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Lala Hsu
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 | You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Chinese. (February 2016) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
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Lala Hsu (traditional Chinese: 徐佳瑩; simplified Chinese: 徐佳莹; pinyin: Xú Jiāyíng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chhî Ka-êng; born 20 December 1984) is a Taiwanese singer-songwriter. Hsu was born in Hualien County, Taiwan, and grew up in Taichung.
Key Information
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Hsu was a contestant in the third season of CTV's One Million Star in 2008. She won the contest with a self-composed and written song on 15 August of that year.[1][2] She released her self-titled debut album on 29 May 2009. She has since published five albums to date; Lala Hsu in 2009, Limits in 2010, Ideal Life in 2012, Missing in 2014 and The Inner Me in 2017.[3]
In 2010, Hsu won the Best New Artist award at the 21st Golden Melody Awards for her eponymously named album, Lala Hsu, becoming the first One Million Star alumni to win a Golden Melody Award. In 2015, she was nominated in six categories at the 26th Golden Melody Awards for the album Missing.
In 2016, Hsu was a participant of the fourth season of I Am a Singer which gained her wider attention in mainland China. A significant rise in popularity lead to numerous invitations to perform the theme songs of film and television works. In 2018, Hsu was named Best Mandarin Female Singer at the 29th Golden Melody Awards.[4]
Early life
[edit]Hsu's father is a retired ROC Air Force ground officer and her mother was a kindergarten teacher. She is the third child among her brothers and sisters. The singer worked as a nurse in Taichung Veterans General Hospital before her debut.
Debut
[edit]Hsu won second place in a singing competition held by her high school. In junior college, she was the drummer and conductor of her school's Orchestra Club. She also served as an intern at the Affiliated Hospital of Chung Shan Medical College and worked in Taichung Veterans General Hospital. During university, Lala participated in the "Campus Golden Melody Award" competition, winning awards in the "Girl's Individual Singing Group" (singing award) and the "Semantic Creation Group" (creative award). She participated in four "Campus Golden Melody" compilations.[5]
Hsu took part in the third season of One Million Star singing contest in 2008, and performed well.[6] Hsu stated that her aim in participating the contest was to set up a "Starlight Chicken Restaurant" with the prize money, and she had already written a song for the restaurant. In the sixth episode, her performance of the song "Riding a White Horse" scored 25 points, making her the fastest contestant to reach the full score since the launch of One Million Star.[7] On 15 August 2008, she won the finals with an average score of 21.47 points, paving the way for her to become a professional singer.[8][9][10]
Career
[edit]Hsu is the protégée of composer Su Tongda. "Riding a White Horse" was a collaboration between Hsu and Su, based on Xue Pinggui and Wang Baochuan.[11]
On 29 May 2009, Hsu released her debut album Lala Hsu. The album was up for six awards at the 21st Golden Melody Awards. This include Song of the Year ("Riding a White Horse"), Best Mandarin Album (Lala Hsu), Best Composer (Hsu and Su Tongda, "Riding a White Horse"), Best New Artist, Best Arranger (Su Tongda, "Riding a White Horse") and Best Single Producer (Su Tongda, "Riding a White Horse").[12][13]
On 26 June 2010, Hsu was awarded the Best New Artist at the 21st Golden Melody Awards.[14] On 3 September of the same year, Hsu released her second studio album, Limits.
On 6 June 2012, she released her third studio album, Ideal Life. The album won several awards at home and abroad including the 2012 Top Ten Albums, and Albums and Singles of the Year at the Annual Association of Chinese Musicians Awards. In 2013, Hsu was nominated for Best Mandarin Female Singer for the first time at the 24th Golden Melody Awards.
On 13 June 2014, Hsu released her fourth Mandarin album Missing. On 21 March 2015, she held the "Total Eclipse" concert in Taipei Arena. It was her first concert in the Arena. In the same year, she was nominated for six awards at the 26th Golden Melody Awards, including Song of the Year, Best Mandarin Album, Best Mandarin Female Singer, Best Composer, Best Lyricist and Best Arranger.
In January 2016, she participated in the fourth season of Hunan TV I Am a Singer. Her performance of "Lost Desert" scored her first place in the first episode. Subsequently, she was invited to perform the theme songs for several film and television works. In July 2016, she held her "Total Eclipse" concert tour in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen.
