THÙY'S CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM AND CONFIDENCE

BY: JESSE ZAPATERO

SHIRT by MIKIO SAKABE, DRESS by LUCILLE REYNOLDS GLOVES ,SHOES by GROUNDS
PHOTOGRAPHER: KIRT BARNETT, FASHION STYLIST: JOSHUA ALAN CLARK, MAKE-UP: TAMMY YI @EXCLUSIVE ARTISTS USING JASON WU BEAUTY, HAIR: GABRIELLA MANCHA, PHOTO ASST: HILARY KIM, LOCATION: HYPE STUDIO, MUSIC EDITOR: JESSE ZAPATERO

Thùy’s latest EP Wings marks a pivotal moment in her career, reflecting a newfound sense of freedom and confidence in her artistry. The project, which explores themes of personal growth and self-trust, showcases her evolution both as an artist and as a person. With Wings, she unlocks a deeper strength in her voice, one that embraces vulnerability while also standing tall in her identity.

TOP by MIKIO SAKABE, SKIRT by YUEQI QI, HEELS by DIESEL, NECKLACE by MY DEAREST WORLD EARRINGS by AYANA DESIGNS HEART, RING by FROU YORK

Since her 2021 debut EP I hope u see this, Thùy has grown both musically and personally, evolving into an artist with a message that goes beyond just the beats. Her work has become a platform for self-expression and empowerment, particularly for the Vietnamese American community.

"I want to write about things that I didn’t always grow up talking about,"

she shared, highlighting how her songwriting reflects her journey of healing and freedom.

As she prepares for her upcoming tour and continues to work on new music, Thùy’s focus remains clear: staying true to herself while connecting with her fans worldwide. With a newfound confidence in her music, she’s bringing fresh energy to every stage she steps on, ensuring that her fans experience her music just as she intended—raw, real, and unforgettable.

TOP by MIKIO SAKABE, SKIRT by YUEQI QI, HEELS by DIESEL, NECKLACE by MY DEAREST WORLD EARRINGS by AYANA DESIGNS HEART, RING by FROU YORK

You looked stunning at the VMAs! I loved watching your performance during the countdown. Can you share what that experience was like for you? I imagine, as someone who grew up watching the VMAs, it must feel surreal to now be on the same stage as the icons you once admired.

Thank you so much! The whole experience was really fun and it definitely felt like a full-circle moment. I grew up watching the award show every year when I was younger and to be able to perform for something like this felt cool. I honestly just enjoyed every moment.

You’re about to head overseas for your tour. How are you preparing for this journey, and what can fans expect from your performances in this exciting new chapter?

I’m so excited to be back on tour! I was on the road most of last year, and this year, I mostly focused on Coachella - so this has been the longest break that I’ve been performing. Because of that, I do feel a little bit nervous, but I know that my fans are always going to show up for me and bring all the energy. I am preparing for the tour by working on my physical and mental health and fans can expect a fun party as usual.

This tour will introduce your music to new audiences. How do you adapt your performances for different cultures, and what excites you most about connecting with these fans?

I’m very excited to see how fans react to my music in these different countries. But, I think the best part about going to a new country is being able to share my perspective with a new audience. I don’t really think about adapting my performances because I just want to bring the same energy and focus on being the best artist I can for myself and bringing the best show to my fans. I think the best part about live shows is the fact that I get to see my fans scream back the lyrics that I wrote about something I was going through; it feels very surreal.

With wings set to release this Friday, what’s the central theme or message you hope listeners take away from this new body of work?

I hope people don’t take themselves so seriously. I think there was a period in my career where everything was starting to feel so serious and I lost the ability to just trust my gut, but I am hoping that this new project brings a fresh new energy.

The title wings suggests flight or freedom. How do you personally define freedom in your life and career right now, and how does that reflect in your new music?

Freedom in my life and career means that I don’t care about anyone’s opinion but my own. I trust myself fully and I allow myself to make decisions based on how I feel about something. I think that this reflects in my new music because there’s a newfound confidence; there’s a new strength in my voice and that was found through listening to my gut.

I noticed the doll with wings in the artwork. What message or symbolism does this visual hold for you, and why was it important to incorporate this into the artwork?

To be honest, I thought it just looked cool. But on the day of the shoot, when the art director brought it to set, I thought it was cool to kind of tap into my inner child. I think that when people listen to the project they’ll be able to get a sense of that as well.

