Lu and the Power of Relationships

In just a few years, Lu has achieved some incredible musical milestones, but she wouldn’t tell you that. A list of jaw-dropping collabs with musical icons is just the start for the young artist. Most impressive is that Lu has achieved all of this while remaining completely independent. 

“I think life is about forming true connections,” Lu says. Not even 30 years old, the artist has taken on almost every role imaginable. As writer, producer, director, and even designer, Lu is no stranger to being on her own. Yet, she says she prides herself most on connecting with others through her music.  In the short five years since her first songs appeared online, Lu has created a resume that usually takes decades to build. Rapping alongside the likes of Wu-Tang, Lil Wayne, DMX, Nipsey Hussle, and Three Six Mafia, for example, is not just a stroke of luck. Yet, as impressive as these co-signs may be, Lu’s ability to directly communicate with her audience in multiple languages and genres is key to the sense of connectedness she creates around her. Lu’s upbringing was as cosmopolitan as her music. “When you grow up surrounded by and a part of different cultures, you realize there are so many ways to live and express yourself… So I think what I took away from that, above all else, is that respect is key to life, and our cultures are everything. Ultimately, you are the product of your influences. I wouldn’t be here without Wayne or Project Pat, for example, and none of us would be here without Wu-Tang. Music is a cycle in which we keep building off of each other. As grateful as I am to be able to come full circle and work with my ‘idols,’ it also feels like a natural progression because I’m never in competition, just admiration. Pay homage and speak for the people,” she says. 

Lu’s global ties are not just personal but professional, she explains. “When I told my parents I wanted to do music, they really encouraged me to get industry experience. My dad has always tried to share his experiences as a businessman with me since I was a kid. I remember once he drew up a contract with terms for me to receive my allowance. He was always transparent about the challenges he faced and the problems he overcame. All of these things really helped shape my approach to both life and music. As an artist, you just want to focus on the creative aspects, but I knew that having as much knowledge as possible would ultimately equal my freedom.” 

After several freelance A&R gigs in differing music genres and countries, Lu suddenly found herself in Seoul, South Korea. Fans of Korean music will instantly recognize some of the names Lu’s worked with. From coordinating with Korea’s top fashion magazines such as MAPS!, hosting events at some of Korea’s trendiest boutiques like Nice Weather Market, storyboarding music videos for artists such as CAMO and a few idols, to helping curate an album that featured some of the Korean industry’s biggest names like GOT7, MONSTA X, iKON, JUNNY, SUMIN and more. She also played a part in helping Spotify’s biggest K-Pop playlist, K-Pop On!, with a campaign featuring global idol groups ITZY and SEVENTEEN. Still, Lu notes that her time in Seoul was no walk in the park. 

“The music industry is tough in general, but when you also have to learn a different culture and language, it can be even more isolating. Not only were my eyes opened to the reality of the music industry, but I was working so much. I was exhausted and definitely disillusioned,” she says. Still, in spite of it all, Lu says she walked away with something positive as well; “seeing how hard artists work in Korea was really inspiring. Many of them also come from different countries and learn the culture and language on top of chasing their dream. The training is so intense, and so are the schedules. Watching these artists work such crazy hours and give it their all while knowing how exhausted they were made me feel like I needed to work harder for my dreams, too. I felt I needed to match that dedication.”  

While Lu remained incredibly inspired by the passion she had witnessed, she also took steps to make sure there was balance. “You can be passionate but also take care of yourself. Mental health is most important, no matter how successful or dedicated you are. I wanted to make sure I broke the negative cycle I witnessed in Seoul and let connection and community lead the way for myself.”

It’s safe to say Lu’s decision to dedicate her career to connection and community almost instantly paid off. The opportunities to collaborate with big-name artists started to roll in almost as soon as she decided to pursue a solo career in music. These offers stem from the networks and reputation she had built as a professional in the industry. Although she doesn’t want to spoil just how much more there is to look forward to, she says there are definitely more collaborations to come. Community, however, does not just lie in Lu’s star-studded arsenal of musical collaborators. She says the biggest saving grace has been her family and friends. “My parents are always there and always supportive and involved. They’re the foundation. I’ve also built a small but mighty team of people who have allowed me to really flourish as an independent artist. My mixing and recording engineers have been there since day one to help me develop my sound and confidence, and they work flexibly with me, whether in person or somewhere else. Nobody but us touches my music, so I tend to be disconnected from the LA scene and the industry in general.” 

While many dream of finding success in Hollywood, Lu says her family from the city has helped keep her away from the politics this industry inevitably brings. “My family from LA has acted like my bodyguards and sanity checks. I rely on their advice and ask for recommendations anytime I think of doing something industry-related, since they have experience in this industry as well. If I were to go do something like an interview or shoot, my aunt would probably be there by my side. We all prioritize genuineness and honesty above all else. If they say someone is good to meet, then I’ll follow through, but I feel thankful to be so protected,” she says. “They are a safe place to always fall back on when and if things get tough, which is everything in a career field like this. A lot of people in this industry don’t have that.” 

From the professional relationships that allow Lu to prove herself alongside the greats, her personal relationships that act as her foundation, and the global relationship she’s formed with her audience through language and culture, Lu stands as a prime example of how valuing morality above all inevitably leads to success. With some of the biggest names in the world on her repertoire, she’s recently been thinking about her experiences in Korea again… “probably because an artist was recommended to me recently who works there, we’re the same age too and I’m always really inspired to hear about someone my age because there is a sense of closeness, like we would get along on a personal level since we are in the same stage of life. That artist is Mina from TWICE. I have really become a fan and supporter. She has achieved so much, which I really respect, but above all, I think we could have a genuine connection. The music industry isn’t known for that, but I don’t care. I wouldn’t mind being friends and connecting on a real level. Text me anytime!”