Returning with another feel-good single is electrifying newcomer WeiWei with “Trophy Girl”. Drenched with retro rhythms and electro-pop sensibilities, WeiWei bursts through the seams of the song, bouncing across the production and weaving in-between the 80s-tinged synths. Expressing her beliefs on toxic relationships and the pressure to conform, WeiWei soars through on the chorus, effortless belting out “I’m not your trophy girl.

“The track was inspired by the feeling of liberation from expectations of what a girlfriend, wife or woman should be,” WeiWei revealed. ”I was dating someone who had traditional (and outdated in my opinion) views and we were talking about marriage. I got to a point where I realised that I simply wasn’t capable of being the perfect girl who cooks, cleans and listens to what the guy says. I am far too strong for that and while I love to cook, I am terrible at cleaning haha! Writing the song really helped me heal and step into my power. I believe that when you heal yourself, you heal others and I hope that when people listen to the song, they too feel empowered and confident and that it will also help them get out of controlling relationships.”

Originally hailing from Changsha in China, the rising star grew up playing the violin, piano and guitar, before realising becoming a popstar was the dream. Combining her musical pursuits with her career path, WeiWei is gearing up to become the first Asian-American in pop music that isn’t underneath the K-Pop banner – and she is well on her way. We briefly caught up with the star talking her musical inspirations, wanting to be a pop star and her future plans.

Check out the single and interview below…

Hey WeiWei, how’s this past year been for you, do you think it has affected your sound?
Transformational. I think the time spent at home and in solitude has really forced people to look inwards and face whatever issues we were dealing with internally. I feel like a lot of negativity has been purged both in society and within ourselves. I feel a greater sense of trust in the universe and in “the process” as a result of living in uncertainty, somehow. I definitely went much darker in sound during the pandemic. I recorded Cut the Cord with my friend and producer Husks at the start of the pandemic. I was writing music that felt less bubblegum pop and more Evanescence.

You grew up very musically and played an array of instruments, but what made you want to go down the pop music route?
Yes, I learned classical music growing up because I played classical instruments. In Asian culture it’s pretty common for kids to learn to play violin or piano. I am called to pop music and it’s what comes out of me creatively. I think it’s fun and reflective of my personality. I’ve always wanted to reach a large audience and I feel that pop music is the best avenue for that as well.

Congratulations on your new song, talk us through the production process and inspiration?
The song was written after a long-term relationship had ended. We were talking about marriage and realized that our value systems did not align. He was raised with any traditional values and I was as well but he was more rigid in his view of gender roles and I am less so. He had this concept of being with a girl would eventually be his trophy wife. The expectation was that the woman should clean and cook. She was to be smart and well educated but at the same time want to stay home and have children and keep the place tidy, stay fit and look good. He wanted someone who would present well in public and that society would respect meanwhile he wanted to be seen as the man of household. He wanted to make the important decisions and at the end of the day I was expected to take his lead. I also want to mention that people have different views on these things and nothing is right or wrong and everyone is on the spectrum in their belief system. Often times we think in black-and-white. Some women like to be in relationships like that and some men don’t. I’m not here to judge. Whenever I start writing a song I’ll have an idea of the types of sounds I want on the track. I almost always write melody and lyrics together and Acappella. In my head saying it into my iPhone and sometimes the entire song comes out but most of the time it’s just a phrase or a couple lines. I work with producers to put the song together. Sometimes songs come easy. They will just pop into my head. I feel like I’m a channel and it comes from, the ethers. The work is in developing the concept once it comes to me.

It explores issues with self-image and weight, what made you want to talk about this?
I feel that women have a lot of pressure to be perfect in many ways and image is a big part of that. In Chinese culture,women are told to be skinny and not to eat too much because it’s not lady-like. I’m one of those people that live to eat and not eat to live. I have a pretty fast metabolism and generally can eat what I want without becoming overweight but it is very hard for me to be skinny. I’ve tried and it’s really difficult because I love food and I feel like I’m always starving when I don’t eat very much. Whenever I go back to China I’m told that I’m fat. In Chinese culture this isn’t considered offensive, it’s just a statement like saying ,”Your hair is brown.” In western society, we really take offence to this. In Eastern culture, I am not considered to be fat but it’s something that I grew up hearing and it definitely affected my self-esteem. I’m in a really great place with my body image now. Everyone has ups and downs with their self-esteem but overall I feel pretty good. Since leaving that relationship, I don’t feel the need to look a certain way anymore. Trophy girl is written about feeling free. I don’t feel the need to conform anymore and that feeling is so good.

What do you want people to take away from your sound?
I want people to feel confident and empowered. As humans, we all go through the same spectrum of emotions and I just write about them. I hope that through my healing, other people will heal as well. Sometimes I write about overcoming my challenges and sometimes I write about being in the storm of them. Overall I think I just want people to enjoy my music and feel something when they listen to it. I want my music to resonate. Pun intended.

Who are your inspirations?
I’m inspired by all the Asian creatives that didn’t become doctors, lawyers or engineers. But in terms of music – Britney Spears, Blondie, Aqua

What’s next for you? What are you most excited for?
I’m excited to release more music and perform live again! I would love to tour the world and am looking for tour support!