Tia Ray Bridges Cultures with Surprise UCLA Set and Debut English Album ‘New Day’
Earlier this year, the acclaimed Chinese singer-songwriter Tia Ray delighted the UCLA community by appearing unannounced for an intimate campus dialogue followed by a high-octane flash-mob performance.
Engaging directly with a new generation of listeners, Tia articulated her deep-seated devotion to her craft before delivering a medley of her most beloved tracks. She also offered a sneak peek into her first English-language project, New Day, creating a performance that felt remarkably personal despite the surging energy of the crowd.
“Despite this being my inaugural visit to UCLA, the atmosphere feels remarkably familiar,” Tia remarked with a smile.
Following the event, we sat down with Tia to discuss this pivotal chapter in her career and her enduring artistic bond with Los Angeles. The album New Day was a three-year labor of love, meticulously developed across Shanghai, Beijing, and L.A. Much of the record’s DNA was forged during intensive recording sessions in the heart of the city.
Tia recalled the rigorous creative process alongside Grammy-winning producer Khris Riddick-Tynes. “His exacting standards were initially quite daunting,” she admitted. “However, once I heard the final results, it was clear we had pioneered a bold and refreshing new sonic path.”
Now available on a global scale, New Day signals a courageous transformation in her artistry. Regarding the project’s core ethos, Tia noted, “I wanted to push the boundaries of my potential in entirely new ways; those hurdles ultimately fueled my imagination. My hope is to provide listeners with a sense of optimism—reminding them that no matter the struggle, there is always a fresh start waiting on the other side.”
