#Eva Liu

[ubykh]

mui zyu - everything to die for

Don’t try to say sorry if you don’t mean it You might regret it

[fairynisse]

There are Asian men out there who think Asian women deserve to be killed simply for existing in the proximity of a white man.

[sinceileftyoublog]

mui zyu Interview: Embracing the Chaos

mui zyu

JORDAN MAINZER

Pop experimenter mui zyu--the stage name for London-based artist Eva Liu--combines explorations of her heritage with wide-eyed, open-hearted dives into the modern world. Born in Northern Ireland to parents who were Hong Kong immigrants, Liu grew up studying more classical art before choosing to pursue film studies at university. Her first foray into recording music was as lead vocalist of alt rock trio Dama Scout; she released her debut EP as mui zyu in 2021. mui zyu's debut album, Rotten Bun for an Eggless Century reckoned with ideas of identity and lineage but also memory and perception, Liu continuing her tradition of using field and voice recordings from her family. But it was a mere year later where Liu took the biggest artistic leap.

On miu zyu's second album nothing or something to die for (Father/Daughter), Liu's themes and soundscapes expanded beyond bedroom pop, beyond her head. Fittingly, it was her first time not recording at home. With a grant from the PRS Foundation, Liu and her longtime collaborator Luciano Rossi were able to set up at Middle Farm Studios in Devon, sessions that challenged Liu to take her sound to the next level, increasing her use of vocal manipulation and pedal wizardry. Its genre aesthetics are wonderfully all over the place. Scraped, raw acoustic guitar-led love song "everything to die for" is sandwiched between whirring synth-and-drum machine jam "the mould" and the melancholic, Postal Service-esque "donna like parasites". "speak up sponge", meanwhile, is a string-laden, comparative dirge. Album closer “扮豬食老虎”, with piano, sampled vocals from Liu's family, echoing field recordings, and decaying synths, exists somewhere between Rotten Bun and William Basinski's The Disintegration Loops.

What's also special about nothing or something to die for is that Liu was able to work with like-minded artists. Miss Grit, whose work also uses fantastical, sci-fi themes to investigate identity, lends her vocals to "please be ok", a song about not being honest with yourself about your feelings in the presence of others. She and Liu harmonize, eventually over a drum machine beat, only to be subsumed by faster tempos and distortion, as if to remind themselves it's important to let it all out in the beginning, else you're drowned out. Father/Daughter labelmate Pickle Darling features on "in the dot", providing strikingly atonal vocals to go along side warbling synths on a song that reminds us that momentary happiness is preferable to the destructive pursuit of perfection. Perhaps most meaningful to Liu, though, was getting to work with lei, e, aka Emma Lee Moss (fka Emmy the Great). Liu looked up to Moss, another Hong Kong British artist in the indie music scene, for years before getting to work with her, eventually opening for her and singing Cantonese covers with her at the Hackney Chinese Community Centre in London. For their first proper original song collaboration, mui zyu and lei, e take us on a sonic odyssey, adding to the album's canvas of synths, drum machines, and guitar distortion with off-kilter piano, noise, and then a quiet hum.

In September, mui zyu released nothing or something to die for (Cantonese tasting menu), 5 songs from the album translated into Cantonese. It was an opportunity for Liu to work with not only Moss but her father, for hours over the phone, on translating the lyrics. The specific songs picked are a perfect encapsulation of mui zyu's current diverse sensibilities; if you wanted to get a sense for who she is as an artist, ironically, I'd tell you to start there. Most exciting is that mui zyu remains unpredictable, the type of artist who could go in one of many different directions and will probably pick the least expected route.

Last year, I spoke with Liu over Zoom about her songwriting process and picking collaborators on nothing or something to die for, as well as how film inspires her music. Read our conversation below, edited for length and clarity.

nothing or something to die for cover art

Since I Left You: Now that nothing or something to die for has been out for a while, has your relationship with the music changed because you've gotten outside reception?

Eva Liu: I don't think it's changed. I finished the album [in October 2023]. We got it to a place where I was really happy with it. I haven't said goodbye to it, [but] once it's out of your control, you let it do its thing.

SILY: With the addition of videos, the album has a whole visual identity. It almost seems like nothing or something to die for is more than an album, like a conceptual world.

