Blending martial arts discipline, anime storytelling and razor-sharp lyricism, Shao Dow has carved out a lane entirely his own. The London-based artist proved that he’s more than a rapper, flexing his prowess as a multilingual creative, manga author, independent powerhouse whose work bridges cultures and mediums - and dad. From training in China to performing internationally, his journey reflects the same determination and ambition found in the anime worlds that inspire him.
We at KpopWise got to catch up with Shao, as he discusses his creativity, and the realities of building a career outside the mainstream, all while staying unapologetically authentic. That, and how he will forever be “turning 69 years old” (though, if you’ve ever seen him perform, his knees say otherwise).
For readers discovering you for the first time, how would you describe yourself in three words?
Shao Dow: Anime protagonist energy.
What does “Shao Dow” mean, and how did the name come about?
Shao Dow: It’s a homage to the time I spent living in China training kung fu. I got into martial arts after watching Dragon Ball Z as a kid and thinking, “I want to do that.” That led me to kung fu, which led me to China. While I was there, I started writing lyrics seriously. I’d always been into rap like Wu-Tang, Ludacris etc. and I realised I’d actually gotten good.
“Shao Dow” represents that period of my life and who I became. “Shao” reflects that Chinese influence, and “Dow” also connects to the Japanese idea of “the way” like in “Bushido.” So it’s kind of multilingual and symbolic of my journey.
You work across music, manga, languages, martial arts - how do all these elements feed into your creativity?
Shao Dow: They’re all just natural parts of who I am. I’ve always said it’s no longer possible to just be a rapper, you have to be multifaceted.
I’d love to just make music, but realistically you have to be an artist, a brand, a business. For me, that works because I’ve always seen myself as more than just a musician.
So I express myself through music, visual storytelling with manga, live performances and such, and I just incorporate what I genuinely love, which is anime, martial arts, my lifestyle. It’s all about authenticity.
What’s your creative process like when making a new song?
Shao Dow: It usually starts with life. Experiences, ideas, or even just a feeling that something would make a good track.
For example, I’ve got a song idea called 151, inspired by Pokémon. On the surface it’s about only liking the original 151 Pokémon, but underneath, it’s about nostalgia and growing up. I like using anime as a vehicle to express deeper, personal themes. It might sound like one thing, but it means something else underneath.
Which of your songs best represents you as an artist?
Shao Dow: That’s like asking which of my children I like most.
Different songs represent different sides of me:
“Innosuke Riddim” as the high-energy, performance side
“Re:Set” where I’m more introspective, emotional, very honest
“Shonen Pro Dad” is about becoming a father and everything that comes with that. It’s very personal.
So really, you have to look at my whole body of work to understand who I am.
Do you think audiences are drawn to honesty in music today?
Shao Dow: Maybe. I was surprised because “Re:Set” didn’t do as well on YouTube, but it’s one of my top songs on Spotify.
But introspective tracks are draining. You’re exposing your real thoughts and feelings to strangers. So I try to balance it, if I do something heavy, I’ll follow it with something more fun.
What’s it like carving out such a unique niche?
Shao Dow: I like being unique. If I’m going to do something, I want to be one of the first.
But it’s tough - there’s no roadmap. You’re figuring everything out as you go, which is exciting but also scary. At the same time, it’s allowed me to travel, support my family and live the life I want. So I’m proud of that.
How did your manga The Way of Shao come about?
Shao Dow: It’s my way of telling my story in a medium I love. I could’ve written a book, but manga is art to me. It’s a powerful storytelling format. So I wanted to create something that reflects my life and hopefully inspires others the same way manga inspired me.
If you could create a musical group made up of anime characters, who would be in it?
Shao Dow: I’d put Monkey D. Luffy in there just so I could hang out with him - he brings the fun energy. You need someone to hold things together, so I’d add Sung Jin-Woo since he’s calm, capable, and would definitely lead. He’d also be the “pretty boy” of the group to bring in all the fans [Laughs].
Now we need some strong female energy up in here so I’d add Maki Zenin, and as a wildcard, Sailor Mars. For edge, I’d go with Killua Zoldyck since he’s got that cool, slightly dangerous vibe and would be an amazing performer. Solid group.
What’s the most fun part of your job?
Shao Dow: Honestly? Listening back to my own music after I’ve forgotten I made it.
Writing is actually really difficult. I’m obsessive about every word. But once it’s done, I’ll listen back and think, “Did I really write that?” Also, seeing the impact on people. Someone told me my song got them into fitness! That kind of thing means everything to me.
Shao Dow: Meeting Christopher Judge and having him sing along to my song about God of War.
That was a full-circle moment. I made a song about a game, it blew up, the developers used it, and then the voice actor performed it with me. Other highlights include things like having music in Fortnite, representing England in Japan and performing internationally.
What are your thoughts on streaming and modern music consumption?
Shao Dow: Streaming has made music accessible, but it’s also devalued it. I miss the experience of physically buying a CD, reading the booklet and everything inside before listening to the full album in the intended order - picking a favourite song then listening through it again.
Now people just pick one track and move on. It’s less intentional.
What challenges have you faced as an artist?
Shao Dow: Time, energy, money.
Also, I feel like there’s a ceiling in the UK for what I do. The infrastructure for anime and nerd culture just isn’t as strong as in places like the US or Japan.
I’ve seen my work resonate internationally and even go viral in Japan - so I know there’s a bigger audience out there.
If someone could only watch one anime, what would you recommend?
Shao Dow: One Piece. It’s the greatest piece of media I’ve ever experienced. It’s about dreams, ambition, friendship and it genuinely inspired me during tough times.
It’s what pushed me to keep going when I was travelling the country selling my music.
What are your future goals?
Shao Dow: A lot. I want to grow my career internationally, especially in Japan, perform on bigger stages, chart, win awards and keep building without compromising who I am. I want to be successful on my own terms.
What’s next for you?
Shao Dow: A lot of international work! Hosting Bandai Card Games Championships, performances in Latvia, Thailand, Japan, invited to SXSW in the US. So next is more travel, more shows, and expanding globally.
You can check out Shao Dow’s most recent single here and manga The Way of Shao.
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