Lexie Liu, (, ) also known as Liu Boxin (; born December 21, 1998), is a Chinese singer, rapper and songwriter. In 2015, she participated in K-pop Star 5, a South Korean reality TV competition series where her group came in fourth place. In July 2018, she participated in The Rap of China and finished fourth place, which launched her career as a solo artist.《中国新说唱》艾热夺冠 那吾克热惜败获亚军 October 6, 2018 新浪娱乐 In February 2019, Liu released her debut EP 2030. She also featured as Seraphine in the K/DA song "More". She followed her debut EP with the album Meta Ego in 2019. In 2021, she released her EP Gone Gold, and in 2022, Liu released her album The Happy Star.
Early life Liu was born and raised in Changsha, Hunan. She has been interested in music since she was young; she started to dance when she was four years old and learned to play the piano when she was six years old. When Liu was in grade eleven, she transferred to an international high school. However, she took a gap year when she was in grade twelve to make music. She went to Korea and participated in the reality TV competition series, K-pop Star 5, under her birth name Liu Yuyu, as a member of a 4-person girl group named "Mazinga S" which won fourth place.
While shooting the TV show K-pop Star 5, Liu applied and was accepted to Fordham University to study global business. However, she later left to pursue her music career.
Career 2016–2021: Indie career, 2030, Meta Ego, and Gone Gold In January 2017, Liu's first original single "Coco Made Me Do It" was released. In February 2017, she performed at the SXSW music festival, one of the largest music festivals in the world, bringing Chinese Pop music to the US audience.
In January 2018, she composed a song called "Role" for Li Yifeng, a Chinese popular idol, singer, and actor.刘柏辛晒合照称合作愉快 李易峰比手势可爱又搞怪 January 2, 2018 爱豆APP In July 2018, Liu participated in The Rap of China, entered the final round with her song "Mulan," and eventually finished fourth place. While competing in The Rap of China, Liu signed with American label 88rising. In November, she released her new song "Sleep Away" from her upcoming debut EP 2030 which was previously released in China.Watch Lexie Liu Traverse a Pastel Dreamscape in Her Video for ‘Sleep Away’ November 30, 2018 RollingstoneIndia The Fader named the track as one of “10 Songs You Need in Your Life,”10 songs you need in your life this week December 5, 2018 The Fader Nylon listed it as the “Best Music Releases Of The Week,"Best Music Release of the Week December 1, 2018 Nylon and Refinery29 said “their ears are very into Lexie.”New Music To Know This Week December 1, 2018 Refinery29 On December 18, 2018, Liu released her new cyberpunk-influenced single "Nada," complete with futuristic-themed music video. The Line of Best Fit described "Nada" as it "sees Lexie Liu's fierce, cross-cultural grit thrust into a science fiction dimension where language barriers don't exist. She fuses Mandopop with grimy beats against the visuals of her accompanying Tron-esque video, directed by mamesjao, in a retro-futuristic digital world."Lexie Liu proves her status as China’s next global superstar with the futuristic “Nada” December 8, 2018 The Line of Best Fit "Nada" also made its appearance on "Best Of the Week" by Apple Music once it came out.
In February 2019, Liu released her debut EP 2030 in the United States, which included two new singles "Outta Time" featuring Killy and "Love and Run." In September 2019 her single "Ok, Ok, Ok" was released. On December 27, 2019, her album Meta Ego was released. On October 28, 2020, Liu voiced the champion Seraphine in Riot Games' virtual K-pop group, K/DA, in their new song "More" from their extended play All Out. Liu also performed on stage at the 2020 League of Legends World Championship in Shanghai.
On January 28, 2021, Liu released her second EP Gone Gold internationally (released as Online 上线了 in China), featuring her then-newest single "ALGTR" which was self-written and self-produced alongside the rest of the EP. It marked yet another change in sound direction, with the EP taking in significantly more electro-pop influences compared to previous efforts. The project's contemporary theme, reflected in the title track's music videos and the rest of the track list's visualizers which were directed by frequent collaborator Jeremy Z. Qin, revolves around the idea of living in an online game as a character. It was inspired by the unrest experienced throughout 2020 as a result of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, where Liu's only source of understanding the world was solely through a screen - leading her to imagine what life would be like without this source.
2021–2024: The Happy Star On November 21, 2022, Liu released a single by the name of "Fortuna" with an accompanying music video. "Fortuna" marks a slight change in Liu's style as a high-energy, electropop-inspired track making use of Mandarin, English, and Spanish in the lyrics. The song's lyrics and music video were heavily inspired by Egyptian mythology and tarot divination, having been named after the Roman goddess Fortuna, and making references to the Egyptian deities of Set and Anubis. On November 29, 2022, Liu followed up the release of "Fortuna" with a single entitled "Magician," with both songs having been inspired by the same theme of tarot divination. The lyrics make reference to the major arcana of the Magician, the Moon, the Sun, and the general suits of the Cups, the Wands, and the Pentacles found in tarot decks. The musical style of "Magician" is a further exploration of heavy electronic music and was performed in English and Mandarin.
On December 6, 2022, Liu released the full-length album The Happy Star. The album was composed of twelve tracks with “Fortuna" and "Magician" as singles.
On November 21, 2023, Liu released her single "delulu."