EL: Because [my] first [record] had a concept that arrived naturally, I didn't want this album to has as much of a concept. But it has definitely formed its own little world naturally. In a way, it's looking outwards as opposed to inwards like the first album. There wasn't a narrative I was building--the songs just go well together. Putting it together was kind of chaotic, and the album is about embracing chaos, so it seems like that was meandering throughout it.

SILY: Did you study film?

EL: I studied Film Studies at university. It wasn't practical or about making a film, but it was about film theory, kind of like [what Art History is to art.] I actually didn't want to go to uni, but I didn't know what to do. I love film, so that's why I chose [to study Film Studies.]

SILY: You've certainly mentioned a lot of direct filmic inspirations on some of these songs. How do you connect the film world to the music world? How do those inspirations, like 2001: A Space Odyssey on "satan marriage" or Blue Velvet on "sparky", come about?

EL: I don't really write with film in mind. I do have a sort of vision with the songs, and having been so influenced by film in the past, I am inspired a lot by images and art and how [movies are made.] Sometimes, if I want to capture a certain feeling in a song or video, I'll reference certain pieces of work that I love. But I'm not wanting to write about film, if that makes sense. It's just something that helps me creatively.

SILY: The folks you collaborated with on this record are everyone from those you looked up to in the past to your peers and a Father/Daughter labelmate. How did you choose your list of collaborators, and what does it mean to you to have this group in particular on the record?

EL: lei, e was someone I looked up to in my journey with music and identified with, having not seen many artists who are from Hong Kong or Hong Kong British, especially in the indie scene. I loved her music, and she was definitely a role model for me. I had reached out [three] years ago on the off chance she wanted to collaborate, and we've done a few things together since. [pauses] Oh, that's funny, she just texted me. [laughs] We ended up doing shows together and events at the Hackney Chinese Community Centre here in London, on Cantonese translations for songs, and a whole bunch of other stuff. She's become a very dear friend of mine. I really wanted to work with her on [an original] song, which is why she was one of the people I wanted on this album. She's got such a nice voice as well.

Miss Grit is someone I met [two years ago.] I loved their guitar playing. We just got chatting, and it was great to collaborate. These artists, I didn't directly pursue them to work with, but when I was writing this album, there would be some songs I had in mind for collaboration, and certain artists made sense for what I felt the song needed. Pickle Darling, we're on the same label, and I love their whole sound and delivery.

SILY: Did the lyrics or the concepts come before the instrumentation?

EL: Usually, in my music, the instrumentation comes first and lyrics after. I sort of tend to write based on a feeling and how that feels on an instrument. I'm actually not very good with words in general. I find it easier to translate what I'm trying to create with music as opposed to words.

SILY: Throughout the record, there's such an interplay between what you're saying and what the song's about, and the way the songs are constructed. You play a lot with tempo, and I feel like it's somewhere between thrilling and disorienting. It's a very effective contrast to the songs. Was that intentional?

EL: There's definitely a relationship. The music is based on a certain feeling or message I'm trying to portray, and the words come together and arrive gradually. Sometimes, they come to me much quicker than others. It takes a bit more time with lyrics [for me.]

SILY: Is the title "telephone congee" named after the term that suggests it should take the length of a phone call to cook congee?

EL: It's actually to do with the length of time you're on the phone, if you're talking too long, you're boiling congee. My mom and aunt would be on the phone for ages, and my dad would be like, "You're talking so much, it's like telephone congee." It's quite colloquial, but it means you're on the phone too much.

SILY: Are the two "telephone congee" interludes plus the final track, "扮豬食老虎", all sampled vocals from your family?

EL: That's my mom speaking Cantonese. She was also on the first album as well. I need to stop getting my family to do stuff. [laughs]

SILY: They've been on everything, right?

EL: Yeah. Even the first EP. My niece and nephew were on [a record], and my dad was on the first record. It's been a nice way for me to do something with them. They're quite far away. My parents are in Hong Kong, and my sister and brother are spread out. Growing up, music wasn't that encouraged. [My parents] encouraged piano lessons and to learn classical music, but not as a career. They must have gotten around to the idea that music is more than a hobby. It's kind of like letting them in to my world, having them send me voice notes or sing on stuff.

