5 Songs I Love w/ Cassandra Liu

We sat down with the incredible Cassandra Liu for the release of her new single 'Chaos Is Me' to find out more about what influences her unique sound. Be sure to check out the new track at the bottom and follow her along her journey on socials!

“Ride” — Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey has always been my all-time favorite artist, and she has written so many great

songs. But if I have to choose one, it’s definitely going to be “Ride”. The opening hum gets me

every time, and instantly pulls me into this mood and a scene. Beyond the song itself, Lana

inspires me because she feels completely committed to her artistic world. Her voice, lyrics,

production choices — everything feels authentic to who she is. Watching that gave me

confidence to lean more into my own identity as an artist and create music that feels honest

instead of trying to fit into expectations.

“小雨” (“Light Rain”) — 黄龄Ling Huang

As someone who grew up in China, a lot of Chinese artists shaped me musically, and Ling

Huang is one of the most unique vocalists I’ve ever heard. What inspires me most about her is

her vocal delivery. She blends traditional Chinese influences, almost operatic textures, with

modern pop in a way that feels completely her own. There’s also this subtle Shanghai-style

phrasing and accent in the way she sings that makes her instantly recognizable. Since I’m a

singer and producer myself, I pay a lot of attention to vocals, and she really taught me that a

voice can become part of an artist’s identity. Owning your voice, especially when it sounds

unconventional.

“烂泥” (“Mud”) — No Party for Cao Dong

No Party for Cao Dong’s album 醜奴兒 is one of my favorite records ever. I picked “Mud,” but

honestly the entire album feels like one continuous journey. Every song flows into the next, so

listening to it front to back almost feels like a ride, yet each track can still stand on its own. Their music has this raw post-rock and indie sound, but what also inspires me are the lyrics. They’re abstract and poetic, but underneath there’s a lot of social commentary. I love music that leaves space for interpretation and makes people think instead of giving them all the answers directly. That’s something I try to do in my own songwriting too.

Berghain – Rosalía

When I first heard “Berghain”, it completely blew me away. I remember watching Rosalía’s The BRIT Awards performances online and thinking that is the kind of artistic experience I would love to create. The production feels massive and theatrical. She mixes classical instrumentation with modern arrangement in a way that feels futuristic but rooted in tradition. I love music that demands your attention — music you can’t just leave in the background — and this song and the album ‘LUX’ does that perfectly. That balance between experimentation and accessibility is something I aspire to in my own work.

“玉珍” (“Precious Jade”) — 福禄寿 FloruitShow

“Yuzhen” is one of those songs that genuinely makes me cry every time I hear it. The production is complex and beautiful – the instruments creates this beautiful layers that pulls you into a dream state. The vocals are very upfront and natural — not overly processed — so it almost feels like someone is sitting right in front of you telling you a story. Lyrically, the song touches on the people we leave behind while pursuing their dreams, which resonates with me a lot as someone building a life and career far away from where I grew up. It’s emotional without ever feeling overly dramatic or sentimental. To me, that’s one of the hardest things to achieve in music. If I can someday create a song that moves people the way “Yuzhen” moves me, I think I’d feel like I truly became the artist I want to be.

"Chaos Is Me" - Cassandra Liu