Fast settling in after a move to London, LIE NING is ready to challenge everything you thought you knew about pop. Read the latest cover feature for our New Music Friday edit PLAY.
Words: Dan Harrison.
Photos: Soy Prabhawat.
In the neon-lit intersection of art and revolution stands singer, songwriter and visual artist LIE NING, an up-and-coming creative whose mere presence feels like a manifesto. Fresh from crossing the Channel and armed with their playful 00s-inspired single ‘Boys’, they’re crafting a new blueprint for what pop can achieve in 2024 and beyond.
The recent relocation from Germany to London’s creative crucible arrives at a pivotal moment and is marked by both triumph and necessity. “I just got my UK Visa approved, hurray,” they share, their excitement palpable. But beneath the celebration lies a deeper concern for artistic, societal and personal preservation.
The decision to leave their previous home was an important one, and is touched on in their recent single ‘Charade’. “What is happening in Germany frightens me,” they explain. “I don’t think people realise just how dangerous it is when a government both legally restricts freedom of speech and cuts funding for arts and culture.” It’s an observation that resonates beyond Berlin’s city limits, speaking to the broader cultural suppression currently emerging across the globe.
When asked whether they think music has the potential to create real change, LIE NING’s response is unequivocal: “I do. It does.” This simple yet powerful assertion underlies everything they create, from their most political works to their most personal expressions. It’s a philosophy that’s evident not just in their lyrics, but in their entire approach to artistry and community building.
“Music unlike anything else has the ability to bridge differences and really bring people together,” LIE NING reflects, tracing the constellation of influences that shaped their artistic DNA — a childhood steeped in movement, performing arts, and the daily ritual of music-making. These elements now coalesce in work that defies categorisation while maintaining an almost supernatural connection with its audience.
Their creative evolution comes peppered with endearing admissions about early songwriting attempts — including what they describe as “some cheesy love song” featuring an unlikely cameo from “rollerblades.” “Thankfully, no one will ever hear it,” they add, demonstrating the rare ability to honour one’s artistic journey while acknowledging its necessary stumbles.
In the studio, LIE NING approaches their craft with equal parts mastery and wonder: “Music to this day feels like some ancient magic to me. Magic that I don’t really believe I can wield until I leave the studio with a song I never thought I could write.” It’s this delicate balance between technical prowess and wide-eyed discovery that makes their output so compelling.
Their new single, ‘Boys’, emerges as more than another entry in LIE NING’s discography — it stands as a declaration of creative liberation. The track — which they describe as “freedom to me… the absence of commentary and the pure joy of writing in the moment” — marks a departure from weightier emotional territory. Serving as what they term “a palette cleanser,” it embraces desire and pop culture references with disarming directness.
“‘Boys’ is the other side of the coin that began with ‘Charade’,” they explain, “and it’s just the start. Because as much as I enjoy losing myself in the fantasy of boys and the escape of steamy daydreams, I know that what truly moves me lies beyond distraction, in the pulse of real life.”
The complexities of pop’s landscape aren’t lost on LIE NING, who maintains a nuanced stance on the genre. “My relationship with pop is quite ambivalent,” they note before addressing the elephant in the recording studio: “Acclaimed Black artists who create genre-defying work often aren’t recognised as ‘pop’, while white artists drawing inspiration from hip-hop, reggaeton and nowadays afro beats are praised for their pop sensibility.” It’s a sharp observation that cuts to the heart of representation issues that still plagues too many industry.
In London’s sprawling metropolis, LIE NING’s approach to community-building reads like a masterclass in genuine connection. “I really think that it’s all about meeting in real life,” they assert, describing a mix of sports classes, art events, and social gatherings. This philosophy extends to their current creative phase, where they’re “exploring sounds, textures to my voice, different approaches to songwriting.”
The road ahead points toward expansion without compromise. “I want to reach audiences in the UK and beyond. I miss playing big venues and creating proper sonic live experiences,” they share, before adding with magnetic conviction: “Don’t sleep on me. I know you’ll eat me up.”
LIE NING isn’t just participating in the contemporary music conversation — they’re rewriting its terms of engagement. Through their work, LIE NING demonstrates that pop can be both accessible and intellectually engaging, personally authentic and politically aware. As they continue to explore and expand their artistic boundaries, their message remains clear: this is just the beginning.
LIE NING’s single ‘BOYS’ is out now.
Leave a Reply