On 22 April 2017, Hsu debuted her "You Made My Day" concert tour at Taipei Arena.[15] In May of the same year, she held the tour in Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Malaysia. She released her fifth Mandarin studio album The Inner Me by the end of that year and received the Best Mandarin Album and Best Mandarin Female Singer at the 29th Golden Melody Awards the following year.
In January 2020, Hsu came back to participate in the eight and final season of Hunan TV's Singer and ended in fifth place. The following year, she participated with Harlem Yu in ETtoday's Jungle Voice 3 as principal instructors.[16]
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On 22 June 2022, Hsu released her sixth Mandarin studio album Gei.[17]
Musical style
[edit] | This section possibly contains original research. (September 2018) |
Hsu's music is known for its subtle, unique narrative lyrical composition style, integrating elements of Taiwanese opera into her songs. Using the Mandarin language and the linguistic flexibility of Hokkien(Southern Fukienense), the logic of the two different languages is put together naturally and smoothly. The rhythm of the main song is usually fast, while the chorus is mostly clear, lyrical, and easy to memorize. In the accompaniment and harmony, she tries to create a unique approach to chord progression, which is different than other pop music.
Personal life
[edit]Hsu married Taiwanese director Bill Chia (Chinese: 比爾賈) in August 2018.[18][19] They have one son (born on 6 December 2020) and one daughter (born on 17 December 2022).
Discography
[edit]- Lala Hsu (2009)
- Limits (2010)
- Ideal Life (2012)
- Missing (2014)
- The Inner Me (2017)
- Gei (2022)
Filmography
[edit]Films
[edit]| Year | English Title | Chinese Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Rio | 里約大冒險 | Jewel | Mandarin voice (Taiwanese release) |
| 2014 | Rio 2 | 里約大冒險2 | Jewel | Mandarin voice (Taiwanese release) |
Television series
[edit]| Year | English Title | Chinese Title | Role | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Days We Stared at the Sun | 他們在畢業的前一天爆炸 | Lala | PTS: PTS Main Channel | Cameo |
Variety shows
[edit]| Year | English Title | Chinese Title | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | One Million Star (season 3) | 超級星光大道3 | CTV: CTV Main Channel | |
| One Million Star (season 4) | 超級星光大道4 | CTV: CTV Main Channel | Ep. 10 | |
| 2009 | One Million Star (season 5) | 超級星光大道5 | CTV: CTV Main Channel | Ep. 17 |
| 2010 | One Million Star (season 6) | 超級星光大道6 | CTV: CTV Main Channel | Ep. 16 |
| 2016 | I Am a Singer (season 4) | 我是歌手（第四季） | HBS: Hunan Television | |
| 2017 | Singer 2017 | 歌手 2017 | HBS: Hunan Television | Ep. 13 |
| One Night Food Trip – International Edition | 吃貨48小時－國際篇 | tvN Asia | ||
| 2020 | Singer 2020 | 歌手·当打之年 | HBS: Hunan Television | |
| 2021 | Jungle Voice | 聲林之王 | ETtoday |
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Nomination | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 21st Golden Melody Awards | Song of the Year | "Riding A White Horse" | Nominated |
| Best Composer | Nominated | |||
| Best Mandarin Album | Lala Hsu | Nominated | ||
| Best New Artist | Won | |||
| Association of Music Workers in Taiwan | Ten Best Songs | "Riding A White Horse" | Won | |
| 2012 | "Under the Willow" | Won | ||
| 2013 | 24th Golden Melody Awards | Best Mandarin Female Singer | Ideal Life | Nominated |
| Association of Music Workers in Taiwan | Ten Best Songs | "Not That Hard" | Won | |
| Ten Best Albums | Ideal Life | Won | ||
| 2015 | 26th Golden Melody Awards | Song of the Year | "Missing" | Nominated |
| Best Mandarin Album | Missing | Nominated | ||
| Best Mandarin Female Singer | Nominated | |||
| Association of Music Workers in Taiwan | Ten Best Songs | "Missing" | Won | |
| Ten Best Albums | Missing | Won | ||
| 2016 | 53rd Golden Horse Awards | Best Original Film Song | Big Fish & Begonia (Performer: "It's Cold Without Your Love") |
Nominated |
| 2017 | Association of Music Workers in Taiwan | Ten Best Songs | "You Made My Day" | Won |
| 2018 | 22nd China Music Awards | Song of the Year | "From Now On" | Won |
| Most Popular Singer-songwriter | Lala Hsu | Won | ||
| 29th Golden Melody Awards | Album of the Year | The Inner Me | Nominated | |
| Best Mandarin Album | Won | |||
| Best Mandarin Female Singer | Won | |||
| Association of Music Workers in Taiwan | Ten Best Songs | "The Prayer" | Won | |
| Ten Best Albums | The Inner Me | Won | ||
| 2019 | Ten Best Songs | "Springtime Allergies" | Won | |
| 2022 | 33rd Golden Melody Awards | Song of the Year | "Prototype" | Nominated |
| Producer of the Year, Single | "None of the Above" | Won | ||
| 13th Golden Indie Music Awards | Best R&B Song | "Break Off" | Nominated |
References
[edit]- ^ 2010第21屆金曲獎得獎名單 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
- ^ 《星光3》自創曲勝出 星光三徐佳瑩奪冠 (in Chinese). 中國時報. 16 August 2008. Archived from the original on 17 August 2008.