SILY: Do they know the voice notes they send are going to be used on your music?

EL: They do, but sometimes, my mom will send me a voice note, and I'll ask, "Can I put this on a song?" and she won't really know what it's for.

SILY: Can you tell me about the album art?

EL: The album art was done by a friend who calls herself Waffle Burger. She's a great artist, a painter. She does these incredible apocalyptic paintings that have this kind of eerie but cute element to them. I felt like that's how my music feels like at times. I like things that are juxtaposing. I actually bought one of her small paintings. We were chatting more when we were working on this album, and I thought of her to do it, and she was receptive. We discussed what sort of vibe it would be, and I picked out things I liked in her work. Her understanding on the album was translated into this strange cave with these creatures. I didn't ask her to, but my cat's in it, in the little picture frame.

SILY: Are you the type of artist always writing songs, or do you have to set aside time to do it?

EL: I wish I could be someone who's just constantly creating, but I'm someone who has to set aside time to focus on it. I noodle on guitar quite a bit, but when it comes to writing, I have to set aside time.

SILY: Is there anything you've been listening to, watching, or reading lately that's caught your attention?

EL: Recently, I've been listening to a lot of Sun Ra and Xiu Xiu. I went to see MaXXXine at the cinema. I enjoyed that; that was fun. Me and my friends have been watching a lot of horror movies. I watched Scanners and loved it and re-watched The Wicker Man, one of my favorite films--the 1973 version, not the Nicolas Cage one. I watched some interesting horror films my friend was keen on seeing, like Paranormal Activity 2--my friends were having a [marathon], and I joined for the 2nd. It's not something I normally watch. I think they watched all 7? I didn't even know there were 7 Paranormal Activity [films.] I've been listening to The Blindboy Podcast.

Tour dates

2/24: El Cid, Los Angeles, CA

2/27: Public Records, Brooklyn, NY

3/1: Wavelength Winter Festival, Toronto, Canada

3/29, Far East Film Festival. Udine, Italy

[weclassybouquetfun]

Let's hear it for the boys Kens!

What an homage.

At the end of Ryan's performance he pulls a necklace out of his shirt and kisses it. I assume it's the necklace he had made for his partner Eva Mendes.

You better be home soon.

[dorkyfries]

thought i'd try posting something on tumblr for once, here is my rogue yujing, my paladin annette, and my cleric eva ✌️

[illuminatedquill]

It’s the same story. And we tell it again and again and again . . .

[imperfectfragilediary]

The Row Autumn/Winter 2024

Karolin Wolter, Kristen McMenamy, Diane Chiu, Liu Wen, Rianne Van Rompaey & Eva Herzigova by Jamie Hawkesworth

Styled by Brian Molloy

[gt-icons]

Random Actress icons

‒ like or reblog if you save

[lacepockets]

[eldritchqueerture]

kinda insane how scary this podcast is. jesus christ. what is even going on

[beautifulgiants]

Guillermo at the Oscars '24

Sir Ben Kingsley, Willie Burton, Paul Giamatti, Rita Moreno, Jodie Foster, Cord Jefferson, Tim Cook, Simu Liu, Dominic Sessa, Josh Hartnett, Chris Hemsworth, Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Dwayne Johnson, Matthew McConaughy, Danielle Brooks, Ke Huy Quan, Jeffrey Wright, Florence Pugh, Melissa McCarthy, Eva Longoria and Charlize Theron

[medievalandfantasymelee]

👑🌹The Queen of Love and Beauty🌹👑

Round 1 (6 of 6)

The Queen of Love and Beauty shall hold the honour of presenting unto the winner of the Tournament his Champion's Coronet.

Vote for the lady who, to you, best exemplifies feminine dignity, grace and loveliness

The six contenders with the most votes will advance.

