Adai Song — better known by her electrifying stage name ADÀI — is an electropop singer, producer, DJ, and songwriter splitting her time between New York City and Beijing. She’s not just making music; she’s reshaping what modern C-pop can sound like. Blending Chinese and Pan-Asian influences with sleek electronic production, ADÀI has carved out a space entirely her own — futuristic yet rooted, global yet deeply personal. On August 29th, she unveiled her latest body of work, The Bloom Project, an eight-track album that blossoms with emotion, energy, and creative freedom. Each song feels like a new petal unfolding, revealing different sides of who ADÀI is as both an artist and a storyteller. Let’s dive deeper into this radiant project and explore what makes it such a standout in the world of electronic pop.
The album kicks off with “A lost singer,” and the very first notes are an absolute stunner—the artist begins singing in Chinese, instantly drawing you into the music. It’s truly enthralling! While performed entirely in Chinese, the song tells a universally relatable story: that of the titular lost singer who bravely forges her own path, shattering restrictive rules. Musically, it’s a masterclass in emotional depth, using piano, bass, erhu, and violin to create a feeling of powerful stillness and quiet strength. What a magnificent way to start the journey!
The journey continues with “Night Shanghai.” The track opens with a serene, beautiful moment—just the piano and vocals—but then the energy explodes as the main beat kicks in. Even without understanding the Chinese lyrics, you feel the song’s central theme: the beautiful, isolating paradox of city living. It’s a world of bright lights and endless chances, but also profound loneliness. What makes it brilliant is the way it marries tradition and modernity, letting the graceful guzheng dance over driving EDM house beats and synth textures, totally nailing that tense, bustling metropolitan vibe.
The third track, “Make Way,” is a total blast. It opens with this bright, catchy melody that immediately sets a playful tone, then a huge, thumping beat drops, and the energy just explodes. I honestly loved the exhilarating rollercoaster ride this track took me on—it just got more exciting and infectious with every measure. What you’re hearing is a confident reimagining of a classic Chinese pop song, transformed into a powerful, modern declaration of self-assertion. But the real standout moment is the rap section—it’s phenomenal, truly an awesome, jaw-dropping highlight!
Featuring Lionzed, the track “I, I want” is up next, and it doesn’t waste any time! It explodes with an exciting, immediate pop vibe that just feels good. This song instantly resonated with me on a deeper level. But the absolute highlight has to be the rap performance; it was completely unforgettable and definitely gave me the final push I needed to embrace C-pop.
The album’s next stop is “Carmen 2025,” and it hits you instantly with a sharp orchestral melody—a moment that feels dramatic and unexpected. But don’t get too comfortable! Just when you think you have it figured out, the song picks up an incredible beat and momentum later on. The artist’s vocals sound absolutely heavenly, and I love how gracefully this track dances between so many different genres!
The record continues with “Wuxi Tune,” a fantastic collaboration featuring Siyi Chen. This song is a wild ride of genres! It greets you with cool jazz vibes, suddenly transforms into an infectious pop groove, and then beautifully settles back into a mellow jazz mood for a bit. The artist’s vocals are truly amazing—I’m counting down the minutes until listeners can experience this clever, genre-bending track.
Next up is “Wild Thorny Molihua,” which skips the intro and immediately launches into a captivating performance. The style is reminiscent of something Lorde would produce, establishing a cool, moody atmosphere. The artist sounds absolutely beautiful, and the way the music and her voice interlock is fantastic—the instrumentation feels completely tailored to her vocals. I was genuinely blown away by how well-executed this track is.
For the grand finale, we get “River Run.” The song opens with such a popping beat that my body reacted immediately—I just had to start moving! It’s an amazing track dedicated to the art of letting go and surrendering to the current, much like a river. It creates a deep, immersive trance with those looping basslines and consistent house kicks setting a relentless rhythm. The magic is in the detail: traditional instruments like the guzheng, yangqin, and shakuhachi gently weave in and out, making the whole thing sparkle with an effortless feeling of freedom and graceful movement. What a powerful way to wrap up the record!
It’s clear that Adai is a force in C-pop, and I’m so excited to follow her journey. She does an incredible job of blending modern sounds with the richness of her Chinese heritage. What truly resonated was the performance itself—even though I didn’t understand the songs, her delivery was so expressive that it told me everything I needed to know about her passion for this album. She aimed to connect us to her culture, and she absolutely crushed it. I’ll be eagerly anticipating whatever music Adai releases next!
Stream “The Bloom Project” on Spotify
Follow Adai Song here and her socials; Facebook, Instagram
