Hong Kong-based Songstress, XTIE (pronounced as X-T), recently released the official music video for her cosmic-pop single “new classic”. This song is inspired by female icons in the music industry, Madonna, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift; “new classic” is an anthem that XTIE wrote and produced to celebrate her identity as an Asian female producer. “I want this song to empower anyone listening to it to follow a new and unconventional adventure for themselves in 2023.”

In this interview spotlight, I chat with XTIE about the latest project, dream collabs, trying to choose a favorite song and more.

Full Q&A along with links and music below.

Are you able to choose a favorite song of all time? Or would you label this an impossible task? If yes, what’s the song? If no, what’s your current Top 3?

I have a lot of favorite songs and they change over time. A lot of great music comes out everyday. My current Top 3 would be “ceilings” by Lizzy McAlpine, “Queendom” by AURORA, and “Stay” by Justin Bieber and The Kid LAROI

What about this project makes you most proud? Was there a specific goal you were trying to accomplish with this release?

In previous XTIE tracks, I usually write and produce everything on my own. This time I am delighted to be able to collaborate with songwriter friends that I’ve known for years online (whom I never met in person) – we have worked on other projects together during the past 2 years since COVID.

What inspires you to create music? What motivates you to keep going?

I feel like music has been in my blood and I just love to create, write and produce. Releasing music as a DIY artist has been a very motivating experience as you have the complete freedom on what records you want to release, and you feel like each release has been so true and authentic to the time of my journey. But most importantly, I have stories to tell, this motivates me to keep going.

If you could collaborate with anyone – dead or alive, famous or unknown – who would it be and why? If it’s an indie/DIY artist, please include a link so readers can check them out.

Lady Gaga –  my music has been inspired by her since I was a teenager, from the music, stage presence, the story and how she empowers women along her artistry.

Where is the best place to find you and stay connected?

My socials @xtiemusic (IG/TikTok) and subscribe my Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz4uJcf-7KX5XjkCaLKVJyg

I appreciate Your time. Want to say or plug any other projects before we part ways?

I’m releasing an EP before this summer, it sums up my debuting journey of my own sound “cosmic pop” in the past 2 years. It will include most of my previous releases. Currently, I am also writing my debut full-length album. “new classic” is actually a pre-release single- the track titles are stylized according to an oxymoron in literature, juxtaposing concepts and ideas, and showcasing my uniqueness by encapsulating the embodiment of many different contradictory qualities within one single person. I am currently writing and producing this debut album with friends and most of them are women!