In Luffy Huang’s Vision for Pulse Events, Cultures Align Through EDM Music
Stories
September 22, 2024
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CEO of Pulse Events Luffy Huang made waves across New York City this past Labor Day weekend. Known as “the world’s wettest party,” the S2O event made a splash in the Brooklyn neighborhood, delivering euphoric EDM melodies with Thai-inspired traditions that stretch across borders to America.
But as the CEO of Pulse Events, his vision yearns for unity and togetherness through the power of music. Throughout the years, Luffy has been a driving force behind the diversification of the EDM festival scene, condensing the beats into a spectacular celebration of culture and community.
The Sounds of Luffy Huang’s Chinese Upbringing and American Dream
Growing up in China, his early passion for music led him to a career as a singer and TV host between 15 to 20 years ago. Encouraged by the eclectic soundscape in the U.S., his American dream for a successful music career was granted by one of the artists he was touring along with, paving the way for his move to the States.
“I grew up in China and following my passion for music, I became a singer and TV host 15 to 20 years ago. Since it was always my dream to break into the music industry in the U.S., I began touring with artists and finally came to America with one of them in 2020.”
When he arrived in the U.S., Luffy was bewildered yet determined. The hustle in a foreign land might have caught him off guard for a moment but it also helped him head towards a new direction. “I found the industry here to be very open-minded and felt inspired and encouraged to start my own entertainment company here,” he says.
Luffy left China for the U.S., driven by the fast-paced music scene.
This geographic shift is a tableau of music inspirations, cultural shock and a deepening sense of identity, all of which prompted him to create Pulse Events, an event agency focused on bridging the Eastern and Western cultures through music and community.
Cultural Harmony Through Music and Luffy Huang’s Pulse Events Journey
“What inspired me the most was seeing people of different cultures embrace shows produced in Asia and influenced by Eastern traditions,” he says.
Such ethos were themselves echoed throughout his work, by introducing a global audience to the purpose he wanted to share more of, from highlighting notable Asian creatives and talents, to celebrating the vibrant culture of the Asian community. “I realized that this experience was missing in the U.S. and it became my mission to produce shows here that expose fans to the traditions and dance community culture in Asia,” he says. “I am proud that my shows include elements like Asian night markets, lion dances and spraying water that is the Songkran Thai New Year custom.”
One of the drawbacks of starting Pulse Events in a new country, however, is the balance and harmony among different communities, especially in the U.S. where multiculturalism has long been its celebrated trademark. Yet, despite this animated diversity, Luffy needs to traverse the tricky waters of inclusivity, representation and U.S. culture:
“Turning my vision into a reality took a bit of time. But once we put on our first Pulse Events show, we learned from the process and got into a good rhythm where we put on multiple shows annually and continued to expand. One of thechallenges I face on a daily basis is figuring out how to represent Asian culture in the most authentic way possible, while having our shows appeal to a diverse audience. Striking that balance takes a lot of thought and hard work, finding the right partners to bring that to life. Another challenge I face is that English is my second language, so I sometimes have to take the extra step of using translation tools or making a greater effort to make sure my ideas are communicated correctly.”
Luffy Huang leads Pulse Events with determination, expanding the reach of Asian culture through unforgettable shows
While those challenges might have vexed him in the beginning, every show, event and festival was an emblem of the connectivity that he always has in mind for Pulse Events. The 2023 Spring Festival that Pulse Events had orchestrated last year was an EDM-heavy event to honor Lunar New Year and pull together traditional elements, joyful moments and different communities. It was the first event to infuse electronic music and Asian culture that introduced the beauty of this cultural festival to more American youths:
“I am proud of every show Pulse Events has put on and the legacy we are slowly building by making them annual. We are gearing up for our second Winter Festival in November and our third Spring Festival next year, and planning to bring back S2O after debuting it to the U.S. this past Labor Day weekend. I feel fortunate that we have established a good working relationship with one of the most famous venues in New York City and the world, The Brooklyn Mirage. I am also proud to be the founder of the Krazy Super Concert elevating K-pop in America.”
When East Meets West in Luffy Huang’s Vision for Pulse Events
As an organization that holds the same values as AHN to uplift and highlight the Asian community, AHN takes this interview as a special opportunity to explore how Asian talents are being showcased and represented in the industry. Luffy’s vision remains unchanged:
“Themission and vision of Pulse Events is to bridge the East and the West through music events that unite people of all backgrounds and educate them. Through bringing fans of all kinds together through the common love of music, we are able to open their minds and hearts to understanding Asian culture and embracing the immense talent within our community, from music producers and DJs to entrepreneurs like myself and my colleagues.”
