Music Spotlight: Amber Liu
In our latest Music Spotlight, we’re 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 ‘idol’ means to her.
Favorite moment so far from your first solo tour?
Shaking my butt. Shake That Brass is just shake that ass and I’m actually doing it. The crowd’s enjoying it and I’m very happy that they’re enjoying it because I’m 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 it’s due to the competition of everybody doing music? Songs back then would be on the charts for a lot longer, but now everything’s 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. There’s always intention behind songs that are written. Looking back into those intentions is very important.
What’s one piece of advice you would give teenage Amber?
Don’t listen to unnecessary things and don’t 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 media—what 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 it’s just the right time for everybody to plant their seeds, and then the seeds that are planted right now can start blossoming. We’ve been here for awhile, we’ve been here doing our thing. There’s Jackie Chan, there’s Lucy Liu. Now it’s our turn for our generation to take that and to see where we can take it, too.
What are your thoughts on the term ‘idol’ and how does it relate to the kind of music you’re making now?
I’ve always been very uncomfortable with the word “idol” because it’s a strong word. For people to idolize me, it’s flattering but also very uncomfortable because I started off when I was 16. Why would you idolize a 16-year-old? I’m out of my mind, I’m stupid, I’m immature, and I am still stupid and immature. Just to have that title put on you, it’s very pressuring and I’ve never liked that word. But I understand that it’s perceived in a different way when it’s used onto music artists in Asia. I think it’s limiting. K-pop idols now, we’re different. Everybody’s 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. There’s so many idols right now doing their own thing and people still just want to treat us like we’re 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 don’t know if it relates to the music I’m doing now. I guess I’m 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. It’s where I started, I’m not going to deny it, but for it to relate to the things I’m doing now? Maybe not so much. The industry is evolving and the good is coming. They’re 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.
