Lexie Liu

Lexie Liu, also known as Liu Boxin (Chinese: 刘柏辛; pinyin: Liú Bóxīn; born December 21, 1998) is a Chinese singer, rapper and songwriter.

In this Chinese name, the family name is Liu.
Lexie Liu
Born
Liu Yuyu (刘昱妤)

(1998-12-21) 21 December 1998
Changsha, Hunan, China
OccupationSinger, rapper, songwriter
Years active2016–present
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese劉柏辛
Simplified Chinese刘柏辛
Alternative Chinese name
Traditional Chinese劉昱妤
Simplified Chinese刘昱妤
Musical career
GenresMandopop, hip-hop, R&B
InstrumentsVocal, piano

In 2015, she participated in K-pop Star 5, a South Korean reality TV competition series where her group came in fourth place. In July 2018, she participated in The Rap of China and won fourth place, which launched her career as a solo artist.[1] In February 2019, Liu released her debut EP 2030 in the United States with eight singles including Outta Time featuring Killy, Love and Run, Hat Trick, and Nada.[2]

Early life

Liu was born and raised in Changsha, Hunan. She has been interested in music since she was young; she started to dance when she was four years old and learned to play the piano starting at six years old. When Liu was in grade eleven, she transferred to an international high school. However, she took a gap year when she was in grade twelve to make music. She went to Korea and participated in the reality TV competition series, K-pop Star 5, under her birth name Liu Yuyu, as a member of a 4-person girl group named "Mazinga S" which won fourth place.

While shooting the TV show, K-pop Star 5, Liu applied and was accepted to Fordham University. However, she left the university to pursue her music career.[3]

Career

2016–present: Indie career, 2030, Meta Ego, and GONE GOLD

In January 2017, Liu's first original single Coco Made Me Do It was released and achieved more than 5 million views. In February 2017, she performed at SXSW music festival, one of the largest music festivals in the world, bringing Chinese Pop music to the US audience.[4][5]

In January 2018, she composed a song called Role for Li Yifeng, a Chinese popular idol, singer, and actor.[6]

In July 2018, Liu participated in The Rap of China, entered the final round with a song "Mulan," and eventually won fourth place.[1] While competing in The Rap of China, Liu signed with American label 88rising.[7]

In November, she released her new song "Sleep Away" from her upcoming debut EP 2030 which was previously released in China.[8] The Fader named the track as one of “10 Songs You Need in Your Life;” [9] Nylon listed it as the “Best Music Releases Of The Week;” [10] and Refinery29 said “their ears are very into Lexie.” [11]

On 18 December 2018, Liu released her new cyberpunk-influenced single Nada, complete with futuristic-themed music video.[12] The Line of Best Fit described "Nada" as it "sees Lexie Liu's fierce, cross-cultural grit thrust into a science fiction dimension where language barriers don't exist, She fuses Mandopop with grimy beats against the visuals of her accompanying Tron-esque video, directed by mamesjao, in a retro-futuristic digital world." [13] Nada also made its appearance on "Best Of the Week" by Apple Music once it came out.

In February 2019, Liu released her debut EP 2030 in the United States, which included two new singles Outta Time featuring Killy and Love and Run.[14][15]

In September 2019 her single "Ok, Ok, Ok" was released.[16]

On December 27, 2019, her album Meta Ego was released. [17]

On October 28, 2020, Liu voiced Seraphine in Riot Games' virtual K-pop group, K/DA, in their new song "More" from their extended play All Out.[18]

On January 28, 2021, Liu released her second EP "GONE GOLD" internationally (released as "Online 上线了" in China), featuring her then-newest single "ALGTR" which was self-written and self-produced alongside the rest of the EP.[19] It marked yet another change in sound direction, with the EP taking in significantly more electro-pop influences compared to previous efforts. The project's contemporary theme, reflected in the title track's music videos and the rest of the track list's visualisers which were directed by frequent collaborator Jeremy Z. Qin, revolves around the idea of living in an online game as a character. It was inspired by the unrest experienced throughout 2020 as a result of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, where Liu's only source of understanding the world was solely through a screen - leading her to imagine what life would be like without this source.

Public image

Lexie Liu's distinct appearance caught the attention of the fashion industry where she landed placements in Paris Fashion Week 2019 as the brand ambassador for Yves Saint Laurent eyewear in the Asia Pacific Region,[20] Louis Vuitton Show 2018 in China,[21] Puma's Suede 50 campaign and Levi's New Years TVC campaign.[22]

Lexie Liu has also been featured on the print pages of East Asia's most prominent fashion publications, including Vogue me (China), BAZAAR China, Nylon Japan, and Nylon China.[23]

The American fashion magazine V described her as "the face of a generation of new Chinese artists breaking into the American mainstream with a uniquely, cross-cultural sound."[24]

"Lexie Liu proves her status as China’s next global superstar with the futuristic 'Nada'," described by The Line of Best Fit, "born and raised in Changsha, China, 19-year-old Lexie Liu's "Nada" is her third single release after signing to 88rising." "Lexie Liu is spearheading the new generation of East Asian artists making waves in the global music industry. She became the youngest Chinese artist to ever perform at SXSW last year after rising to fame on South Korean TV show 'K-pop Star' and finishing fourth on the heavily male-dominated rap talent show 'The Rap of China'".[25]