- ^ "徐佳瑩 (Lala Hsu) 個人檔案與歷年專輯" (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 14 May 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
- ^ "金曲獎第29屆得獎名單即時報 – 中央社 CNA". Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
- ^ 校園金曲獎 活動回顧 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 30 June 2008.
- ^ 星光３班選20強 美國區４名過關 徐佳瑩23分成資優生 (in Chinese). 中時電子報. 17 March 2008. Archived from the original on 21 March 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ 賴聖恩領軍台灣20強 徐佳瑩獲評審滿分激賞 (in Chinese). 中時電子報. 25 February 2008. Archived from the original on 29 February 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ 《星光3》自創曲勝出 星光三徐佳瑩奪冠 (in Chinese). 中國時報. 16 August 2008. Archived from the original on 17 August 2008.
- ^ 徐佳瑩摘三班星冠 抱回250萬元 (in Chinese). 聯合報. 16 August 2008. Archived from the original on 13 September 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ 星光三班 徐佳瑩奪冠 (in Chinese). 自由時報. 16 August 2008. Archived from the original on 18 August 2008.
- ^ "Singer | Lala Hsu". Ministry of Culture. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
- ^ 2010金曲獎入圍公佈 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ 2010第21屆金曲獎入圍名單 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 16 May 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ 2010第21屆金曲獎得獎名單 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
- ^ 「讓我的音樂拯救你們」—徐佳瑩 是日救星演唱會. KKBOX (in Chinese). 27 April 2017. Archived from the original on 5 December 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ ETtoday新聞雲. "《聲林之王3》１２／３首播 庾澄慶、徐佳瑩重磅合唱 | ETtoday星光雲 | ETtoday新聞雲". star.ettoday.net (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 24 June 2022.
- ^ 中時新聞網. "徐佳瑩新專輯《給》驚喜 兒子小樂高獻聲「我聽到都快哭了」 - 娛樂". 中時新聞網 (in Chinese). Retrieved 24 June 2022.
- ^ Fang, Chia-lin (5 August 2018). 徐佳瑩結婚了！臉書「4宣言」甜蜜告白比爾賈 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). TVBS News. Archived from the original on 17 February 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ Pin-yu, Shih; Yen-ni, Yu (6 December 2020). 徐佳瑩曬兒子小腳 報喜：我剛剛生了一個孩子 (in Traditional Chinese). China Times. Archived from the original on 6 December 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
External links
[edit]
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Lala Hsu
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life
Family background
Lala Hsu was born on December 20, 1984, in Hualien County, Taiwan. She spent her formative early years in this eastern region, known for its natural landscapes and cultural diversity, before relocating to Taichung, where she primarily grew up in a stable, middle-class environment.[1] Hsu's family maintained a modest household, with her father serving as a retired ground officer in the Republic of China Air Force and her mother working as a kindergarten teacher. As the third child among her siblings, Hsu developed a close-knit dynamic that fostered her early interests, including an enthusiasm for music influenced by popular Hong Kong idols. This family setting provided a supportive backdrop for her initial artistic explorations, though her parents initially expressed reservations about pursuing music professionally.[8][9] Her early exposure to music began in elementary school around 1992, when she started learning piano, sparking a lifelong passion. This was complemented by participation in school activities, such as winning second place in a junior high singing competition, which highlighted her budding talent within the familial and local context of Hualien and Taichung.[9][1]Education and early career
Hsu grew up in Taichung, where she attended local schools during her early education. After struggling with the high school entrance examinations, she enrolled in the Taichung Vocational School of Nursing (台中護專) at age 16 in 2000, completing her five-year program around 2005.[10][11] She later upgraded her qualifications by attending Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, graduating with a bachelor's degree in nursing.[1][11] Following her vocational training, Hsu worked as a nurse at Taichung Veterans General Hospital from approximately 2006 until 2008, when she left the profession to pursue music full-time.[12][13][14] She also completed an internship at Chung Shan Medical University Hospital during this period.[13][14] Throughout her school years, Hsu nurtured her musical interests without formal training, engaging in self-taught songwriting and local performances. During junior high, she placed second in a school singing competition.[15] In high school, she formed a band to cover songs by her favorite artists.[16] At vocational school, she served as percussionist and conductor for the wind ensemble, and during university, she again placed second in a campus singing contest while continuing her musical hobbies.[1][15]Debut and breakthrough