'fairy godmother' seems to play a special role in wings. What inspired the title, and how does this track capture your vision for the EP?

‘fairy godmother’ was one of the last songs created on the project. I just love how epic it sounds and it beat out the initial intro to the project. I think it builds a new world that I’ve never tapped into before so it was exciting for me to bring that to the fans.

As the first Vietnamese American female artist to perform at Coachella, you’ve already broken boundaries. How do you plan to push the envelope even further with Wings and your future projects?

I think I plan on pushing the envelope further in my songwriting. There’s things I grew up not feeling like I could talk about or that was taboo and songwriting has been such a healing process for me and also very freeing. I want to write about things that I didn’t always grow up talking about with my parents and hopefully, that encourages other Vietnamese Americans to feel empowered and supported.

How have your past experiences influenced your upcoming work, both creatively and personally?

Writing songs feels like a diary entry to me — I can only draw from my own experiences. When I’m writing music, it’s such a vulnerable process and in order for me to fully tap into my creative abilities, I have to pull from my own life experiences.

Why was it important for you to release ‘hair-down’ and ‘cloud 11’ as singles for your EP, and how do they fit into the broader narrative of wings?

‘hair down’ was the first single I dropped around Coachella. It was the first song that felt right to start the new era after Coachella, I found it very hard to create anything because I felt so much pressure to top ‘girls like me don’t cry’. ‘cloud 11’ was the first song that I made on the project. When I made ‘cloud 11’, I knew how good it made me feel, and I wanted to continue spreading the positive vibes. I put ‘hair down’ and ‘cloud 11’ right next to each other on the tracklist because ‘hair down’ is about letting go and learning to live life while ‘cloud 11’ felt like “the nirvana” after a really tough journey.

TOP is STYLISTS OWN BRA TOP and SKIRT by ERIK BARSHA! HEELS by FLOR DE MARIA NECKLACE by MY DEAREST WORLD

As your global recognition grows, how are you evolving your sound to resonate with an international audience while staying true to your roots?

I really don’t think about that. I just make music that I like to listen to. If we got down to the nitty-gritty, I’d say I do enjoy collaborating with other international artists, especially when it’s organic.

What excites you most about experimenting with your live shows for future tours and performances?

What excites me most is building a story. I didn’t grow up doing any theater and I always envied the kids in high school who were brave enough to get on stage and do that. For future live shows, I am super excited about stage design, dancers, lighting, the whole thing.

You’ve mentioned that wings is a deeply personal project. What part of yourself are you revealing through this EP that fans haven’t seen before?

I feel like I unlocked a new version of myself. Someone that is so confident, knows what she wants, and is unapologetic.

With so much excitement surrounding your new music and tour, how are you balancing the pressure to deliver with staying true to your artistic vision?

I think I have to remember that the reason why I’m here today is because I stay true to who I am. When you drift further away from that, it becomes harder to keep the façade going. I found that it’s much easier to just be yourself.

BLAZER and SKIRT by SONIA CARRASCO, SHIRT by ANN DEMUELEMEESTER, TIE by YASPIS, EYEGLASSES by JAMES ORO, HAT by KKCO, HEELS by FLOR DE MARIA

Your visuals have always been compelling. How did you conceptualize the imagery for wings, and what role does visual art play in shaping your music?

I wish I had more money for all the big ideas that I have, but that will come in due time. I do have a lot of creative input on the visuals I put out and I think it’s just really fun to create small films and worlds. For wings specifically, I wanted to create a laid-back feel while also looking super cunty. For me, I felt like it gives a window into what the fans can expect when they listen to the project.

What do you hope Wings adds to the ongoing conversation about Asian representation in pop music?

That we are here and we are not afraid to take up space.

What is the biggest personal or artistic lesson you’ve learned while working on Wings, and how will that lesson carry into the rest of your career?

I say this a lot, but that my gut is never wrong. People will always have opinions on what you should do, but if you don’t feel strongly about something or if you feel strongly about something, listen to that voice.

What’s the best piece of advice a fellow artist has given you that you’ll carry with you forever? How do you apply it in the real world?

My friend Pink Sweat$ actually told me to savor all the first moments. This was after I told him that I was going to be performing at my first festival. He said make sure you have fun because you never get the first time again. That just continues to remind me to live in the moment and enjoy every second of it.

If you were a book, what book would you be and why?

A coloring book. No thoughts. Just vibes.