This determination and commitment has led Luffy on a road of success, producing annual mega shows like the Lunar New Year Spring Festival, the Winter Festival and most recently S2O New York, all to celebrate cultures and unite communities through EDM. Even just at the start, Pulse Events has landed performance deals with many prominent artists in the electronic music scene, from the enigmatic Marshmello to platinum record-selling DJ Afrojack.
Luffy’s goal is clear: bridge the East and West through music, uniting fans from all backgrounds while showcasing Asian talents.
Connect With Luffy Huang
Much of Luffy’s current success comes less from pure luck and more from a consistent performance of hard work and innovation. Whether it be electric live festivals, or getting deep down into his heritage, Luffy knows better than ever that Pulse Events was a child of hustle and resilience, no matter where you came from and who you are:
“From my own journey,I believe that if you hustle hard enough and never give up on your dreams, you will succeed, even in a foreign country or place outside of your comfort zone.”
An eight-year-old in California turned a simple drawing into something that will travel beyond Earth.
Lucas Ye entered a global NASA contest and watched his idea rise above thousands of entries from around the world.
Now, his creation is not just a sketch, but a real mascot preparing to float alongside astronauts in space.
Image Source: NewsBytes
From Sketchbook to Spacecraft
Lucas Ye was just eight years old when he decided to draw a mascot for the Artemis II mission, not knowing it would become something much bigger. His design stood out in a global competition, eventually winning and being transformed into a plush named Rise. What started as a simple idea on paper quickly earned a place inside a real spacecraft.
The journey from drawing to physical mascot shows how ideas can move fast when they resonate. NASA took Lucas’s concept and turned it into something tangible, something that could sit beside astronauts on a real mission. It is a reminder that creativity does not need years of experience to matter, it just needs a starting point.
Image Source: Sally Ride Science
A Small Toy With a Big Role
Rise is not just there for the ride, it plays a meaningful role inside the cabin. As the spacecraft reaches orbit, the plush will begin to float, signaling that the crew has entered zero gravity. It is a simple but powerful way to show a major moment in the mission.
NASA has a long tradition of using mascots like this, but this one carries a different kind of weight. It represents a child’s imagination becoming part of a real scientific journey, blending emotion with exploration. Lucas now joins a legacy of space mascots, showing that even the smallest ideas can make it all the way to space.
Loneliness is often seen as a personal feeling, but for Simone Heng, it became a question worth exploring on a global scale.
Now, with the upcoming Chinese translation of her 2023 book, Let’s Talk About Loneliness, her message is reaching a new audience and entering a new chapter.
What began as a deeply personal experience has grown into a wider mission to make conversations about loneliness more accessible across cultures.
From Personal Isolation to a Written Voice
Simone Heng’s book Let’s Talk About Loneliness was born from a period of deep emotional isolation. After leaving her broadcasting career to care for her paralyzed mother, she found herself cut off from her social world. While others were building families and careers, she was navigating caregiving, grief, and isolation.
Before that chapter, her life had always been shaped by movement. She was born and is based in Singapore, grew up in Australia, studied in Switzerland, and worked in the UAE. Her background reflects a mix of cultures, even reflected in her DNA, which shows 11 different ethnicities.
But the defining moments were not just about where she had been, but what she had gone through. She lost her father at 19, and 10 years later, along with her sister, became the main support to her mother. Those experiences reshaped her priorities and slowly pulled her away from the life she was chasing.
In that quieter, more difficult season, she began asking questions she could not ignore. Why does loneliness feel so heavy, even when you are not physically alone? Why is it so hard to talk about?
Over time, Simone realized something that became central to her work. Loneliness is not simply about being alone. It is the gap between the kind and amount of connection a person wants and what they are actually experiencing.
A Book That Challenges Cultural Assumptions
Let’s Talk About Loneliness explores an idea many people overlook. Loneliness can exist even in collectivist societies. Simone highlights how cultural expectations, emotional restraint, and unspoken pressures can make it harder to express isolation. This perspective brought a diverse lens to the dialogue on loneliness often dominated by Western viewpoints.
