Q&A: Katherine Li is Okay With Being ‘Crush(ed)’ on Her New EP
ONE THING’S FOR CERTAIN, YOU CAN’T ERASE LOVE — even if it’s one-sided and the product of an extensive daydream. On her new EP, Crush(ed), Katherine Li puts into words that all too familiar feeling of having a crush on someone who doesn’t like you back. It’s heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time. Best listened to with a mug of hot chocolate and an oversized sweater, the tracklist brings the perfect combination of relatability and comfort to reign in sad girl autumn.
Her style is reminiscent of a young Taylor Swift and early Julia Michaels, with its seamlessly woven-in instrumentals and masterully-placed choruses. This EP is for the people who have ever felt lovelorn in their life and want to find an emotional release. Full of impassioned ballads and novelty, it’s exactly what you didn’t know you were looking for.
In just six songs, Li takes listeners through a journey of falling in and out of an unrequited love. It’s love at first sight in “Happening Again,” she gets deeply attached to her crush in “We Didn’t Even Date,” talks herself out of daydreaming in “Never Had a Chance,” is visited by depression in “I Don’t Care,” meets up with her anger in “Wish You the Worst,” and comes to accept her reality in “Miss Me Too.”
It’s a cycle that continues to happen again and again. For all you hopeless romantics out there, you can stream Crush(ed) now wherever you listen to your music.
What’s it like to write about love-lost and relationships that never were? Read all about it in our exclusive interview with Katherine Li below.
LUNA: Can you tell us more about how you landed on your new EP’s name, Crush(ed)?
LI: The concept of this EP is the stages that someone goes through when they develop a crush. But, as we all know, a lot of crushes don’t ever turn into something more, at least in my experience (laughs). With that being said, it comes down to one question: Is it a crush? Or are you waiting to be crushed? Thus, Crush(ed) was born!
LUNA: Who were your musical inspirations for this EP in the early stages of its production?
LI: Some of my biggest musical inspirations include Taylor Swift and Julia Michaels. They’re both lyrical geniuses and I love both their songwriting styles, especially the conversational elements they use. I love Taylor’s 1989 album, and we definitely were inspired by some songs from that album for the tracks on this EP!
LUNA: In what ways does the tracklist lead listeners from the beginning to the end of a one-sided relationship?
LI: The tracklist of Crush(ed) encapsulates the stages of having a one-sided relationship. It all starts with “The Encounter,” which “Happening Again” is associated with. Followed by “We Didn’t Even Date” and “Never Had a Chance,” [it shows] the realization that the relationship will probably never happen but you’re STILL sad about it! This brings us to the loneliness and sadness you feel when you watch everyone, except for you, getting into relationships… “I Don’t Care.” But all of a sudden, you feel this anger. Why didn’t they like you back? How could they do this to you?! You start to wish them the worst: “Wish You the Worst.” Finally, the acceptance stage happens, and you just hope that one day they’ll feel the same way [in] “Miss Me Too.”
LUNA: We have to ask, is there a film, TV scene, or core memory that comes to mind when you think of your song “Happening Again”? And if so, why does it stick out to you?
LI: Whenever I hear “Happening Again,” it takes me back to my first trip to LA (HUGE core memory vibes!), when I was in the studio with Joe Avio, the producer who I’m very lucky to have worked with for this EP. It was the first song that we worked on while in the same room, since all the prior songs had been done remotely, and also it was the first song that I was in the studio for. I listened to the demo probably one hundred times while I was there, so now LA is engraved into “Happening Again” whenever I hear it.
LUNA: What helped you capture that unexplainable feeling of being lost in that in-between space of unrequited love when you wrote “We Didn’t Even Date?”
LI: Honestly, life (laughs). I always find myself caring so much about my crushes and feeling heartbroken when in reality we were never even in a relationship. It makes me think, “Why do I care so much when they probably never gave me a second thought?” and that’s how “We Didn’t Even Date” came about.
LUNA: When did you know that “Never Had a Chance” and “I Don’t Care” had to be the middle two songs on your EP?
LI: When putting together the track order, I knew I wanted it to follow the storyline of “the stages of an unrequited crush,” and it’s so perfect that “Never Had a Chance” and “I Don’t Care” happen to live in the middle of the tracklist, since I feel these two songs capture the whole concept of the EP: loneliness and more loneliness.
LUNA: Was there any type of therapeutic moment for you when you finally put your finishing touches on “Wish You the Worst”?
LI: I’ve had “Wish You the Worst” written for a while now, so it was definitely a very “IT’S FINALLY DONE!” moment for me when we wrapped the song. I’m extremely excited that people will finally get to hear the rollercoaster of emotions that “Wish You the Worst” brings.
LUNA: What would you say was the biggest thing that you learned about yourself while going through the process of making “Miss Me Too”?
LI: Instrumentally, “Miss Me Too” is different from the usual sound that I go for (which is sad girl, piano, etc.). But I always love trying new things and I am in love with how this song turned out in the end, so stepping out of my comfort zone is something I’ve learned to try more of while making “Miss Me Too”.
LUNA: After you wrapped the EP and everything was in place, how did you commemorate the momentous occasion?
LI: SORBET! I ate a lotttttt of sorbet, it’s so good! (Laughs) Also shared many high-fives and hugs. While the EP was wrapping up, the school year was starting up as well, so I guess you could say I celebrated the EP by doing lots of homework! *cries*
LUNA: We’re curious to know, if you had the chance to re-record any of your songs on the EP with a collaborator (or two) of your choice, who would you want it to be?
LI: I would love to collaborate with Julia Michaels on a song from Crush(ed). I feel like she’d bring in a whole new world of songwriting and I would totally just sit and watch her do her magic in awe (laughs). Someone else that I would love to have a chance to collaborate with is Shawn Mendes — I’ve looked up to him for a very, very long time, and still do! Most if not all of my very first covers I did were his songs so it would be a crazy full-circle moment!
LUNA: Artistically and creatively speaking, what are you most excited about doing right after your EP is released to the world?
LI: I’m excited to keep the ball rolling and write new songs. I’m looking forward to trying out new sounds but still incorporating elements from my musical style. And I’m even more excited to share these new songs with the world!
LUNA: Of course, we have to mention that you show off some serious acting chops in your American Eagle performance of Crush(ed)! Is acting something we might see you pursuing more in the future?
LI: (Laughs) Thank you! The little in-between acting scenes in the American Eagle performance of Crush(ed) were super fun to film. I would love to be a part of an acting project in the future — it’s definitely something I want to try out!
LUNA: Okay, here’s our last question for you: Do you have any final words of wisdom or advice for listeners who might be currently dealing with an unrequited love story of their own?
LI: I like to think that I am great at giving love-life advice, but I am actually extremely unqualified to take that role (laughs). However, I will say this, YOU are amazing, magnificent, awesome, and they are missing out on an amazing human. From here, you have two options: 1) Keep on trying! It’s bound to work eventually, right? 2) Be sad (like me), get a fresh new box of tissues, and stream Crush(ed)!
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