Our last interview for the 2022 year is with, XTIE! She is a Hong Kong-based Songstress, who self-produces, writes, arranges and performs all of her own songs. She is an independent artist and her tracks “Spaceship”, “frenemy” peaked number 1 on the RTHK Global chart.
Aside from her own music, she is credited for various, “stellar-level acts and TV shows from Hong Kong, including but not limited to: Janice Vidal, Alfred Hui, ViuTV King Maker IV, (a girl group idol competition) etc.” Alongside all of that, she is also seen writing and producing for the A-POP and K-POP scenes.
You can check out her interview below where she talks about her music, who she’d like to work work, and the release of her upcoming EP in 2023.
HYPNOTICASIA: Please introduce yourself to the readers of HypnoticAsia.
XTIE: Hello Readers of HypnoticAsia, this is XTIE! I’m an independent artist, songwriter, and producer from Hong Kong.
HYPNOTICASIA: How did you get into music? Inspirations?
XTIE: My musical influences are mainly from Nordic / US pop artists. When I was a teenager, I was very into Disney Channel and loved their artists, they inspired me to become a singer-songwriter-producer. I realized there are not many female producers, so I decided to work hard to become one.
HYPNOTICASIA: Is there a track you would recommend for those who want to check out your music?
XTIE: My most recent release “Skin” and also “Frenemy”. I always love to explore juxtapositions because life is complicated. I wrote and produced this song during the time I felt really lonely pursuing music independently and how social media created such an unhealthy comparison of yourself with the others. This inspired me to create ‘frenemy’.
HYPNOTICASIA: You have a new single entitled “Skin” that was just released last month. Tell us all about it!
XTIE: My new song “Skin” is a love letter to my own body, my skin, and my soul. I’ve been dealing with body image issues due to my eczema at a young age, and I wish to share this story with listeners that we all deserve to feel beautiful regardless of how we look.
HYPNOTICASIA: Congratulations on the release of your music video for “Skin”! Can you tell us more about that?
XTIE: “Skin” is my most important song so far, and was one of the very first songs that I’ve written as a songwriter and singer because it’s very important to me. As the song talks about a very personal and vulnerable message, we decided that the video should go for a “less is more” approach. A few props and a small set, and that’s it, so the audience can focus on the music and the dance performance with the help of camera movement.
HYPNOTICASIA: Any fun stories from the music video filming?
XTIE: It took me 4 years to be well prepared for this release – I invited Emily to be my dancer and choreographer for the music video even before I had any plans for the song! She also has a similar body image issue like me (eczema) and it was very interesting that we shared a similar situation and represented our different art forms, music and dance!
HYPNOTICASIA: In the music video, we see that performing artist, Emily, was featured. What was it like working with her?
XTIE: She is amazing to work with. The first time I worked with her was in my last music video “Spaceship”, she choreographed the dance challenge.
HYPNOTICASIA: We saw that you’re also currently writing and producing for A-Pop / K-pop markets. How is that compared to writing for yourself? Are there any songs that you can tell us about?
XTIE: For my own artist project, usually I have a unique connection with the songs that I think should be released under my artist project, which I am usually emotionally attached to. While producing for others, especially in A-pop, it’s been more relaxing and more collaborations. Recently a song I produced for a Cpop artist Alfred Hui has been out and it was charted No.1 in Hong Kong!
HYPNOTICASIA: Are there any past songs that you’ve written/produced for others that really stood out to you or meant a lot?
XTIE: Producing for the Kingmaker IV (2021) theme song. There are 99 girls on the show, the theme song had to be big, and I wanted to incorporate different concepts that girl groups have; girl crush, fresh, cute, and cool at the same time. Therefore, I separated the song into different sections to reflect that, drawing from hip hop, K-pop, and even adding elements of future bass.
It has been super fun to work on projects like this as you can be as creative as you want.
HYPNOTICASIA: Is there an artist you would like to collaborate with that you have not had the chance to work with yet?
XTIE: Taeyeon and Chung Ha!
HYPNOTICASIA: You handle the songwriting, production, and arrangement of your music. What is your process like for all 3 parts?
XTIE: The creative process, it comes case by case, some songs I started with songwriting and some songs I start by making a simple arrangement and then topline on it.
HYPNOTICASIA: If you were not doing music, what do you believe you would be doing instead?
XTIE: Still music and art related – Art management – my postgraduate degree is in this field and I worked in the creative industry management field while I am working music part time for 4 years.
HYPNOTICASIA: What can we expect to see from you in the future?
XTIE: I am releasing my EP in 2023 Spring time! It’s a digital EP to wrap up my journey as an artist since 2020. And then I will release a few singles before I drop my debut album “Oxymoron” where I wish to celebrate my fellow women and non-binary creators in music. From 2020-2022, my songs are mostly self-produced and I’m doing everything on my own. Along the journey I met so many talented friends and I wish I can work together as a team instead of on my own. I’m very excited!
HYPNOTICASIA: What advice would you give to someone who wants to do music?
XTIE: You will need a strong will and perseverance to keep going. But most importantly, be passionate and believe what you do!
CONNECT WITH XTIE ON SOCIALS:
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER
From Manila to LA: Kiana V on Family, Music, and Her Journey as an Artist 
Tilly Birds Talk New English Single “Retro-39” 
Li Yueru: From China to the WNBA – A Rising Force of the LA Sparks Shares Her Journey 
Cultural Preservation and Romantic Complexity in “My Partner”: A Conversation with Keli’i Grace 
Kaipo Dudoit on His Breakout Role in My Partner and Embracing Hawaiian Culture 
Exploring Cultural Identity and Love in My Partner: An Interview with Lance D. Collins 
Woosung Wraps Up B4 WE DIE Tour With Sold Out Hometown Show in LA 
Seventeen’s LA Stadium Show Shines with Energy and Unforgettable Moments 
88rising’s Night Market Neighborhood: A Fusion of Food, Music, and Culture Lights Up LA 
Gunna & TWICE Join the Star-Studded Amazon Music Live Season Three Lineup