Artistic growth is a journey of discovery and development that allows artists to continuously evolve and refine their craft. This drive is what sets successful artists apart from the rest, allowing them to create their most meaningful and impactful work. Pop star Lexie Liu is a prime example of this phenomenon, as her dedication to evolve has been a critical factor in her rise to global fame. As her music encompasses a wide range of experiences, from exploring new techniques and seeking out new influences to taking on creative challenges that push the boundaries of their abilities, she’s reemerged with a new sound that’s amplifying buzz around her music and aesthetic that’s setting her apart from the rest.

On her latest album, The Happy Star, the Chinese singer and songwriter returns to the scene as a global pop star, ready for the world stage with her new style and sound. The 12-track album is an eclectic mix of different sounds, emotions, and languages, ranging from Chinese to English to Spanish, resulting in an elevated and eerie body of work that showcases Lexie’s development as an artist. “Over the past few years, I’ve been learning to produce my own music,” says Lu, sharing further, “I’ve been trying out new sounds, and doing crossovers between genres and cultures. It’s been a great and inspiring inner journey for self-discovery as well.” 

Throughout The Happy Star, Lexie showcases her growth as an artist as she fearlessly experiments with different sounds, emotions, and languages. She takes the listener on a journey through her own spiritual discoveries, and through her music, she provides a glimpse into the beauty of her culture and the potential of human nature. “Representing Chinese culture is an everlasting thing I do, even  as I breathe; it’s where I’m from and who I am.” sha intimately shared. As the isolation of the pandemic took hold of the world, Lexie sought inspiration through her creative vision for the album, working across space and time to find ways to work through the pandemic and the issues it presented. “Thanks to the 21st century and modern technologies, we all got to stay in touch with the outside world online and it’s amazing I got to make this new album with musicians all around the world, remotely.” After multiple singles, 2 EPs, and numerous features, The Happy Star showcases an authenticity and vulnerability that solidifies Lexie’s place as a truly global pop star, ready for the world stage. 

Leading off the album is “Fortuna”, a techno-infused track with sitar melodies that sets the stage for the rest of the album. This song is about finding our fortunes and leaves the listener curious about what else the album has in store. Following “Fortuna” is “dance dance”, a moody confession about finally being able to dance free from external influences, and “3.14159”, an energetic call-out to people with unsolicited opinions. “Ganma” shows Lexie’s haughty, unbothered side, while “Magician” explores creation and the power to change what is predestined.

In “Diablo,” Lexie shows her more sinister side and masterfully free-falls. “Mira” serves as a turning point in the album, as Lexie rediscovers herself. This track gathers elements from diverse cultures and serves as a personal acknowledgment of the answers Lexie has discovered. The serene “Gaia” provides a nice reprieve from the constant ebb and flow of Lexie’s music, while “Bad Dream” is a raw, vulnerable ballad that strips away the high-production soundscape.

With “RRR,” Lexie picks the energy back up with a groovy, Afrobeat-inspired track, and in “I Wanna Tell U,” she tells a delicate story of innocent love. The album goes full circle in its final track, “Shanti”, which brings back the techno-infused, retro sounds from the first half of the album and combines it with the softer, uplifting tone of the latter.

Reflecting on the album as a whole, Lexie’s vision is one of evolution and pushing herself to create new boundaries on what’s been expected of her so far as an artist. “I’ve enjoyed expanding outside my comfort zone while making this album. We are constantly changing, just like the world around us, so my wish was to record the process of the change through my music. I’d say all of these new sounds have existed in my inner world for a long time, so when I got the impulse to realize them into actual songs, I just did it.” 

Coming after a three-year hiatus, the mystical themes and eclectic mix of sounds in the new album have captivated audiences worldwide, many noting and appreciating her evolution. The Happy Star is available now on all digital streaming platforms and gaining more streams every day. With its exploration of themes, incorporation of multiple languages, and experimental sound, Lexie Liu has taken her music to new levels and is ready for global stardom. As one commentator observes, “The artist is poised to become the face of a generation of new Chinese artists breaking into the American mainstream with a uniquely cross-cultural sound.”

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