Q&A: Fedge Returns with “Can’t You See,” His Most Vulnerable Anthem Yet
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY SHEVON GREENE ☆
FEDGE RETURNS WITH HIS LATEST SINGLE, “CAN’T YOU SEE” — a cathartic anthem about longing for softness in strained family ties. The San Francisco-based artist’s sound is inspired by artists like Paramore, Chappell Roan, and Troye Sivan while bringing his own spin of personal experiences into the songwriting. The lyrical core of the track is a plea for tenderness over conflict, and especially love over tension.
Diving into strained family relationships, conditional love, cultural clashes, and a longing for healing, Fedge is showcasing his vulnerability in a way he never has before. As a queer child of immigrants, he’s often had to balance two cultures, two generations, and the push-pull of expectation and acceptance. This single follows his last two releases, “Too Early, Too Late” and “Invisible to You” and builds toward his debut EP, Through It All, blending dance-pop bops with confessional storytelling.
We chatted with Fedge about the story behind “Can’t You See,” turning pain into connection, and the community that fuels his music. Read on for the full conversation.
LUNA: I listened to “Can’t You See” and I love it—the message really resonated. It’s described as a pop-rock anthem about the exhaustion of constant conflict. What moment or feeling first sparked the idea for the song?
FEDGE: Growing up, I often felt caught between two worlds. I went to an American school in Taipei, which gave me a very American experience that sometimes clashed with the expectations at home. There were cultural differences in how love and communication showed up—what I thought was curiosity could come across as defiance. That tension left me feeling isolated, and when I confided in friends, they didn’t always understand. I wanted to write this song to capture what it feels like when family love feels conditional or complicated.
LUNA: The chorus pleads for tenderness instead of tension. What was it like putting that vulnerability into such a bold, driving sound?
FEDGE: Honestly, it was scary. Writing about family conflict is deeply personal, and I wondered how people close to me would receive it. But my intent isn’t to blame—it’s to express a longing for softness. Life is short; can we just be warm to each other instead of fighting all the time?
LUNA: You worked with Griffiki and Kevin Burke again. How did they help shape the track’s direction?
FEDGE: They’re amazing. I wrote the song with Kevin—one of the first we did together. At first what we thought was the chorus became the verse, and I kept working to find a better chorus. For over a week, I hummed different melodies everywhere—at the gym, at work—until the chorus we have now came together. It took time, but I think it’s one of my most polished songs yet. One big question I had going into production was that the song was short and didn’t have a bridge. Griffiki created a bridge out of the existing vocals, and it became this super catchy moment with the “can’t you, can’t you, can’t you see” hook.
LUNA: It really is so catchy. I love that blend of bright, hooky production with such deep, personal lyrics. That balance seems to be a hallmark of your music so far.
FEDGE: It’s so cool hearing you say that. That’s the goal—to make songs people enjoy listening to while also connecting them to my experiences.
LUNA: Pop music rarely addresses strained family ties head-on. Why was it important for you to center that narrative?
FEDGE: I think there are a lot of people like me who need to hear this song. Growing up, I never heard pop songs that talked about family dynamics, and I felt so alone. To hear something like that on the radio or Spotify would have meant a lot. That’s what this project is about—healing my inner child and hopefully helping others heal too. That’s why in the teaser film I dropped, there’s a teddy bear motif. You’ll see it come back in visuals for future songs, because those songs also focus on family and the inner child. As an Asian American, filial piety—honoring your family and elders—is a huge cultural principle, but it’s not something we hear in music. I wanted to bring that into my work.
LUNA: Your past singles explored regret and confrontation. How does “Can’t You See” push the story forward toward healing?
FEDGE: This one feels scarier to release because it’s about family dynamics, which are so personal. With songs like “Too Early, Too Late” or “Invisible to You,” you don’t necessarily know who they’re about. But this song comes from a very real place in my life. It’s the start of a bigger conversation in my music about healing the inner child and finding peace in complicated relationships.
LUNA: You’ve said your goal is to break cycles and turn pain into connection. How does this single embody that philosophy?
FEDGE: By being intentional with the songwriting. Lines like “Don’t you see, my love is not a crime” carry double meaning—my love for my parents isn’t a crime, and my love for men isn’t a crime either. I want the song to be universal and relatable, so I never explicitly say it’s about my parents. It could be a friend, sibling, parent, even a partner—whoever it needs to be for the listener.
LUNA: How do you see your identity as a queer Taiwanese American artist weaving into the universality of your songs?
FEDGE: The topics I discuss are unique to Asian Americans and immigrant kids, but the sound is universal. Anyone can appreciate a catchy synth-pop track—something to dance to or dance-cry to. My way of inviting everyone in is through sound, while still being true to my identity. That’s also why my release party was at a trans and lesbian history bar. I want everyone to feel accepted.
LUNA: “Can’t You See” is leading into your debut EP Through It All this fall. How does it set the tone for the project?
FEDGE: It’s the first song that talks about family dynamics directly. You’ll hear more songs exploring that space on the EP.
LUNA: With the release party at Lobby Bar in the Castro, you’re tying the single directly to community. What does that space and celebration mean to you?
FEDGE: Queer people often have to spend years accepting themselves and then work to be accepted by others. Many are estranged from their families, and that’s painful. I want them to know they’re not alone, they are loved, and there’s a community for them. That’s why I wanted to host it at Lobby Bar, a space with such meaningful history. The owners have been so supportive—they even made a special cocktail inspired by the song.
LUNA: I love that. I can’t wait to hear how it all goes.
