By Colin 
Releasing on 29th May 2025, LI KUAN returns with her most radiant work to date in new single ‘So Alive’. A shimmering fusion of acoustic indie-pop and electronic textures, the track serves as a euphoric tribute to the Spanish city of Valencia, where the London-based artist found both creative inspiration and a sense of liberation.
Crafted around a warm, rolling bass groove, ‘So Alive’ is a feel-good summer anthem that layers natural vocals with vocoder effects and parallel harmonies. The result is a swirling, psychedelic soundscape that builds steadily toward a soaring string-laden outro, featuring cello and violin arranged to evoke a sense of weightless joy. The song channels influences from Florence and the Machine, Mac Miller, Rosalia, and Dua Lipa, combining rhythmic sensitivity with a cinematic finish.
Freedom in a new place
Written during a period of personal change, ‘So Alive’ captures what it means to reconnect with yourself through new surroundings. The track is both a celebration and a release—an emotional exhale set to a melody that pulses with optimism. It’s about more than just geography; it’s about rediscovering identity in unexpected places.
A classically trained multi-instrumentalist, LI KUAN blends the emotional pull of modern pop with the structural depth of classical composition. This signature approach made an impact with her debut single ‘The Fireworks’, which premiered on BBC Introducing and gained support from BBC R&D’s Orbit platform. That track reflected on one-sided love and the bittersweet symbolism of the Fallas festival in Valencia. ‘So Alive’, by contrast, captures the aftermath—the lightness that follows emotional release.
A sonic evolution
Where ‘The Fireworks’ was introspective and cinematic, ‘So Alive’ is outward-facing and rhythmically charged. It showcases LI KUAN’s ability to pivot stylistically while retaining the emotional intelligence and detail that define her songwriting. Every element of the production feels intentional, from the hypnotic use of harmony to the slow build into a lush, orchestral high.
With just two singles, LI KUAN has already established herself as a distinctive voice within alt-pop. Her music feels expansive yet intimate, polished yet deeply personal. With ‘So Alive’, she invites listeners to step into the sunlight with her—to find freedom, even fleetingly, and to feel every note of it.