Row 1 - Aykız Hatun [Hande Subaşı], Diriliş: Ertuğrul (2014-2019) - Sibylla of Jerusalem [Eva Green], Kingdom of Heaven (2005) - Tamina [Gemma Arterton], Prince of Persia (2010)

Row 2 - Sheng Minglan [Zhang Liying], The Story of Minglan (2018) - Mu Nihuang [Liu Tao], Nirvana in Fire (2015-2018) - Jiang Yanli [Xuan Lu], The Untamed (2019)

Row 3 - Devasena [Anushka Shetty], Baahubali (2017) - Padmavati [Deepika Padukone], Padmaavat (2018) - Hürrem Sultan [Meryem Uzleri], Magnificent Century {Muhteşem Yüzyıl} (2017-2019)

Row 4 - Alexandra [Geraldine Viswanathan], Miracle Workers: The Dark Ages (2020) - Bronwyn [Nazanin Bonialdi], The Rings of Power (2022-) - Jade Claymore [Erin Kellyman], Willow (2022)

[nocturnalazure]

A-Z Challenge: List your sims in order, trying to complete the alphabet (1)

Thanks for tagging me, @wannabecatwriter!

Here is the veeeery long list of all of my Sims (318 in total). Keep in mind that I've started playing the game in 2009, and that the story has properly started in 2012. I've got the whole alphabet. ;)

It's so long that Tumblr refused to save my post and I have to do it in 2 parts...

This is A to L.

Abigail (Abby) Golzine Adam Jamsheed Adeline Moya Adonis Golzine Adrian Savigny Agnès Sorel Aiden Fangmann Alain Sedat Alan Blake Aleksander Pedersen Alesha Drudge Alex Cooper Amber Fangmann Amelia Leneuf Amina Nagi Andrew Lee Ange Golzine Anh Wong Anna Daumillier Annabelle Duval Annette Babin Araime Nugtyub Ashley Blake Aymen Chaumier Babeth Lauper Bao Hei Basil Lazlo Beau Merrick Belinda Angelista Benedict Murdoch Benjamin Duval Béranger Golzine Bindweed Startree Bjorn Carlsen Blaise Collinson Bonehilda Bouchra Zayat Brianna Drudge Buttercup Icewitch Cain Simson Candice Hamming Carmen Benavides Caroline Duval Cash Cedric Corcoran Céleste Duval Charlene Scott Charlie Chester Crewe Chikage Umeda Chloe Savigny Chris Daumillier Christine Crastaing Claire Jamsheed Clara Randall Clemence Blake Cordelia Savigny Daisy Fleury Daniel Simson Darrick Bohn Deirdre Macmullen Devon Lucas Devon Murray Dorothea Heilmann Dot Dounia Zayat Drake Striker Ebenezer Clavier Ed Grant Edwin Macmullen Elaine West Eleanore Ngoyta Elias Alverstoke Elie Abebah Elizabeth Ellingford Ella Macmullen Elliott Granger Eloise Simson Elsie Elvira Slayer Emilia Ferguson Emily Golzine Emmy Sedat Enrico Pinero Erik Zay Esther Atkins Eton Jamsheed Eugene Dodds Eva Drudge Eve Fangmann Evelyn Parsons Evelyne Cornel Ezra Murray Faith Blake Fanglin Wong Feather Willowglitter Fei Wong Felipe Benavides Fidget Peppertree Filiberto Moya Finn Lucas Frank Parsons Frederick Golzine Gabriel Leneuf Georgia Pastorini Gilles De Rais Gina Ashford Giselle Blake Gladys Moon Evendale Gloria Deville Grace Moya Hasan Badr Al-Din Hector Parsons Hector Zayat Helena Wong Henry Cornel Henry Tartleton Holly Huey Huaixin Wong Hugo de Lalaing Ian Strickland Irma Parsons Ivy Brooks Jacob Golzine James Parsons Jamie Steel Jeong Sen Myung Jeremy Simson Jessica Lazlo Jessie Cooper Jezebel Jie Lan Jim Parsons Joakim Ferguson Johan Blake Jonathan (Jay) Leneuf José Luis Simson Joshua Deville Juan Salas Julia Layton Julian Blake Juliet Striker Juniper Catfrost Karen Ferguson Karl Leneuf Karolina Drudge Katelyn Missoni Katherine Golzine Keith Blake Kelly Frazier Ken Takemura Kendra Deville Khadija Rkha Khari Simson Kheops Zayat Kojub Iowal Kyle Delmott Kylian Lazlo Lance Terrell Laura Leneuf Lauren Nettles Lawrence (Laurie) Golzine Layla Lazlo Lea Daumillier Leona Ferguson Leonard Heilmann Li Wong Liang Wong Lilian Drudge Lilith Ellingford Lisa Simson Liu Lu Logan Jones Louis Simson Louise Heilmann-Cooper Luca Pastorini Lucas Blake Lucille Daumilllier Lucy Blake Ludo Golzine Luisa Guerrini Lulu Dia Luna Golzine

