Music Spotlight: Amber Liu
In our latest Music Spotlight, weโre highlighting Taiwanese-American singer, rapper, songwriter, and member of South Korean girl group f(x), Amber Liu.
Amber is currently on her first solo tour, titled Gone Rogue, after releasing and directing the video for her new single Countdown. We caught up with the singer following her visit to BUILD Series to discuss her tour, Asian representation in the media, and what the word โidolโ means to her.
Favorite moment so far from your first solo tour?
Shaking my butt. Shake That Brass is just shake that ass and Iโm actually doing it. The crowdโs enjoying it and Iโm very happy that theyโre enjoying it because Iโm just acting incredibly dumb.
If there was one thing you could change about the music world today, what would it be?
I hate how fast paced it is. Maybe itโs due to the competition of everybody doing music? Songs back then would be on the charts for a lot longer, but now everythingโs just very fast paced. People just want more and also people listen to it differently. I know that there are a lot of people that still listen to music and try to feel it, but a lot of people just hear music now, which is okay, but an art form is an art form. Thereโs always intention behind songs that are written. Looking back into those intentions is very important.
Whatโs one piece of advice you would give teenage Amber?
Donโt listen to unnecessary things and donโt worry about unnecessary things. People can be really crappy, but just go with your ambitions and your feelings and your intuition.
This year was huge for Asian representation in mediaโwhat are your thoughts about it going into 2019?
It can only get better, right? I think can people can guess the seeds that are being planted right now, so I think itโs just the right time for everybody to plant their seeds, and then the seeds that are planted right now can start blossoming. Weโve been here for awhile, weโve been here doing our thing. Thereโs Jackie Chan, thereโs Lucy Liu. Now itโs our turn for our generation to take that and to see where we can take it, too.
What are your thoughts on the term โidolโ and how does it relate to the kind of music youโre making now?
Iโve always been very uncomfortable with the word โidolโ because itโs a strong word. For people to idolize me, itโs flattering but also very uncomfortable because I started off when I was 16. Why would you idolize a 16-year-old? Iโm out of my mind, Iโm stupid, Iโm immature, and I am still stupid and immature. Just to have that title put on you, itโs very pressuring and Iโve never liked that word. But I understand that itโs perceived in a different way when itโs used onto music artists in Asia. I think itโs limiting. K-pop idols now, weโre different. Everybodyโs writing their own music, doing their own thing. Having that idol title actually constricts us from being taken seriously. You have people like Zico, Big Bang, the list goes on and on. Thereโs so many idols right now doing their own thing and people still just want to treat us like weโre just kids that are doing music and listening to our labels. There are K-pop idols out there that are serious about their own music, who write everything from their heart and present that to their fans.
I donโt know if it relates to the music Iโm doing now. I guess Iโm just another one of those idols out there right now that just want to do their own music and do my own thing. If people want to call me an idol, go ahead. Itโs where I started, Iโm not going to deny it, but for it to relate to the things Iโm doing now? Maybe not so much. The industry is evolving and the good is coming. Theyโre going to listen to the songs for what they are, and look for meaning and intention and emotion.
Want more of Amber? Check out her music and follow along with the conversation here.
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