Tia Ray Shines at UCLA with a Surprise Performance and Shares Insights on Her New English Album ‘New Day’
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In a surprise visit to UCLA earlier this year, Chinese singer-songwriter Tia Ray engaged students with an intimate campus exchange, culminating in an electrifying flash-mob performance.
During her time with fans, Tia expressed her deep passion for music, delivering a medley of her classic hits while also teasing her eagerly awaited debut English album, New Day. The energy of the crowd amplified the experience, yet the atmosphere remained personal.
After the event, Tia shared insights about her new era and her close musical ties to Los Angeles. Crafted over three years of cross-continental travel between Shanghai, Beijing, and Los Angeles, much of New Day emerged from recording sessions in the city. Tia recalled her collaboration with Grammy-winning producer Khris Riddick-Tynes, highlighting the intensity of the experience.
“He was incredibly strict, which was really stressful at first,” Tia told Billboard China. “But when I heard the final tracks, I realized I had found a fresh, exciting new musical direction.”
Now available globally, New Day marks a significant artistic evolution for Tia. Discussing the album’s core message, she stated, “I wanted to continue exploring my own possibilities in different ways; the challenges actually sparked more creativity. I also want to inspire people through this album — no matter what you’re going through, when you get through it, it’s a completely new day.”