Participation in One Million Star
In 2008, Lala Hsu, then a 23-year-old nurse from Taichung, entered the third season of Taiwan's popular singing competition One Million Star (超級星光大道), broadcast on China Television (CTV), without her family's knowledge, aiming to pursue her passion for music and even joking about using prize money to open a chicken restaurant.[1][17] Her performances quickly garnered attention for their emotional depth and originality, particularly in episode 6 where she earned a perfect score of 25 for a lyrical rendition of her self-composed song "Riding a White Horse" (身騎白馬), blending pop with elements of Taiwanese opera.[1][18] Hsu's breakthrough came on August 15, 2008, during the grand finale, when she clinched the championship with another original composition, "Lost Sandbar" (失落沙洲), performed in a medley that highlighted her songwriting prowess and vocal versatility, impressing judges and viewers alike.[17] This victory not only showcased her talent as a singer-songwriter but also marked her as the first One Million Star champion to emphasize original material over covers, setting her apart in a field dominated by interpretations of existing hits.[1] Following the win, Hsu received widespread media coverage in Taiwan, with outlets praising her authentic style and potential as a fresh voice in Mandopop.[18] She soon signed a recording contract with AsiaMuse Entertainment, which propelled her into professional music production, though she later reflected on the competition's role in validating her creative risks.[1]Self-titled debut album
Following her victory in the third season of the Taiwanese singing competition One Million Star in 2008, Lala Hsu signed with AsiaMuse Entertainment and prepared her professional debut. The self-titled album Lala Hsu was released on May 29, 2009, marking her entry into the Mandopop scene as a singer-songwriter. The album consists of 11 tracks, blending pop, ballad, and folk influences, and was distributed primarily in Taiwan and Singapore. The production was overseen by Hsu's mentor Su Tongda and producer Lin Wei Zhe, emphasizing her songwriting talents honed during the competition. Seven of the tracks originated as self-composed pieces performed on One Million Star, showcasing her ability to craft introspective lyrics and melodies. A standout is "Riding a White Horse" (身騎白馬), a folk-inspired ballad co-written and composed by Hsu, which highlights her narrative style and emotional depth through themes of longing and fantasy. Other notable tracks include "Lost Sandbar" (失落沙洲), a melancholic reflection on loss, and "Waltz" (圓舞曲), which demonstrates her versatility in rhythmic arrangements.[1][19] Commercially, the album achieved strong initial sales in Taiwan, becoming a bestseller and establishing Hsu as a promising new talent. It performed well on local charts, driven by radio airplay of lead singles like "Riding a White Horse." Critically, the release earned widespread praise for Hsu's expansive vocal range, which spanned multiple octaves and allowed for dynamic shifts from soft whispers to powerful belts, setting her apart in the competitive Mandopop landscape. The album garnered six nominations at the 21st Golden Melody Awards in 2010, including Song of the Year for "Riding a White Horse," and Hsu won Best New Artist, affirming its impact on her early career.[20][21]Music career
2010–2014: Early albums and establishment
Following her breakthrough debut in 2009, Lala Hsu solidified her presence in the Mandopop scene with the release of her second studio album, Limits (極限), on September 3, 2010, under AsiaMuse Entertainment. The album featured ten original tracks written and composed by Hsu, exploring themes of emotional boundaries and self-discovery, with standout songs including the title track "Limit" (極限), which became a radio favorite in Taiwan for its introspective lyrics and soaring vocals, and "Perfume" (香水), a melancholic ballad that highlighted her vocal range. Limits received positive reviews for its mature songwriting compared to her debut, contributing to Hsu's growing reputation as a singer-songwriter, though specific sales figures were not publicly detailed; it charted modestly on Taiwanese platforms like KKBOX, establishing her fanbase beyond the talent show circuit.