Liang Lawrence
{{Infobox musical artist
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = 2001/2002
| birth_place =
| origin = Devon, England
| genre = {{Flatlist|
}}
| occupation =
| instrument = {{Flatlist|
- Vocals
- guitar
- ukulele
}}
| years_active = 2020–present
| label = {{Flatlist|
- FrtyFive
- The Other Songs
}}
| website =
}}
Liang Lawrence (born 2001/2002) is a singer-songwriter based in East London, having started off in Devon. She was nominated for Rising Star at the 2025 Ivor Novello Awards.
Early life
Lawrence is half-English, half-Chinese{{Cite web|url=https://discover.ticketmaster.co.uk/music/liang-lawrence-interview-62686/|title=Liang Lawrence: "I try to tell stories in a way they haven't been told before"|work=Ticketmaster Discover|first=Caitlin|last=Devin|date=11 September 2024|accessdate=10 November 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://musomuso.com/news/introducing-we-caught-up-with-liang-lawrence-ahead-of-the-bbc-introducing-showcase-on-feb-1st|title=INTRODUCING: We caught up with Liang Lawrence ahead of the BBC Introducing Showcase on Feb 1st....|work=Muso Muso|date=9 January 2024|accessdate=10 November 2024}} and lived in eight different countries growing up due to her father's work. These included stints in the Midlands and London, as well as Japan, New Zealand, Malaysia, Kuwait and San Francisco.{{Cite web|url=https://atwoodmagazine.com/lwdg-liang-lawrence-whats-dead-and-gone-ep-interview-music-feature/|title=Interview: Liang Lawrence Combines Masterful Storytelling and Unforgettable Melodies on New EP 'What's Dead and Gone'|work=Atwood Magazine|first=Aaron|last=Childfree|date=7 August 2024|accessdate=10 November 2024}} Lawrence was given piano and violin lessons at a young age, but preferred to teach herself ukulele, songwriting and guitar later on. Lawrence graduated with a degree in Biology from the University of Exeter in 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://archive.thetab.com/uk/exeter/2022/10/31/meet-liang-lawrence-the-exeter-uni-grad-whos-just-got-a-record-deal-53331|title=Meet Liang Lawrence: The Exeter Uni grad who's just got a record deal|work=The Tab|first=Hermione|last=Blandford|date=31 October 2022|accessdate=10 November 2024}}
Career
Lawrence made an "impulsive lockdown decision" to self-release her first song "Santa Cruz" in 2020, with production help and support from her sister's husband.{{Cite web|url=https://onestowatch.com/en/blog/liang-lawrences-kiss-my-apocalypse-plus-sourdough-bread-and-colored-pencils-qanda|title=Liang Lawrence's "Kiss My Apocalypse," Plus Sourdough Bread & Colored Pencils [Q&A]|work=Ones To Watch|first=DJ|last=Connor|date=7 January 2025|accessdate=7 April 2025}} She gained an online following uploading videos to TikTok. Her next singles "Turns Out" and "Undercover Martyn" followed in 2022. She was invited to support James Gillespie at his Bristol concert that March.
In August 2023, Lawrence released her debut EP letters to myself.{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicmusingsandsuch.com/musicmusingsandsuch/2024/8/4/feature-spotlight-liang-lawrence|title=Feature: Spotlight: Liang Lawrence|work=Music and Musings|date=4 August 2024|accessdate=10 November 2024}} She collaborated with Will Joseph Cook on a track titled "(not) a love song". Lawrence had listened to Cook from a young age, and described the experience of working with him as "insane". She featured on the track "Indefinitely", part of Riley Pearce's album Your Turn Now.{{Cite web|url=https://thewildiscallingus.com/2024/02/26/emerging-folk-bryan-mcpherson-cat-rose-smith-riley-pearce-x-liang-lawrence-rose-brokenshire/|title=Emerging Folk – Bryan McPherson, Cat Rose Smith, Riley Pearce x Liang Lawrence, Rose Brokenshire|work=The Wild is Calling Us|date=26 February 2024|accessdate=7 April 2025}}
