Luna Li creates musical solace in “Silver Into Rain”

written by Jade Kwitkiwski

interviewed by Sydney Ling

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Floating on fairy wings, the vocals of Luna Li beam in a softly somber yet gloriously transcendent way. Her newest single released on January 26th, Silver Into Rain, featuring beabadobee, presents a sweeping orchestral and cinematic wonderland that echoes one’s longing to become a better version of oneself. Within the opening shots of Li’s music video, she crawls forward in pursuit of the illuminated television set as it flashes images of a warmly promising, unknown future. 

Photo credit: Halle Hirota

Li, real name Hannah Bussiere, hails from Montreal as a Korean-Canadian artist who specializes in multi-instrumental indie and alternative music. The upcoming multi-instrumentalist has bewitched listeners with her sublime resonance, NME Magazine recently naming her as one of their “100 Emerging Artists in 2022.” Through social media, Li frequently climbs to 200,000 viewers on TikTok and 1 million plays on Twitter with her instrumental bedroom jam videos. These short videos act as grounds for production experimentation, with Li strumming on different instruments — like vibey guitars and harps — as she sings in a cozy corner of her room.

Li shares her musical process as not always linear, embodying the adaptive and flowing themes of her newest song and upcoming debut LP, Duality. Duality, a collection of nearly four years in the making, embodies an arrangement of work that musically encapsulates everything Li loves and feels passionate about. The process involved self-reflection, specifically calling attention to vulnerabilities like mental health, relationships, and identity. 

Photo credit: Felice Trinidad

“Writing about identity made me realize that I could carve out my own path, my own space for myself in the world, and not have to wait for others’ acceptance. It made me realize being different is something to be celebrated,” Li said.

Growing up, Li had consistently been surrounded by the arts, aided by her family’s deeper involvement and interest in music. Her mother and her mother’s partner co-direct the Classical Music Conservatory in Roncesvalles of Toronto, allowing Li to experiment with music more deeply through the Conservatory’s various instruments and traditional guidance. As a classically trained artist, Li adds a unique quality to her music that emulates the feeling of an intimate symphony. 

For any listener of Li’s music, one notices the rich instrumentals- strings, harp, and other ensemble sounds- poetically settled beneath her vocals. 

After receiving a loop pedal from her grandmother one year for her birthday, Li began to realize how she could supplement her training into her music process. 

“Realizing I could make such a lush and orchestral sound all by myself, I couldn't stop. Including layered strings became a staple of arrangement for me. It was exciting to finally feel like I had cracked the code on how to incorporate more of my classical training into my music,” Li said. 

Her unique sound has not gone unnoticed. In 2021, Li toured with Michelle Zauner’s band, Japanese Breakfast, and collaborated with soulful Dreamer Isioma and alternative Jay Som for her upcoming LP Duality. After a performance hiatus of two years because of the pandemic, Li openly embraced being back in her element onstage. As a performer, Li often channels energy from the moon: eternal, dreamy, and feminine. 

“I want to convey all of that energy into my music and have it feel as welcoming and powerful as the moon feels to me,” Li expressed. 

Photo credit: Halle Hirota

To elevate her ethereal stage presence, Li also uses fashion and style as a way to further curate her dreamy persona. In past shows, Li layers edgy and vibrant together with bright colors, shiny fabrics, and glittering jewels. 

“The shows were beautiful and it was amazing to connect with people in person after so long, [and] feel the magic of music bringing people together. It was especially meaningful to see so many Asian faces out in the crowd,” Li said.

As a Korean-Canadian artist, Li often emphasizes the importance and need for further Asian representation. A Toronto native, Li had been no stranger to the predominantly white and male music scene. Through the support of friends and her efforts, Li has found a solid footing in the Toronto music-scape, but hopes that her music helps Asian women feel seen and inspired. 

“It was tough not seeing myself represented and feeling as though pursuing music in this way was less possible for me. It really helped to have the support of other creatives who helped me get my foot in the door, and from there, I was able to seek out other women and POC to collaborate with and be a part of a community,” Li said. 

Oftentimes, Li aims to capture feminine energy through working with other women creators. In terms of combating the male gaze, Li makes it a goal to work with and lift up other women in her work as they come from a place of mutual understanding.

Looking to the future, Li has her first headline tour coming up in March as well as several shows this April in Canada. She hopes to one day travel more in Europe and Asia as her music only continues to grow. 

“I want to continue collaborating with Asian women, expand the world of Luna Li to collaborations in fashion, dance, and visual art, and make lots [of] more music, of course,” Li said. 

Duality, Li’s debut album, is set to come out on March 4 featuring artists Jay Som, Dreamer Isloma, and beabadoobee. The album embraces vulnerability, ambition, and identity in a powerfully delicate way through punchy vocals and floaty strings.