Fast settling in after a move to London, LIE NING is ready to challenge everything you thought you knew about pop. Read the latest cover feature for our New Music Friday edit PLAY.

Words: Dan Harrison.
Photos: Soy Prabhawat.

In the neon-lit intersection of art and revolution stands singer, songwriter and visual artist LIE NING, an up-and-coming creative whose mere presence feels like a manifesto. Fresh from crossing the Channel and armed with their playful 00s-inspired single 'Boys', they're crafting a new blueprint for what pop can achieve in 2024 and beyond.

The recent relocation from Germany to London's creative crucible arrives at a pivotal moment and is marked by both triumph and necessity. "I just got my UK Visa approved, hurray," they share, their excitement palpable. But beneath the celebration lies a deeper concern for artistic, societal and personal preservation.

The decision to leave their previous home was an important one, and is touched on in their recent single 'Charade'. "What is happening in Germany frightens me," they explain. "I don't think people realise just how dangerous it is when a government both legally restricts freedom of speech and cuts funding for arts and culture." It's an observation that resonates beyond Berlin's city limits, speaking to the broader cultural suppression currently emerging across the globe.

When asked whether they think music has the potential to create real change, LIE NING's response is unequivocal: "I do. It does." This simple yet powerful assertion underlies everything they create, from their most political works to their most personal expressions. It's a philosophy that's evident not just in their lyrics, but in their entire approach to artistry and community building.