Album turns bottled emotions into pointed dialogue

Mind Your Words, a song which began as a release of pent-up anger over online bullying, but turned into a self-reminder to think before judging others.

In She, Elle, Ella, written when she was nearly 30, A Si takes aim at the expectations placed on women: marry early, have children, be the nurturer. She admits she once shared that belief.

"At university, I thought the ideal life for a woman was a stable job, marriage, and kids," she says. "Then I grew up and realized everyone's life has its own script — or no script at all."

Her own awakening came from watching the lives of other women, questioning why a "complete" life should require ticking those boxes. Yet, she also recognizes the social structures, such as aging populations and family responsibility, that keep those expectations in place. The song carries both rebellion and resignation.

Emotional health runs through the album like an undercurrent. For A Si, writing is both catharsis and communication.

"When I can turn bad feelings into songs, I feel better," she says.

The album doesn't shy away from the bleakness of the world — wars, disasters, injustices — but also celebrates the stubborn preciousness of being alive.

Born in Shanghai, A Si debuted online in 2010, gaining attention for her fun and imaginative songwriting.

When her song, I'm eating Fried Chicken at PSQ (PSQ for People's Square, a landmark located in the heart of Shanghai), went viral in 2011, it gave A Si a burst of fame and a devoted fanbase. The song charms listeners with its quirky, relatable storyline and catchy, refreshing melody. Since then, many of those fans have grown up alongside her music. Some listened as students, now they listen on their commutes to work.

That sense of companionship is something she treasures.