Tia Ray hits a high note

Now, with six Chinese albums to her name, she is ready to bring the soulful spirit of her Chinese identity to listeners worldwide. On Feb 6,Yuan will release her debut English-language album, New Day — a move she describes as her first step toward truly connecting with the world.

Crafted over three years, the album consists of 12 tracks that showcase different facets of Yuan as a singer.

For example, the prerelease single Cold uses a simple acoustic guitar arrangement layered with soft vocals to create an intimate, whisper-like atmosphere, highlighting the purity of her voice. Meanwhile, the track Pressure features Afro and reggae rhythms, unfolding as a vibrant and passionate song.

The production involved Grammy-winning musicians, such as Antonio Dixon and Tiara Thomas from the United States, though Yuan remained at the helm throughout.

"I acted as the main producer. I really put effort and ideas into the whole album from the beginning to the end," she says.

Much of the album grew out of writing camps that gathered creators from various cultural backgrounds.

Yuan recalls one especially productive session: "We had producers from different countries and styles spread across six rooms. I'd move from room to room every hour or so to introduce myself and hum ideas. Then I'd circle back to each room to hear how things were developing."

By the end of the day, they had created six demos. Her role was to listen and choose the one that resonated most, the song that would eventually earn its place on New Day.

In the summer of 2024, while competing on the reality show Riding Wind, Yuan had an intense schedule.

The show, which featured female contestants all aged over 30, required them to live together in Changsha, Hunan province, train in dance for at least eight hours a day, and juggle group rehearsals, media interviews and other commitments.

Despite the grueling pace and severe sleep deprivation, Yuan still managed to fly to Indonesia for a two-day stay in a songwriting camp that gathered musicians from around the world.

To use every possible minute, she slept on the floor of the studio, waking up to brainstorm and write alongside other artists.

"My body was exhausted, but mentally, I felt completely free and even healed," she recalls.

Within those two days, she co-wrote three songs, two of which were later selected for her upcoming English album.

After this creative interlude, she returned to Changsha reenergized, ready to resume the competition with new focus.

Those around her are often amazed by her seemingly boundless energy.

On stage, she often presents herself with bold red lips, voluminous waves and formfitting gowns, delivering effortless vocal runs and explosive high notes with charismatic control.

Offstage, she moves between roles with a seemingly tireless and focused energy.