After the release of her single "Like A Mercedes", the cyberpunk-inspired music video of the song was Lexie Liu's first introduction to a global audience, showing off how "her provocative sound is transcending language barriers."[26]

Her debut EP released in February 2019 was highly recommended, "with a feature from Killy on Outta Time, plus new singles Sleep Away, Hat Trick and Nada, the eight-tracker is an impressive bilingual project showcasing the Changsha born and raised artist’s skills across rap, R&B vocals and production."[27]

American fashion and culture magazine Flaunt also made a praising comment on Lexie's debut EP 2030, which is said to "narrates her life and journey within music; manifesting her inner-psyche through dream-like vocals and vibrant musical films. Dynamic in all aspects, Lexie holds a promising trajectory in the years to come."[28]

Filmography

Variety shows
Year English title Original title Role Notes
2018 The Rap of China 中国新说唱 Contestant
2020 Singer 2020 歌手.當打之年 Challenge Contestant(failed)

Discography

Albums
YearAlbum Title
20182029
20192030 (EP)
2019META EGO (無限意識)
2021GONE GOLD (上线了)

Collaboration with Brands
  • In March 2019, Liu became the brand ambassador for Saint Laurent Eyewear in the Asia Pacific Region.[29]
  • In November 2018, Liu was invited as one of the celebrity guests to attend the Louis Vuitton show named "Volez Voguez Voyage." [21]
  • In December 2017, Liu participated in the shooting of Levis' New-Year TVC campaign called Gan Jiu Xing.[30] She also appeared as the model in posters in local Levis stores across the globe.
  • In October 2017, Liu collaborated with Puma and became a member of the Puma's Group, and attended Puma SUEDE, the Puma's 50th-anniversary party.[22]

References
  1. 《中国新说唱》艾热夺冠 那吾克热惜败获亚军 2018-10-06 新浪娱乐
  2. 2030 by Lexie Liu, retrieved 2019-02-14
  3. "Lexie Liu's Got Tricks, and Tracks You Need to Hear". PAPER. 2019-01-21. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
  4. 劉昱妤國內首個 Hip-Hop 藝人登陸美國 SXSW 2017-03-21 新岳陽 每日頭條
  5. 刘昱妤受邀献唱SXSW音乐节 系中国音乐人首次 2017-03-22 搜狐音乐
  6. 刘柏辛晒合照称合作愉快 李易峰比手势可爱又搞怪 2018-01-02 爱豆APP
  7. Dunn, Frankie; Pressigny, Clementine de (2018-06-19). "meet 88rising's newest signing: chinese r&b star lexie liu". I-D. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
  8. Watch Lexie Liu Traverse a Pastel Dreamscape in Her Video for ‘Sleep Away’ 2018-11-30 RollingstoneIndia
  9. 10 songs you need in your life this week 2018-12-05 The Fader
  10. Best Music Release of the Week 2018-12-01 Nylon
  11. New Music To Know This Week 2018-12-01 Refinery29
  12. Lexie Liu drops new visual for “Nada” via 88rising 2018-12-18 The Hype Magazine
  13. Lexie Liu proves her status as China’s next global superstar with the futuristic “Nada” 2018-12-08 The Line of Best Fit
  14. 2030 by Lexie Liu, retrieved 2019-02-14
  15. Nast, Condé. "Why Chinese Rapper Lexie Liu Is All About Having a Signature Minimalist Look". Allure. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
  16. Ok, Ok, Ok - Single
  17. Meta Ego by Lexie Liu, retrieved 2021-02-03
  18. Lara Lunardi (October 16, 2020). "K/DA ALL OUT EP to feature (G)-IDLE, Kim Petras, Madison Beer, Lexie Liu, TWICE, and more". Invenglobal.
  19. Jake Newby (January 28, 2021). "Gone Gold: Lexie Liu On Her New Musical Direction and Having "the Courage to Reshape the Future"". Radii China.
  20. 2019秋冬巴黎时装周盘点：宋佳自夸帅女孩，老佛爷告别秀泪点足，这一季的时装周有“猛料”！ 2019-03-11 海报时尚网
  21. #路易威登VVV上海# [飞行，航行，旅行] 刘柏辛Lexie现场照 2018-11-16 刘柏辛Lexie工作室
  22. #彪马帮#之锋芒女声——Lexie刘柏辛 2018-01-14 PUMA
  23. VOGUEme 中国新说唱 2018-09-01 VOGUEme
  24. LEXIE LIU RETURNS WITH “SLEEP AWAY” 2018-11-30 V Magazine
  25. Lexie Liu proves her status as China’s next global superstar with the futuristic “Nada” 2018-12-08 The Line of Best Fit
  26. 认识 88Rising 的流行新星：Lexie Liu 刘柏辛 2018-06-20 i-D
  27. lexie liu’s debut ep and everything else you need to listen to today 2019-02-01 i-D
  28. Q&A | LEXIE LIU 2019-02-01 Flaunt Magazine
  29. SAINT LAURENT 宣布刘柏辛成为亚太区眼镜形象大使 2019-03-13 Vogue
  30. Levi’s® Chinese New Year: Lexie Liu 2017-12-28 Levis
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