Emerging R&B and neo-soul artist Aliza Li unveils her most personal and powerful work to date with the release of her new EP, TRU, a three-track journey rooted in honesty, energetic alignment, and emotional liberation. We chat with Aliza Li about all things music below.
What was the first spark of inspiration for TRU? Did it come from a lyric, a melody, or an experience?
All of my music comes from my life experiences and TRU is no exception. I wasn’t planning on releasing a full EP but I got so caught up in the meaning of what TRU means to me. This release is so special to me because not only did I get a chance to be creative, but I was also inspired to change the way I live my life personally.
Your EP is concise but impactful—how do you decide what makes the cut for a project?
This EP takes listeners on a journey, and I feel like I was able to tell the story in three songs.
How has your music evolved since your single “Healing”?
“Healing” was the prerequisite for TRU, I had to heal first in order to have the inspiration to create TRU. Since my music comes from my personal life, it’s always evolving because I’m always evolving.
“Call Tru” feels like a personal manifesto—was writing it therapeutic for you?
Yes! Music is my outlet!
Can you describe the emotional journey you hope listeners experience across the three tracks?
I hope listeners will feel empowered to keep going and to spread positivity in the world. I hope they will feel inspired to embark on their own journey to “TRU” meaning what makes them hole. The journey is not going to be easy but it will be worth it!
“Glow” has a celebratory energy. Was that intentional, and how did you capture it in the studio?
“Glow” is a fun song and is the result of what happens when things are TRU. I wanted to capture complete alignment. The beat puts me in that mode as soon as it drops so the song came naturally.
In “Occasionally Telepathic,” you explore the non-linear nature of healing—how does this reflect your own life experiences?
“Occasionally Telepathic” is the state I’m mostly in personally. It’s a journey every day to wake up and choose to keep going and choose happiness. I think it’s a connection we all share as people. Everything may not be sunshine every day, but you have to keep going to make it to the days that are.
Who are your musical influences, and how do they manifest in your sound?
My biggest influences are Erykah Badu and Jill Scott. Neo-Soul is my first love so everything I do has a soulful vibe to it.
What’s your process for writing lyrics that are so intimate yet relatable?
Music is comforting to me and when I’m alone, I’m always singing or humming out loud. I just catch whatever vibe or mood I’m in for that day and build from that.
How do you balance vulnerability with confidence in your performances?
I don’t think I have yet, there are some songs I won’t perform live because of what they remind me of. That’s something I’m working on.
Neo-soul and R&B are genres rich in emotion—what draws you specifically to this style?
The emotion of the genres drew me to it. I didn’t know music can make you feel so many different emotions.
Did producing TRU present any unexpected challenges or surprises?
Each time I release a song I go on a journey and TRU is no different. I was surprised that I ended up rapping on one of my songs because it’s not something I normally do. I love how I experiment with different things.
Beyond music, do other forms of art influence your creative vision?
All forms of art influence my music. Being an artist myself, I relate to other artists no matter what the medium is. That’s the wonderful thing about being an artist.
How do you connect with your audience when performing deeply personal material live?
I think my songs are relatable. My songs may be personal to me, but we are all out here having the same life experiences and emotions. We can all identify with happiness, loss and wanting more in life. Each song always comes down to a particular emotion.
Looking ahead, what’s the ultimate message or legacy you hope your music carries?
I hope my music carries the message to feel but don’t get trapped in a particular emotion. Keep going to get to where you need to be.
