Meet experimental music producer and photographer from Los Angeles & Berlin, KLOXII.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am an Experimental music producer and Conceptual Photographer. Born in China based in Los Angeles and Berlin. I make a mysterious breed of music rooted in raw enigmatic mood and textures and manifests sounds from Trip-hop beats, Industrial noise to vocals steeped with soundscapes. Visually I like to create work that question one’s character and being. Experiment with identity. My main source of influence also comes from my hybrid culture background. From China, Los Angeles and then Berlin. I grab on different things from different places and shaped everything together to create my own palette.

Describe the city you’re living in and what it’s like to live there.

I am currently in Los Angeles. I always say LA is an ambitious but the loneliest city. Driving a car is a must, you don’t see people walking on the streets that much. Compare to other cities with good public transportation where you have to see people every day or be in the same space with others, LA is completely the opposite. Because the region is so big, everything is very separated and scattered into different areas. Everyone is in their own space and very independent and isolated at the same time. Everyone seems very nice and friendly but also with the need to keep distance for their own private space.

My main source of influence also comes from my hybrid culture background. From China, Los Angeles and then Berlin. I grab on different things from different places and shaped everything together to create my own palette.

What is the best and worst thing about living in your city?

The best thing about living in Los Angeles is the great weather and the nature we have here. We have amazing beaches, mountains and desert scene here. Also amazing food in many different cultures. People are pretty driven and ambitious here and it pushes you to work harder.

The worst thing about my city is that it’s not a walkable city. you have to drive everywhere. Everything is scattered since it’s so big and everyone is pretty isolated in their own space.

Give us 3 words that describe what it’s like to be a creative in your city.

Ambitious ::: Consistent ::: Patience

How did you start your career in music?

I’m not one of those people who started music when they are a kid or at a young age in school, I was the total opposite. I realize music was what I was called to do later on in life. I worked in the fashion industry for many years in different fields before pursuing music. My plan was to start my own fashion business. Though I was doing well but I wasn’t feeling like it was what I was called to do or the right outlet to express my creativity. I felt like I was in the wrong place and felt the dead with the future. I was struggling to find my way out and got myself into an eating disorder for many years. I couldn’t see myself expressing the way I want to express through the direction I was heading. I asked myself if today is my last day on earth what are the things I really wanted to do in life? and I immediately know it was music. I realize I didn’t have the guts to pursue my dreams before with the fear influence from society and parents. I know at that point I have to face my inner calling and go for it so I quit my job and went back to school for music production. Luckily I have had music influence when I was young so everything made sense to me when I was learning in school and with the art background, everything starts to come together and molded into my own kind of universe.   

I’m not one of those people who started music when they are a kid or at a young age in school, I was the total opposite.

Were the people around you supportive of your decision on working as a creative?

Yes, my mother was supportive of most of my creative decisions. My friends are always very supportive of it. I changed career direction all the time, but it all involved around the creative field. it seems to be pretty normal at this millennial generation to change jobs and switch to different things from time to time. Variety is very important to me and its a very interesting time to see this generation evolving with a lot of people like me finding their way to experience life and their passion.   

What are some goals and ambitions you have for your future work?

I just start a community called Women of Experimental on Instagram. To share and help push all the women in the creative field that are crossing their boundaries to experiment in art and music. I want to grow the community and host gallery concerts or mini-festivals. I am also trying to finish up producing my album and music videos. I have loads of things start piling up that needs to be released. I keep my hands full to keep me on my toes. To me, the most important thing is the need to express myself but in the aspect that is for my spiritual well being more than the business aspect of things that need or should be done in a certain way. If I need to release certain art or music in certain ways that go against my spiritual well being, I would rather do it my own way and make the flow going more than trying to have the status of the business side of things because at the end of the day your spiritual well being is more important than anything else. Without that, it’s hard to create pure work to translate and inspire others. There are just way too many impurities creative stuff out there it’s evolving into something like global warming but in the creative field.

To me, the most important thing is the need to express myself but in the aspect that is for my spiritual well being more than the business aspect of things that need or should be done in a certain way.

If you could collaborate with any person in the world who would it be?

I would love to collaborate with Björk, Portishead and James Blake.

How would you describe the women around you?

Women around me are creative, hard-working, intelligent, and dare to push boundaries. Working in the creative field is not easy and being a woman is even more complex. I try to surround my self with girls in the creative field because we face different needs than men and we need a lot of support from each other and talk about things we face in the world.

Women around me are creative, hard-working, intelligent, and dare to push boundaries.

Were there any local female creatives that you looked up to when you were growing up?

There weren’t any local female creatives that I look up to when I was growing up. The experimental electronic music scene I was into wasn’t really that accessible in Los Angeles and even now it is still not that accessible. Also, when I was growing up there wasn’t Instagram or Facebook or Spotify. I would torrent new music on an underground website to get access to underground experimental music. It was a very interesting time period of my life compared to now that everything is going on the internet and way easier to find artists that are like-minded. 

Are there any challenging aspects of being a female in your industry?

I was the only girl in my class when I was in music production school. I have experienced stereotyping and sexualization. It is a very male-dominated industry. I remember when I was in the studio producing this male artist and a few of his guy friends standing outside asked who is producing the song. The other guy immediately said its probably the other guy friend that was with the artist and I am just a girlfriend hanging out and entertaining in the studio. I get different situations but I realize at the end of the day you just have to keep working on your craft to get to the level where people can’t question you on what you do. Speak up and make your stand when needed. Most importantly don’t react with the people who are ignorant about you and your talent or don’t understand you because it’s more precious to spend your energy elsewhere and to the people who appreciate you for just being you.   

Always align yourself with your spiritual well being first

Do you have any advice to young women who are aspiring to work in your field?

Be patient and consistent with your craft. Always align yourself with your spiritual well being first. Get out of your comfort zone is a must but when you are aligned with your being you can sense your direction a lot better. When you connect with others try to see what you can bring value to others instead of the mindset of what you can take that will help you big time. Accept reality as it is and know that failures will be part of it and keep trying. Eventually, you will find your rhythm of doing things because everyone’s path is different, you have to figure out your own and develop your own style and universe.

Photos courtesy of KLOXII.