[dalekofchaos]

Mortal Kombat fancast(new)

Simu Liu as Liu Kang

Glenn Powell as Johnny Cage

Charlize Theron as Sonya Blade

Ken Watanabe as Raiden

Henry Golding as Sub-Zero/Noob Saibot/Bi-Han

Andrew Koji as Scorpion

Manu Benett as Kano

Rory McCann as Goro

Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as SHang Tsung(Old, WHO ELSE???)

Tony Leung as Shang Tsung(Young)

Bill Skarsgard as Reptile

Iko Uwais as Kung Lao

Aldis Hodge as Jackson "Jax" Briggs

Elodie Yung as Kitana/Milenena

Zoe Saldana as Jade

Harry Shum Jr. as Sub-Zero/Kuai-Liang

Justin H. Min as Smoke

Brian Tee as Sektor

Chiwetel Ejiofor as Cyrax

Scott Adkins as Baraka

Conan Stevens as Kintaro

Dave Bautista as Shao Kahn

Eugene Brave Rock as Nightwolf

John Cena as Stryker

Jon Bernthal as Kabal

Michelle Yeoh as Sindel

Jade Cargill as Sheeva

Nathan Jones as Motaro

Doug Jones as Ermac

Because of Tumblr's stupid 30 picture limit, I cannot add more pictures, so here’s the rest.

Larry Lam as Rain

Jonathan Patrick Foo as Chameleon

Karen Fukuhara as Khameleon

Jet Li as Fujin

Sonoya Mizuno as Sareena

Brenda Song as Kia

Javicia Leslie as Jataaka

Anna Diop as Tanya

Jai Courtney as Jarek

Karl Urban as Reiko

Mads Mikkelsen as Shinnok

Hoon Lee as Quan Chi

Benedict Wong as Bo Rai Cho

Lewis Tan as Kenshi

Yvonne Chapman as Li Mei

Emma Myers as Frost

Peter Mensah as Drahmin

Derek Mears as Moloch

Charles Melton as Mavado

Ron Yuan as Hsu Hao

Alexandra Daddario as Nitara

Gordon Liu as Shujinko

Constance Wu as Ashrah

Donnie Yen as Hotaru

Daniel Wu as Dairou

Mahershala Ali as Darrius

Matt Smith as Havik

Dominic Sherwood as Kobra

Kristen Stewart as Kira

Keith David as Onaga

Ian McKellen as Argus

Eva Green as Delia

Tom Hardy as Taven

Mark Strong as Daegon

Ron Pearlman as Blaze

Jessica Henwick as Skarlet

Milly Alcock as Cassie Cage

Delainey Hayles as Jacqui Briggs

Mackenyu as Takeda Takahashi

Ludi Lin as Kung Jin

Winston Duke as Kotal Kahn

Tao Okamoto as D’Vorah

Jensen Ackles as Erron Black

Dafne Keen and Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson as Ferra/Torr

Tony Jaa as Tremor

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Geras

Emily Blunt as Cetrion

Tilda Swinton as Kronika

[alldancersaretalented]

Dancers attending P21 Intensive

??

Olivia Elise Victoria Nikolovva

AM Dance

Aurora Monroe

Ale Mancillas Dance Studio

Balbina Cueva

Allegro Performing Arts Academy

Arina Bryzgunova Bella Verbera-Hernandez

Aspirations Dance Company

Lola Nelms

Avanti Dance Company

Hayden Goren Eva Graziano Mia Menji Kaylee Randeniya Rosie Zahoul Sans Blair Tennant

Capitol Dance Company

Malia ?

Center Stage Performing Arts

Tommie Milazzo

Club Dance Studio

Brooklyn Besch Emma Kleve Claire Pistor

Dance Alliance of Camarillo

Shiloh Lark Farrah ?

