L1Z: The Taiwanese Artist Breaking Global Sound Barriers
Pop music from Taiwan has long carried a dual identity, with artists drawing on Mandarin pop’s melodic storytelling while infusing it with Western rhythm, production, and the textures of R&B and trap. Among its new generation of voices is Liz Lin, known professionally as L1Z, who has bridged Taipei’s pop roots with the emotional depth of contemporary R&B and electronic music. Across her work as a producer, songwriter, and performer, Lin’s trajectory reflects that of an artist quietly redefining what global pop from Taiwan can sound like. A Young Dancer With A Calling For Songwriting Growing up in Taiwan, Liz Lin was surrounded by music long before she knew it would become her life. Her mother, a renowned performer herself, often brought her into studios and concert halls, where she absorbed the pulse of rehearsals and the intricacies of putting on a show. Lin soon began performing on national television (appearing on leading music programmes such as Hope Star, Jungle Voice, Hot Door Night, and Super Follower), where she became known for her energetic performances that combined live singing and dancing. These early appearances positioned her within the framework of Taiwan’s entertainment industry. Yet Lin’s later pivot toward songwriting and production signaled an important shift: a movement from performer to creative architect. Her early releases, including “若問” and “心肝仔, quickly garnered millions of views across different platforms, showing how her music could connect deeply with audiences and solidifying her reputation as a most promising artist in an overlooked market. A key turning point was her move to Boston, where she expanded her craft on an international stage, with her sound evolving into what she describes as a “dark-pop” sound: moody yet melodic, grounded in both trap beats with R&B-infused compositions and arrangements. In interviews, she has expressed how she believes her “music could speak both languages at once” and that she doesn’t “need to choose between cultures.” This unique duality positions her within a successful cohort of East Asian artists who have broken the geographical limitations of pop to establish an international audience. Writing In Front of And Behind The Scenes Beyond her own artist project, Lin’s wide experience attracted new and established Taiwanese talent alike who aimed to work with her on their own releases. Specifically, KK, a young performer who first gained traction on the idol reality show Atomic Boys, invited her to support his single “代替月亮喜歡你” as his debut release. Within a week, the track had climbed to No. 3 on the KKBOX Music Awards Billboard, a rare achievement for a young artist like KK, and is one that reflects the high level of talent within the release. She followed this up with “若問” — one of her first releases under the L1Z name and a defining moment in her artistic development. The track combined elements of local T-Pop music and international Hip-Hop, revealing a confidence in her role as a producer. Recorded in a Taipei studio, the song was an experiment in contrast, in which traditional melodies were layered over modern beats, showing her curiosity for how cultures with seemingly little in common can meet in one musical space — an idea she’s only explored further in the releases that followed. Earning Global Recognition A recent major achievement for Lin came with the Great American Song Contest in 2025, when her composition “Toy” placed second in the R&B/Hip-Hop category, the only ethnically Chinese artist to be recognized that year. The news made its way back to Taiwan, with national outlets calling her “The Light of Taiwan” and celebrating her win as an important moment for Taiwanese musicians looking to make a mark on the international music industry. This sort of industry confirmation affirmed her position in the industry and acted as validation of the talent from often-overlooked countries like Taiwan. She remarked that “this achievement became a symbol of possibility, proving that we don’t have to be limited by geography to create globally resonant art.” Redefining Stardom After more than a decade in the public eye, Lin faced a common challenge experienced by many child performers: looking for different ways to align their past with their present. For Lin, that process has meant moving beyond early fame while keeping the same sense of purpose that first drew her to music. Her latest single as L1Z, “Red Light,” highlights this evolution, blending trap rhythms with smooth, atmospheric production, a mature development that positions her within the niche of globally R&B-influenced pop artists. But even as her profile grows, Lin continues to distinguish herself from the competition, preferring community over celebrity. She remains focused on building community rather than chasing charts or streams, an approach that has made her an attractive role model for her fans. “At the heart of it,” she explains, “what matters most to me is making songs that resonate and inspire people, just as music has always inspired me.” For all her accomplishments, Liz Lin’s evolution remains a simple one: an artist, crafting a discography that shows where she came from and where she’s going next. Her work has challenged the assumption that global success requires assimilation and has supported the internationalization of Taiwan’s pop scene. In doing so, she has redefined what it means to make pop that feels personal and global in equal measure.