Liu Xuanting, an emerging rapper and songwriter from Xinjiang, performed new songs to adoring fans at the DDC live house in Beijing on April 12. Despite admitting he is nervous and introverted, Liu still rocked the night with his explosive and explicit vocals and lyrics.

Singer Liu Xuanting performs at a small concert in Beijing to promote his debut album "Nobody," April 12, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Hangzhou Qingchai Cultural Development Co. Ltd.]

His new album, "Nobody," released March 25 on NetEase Cloud Music, includes 15 original songs. These original works feature the blending of genres from Latin, classical, jazz, trap-soul and funk to disco, pop, rock 'n' roll and rap. According to the young rapper, this debut album is personal and reflects his commitment to creating music with a pure heart.

Liu, born on Oct. 20, 1998, in Korla, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, initially thought he would become an accountant or do some other financial jobs. However, in 2019, his life changed when he soared to stardom as a contestant on "The Rap of China," a reality music contest show. Liu finished the iQiyi reality show in the country's top 6. Since then, Liu has continued creating music and taken part in many variety shows. In September 2020, he went to Berklee College of Music to pursue music education in the United States.

"Now I feel my heart gradually returning to where I began, when I was making music simply because I loved to do it, letting go of all those distracting thoughts from vanity," he said.

As a kid growing up in Xinjiang, Liu captured the feeling of freedom, like trekking through grasslands and mountains, in a song called "Paradise." The track combines ethnic elements, rap beats and the Turkish instrument Saz in a synchronous rhythm. Recalling the beautiful natural scenery around a lake in Xinjiang, Liu said the free world and an ideal utopia in his mind are much like his hometown. "It's vast and wild. I like this feeling," he said.

No matter how he experimented with genre mixing with his latest musical creations, headstrong Liu sought answers to the challenges, solitude and unfairness he sensed in life, reflecting on the self and finding ways to make peace with who he is over the past years — all of which culminated in this new album. He elaborated that it encapsulates three chapters: growing up with curiosity, gaining a deep understanding of the adult world's rigid conventions and choosing to confront the world with a rebellious attitude in pursuit of one's own freedom.

The album's lead single, "Negroni," is a jazz-style track that mirrors the classic cocktail's sweet-bitter fusion, symbolizing the artist's life philosophy. "Life can flip in a blink, which requires us to find a balance between the highs and lows, along with inner peace, to progress with ease," he explained.

Announcing that his next tour across China will begin soon in May, hitting six cities, Liu Xuanting stressed that for him the greatest joy when making music lies in exploring its infinite possibilities while fully expressing his innermost feelings. He hopes to use music as a means to connect with more and more people.

A promotional photo captures Liu Xuanting meditating. [Photo courtesy of Hangzhou Qingchai Cultural Development Co. Ltd.]

Toward the end of his recent Beijing concert, the singer emotionally performed a song called "Wind," which he said conveys his inner voice. "Now, I've learned to enjoy solitude; now, I no longer wander aimlessly; now, the stars in the sky are all shining; now, I am no longer afraid ... Even if there are many twists and winding roads, I will sprint at full speed toward the finish line," he sang. "Music is what I'm meant to do in this lifetime; this guy right here has never even thought of a fallback plan."

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