Chinese-German artist LIA LIA continues the journey towards her debut album Armor with ‘Adore You’, a cinematic alt-pop slow burner that gradually reveals a more powerful side. Following previous singles ‘Audacity’ and ‘Boogiepop Blitzkrieg Blob’, the track sees LIA LIA embracing a more instrumentation-led sound while balancing vulnerability with a growing sense of strength.
At just over two-and-a-half minutes, ‘Adore You’ doesn’t waste time, yet it never feels in a hurry to reach its destination. LIA LIA’s sultry vocal draws you in first, simmering above the restrained alt-pop instrumentation before the track begins to gather momentum. Right towards the end, jagged guitars push their way to the surface and her voice becomes increasingly powerful and cathartic. It’s not quite the huge, explosive grunge crescendo you might expect, but that’s what makes it work; the release feels emotional rather than purely sonic, with vulnerability gradually giving way to something stronger.
That cinematic quality carries through to the accompanying video, with its moody visuals giving ‘Adore You’ the atmosphere of a dark coming-of-age teen drama – the kind where complicated relationships, heightened emotions and late-night introspection are never far away. Short, slow-burning and quietly cathartic, ‘Adore You’ proves LIA LIA doesn’t need a massive explosion to make an impact.