[22][23][24] In 2012, Hsu released her third album, Ideal Life (理想人生), on June 6, marking a shift toward more upbeat and experimental sounds while delving into themes of personal ambition and resilience. The ten-track collection included collaborations with producers like Chen Yishan on arrangements, and notable songs such as "Dare to Celebrate" (不怕慶祝), the theme for the film Keep the Lights On, which peaked at No. 5 on Taiwan's G-Music charts and earned widespread airplay, and "Chili Pepper" (辣椒), a playful track blending pop and funk elements. Ideal Life was nominated for Best Mandarin Female Singer at the 24th Golden Melody Awards (2013), reflecting its commercial and critical success. The album's themes of pursuing an "ideal" existence amid life's challenges resonated with young audiences, further cementing Hsu's domestic popularity.[25][26] Hsu's fourth album, Missing (尋人啟事), arrived on June 13, 2014, and deepened her exploration of personal growth through introspective narratives on loss, identity, and emotional voids. Comprising eleven tracks, all penned by Hsu with production input from Ashley Lin, it featured hits like the titular "Missing" (尋人啟事), a poignant piano-driven single, and "Steady" (明天的事情), a reflective piece on uncertainty that became a staple in live sets. The album was nominated for Best Mandarin Album and Best Female Vocalist at the 26th Golden Melody Awards, with themes drawing from Hsu's own life experiences to evoke universal feelings of searching for completeness; it achieved solid chart performance, entering the top 10 on Taiwan's Five Music charts, though exact sales remained undisclosed. Collaborations extended to soundtrack contributions, such as "One Minute More" (只要一分鐘) for the 2014 film of the same name.[27][1] During this period, Hsu began performing live to promote her releases, starting with intimate shows at Legacy Taipei in 2010 and 2011, including the "Palette" concert series that showcased acoustic arrangements of her early hits and drew crowds of around 500 per night. By 2013, she released a live album, Continue · Ideal Life, recorded from her Taiwan tour, which captured the energy of full-band performances and sold modestly in the local market. Expansion into mainland China commenced in 2014 with a mini live event in Chengdu tied to Missing, marking her initial foray into the larger market and attracting media attention from outlets like Sina Entertainment; while specific attendance figures were limited, these efforts helped her songs gain traction on platforms like NetEase Cloud Music, contributing to her rising cross-strait profile without major international breakthroughs yet.[28][29]2015–2019: Critical acclaim and The Inner Me
In 2016, Lala Hsu participated as a contestant in the fourth season of the mainland Chinese singing competition I Am a Singer, where her performances garnered significant attention and helped expand her fanbase across China.[2] Her distinctive vocal style and emotional delivery during the show, including covers like "Practice Love," contributed to a notable rise in her popularity beyond Taiwan.[30] Hsu's critical acclaim peaked with the release of her fifth studio album, The Inner Me (心裡學), on December 27, 2017, via AsiaMuse Entertainment. The album features 11 introspective tracks exploring themes of self-reflection and emotional depth, with standout songs such as the title track "The Inner Me," "The Prayer," and "The Gray," which showcase her nuanced songwriting and arrangement skills blending pop with subtle orchestral elements.[31][32] At the 29th Golden Melody Awards in 2018, The Inner Me received nominations in five categories and won Best Mandarin Album and Best Mandarin Female Singer, affirming Hsu's status as a leading vocalist and composer in the Mandopop scene.[31][33] During this period, Hsu further established herself as a respected composer by writing music for other artists, notably providing the composition for "Ao Jiao" (傲嬌), a collaborative track featuring A-Mei and Eve Ai on A-Mei's 2017 album Story Thief. The song's playful yet poignant melody highlighted Hsu's ability to craft versatile pieces that enhanced her collaborators' strengths. Additionally, she contributed to soundtracks by performing theme songs, such as "The Rain Is Coming" (大雨將至) for the 2016 historical drama The Imperial Doctress, where her soaring vocals captured the series' themes of resilience and fate. These efforts solidified her reputation as a multifaceted talent in the industry.[34]2020–present: Gei and international expansion
