through lyrics, movement, and visual elements creates an immersive experience that keeps audiences wanting to uncover the next chapter in promqueen’s world.
Photo by Shelby Schulz
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