2024–present: Teenage Ramble
On April 23, 2024, Liu was featured in the single, "On Clap," in Yuqi's EP Yuq1.
On March 18, 2025, Liu released her single "Pop Girl."
On May 28, 2025, Liu released her single "FFFFF."
On July 23, 2025, Liu released her single "Like U."
On October 16, 2025, Liu released the full-length album Teenage Ramble.
On February 26, 2026, Liu released a single, "Klepto", in collaboration with Sophie Powers.
Liu featured on the song "Break It" from Yves' April 2026 EP Nail and on the song "Porcelain" from Adam Lambert's July 2026 album Adam.
Liu released remixes of "Pop Girl" featuring Bayli and Isabella Lovestory, and Yves in July 2026.
Public image
Lexie Liu's distinct appearance caught the attention of the fashion industry where she landed placements in Paris Fashion Week 2019 as the brand ambassador for Yves Saint Laurent eyewear in the Asia Pacific Region,2019秋冬巴黎时装周盘点：宋佳自夸帅女孩，老佛爷告别秀泪点足，这一季的时装周有“猛料”！ March 11, 2019 海报时尚网 Louis Vuitton Show 2018 in China, Puma's Suede 50 campaign, and Levi's New Years TVC campaign. Lexie Liu has also been featured on the print pages of East Asia's most prominent fashion publications, including Vogue Me (China), BAZAAR China, Nylon Japan, and Nylon China. The American fashion magazine V described her as "the face of a generation of new Chinese artists breaking into the American mainstream with a uniquely, cross-cultural sound."LEXIE LIU RETURNS WITH “SLEEP AWAY” November 30, 2018 V Magazine
"Born and raised in Changsha, China, 19-year-old Lexie Liu's 'Nada' is her third single release after signing to 88rising." "She became the youngest Chinese artist to ever perform at SXSW last year after rising to fame on South Korean TV show 'K-pop Star' and finishing fourth on the heavily male-dominated rap talent show 'The Rap of China.'"
After the release of her single "Like a Mercedes", the cyberpunk-inspired music video of the song was Lexie Liu's first introduction to a global audience, showing off how "her provocative sound is transcending language barriers."认识 88Rising 的流行新星：Lexie Liu 刘柏辛 June 20, 2018 i-D Her debut EP released in February 2019 was highly recommended, "with a feature from Killy on "Outta Time," plus new singles "Sleep Away," "Hat Trick" and "Nada," the eight-tracker is an impressive bilingual project showcasing the Changsha born and raised artist’s skills across rap, R&B vocals and production."lexie liu’s debut ep and everything else you need to listen to today February 1, 2019 i-D
American fashion and culture magazine Flaunt also made a praising comment on Lexie's debut EP 2030, which is said to "narrates her life and journey within music; manifesting her inner-psyche through dream-like vocals and vibrant musical films. Dynamic in all aspects, Lexie holds a promising trajectory in the years to come."Q&A | LEXIE LIU February 1, 2019 Flaunt Magazine
Filmography Variety shows Year English title Original title Network Role Notes 2015 K-pop Star 5서바이벌 오디션 K팝 스타 SBS Contestant 2018 The Rap of China 中国新说唱 iQiyi ContestantSeason 2 (2018) 2020 Singer 2020 歌手.當打之年 Hunan TV Challenge Contestant 2021 Stage Boom 爆裂舞台 iQiyi Contestant
Discography
2030 (2018) Meta Ego () (2019) The Happy Star () (2022) Teenage Ramble (2025)
Tours
The Happy Star Company Tour (2024-2025)
+City (2024)CityCountryVenueDecember 14NanjingChinaUnknown December 21ChengduDate (2025)CityCountryVenueJanuary 5ShanghaiChinaNational Exhibition and Convention CenterJanuary 19GuangzhouUnknown May 10Beijing
Collaboration with brands In January 2022, Lexie Liu became the new model of Ford EVOS. In October 2021, Liu became the brand ambassador for Miu Miu in the China region. In March 2019, Liu became the brand ambassador for Saint Laurent Eyewear in the Asia Pacific Region.SAINT LAURENT 宣布刘柏辛成为亚太区眼镜形象大使 March 13, 2019 Vogue In November 2018, Liu was invited as one of the celebrity guests to attend the Louis Vuitton show named "Volez Voguez Voyage." In December 2017, Liu participated in the shooting of Levis' New-Year TVC campaign called Gan Jiu Xing.She also appeared as the model in posters in local Levis stores across the globe. In October 2017, Liu collaborated with Puma and became a member of the Puma's Group, and attended Puma SUEDE, the Puma's 50th-anniversary party.
Awards and nominations Year Nominated work Event Award Result 2019202930th Golden Melody AwardsBest New Artist3rd CMIC Music AwardsNewcomer of the Year2020"Manta" The 7th Annual Fusion Hip-Hop Awards Best Music Video 2021 "More" Game Audio Network Guild Awards Best Original Song "Manta" 28th ERC Chinese Top Ten Awards Top Ten Hits 2023The Happy Star34th Golden Melody AwardsBest Mandarin Female Singer1st Wave Music AwardsBest Female VocalistBest Electronic AlbumBest Album ProductionBest Recording\Engineered Album"3.14159"Best Electronic Song
References
External links