In 2022, Lala Hsu released her sixth studio album, Gei, on June 22, marking a collaborative shift toward retro-infused pop with personal introspection at its core. The album features tracks co-produced with artists like Chen, including the title song "Gei" (translated as "Give"), which delves into themes of emotional vulnerability and the act of giving in relationships. For her work on the single "None of the Above" from Gei, Hsu won Producer of the Year (Single) at the 33rd Golden Melody Awards, highlighting her growing role as a multifaceted creator behind the scenes. In 2023, she won Best Composer at the 34th Golden Melody Awards for "Anything But," composed for Pei-Yu Hung's album Silver Lining.[1] The COVID-19 pandemic prompted Hsu to adapt through virtual performances, such as her appearance in the opening concert of the River Flows In You online series alongside Waa Wei in August 2020, providing fans with live music amid restrictions.[35] This period also saw her engage in cross-strait collaborations, including a duet with mainland Chinese singer Hu Xia on "Do You Know Deep Love" (入骨相思知不知), the theme song for the 2025 drama Love in Pavilion.[36] By 2025, Hsu had released six studio albums in total, along with poignant singles like "Elephant Funeral" (大象的葬禮) on July 18, 2025, the ending theme for the film Malice, solidifying her discography while expanding her reach beyond Taiwan.[37] Hsu's international presence grew through live tours and recordings, including her "Sometimes, Less is More" concert tour, which marked her first solo show in Singapore at The Star Theatre on August 8, 2025, as part of stops in Southeast Asia and Australia.[7] The tour emphasized intimate, heartfelt performances drawing from her catalog, complemented by contributions to drama soundtracks like Do You Know Deep Love, which blended her signature emotive style with orchestral elements to underscore themes of longing. These efforts reflected her evolving artistry, balancing domestic acclaim with broader Asian audiences.Musical style and artistry
Influences and evolution
Lala Hsu's musical style draws heavily from Taiwanese cultural traditions, particularly incorporating elements of koa-a-hi opera, a form of Taiwanese folk opera, into her compositions. This integration creates a unique narrative approach that blends operatic techniques with contemporary Mandopop structures, often sung in a mix of Mandarin and Hokkien (Fujian dialect) to evoke emotional depth and cultural resonance.[1] Her early exposure to self-composed pieces during her participation in singing competitions further shaped this foundation, emphasizing simplicity and personal expression over commercial trends.[1] Hsu's artistry has evolved significantly since her debut, transitioning from the pop ballads that defined her 2009 self-titled album, characterized by heartfelt, alternative-tinged melodies, to more experimental explorations in later works. By 2022's Gei, her sound incorporated offbeat, retro pop elements through collaborative production, marking a departure toward innovative arrangements that prioritize sonic playfulness and genre-blending.[38][39] This progression reflects her growing confidence in vocal versatility, including nuanced falsetto usage to convey vulnerability and range.[40] As of 2025, her recent singles like "Elephant Funeral" continue to showcase this evolution with poignant, introspective themes.[41] Personal milestones, such as motherhood following the birth of her son in late 2020, have profoundly influenced stylistic shifts in her post-2020 output, infusing her music with renewed themes of renewal and introspection. These life experiences prompted a move away from her earlier slow-burning introspection toward more dramatic and liberated expressions, allowing her to balance familial roles with artistic innovation.[40][42]Songwriting and themes
Lala Hsu is renowned for her hands-on approach to songwriting, having composed and written the majority of tracks across her discography, including seven self-composed tracks on her debut album and continuing this practice in subsequent releases.[43] Her technique often employs metaphorical storytelling to convey emotional depth, as seen in the song "Missing," where the narrative of a "missing person" symbolizes not only the loss of a loved one but also the fear of self-diminishment in relationships, blending paranoia, anxiety, and vulnerability into a grounded exploration of love's complexities.[38] Central to Hsu's lyrics are recurring themes of love, self-reflection, and resilience, which she articulates through refined, narrative-driven prose that occasionally incorporates elements of Taiwanese koa-ā opera for cultural resonance.[1] In earlier works like Limits, these motifs manifest as youthful explorations of romance, capturing the exuberance and uncertainties of initial emotional entanglements. Over time, her songwriting evolves toward greater introspective maturity, evident in The Inner Me, where themes deepen into personal growth and emotional fortitude amid life's adversities. Beyond her solo catalog, Hsu has extended her songwriting talents through collaborations with peers, including co-writing "Riding a White Horse" with composer Gideon Su, for which she received a nomination for Best Composer at the Golden Melody Awards, and contributions to tracks like "Ao Jiao" alongside artists A-Mei and Eve Ai.[1][44]Other ventures