Dance Dimensions Performic Arts Center

Victoria Safahi Serena Wilcox

DanceDynamicsLV

Lyla Haider

Dance Collective DC

Janelle Liu

Dance Edge Studios

Antonia Zanin

Dance Magic Performic Company

Savannah Lee

Dance Makers of Atlanta

Nola Paulina

Danceology

Ella Bustillos Hudson Hensley Ella Nani Knight Ella Koehnen Soleil Lynch Aria McCrea Cheyenne Ringerman Sydney Swinehart

Dance Republic

Graisyn Clare

Dansé Escuela de Danza

Alexa Ahumada Marielisa Portillo Isabella Trabucco

DC Dance Factory

Pay Lynch

Dolce Dance Studio

Brixtyn Cappo

École de dance Louise

Léonie Macorig

Edge Studios

Sienna ? Aria Giusti

Encore ELite

Leona Zariel

Epic Motion Dance Studio

Maria Sofia Rodríguez Mia Sofia Covarrubias Tinoco

Essence of Dance

Ava Killam Makena Killam Briar ?

Eternal Dance Company

Maddie Kronenberg

Evoke Dance Movement

Emmy Claire

Evolution Dance

Scarlett O'Neil

Evolve Dance Center

Maria Belen Salido

Evolve Dance Centre

Izabella Modarresi

Excel Performing Arts

Emma Sheff

Fusion Dance Omaha

Gigi Murray

Glass House Dance

Eden Cui

Groove Studios WA

Kaiden Koths Abby Mae

Hart Academy of Dance

Lydon Thach

Havilah Dance Company

Caitlyn Marie Malea Jade Moore

Inferno Dance Co

Maizie Smith

Instyle Dance Company

Jacilynn Mar

Janet Dunstans Dance Academy

Adeline Glenn

K2 Studios

Neriah Karmann Lennon Reign Jessica Sutton

Larkin Dance Studio

Matinly Conrad Palmer Petier

Legacy Dance Productions

Sophie Boonstra Paisley Clarke

Legacy Studio of Performing Arts

Brynne Smith

McKinley School of Dance

Teodora Narancic

Murrieta Dance Project

Khloe Cabrera Gracie Gilroy

N10 Dance Studio

Claire Avonne Kingston Madison Ng

No Limits Dance Academy

Ayanna Voulgaris

Nor Cal Dance Arts

Aria Davi Aubrey Paz Olyvia Reza

North Calgary Dance Centre

Ellie Blakley Georgia Blakley

OCPAA

Libby Haye

Onstage Dance Center - Los Alamitos

Adalyn Nicole

Pave San Diego

Eleanor Bullock Aryanna La Fontaine Cooper

Pave School of the Arts

Sofia Cuevas Stella Fisk Livi Matson

Perception Dance

Mabel James

Project 21

Ellie Anbarden Olivia Armstrong Lilly Barajas Sienna Carlston Kami Couch Katie Couch Kenzie Couch Airi Dela Cruz Stella Eberts Gracyn French Regan Gerena Richie Granese Mady Kim Brooklyn Ladia Leilani Lawlor Chloe Mirabel Savanna Musman Madelyn Nasu Avery Reyes Berkeley Scifres Bristyn Scifres Sara Von Rotz Leighton Werner

Project 520 Dance Studio

Adelynn ? Karli Heim Sasha Muratalieva

Queen City Dance

Annabel Speck

Seattle Storm Dance Troupe

Claire Clark

Shooting Stars Dance Studio

Karsyn Hernandez Malani Maliya

Stars Dance Studio

Hannah Burak Catherine Clayton Fabiana Pierleoni Elie Rabin

Starstruck Performing Arts Center KS

Kinley Winn

Steps Dance Center

Emmie Pitt

Studio Fusion

Harley Gross Juliet Anne Wydo

The Collaborative

Addison Cullather

The Company Space

Piper Perusse Stella Marcordes Vivian Marcordes

TheCREW

Isabella Tamayo

The Dance Collective DC

Eva Rogachevsky Quincy Thomas

The Dance Collective MD

Lyla Urban

The Dance Company of Los Gatos

Scarlett Blu Chloe Rose

The Vision Dance Alliance

Emily Polis

Utah Ballet Festival

Ruby Taylor

West Coast Dance Complex

Mila Barnett

Xtreme Dance Studio

Jocelyn Longroy

YYC Dance Project

Kinsley Oykhman