Earlier this year, Chinese singer-songwriter Tia Ray made a surprise appearance at UCLA, treating students to an exclusive campus exchange and an electrifying flash-mob performance.
Connecting face-to-face with young fans, Tia shared her profound passion for music before performing a medley of her classic hits and teasing her highly anticipated debut English album, New Day. Despite the roaring energy of the crowd, the moment felt remarkably intimate.
“Even though it’s my first time at UCLA, it feels like home,” Tia shared with a smile.
We caught up with Tia after the event to discuss her new era and her deep musical ties to Los Angeles. Crafted over three years of intensive cross-continental travel between Shanghai, Beijing, and L.A., much of New Day was born right in the city’s recording sessions. She recalled her experience collaborating with top Grammy-winning producer Khris Riddick-Tynes.
“He was incredibly strict, which was really stressful at first,” she told Billboard China. “But when I heard the final tracks, I realized I had found a fresh, exciting new musical direction.”
Now available globally, New Day represents a bold artistic evolution. Speaking on the album’s core message, Tia explained, “I wanted to continue exploring my own possibilities in different ways; the challenges actually sparked more creativity. I also want to inspire people through this album — no matter what you’re going through, when you get through it, it’s a completely new day.”
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