Acting roles
Lala Hsu has ventured selectively into the film industry primarily through her vocal performances, lending her distinctive voice to original soundtracks that enhance narrative themes of romance, fantasy, and emotional introspection. In 2014, she contributed the theme song "One Minute More" (只要一分鐘) to the Taiwanese romantic comedy A Minute More, directed by Chen Hui-ling. Her tender, introspective delivery captured the film's exploration of fleeting relationships and personal growth, receiving positive feedback for seamlessly integrating with the story's heartfelt tone. Hsu's involvement in the 2016 animated fantasy Big Fish & Begonia marked her first major cinematic voice contribution, where she performed the ending theme "Cool as the Wind" (湫兮如風) as well as "It's Cold Without Your Love," the latter earning a nomination for Best Original Film Song at the 53rd Golden Horse Awards.[45] The songs' ethereal quality complemented the film's mythical underwater world and themes of sacrifice and rebirth, with critics praising her nuanced phrasing, which added emotional depth to the animation's visual poetry.[46] That same year, she sang the theme song "Singing You" (唱你) for the live-action romantic drama Love O2O, adapted from a popular novel and starring Jing Boran and Zheng Shuang. Hsu's warm, melodic interpretation underscored the film's portrayal of virtual-to-real love, with audiences noting how her vocals amplified the story's youthful idealism and heartfelt connections. Building on these, Hsu continued providing OST vocals for films, such as "Foolish Love" for the 2019 Taiwanese romantic comedy Fall in Love at First Kiss, where her playful yet poignant style tied into her broader musical artistry without venturing into on-screen roles.Television and variety appearances
Lala Hsu gained significant visibility in mainland China through her participation in the fourth season of the singing competition I Am a Singer on Hunan Television in 2016, where she competed as a contestant, winning the first episode but ultimately being eliminated in the finals.[1] Her performances, including covers of songs like "Practice Love" and original tracks, showcased her vocal versatility and emotional depth, earning praise from judges and audiences alike.[30] In 2017, Hsu made a guest appearance on episode 13 of Singer 2017, the sixth season of the revamped series, further solidifying her presence in the competitive singing format.[2] She returned as a full contestant in Singer 2020 (also known as Ge shou dang da zhi nian), appearing in 12 episodes and placing fifth overall, where her renditions of ballads and rock-infused tracks highlighted her adaptability in high-stakes live settings.[2] These appearances on Singer extended her reach beyond Taiwan, introducing her music to broader Chinese audiences and boosting streaming numbers for her discography. Hsu continued to engage in variety programming in the 2020s, including a guest spot on episode 41 of Hello, Saturday in 2025, a popular talk and entertainment show where she discussed her career and performed snippets of recent work.[2] She also competed in The Treasured Voice season 5 in 2024, blending competitive elements with variety segments that emphasized her songwriting process. In early 2025, Hsu promoted her original soundtracks for dramas such as Love in Pavilion ("Do You Know Deep Love") and Forget You Not ("Future Yesterday") through television interviews and performance slots on music variety programs, aligning her musical contributions with narrative storytelling.[47] These television and variety outings have notably expanded Hsu's fanbase, fostering crossover appeal by transitioning her from intense singing challenges to more conversational talk show formats, which humanized her artistry and attracted diverse listeners across the Mandarin-speaking world.[48] Her strategic participation in such platforms has not only amplified her popularity in mainland China but also reinforced her reputation as a multifaceted entertainer.[2]Personal life
Marriage and family
Lala Hsu married Taiwanese director Bill Chia in August 2018, following a three-year courtship that began in 2015.[49][50] The couple registered their marriage privately, with Hsu announcing the news on Weibo while emphasizing their desire for a low-profile ceremony without publicizing guest details.[49] The couple welcomed their first child, a son, on December 6, 2020.[51] Hsu shared the birth announcement on social media with a simple photo of her baby's ankles, maintaining their preference for privacy in family matters.[51] Their second child, a daughter, was born on December 17, 2022, which Hsu similarly announced briefly online without further personal disclosures.[52] Hsu has described embracing marriage and parenthood as significant life changes that come with new responsibilities, noting in a 2023 interview that these shifts have reduced the time she dedicates to music compared to earlier in her career.[53] Despite this, she continues to balance her professional commitments by returning to songwriting and performances as a way to express personal freedom, while prioritizing a low-key family life away from the spotlight.[53][51]Philanthropy and interests