She points out that in cultures where people are expected to always be surrounded by family, saying “I am lonely” can carry stigma. At the same time, many connections are shaped by obligation rather than genuine emotional closeness. These kinds of relationships do not always meet deeper emotional needs, and can leave people feeling alone even when they are not physically isolated.
Retitled in Chinese as “Anyway, I Am Just as Lonely,” it will be available in Xinhua, Sisyphus, and Yanijou bookstores in China. The book blends research with lived experience, making it both informative and deeply personal. With the release of the Chinese edition, the focus is on reaching Chinese-speaking communities where conversations around loneliness are often less visible.
Building a Mission Around Human Connection
Beyond the book, Simone Heng’s work continues to focus on one idea. Human connection is not just something we hope for, but something we absolutely must learn and build, particularly in the era of AI.
After spending 15 years in broadcasting, she chose to step away and start again in 2019. It was not an easy decision, and she built her career without financial backing, relying on persistence and clarity in what she wanted to create.
Today, she is a global speaker who works with leading organizations such as Google, Meta, Harvard University, and JPMorgan. She teaches audiences how to build meaningful connections both in and beyond the workplace.
Her message continues to resonate because it speaks to something many people are quietly experiencing. Without a sense of belonging and psychological safety, it becomes harder to think clearly, create, and show up fully.
At its core, her work is a reminder that connection is not about how many people are around us. It is about how understood we feel. And sometimes, putting that feeling into words is the first step toward changing it.
Two athletes, shaped by similar beginnings, turned personal challenges into a defining moment on the world stage.
Both were born in China and later adopted into the United States, where they grew up navigating identity, resilience, and belonging.
At the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games, their journeys came full circle as they helped lead Team USA to gold.
Image Source: Team USA Hockey
Brett Bolton’s Journey to the Top
Born in China with a congenital limb difference, Brett Bolton was adopted into the United States at just three years old, growing up in an environment that pushed him to adapt early and often. What could have been limitations became the foundation for resilience, shaping how he approached both life and sport.
That same quiet determination followed him onto the ice, where he carved out a place as a rookie forward for the U.S. sled hockey team. At the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games, Bolton didn’t just participate, he rose to the top, helping secure a gold medal and marking a powerful arrival on the global stage.
Image Source: NHL
Kayden Beasley’s Defining Moment
Like Bolton, Kayden Beasley’s story began in China before being adopted into the United States, where he grew up navigating questions of identity alongside his development as an athlete. Over time, discipline on the ice became his anchor, helping him build both physical strength and self-belief.
Years of training led to a defining moment at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, when Beasley delivered a clutch goal in the final. That single play helped seal a gold medal for Team USA, turning years of preparation into a moment that will be remembered on one of sport’s biggest stages.
Image Source: NPR
More Than a Medal: A Shared Story of Representation
At the 2026 Paralympic Games, their journeys intersected in a space that celebrates ability in all its forms. Beyond the competition, their presence highlights a broader shift in how athletes with impairments are seen, valued, and represented.
Their victories go beyond the scoreboard, carrying meaning for communities that rarely see themselves reflected at the highest levels of sport. Together, their stories stand as a reminder that representation is not just about visibility, but about redefining what strength and success look like.
Big exits in Vietnam’s startup scene are rare, but Hannah Nguyen proved they’re possible with the right foundation.
Long before Skinetiq became a multi-million-dollar brand, her journey started with a simple curiosity for beauty.
What followed was a business built not just on products, but on trust, community, and systems that scale.
Image Source: The Business Times
Starting With Trust
Hannah Nguyen’s story began on a rural coffee farm, where she experimented with making lipstick from berries using whatever she had on hand. That early curiosity grew into a strong passion for beauty, shaping how she approached products and people. It became the foundation of how she would later build her brand.
As she shared her journey online, she built a loyal community that trusted her voice. In a market like Vietnam where counterfeit products are common, that trust became her biggest edge. Instead of following trends, she focused on being real, which helped her turn followers into customers.
Image Source: Vietnam Investment Review
Growing Into a Real Business
Rather than continuing to sell other brands, Skinetiq chose to create its own skincare line. By solving real customer problems, the brand reached $16.5 million in revenue and proved strong demand. This step helped shift the business from content-driven sales to a product-focused company.
At the same time, Skinetiq built systems that allowed the business to run without relying on Hannah every day. This made the company more stable and easier to scale over time. That independence attracted Marico, leading to a majority stake deal at a $38 million valuation and showing how creators can build businesses that last.
