We were lucky to catch up with Lai Xu recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi LAI, thanks for joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I studied traditional Chinese medicine when I was in college, if I follow that path then it will probably be a regular job now, and I did finish it, because I wasn’t very sure that I could make a living with music at that time, thinking if shit didn’t work out, I could go work at a hospital or something, but I guess I’m the kind of person that even if I did a regular job, I’d always be looking for an opportunity to be an artist completely, so when I finally had the opportunity to go abroad and make music, I was all in.

When I was in China, my sense of self was suppressed, and I didn’t have any strong feelings about the real world till I was like 22, I was lucky to find something that belongs to me, the first time I wrote a song, I was like, “I’m willing to do this for the rest of my life, even if no one is going to care,”so I wouldn’t say that I made this choice because I wanted to pursue happiness, It’s more like, if I don’t, I can’t feel alive, or I’m just living in a world that’s not real.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m an artist, experimental music producer, rapper, interactive sound installation designer, and a graduate student at Berklee College of Music NYC. My stage name is “x u,” and in China, I go by Xu Lai.

I started making music around the age of 17 when I was hanging out at a friend’s place. We were just having fun, and I decided to try rapping over a beat. My friends thought I was really good, so I kept going and haven’t stopped making music since.

As music, I’m a hyperpop artist and producer, I coined the term “emo-glitch” to describe my music, putting sound design as the centerpiece of songwriting. I’m skilled at using sound design to evoke emotions, blending elements of hip-hop, electronic, glitchcore, ambient music, and contemporary music concepts.

In sound design, I focus on creating interactive installations that generate music through body movements. My work has been exhibited at well-known experimental venues such as Iklectik, 100 Years Gallery, and Goldsmiths Great Hall.

The concept behind my music is to create an alternate world that runs parallel to the one we live in today, the structure might remind you of the popular music you know, but with many extreme or interesting sound designs woven in. Next year, I’ll be releasing my debut album, “That Kid,” in the US.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think artists can’t choose their audience, but the people who are drawn to their work naturally tend to belong to certain groups, so in a way, that’s a kind of filter. My work probably won’t appeal to people who are looking for a specific feeling

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

it’s funny, I once worked as a music director for an NFT company. They kept telling me, ‘If you believe it will succeed, it will succeed.’ I guess I didn’t believe enough so I didn’t make it lol

Contact Info:

• Website: https://xulainotlaixu.tumblr.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mr.x__u/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@laixu8142
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-294306962

Image Credits

Andy Li, Nobel Chen, Cainy Yiru Yan, J.t, LongJie Chen, The Lot Radio