Lawrence's second EP What's Dead and Gone followed the next August,{{Cite web|url=https://melomaniacsmag.com/ep-review-whats-dead-and-gone-by-liang-lawrence/|title=EP Review: 'What's Dead and Gone' by Liang Lawrence|work=Melomaniacs|first=Melanie|last=Falkensteiner|accessdate=10 November 2024}} published via The Other Songs. The EP's singles included "Eulogy", "Use Me",{{Cite web|url=https://whenthehornblows.com/content/2024/6/20/liang-lawrence-use-me|title=Liang Lawrence - Use Me|work=When the Horn Blows|date=20 June 2024|accessdate=10 November 2024}} "If Only" and "Backseat". Lawrence was contacted by the alt-pop duo Honne, who invited her to join their China tour and feature as a vocalist on their August 2024 single "Say Thar You Will Wait for Me".{{Cite web|url=https://readdork.com/news/honne-single-say-that-you-will-wait-for-me/|title=HONNE reflect on missing loved ones with their new single 'Say That You Will Wait For Me', featuring Liang Lawrence|work=Dork|first=Sam|last=Taylor|date=9 August 2024|accessdate=10 November 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://1883magazine.com/artist-on-artist-honne-x-liang-lawrence/|title=Artist on Artist: HONNE X Liang Lawrence|work=1883 Magazine|date=15 August 2024|accessdate=10 November 2024}} Lawrence would reunite with the duo for their North America tour. She and Ella Jinks supported Matilda Mann at War Child's Day of the Girl event.{{Cite web|url=https://www.squareonemagazine.co.uk/reviews/warchild2024livereview|title=War Child 2024: Day of the Girl|work=Square One Magazine|first=Alex|last=Shukri|date=14 October 2024|accessdate=10 November 2024}} Later that year in December, Lawrence released the single "Kiss My Apocalypse".{{Cite web|url=https://www.thelunacollective.co/journal/review-liang-lawrence|title=Review: Liang Lawrence Romanticizes Chaos and Longs for Everlasting Love with "Kiss My Apocalypse"|work=The Luna Collective|first=Nthatile|last=Zinhle|date=8 December 2024|accessdate=7 April 2025}} She was nominated for Rising Star at the 2025 Ivor Novello Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicweek.com/publishing/read/the-ivors-2025-lola-young-raye-ghetts-charli-xcx-jade-dua-lipa-and-myles-smith-among-nominees/091828|title=The Ivors 2025: Lola Young, Raye, Ghetts, Charli XCX, Jade, Dua Lipa and Myles Smith among nominees|work=Music Week|first=Andre|last=Paine|date=23 April 2023|accessdate=23 April 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://ivorsacademy.com/nominee/liang-lawrence/|title=Liang Lawrence|work=Ivors Academy|accessdate=23 April 2025}}
Artistry
Growing up, Lawrence listened to Eagles and Genesis through her parents, the former being the first artist Lawrence saw live, as well as The Beatles, Mika, and Oasis. As a teenager, Lawrence became interested in indie and alt rock and bonded with a friend over it, discovering the likes of Two Door Cinema Club, Phoenix, Bombay Bicycle Club, Cage the Elephant, The Kooks, and The Snuts. Lawrence also cites Dodie Clark as an early songwriting inspiration,{{Cite web|url=https://karmamagazine.co.uk/2024/09/06/sonic-journeys-sisterhood-and-string-instruments-interview-with-liang-lawrence/|title=Sonic Journeys, Sisterhood, and String Instruments: Interview with Liang Lawrence|work=Karma! Magazine|first=Lucy|last=Fudge|date=6 September 2024|accessdate=10 November 2024}} and drew upon the aforementioned Gallaghers and the Beatles as well as Blossoms when approaching songwriting professionally.{{Cite web|url=https://www.peripherymagazine.org/conversations/singer-social-media-star-student-in-conversation-with-liang-lawrence|title=Singer, Social Media Star, Student: In Conversation With Liang Lawrence|work=Periphery|first=Caitlin|last=Andrews|date=29 July 2021|accessdate=7 April 2025}}
Lawrence has further named The Japanese House, Joni Mitchell, Beabadoobee, Clairo, Spacey Jane, and Holly Humberstone as sonic and writing influences. Other artists she has praised include Wunderhorse, Flyte, and The Cardigans.
Discography
=EPs=
- letters to myself (2023)
- What's Dead and Gone (2024)
=Singles=
- "Santa Cruz" (2020)
- "Turns Out" (2022)
- "Undercover Martyn" (2022)
- "stuck" (2023)
- "unposted letters" (2023)
- "Eulogy" (2024)
- "Use Me" (2024)
- "If Only" (2024)
- "Backseat" (2024)
- "Out Loud" (2024)
- "Kiss My Apocalypse" (2024)
=Collaborations=
- "(not) a love song" (2023), with Will Joseph Cook
- "Indefinitely" (2024), with Riley Pearce
- "Say That You Will Wait for Me" (2024), Honne featuring Liang Lawrence