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Add to playlist: the wild club-pop of Zara Larsson cowriter Helena Gao and the week’s best new tracks
The Chinese-Danish artist wrote nine 10ths of Larsson’s breakout album then got a Grammy nod. It’s a fine springboard for her own revelatory pop
TL;DR
- Helena Gao is relaunching her solo career with a new musical direction.
- She co-wrote nine songs for Zara Larsson's 'Midnight Sun' album, which received a Grammy nomination.
- Gao's new music incorporates heavy bass, trance, and a pitch-bending falsetto, moving away from her previous sweeter sound.
- Her new track 'Lao Shi 老师' explores themes of personal awakening and reconnecting with her Chinese identity.
- Gao's background includes classical jazz training and immersion in the club scenes of London and Shanghai.
- Her formal training was at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Denmark.