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

Hi Shé, thanks for joining us today. We’ve love to hear an interesting investment story – what was one of the best or worst investments you’ve made? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

The Best Investment I’ve Ever Made: Investing in Myself

The most valuable investment I have ever made is in my own growth—relentlessly pursuing the best version of myself through learning, development, and creative risk-taking. This journey has empowered me to become the artist I once envisioned: someone capable of crafting music that authentically reflects my soul and fulfills my life’s purpose.

From an early age, music was my entire world. I was fortunate to attend the prestigious affiliated high school of the Xinghai Conservatory of Music in China, where I quickly stood out in pop performance. My abilities were recognized nationally when I earned second place in China’s pop vocal conservatory admissions, securing a place in Xinghai’s undergraduate pop vocal performance program. On paper, my path seemed clear—but I felt a deeper calling that couldn’t be ignored.

That realization crystallized during my experience with The Voice of China. As one of the youngest contestants, I entered the competition with raw talent and heartfelt intention. But across two grueling, six-month audition cycles, I encountered constant pressure, last-minute changes, and emotional upheaval. My carefully arranged performances were often altered without notice. Despite my best efforts, I felt powerless—merely a voice with no creative control. This experience sparked an awakening: I didn’t want to just sing. I needed the creative autonomy to fully express my artistic vision.

So, I made the bold decision to leave behind two years of undergraduate study at Xinghai and start over—this time, at Berklee College of Music in the United States. I declared a dual major in Electronic Production & Design and Songwriting, despite the language barrier and unfamiliar academic environment. Every day was a challenge. Learning jazz theory, production, and songwriting terminology in my second language was overwhelming, and self-doubt frequently crept in. Still, I pushed forward.

At Berklee, I made a deep commitment to developing my technical and creative skills. I immersed myself in modern pop arrangement, music production, studio technology, DAWs, signal flow, synthesis, sound design, and mixing. These tools became essential to bringing my artistic vision to life. In parallel, my songwriting evolved—expanding into toplining, lyric writing, sync placements and composing for both other artists and my own projects.

This investment began to yield tangible professional results. In 2024, I was selected to participate in a Roc Nation songwriting camp, where I pitched songs to artists such as Rihanna, Maeta, and DIXSON under the mentorship of Omar Grant (Co-President of Roc Nation) and Ethan Baer (then A&R Director at Roc Nation). In 2025, I received Berklee’s Sound Design Award at Career Jam, which included a mentoring session with Charlie Puth. I also collaborated live with Grammy-winning producer Camper, demonstrating my ability to perform and deliver under real-world industry conditions.

Alongside these creative pursuits, I maintained a strong academic record—earning scholarships including the Berklee World Tour Scholarship and the SESAC Scholarship, while consistently making the Dean’s List.

I also gained valuable industry experience through an internship at Tree Sound Studios in Atlanta. There, I supported session operations, technical setups, and studio management at a renowned recording facility. This hands-on experience not only refined my skills but also opened doors for meaningful connections and further opportunities.

Today, I am launching my debut artist project under the name Shé—a fully self-produced body of work that blends Alternative R&B, TrapSoul, and ambient textures. I’ve taken ownership of every step, from songwriting and vocal performance to production and sound design. It’s a culmination of years of study, experimentation, and perseverance—a living testament to what’s possible when you truly invest in yourself.

This journey has taught me that real success isn’t solely measured by external validation or immediate financial returns. It lies in the freedom to create music that resonates with who I truly am. Investing in myself has brought me closer to my authentic artistic voice, and that fulfillment—creative, emotional, and spiritual—is the greatest return I could ever ask for.

Shé, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

1. About Me：

Hello, this is Shé. I’m an artist, songwriter, and producer who blends Alternative R&B, TrapSoul, and ambient textures with a distinctly Chinese sense of aesthetics—conveyed through spacious synthesizer textures, poetic expression, and an ethereal vocal tone. My music embraces vulnerability and unfolds like a spiritual escape: an intimate, shadow-lit sanctuary where raw emotion resonates, quietly healing both the listener and myself.

2. How you got into your industry：

I’ve been immersed in music for as long as I can remember. I formally began studying pop vocal performance in high school at the affiliated school of Xinghai Conservatory of Music in China, and continued through my undergraduate years. I also participated in national competitions, which gave me early exposure to the realities of the music industry.