Hsu has been actively involved in philanthropic efforts supporting underprivileged youth and child welfare in Taiwan and internationally. Since 2023, she has served as an ambassador for World Vision Taiwan, participating in an eight-day humanitarian trip to Uganda to witness the challenges faced by vulnerable girls, including child labor and lack of education access; she subsequently advocated for the "Sponsor 1000 Girls" campaign to combat these issues by promoting sponsorships for education and empowerment programs. In 2025, Hsu became the spokesperson for the Jingjuan Foundation's "Little Yellow Hat Traffic Safety Public Welfare Project," emphasizing child pedestrian safety through public service announcements and family-oriented initiatives, drawing from her experiences as a mother to promote awareness of traffic hazards affecting young children.[54][55][56] Beyond charity, Hsu's personal interests reflect a contemplative lifestyle centered on self-reflection and exploration. She has expressed a deep passion for travel, as evidenced by her journeys for humanitarian purposes, such as the Africa trip that inspired her reflections on global inequities and personal growth. Reading and introspective pursuits also play a role in her routine, informing her artistic process and helping her navigate life's complexities, though she maintains a low-key approach to these hobbies. Environmental advocacy appears in her broader worldview, aligned with sustainable living themes in her public discussions, though specific campaigns are not prominently documented.[53] Post-2020, Hsu has increasingly focused on mental health awareness, integrating themes of emotional well-being and self-compassion into her music and interviews. Her 2017 album Psychology (心裡學), recontextualized in later works, explores inner psychological states through songs like "The Prayer" (言不由衷), which serves as a dedication to self-love and emotional resilience amid personal pressures. In subsequent interviews, she has discussed balancing motherhood and career demands, highlighting the importance of mental rest and family integration in maintaining psychological health, often dedicating performances to themes of renewal and inner child nourishment. These efforts underscore her commitment to fostering public conversations on emotional vulnerability.[57][58]Discography
Studio albums
Lala Hsu has released six studio albums since her debut in 2009, all produced under the AsiaMuse Entertainment label, showcasing her evolution as a singer-songwriter in Mandopop. Her releases consistently feature introspective lyrics and melodic arrangements, with track counts ranging from 10 to 11 songs per album. These albums have contributed to her commercial success in Taiwan, with cumulative sales exceeding several hundred thousand units across her catalog, though specific figures vary by release.[41]| Title | Release Date | Label | Tracks | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lala Hsu (LaLa首張創作專輯) | May 29, 2009 | AsiaMuse Entertainment Co., Ltd. | 11 | Self-titled debut featuring original compositions from her time on the TV show One Million Star, establishing her as a promising new artist.[59] |
| Limits (極限) | September 3, 2010 | AsiaMuse Entertainment Co., Ltd. | 10 | Second album exploring themes of personal boundaries, earning early critical acclaim for Hsu's vocal range and songwriting.[22] |
| Ideal Life (理想人生) | June 6, 2012 | AsiaMuse Entertainment Co., Ltd. | 10 | Third release incorporating pre-existing tracks from online platforms, highlighting her grassroots fanbase growth.[25] |
| Missing (尋人啟事) | June 13, 2014 | AsiaMuse Entertainment Co., Ltd. | 11 | Fourth album delving into loss and search motifs, noted for its emotional depth and strong performances.[27] |
| The Inner Me (心裡學) | December 27, 2017 | AsiaMuse Entertainment Co., Ltd. | 11 | Fifth album focusing on psychological introspection, which received widespread recognition for its mature artistry.[32] |
| Gei (給) | June 22, 2022 | AsiaMuse Entertainment Co., Ltd. | 11 | Sixth and latest release, which topped the Taiwan album charts upon debut, blending pop with electronic elements.[60] |