Cover Lexie Liu performed on the first day of Clockenflap in December 2023 (Photo: courtesy of Clockenflap)
Lexie Liu performed on the first day of Clockenflap in December 2023 (Photo: courtesy of Clockenflap)
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In an interview during Clockenflap, the singer and songwriter shared how she balances her public and private life, her fashion statement and why she believes in the power of manifestation
Lexie Liu loves a good challenge. She’s proven that time and again by successfully competing in reality TV shows such as K-pop Stars 5 (2015), Rap of China (2018), Singer 2020 (2020) and Stage Boom (2021)—all of which have helped her cement her position as one of the most renowned female Chinese rappers of our times.
She is famous for being an innovator in the music industry, thanks to her work in breaking boundaries between genres since her debut extended play (EP), 2023, released in 2018. Her work’s eclectic nature speaks for itself, be it the hip-hop Nada (2018) or the electro-pop Magician (2022) or Shanti (2022), the new-age alternative rock track inspired by a Buddhist mantra. At the end of 2023, she released the Gen Z anthem Delulu, which she performed live for the first time at Clockenflap in December.
Liu also stands out for her signature style of aesthetic—a mix of heroin chic and cyberpunk—as proven by her campaigns with Miu Miu, Yves Saint Laurent and other fashion labels.
Tatler caught up with the rapper, singer and songwriter at Clockenflap to discuss her public persona—and how to fake it till you make it.
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You’ve been interviewed by so many people at Clockenflap today. What has been your favourite question so far?
I think I enjoyed pretty much everything so far. People are curious about me and my music, and it may sound narcissistic but they also have some great questions about it.
Do you think that artists are inherently a bit narcissistic?
Being an artist, I think we all have some [amount of] narcissism within us. We want people to know about us, and we use that as a way to connect with our audience. But to be honest, looking at the world today, with selfies and everything else, everybody is a bit like that. So I guess we have normalised narcissism.
Since we’re talking about having a public persona: what’s the difference between you and the person you project on screen?
I think I draw a really definite line between my personal life and work life. I have this deep desire to live a peaceful life, but also to enjoy the music part of it. I think you can also see it in my fashion choices. Based on my artistic identity, I match my image and my fashion according to the music I put out. But if you bump into me on the street, I’d probably wear a super-comfy pyjama that [almost] makes me invisible. It’s like being a superhero, but in reverse.
What has your public persona taught you?
She teaches me to fake it until I make it.
And how do you do that?
The first step is to just think of the big things that you could achieve. Because someone will achieve them—and that someone could be you. The second step is to put yourself out there. The third step is manifesting the outcome.
Given that you have worked with so many genres in your career, what are you manifesting for your future?
My music journey reflects my personal journey. I think as an adolescent, I was really into hip-hop and R’n’B. That was the best way to express myself. Lately I’ve been experimenting with so much more, but I tried to keep this rhythmic DNA in my musical blood in a way. So I’ll just follow wherever it wants me to be. I think the next on my list is indie rock.
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Salomé Grouard was Digital Editor and Front & Female Content Lead at Tatler Hong Kong. Primarily focused on managing Tatler Hong Kong’s digital platform and content, she also covers gender equality, the music scene and sports through interviews with industry leaders, experts and trendsetters.
Interview highlights include renowned conservationist Dr Jane Goodall, Korean actor Park Seo Jun, singer Jorja Smith, Chinese TV host Yue-Sai Kan, YouTuber Kimono Mom, Japanese rapper Awich, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter Mikey Musumeci.
She has also produced stories on revolutionising sexual wellness in Asia, activism within the surfing community, Asian trans musicians reclaiming their narratives through music and looked at the toxicity of gym culture through the lens of the plus-size community. She also covers music festivals, such as Hong Kong’s Clockenflap and Bali’s Suara.