Eventually, I made the decision to transfer to Berklee College of Music in the U.S., where I expanded beyond vocal performance and fully stepped into songwriting, production, and sound design. That transition wasn’t just a change in location—it marked the beginning of my journey as a multidimensional artist.

3. what type of products/services/creative works you provide

As an artist, I create emotionally immersive songs that blend Alternative R&B, TrapSoul, and ambient textures with a distinctly Chinese sense of aesthetics—rooted in poetic expression, atmospheric synthesizer textures, and a ethereal vocal presence. My music embraces vulnerability and unfolds like a spiritual escape: a shadow-lit sanctuary where raw emotions resonate and quietly heal both the listener and myself. Every record I release is not just a song, but a carefully crafted emotional landscape—offering comfort, reflection, and emotional depth for those who need space to feel.

As a songwriter and producer, I work with other artists across genres—from R&B, Hip-Hop, Pop to K-pop, C-pop —to help shape their creative vision. I write and produce for them, including music production, songwriting, often contributing vocal production and sound design as well. I also collaborate with producers to create vocal samples and loop packs, offering original material for beatmakers and other creators to build from.

4. I specialize in taking “I have a feeling” and turning it into a song that feels intentional: melody contour, lyrics, arrangement, and sound design textures. I shape the sonic space in one pass, so the core emotion stays intact while we hit the brief. Adaptable across R&B, pop, Hip‑Hop adjacent, or more atmospheric directions; English / Chinese / bilingual.
What sets me apart is my cross‑cultural sensitivity and ability to translate raw emotional instinct into a world that feels tailor‑made for the artist—emotionally true, sonically immersive, and distinctly theirs.

5. What I’m most proud of is being able to fully shape my creative vision as an artist—from songwriting, arrangement, vocal performance, and sound design, to visuals, branding, and the emotional world behind it all. Every detail, from how a melody lands to how a synth swells, is intentional. I don’t just write or perform—I build a world.

What I want my listeners to know is that my music can be a safe space to hide—
a space where you can embrace vulnerability, release your pain, find resonance, feel understood, and finally, heal together.
My songs offer a kind of sanctuary—quiet, emotional, and intimate—where you’re not alone in what you feel.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I’ve always carried a quiet determination—a deep belief that no matter how difficult things get, giving up isn’t an option.

Back in China, I faced two challenging years of setbacks in the national music competition The Voice of China. Rather than staying stuck, I chose to level up and push my artistry further in every direction I could.

Eventually, I left everything familiar behind and moved to the U.S. alone to attend Berklee College of Music, determined to build something entirely new for myself. Navigating a completely different culture, language, and music industry was incredibly difficult. There were barriers, stereotypes, and moments of being overlooked or underestimated—but none of it stopped me. Every obstacle pushed me harder—both creatively and personally—and taught me to keep moving forward, no matter the struggle.

Today, I’ve become the kind of all-around artist I used to dream of being. From singing, songwriting, production, sound design, and mixing, to creative direction, visual branding, and social media—I handle it all. I’ve taken full creative ownership of my voice, my sound, and my story. I’m genuinely proud of how far I’ve come.

That relentless drive to keep going—despite setbacks, doubt, or loneliness—is what resilience truly means to me.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve had to unlearn is perfectionism. For a long time, I believed that if something wasn’t flawless, it wasn’t worth putting out. I’d spend months obsessing over one vocal take, one mix, one lyric—chasing this unreachable standard that only existed in my head. The irony is, the more I tried to make things “perfect,” the more I lost the rawness that made my music feel alive.

It took me years—and a lot of missed release dates, delayed projects, and creative burnout—to realize that perfection was just fear in disguise. Fear of judgment. Fear of not being enough. Fear of being seen before I felt fully “ready.”

I had to relearn what it meant to finish something. What it meant to let go. What it meant to trust my instincts. Now, I still hold high standards, but I no longer let them paralyze me. My work is honest, evolving, and intentional—and that’s what makes it meaningful.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/its.real.she/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-you-5b45172a3/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@itsrealshe
• Other: Tiktok：https://www.tiktok.com/@its.real.she