An Interview with Betty Ke
Betty Ke is building the kind of indie-pop world that feels both intimate and international at the same time. Taiwanese-born and now based in Los Angeles, she writes bilingual (Mandarin and English) songs that bridge Eastern and Western cultures through warm, emotionally honest storytelling, cinematic textures, and pop-forward melodies. With real industry experience across publishing, labels, A&R, and festivals, Betty also brings a rare “artist and operator” mindset to her career, staying hands-on from songwriting and production to marketing and visual direction as she grows her U.S. network and reaches for a truly global audience.
Hey, thanks for chatting with us. Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Betty Ke, a Taiwanese-born indie pop singer-songwriter currently based in Los Angeles. I create bilingual music (Mandarin & English) with a focus on connecting Western and Eastern cultures through storytelling, emotional honesty, and a warm indie-pop aesthetic. My sound blends intimate vocals, cinematic textures, and pop sensibilities, and I’m passionate about building a global audience that resonates with authenticity.
I’ve worked across multiple sides of the music industry — including music publishing, labels, A&R, and festival administration — which gives me strong insight into how songs, branding, and strategy come together. As an independent artist, I’ve been hands-on with songwriting, production, mixing, marketing, project planning, and visual direction. I recently started releasing more English originals and bilingual versions of my songs as part of my goal to reach the international market.
My artistic vision centers on emotional storytelling: turning personal struggles, self-doubt, and transformation into music that feels relatable and comforting. I love collaborating across cultures and see huge potential in bridging Asian and Western audiences through sonic identity, branding, and narrative-driven content.
Right now, I’m looking for a team — especially a manager, producer, and creative partner — who believes in long-term artist development and wants to help build a global career, starting from Los Angeles. My goals include releasing consistent singles, developing stronger visual branding, expanding performance opportunities, and ultimately creating a sustainable artist career supported by royalties, sync, and cross-market collaborations.
Who or what inspired you to start making music? And, when did you start?
I actually started in music super young—I played percussion for 13 years starting from elementary school. Music was always my thing, but when I discovered songwriting, something just clicked. I loved it so much that I decided to study it seriously, so I went to university for applied music and vocal performance and spent four years diving into singing, creating, and performing.
After I graduated, I started my career in Taiwan as an independent artist. I released a few singles and even a full album on my own. Then the pandemic changed everything, and I ended up coming to the U.S. to study singing and performance for another two years.
And this year I finally got my artist visa, so now I can officially build my career here in the States. I’m focusing on writing more English songs and growing my international audience. It feels like every step—from percussion as a kid, to songwriting, to moving countries—just pushed me closer to the artist I want to be.
What is your biggest challenge as an artist?
My biggest challenge as an artist is doing everything completely on my own. In Taiwan, I still had friends who could help with tasks here and there, but in the U.S. I’m building my network from the ground up. I haven’t found the right producer or creative partners yet, which means I’m handling songwriting, production, mixing, marketing, visuals, and admin all by myself.
Another major challenge is budget — at this early stage, it’s hard to generate consistent income as an independent artist, so every project needs to be planned very carefully. Because of this, I’m really hoping to find a long-term creative partner or team where we can support each other’s growth, share resources, and build something meaningful together.
What is your favorite project or single you have released?
My favorite project so far is my first Chinese album, because it was the first time I handled every part of the process completely on my own as an independent artist. It allowed me to experience the full workflow of the music industry — from songwriting, production, and planning to marketing and release. That project taught me the most and shaped me into the artist I am today.
I also really love my first English single, which I released this year after collaborating with a producer in the U.S. It was my first time creating an English project in a new market, and it opened a new chapter for me artistically.
Who are your inspirations? What artists or bands are you listening to?
One of my biggest career inspirations is Jolin Tsai. In the Mandarin market, she is like the Taiwanese version of Lady Gaga — an artist who constantly reinvents herself, pushes creative boundaries, and influences an entire generation. Seeing her impact makes me dream of one day standing on that kind of stage and having that level of artistic power to shape the industry and inspire fans.
Musically, I’m influenced by a mix of musical theatre, Disney soundtracks, and both Western and Asian pop music. Ever since I started songwriting, I’ve been listening to all kinds of genres to understand what resonates globally. I regularly explore the top charts in Mandarin, Korean, and English music to study trends and discover what people love.
Because of this wide range of influences, my sound isn’t fixed to one style — you can hear different genres and textures in my releases as I keep shaping and evolving my own identity.
What’s the process behind working on a song like?
My process usually starts with songwriting — melody and lyrics first. If I’m collaborating with others, we often begin with chords and musical ideas to build the emotional foundation of the song.
From there, one of the most important parts for me is project management: coordinating with collaborators, keeping track of deadlines, organizing files, and making sure every step moves forward smoothly. Clear communication is a big priority for me.
I also believe a song carries the energy of everyone involved. So I try to approach each project not just as a job, but as a creative journey we share together — keeping a sense of play, curiosity, and the childlike love for making music. I treat every song as an opportunity to return to that original spark that made me want to create in the first place.
Tell me about your new music and what inspired you to create it!
My new music is inspired by my recent deep dive into Laufey’s storytelling style. She’s an incredible storyteller, and studying her work made me want to experiment with a more intimate, jazz-influenced sound. This new release is also my first Christmas single, which allowed me to explore warmth, nostalgia, and soft jazz-pop elements in a new way.
At the same time, this song is the beginning of a much bigger creative vision. I’m currently building an original IP character named Merry, who will become the main character in my upcoming adult-children book, “Mr. Pet Peeve,” that I plan to develop for next year’s album cycle. Merry is the emotional core and narrator of the world I’m creating, so this Christmas single is the first step in shaping her universe — introducing her tone, personality, and the magical world she comes from.
This project marks the start of a long-term storytelling journey that blends music, character design, and narrative world-building, and I’m excited to keep expanding it through future releases.
What are your plans for 2026?
In 2026, my main goal is to complete my first bilingual English–Mandarin album, which will be closely connected to the original storybook world I’m creating. I’m developing an adult-children book featuring my character Merry, and I hope to expand it into multiple formats — including a physical published book, an audiobook, and eventually an animated adaptation as the long-term vision.
On the music side, I’m aiming to find a long-term creative and business partner who can grow with me — someone aligned with my storytelling approach, international goals, and cross-cultural identity.
Another major focus is building a stronger fanbase in the U.S., especially through consistent releases, visual content, and live performances. 2025 is about fully stepping into my artistic world and laying the foundation for a sustainable international career.
Have any shoutouts?
I’d love to give a special shoutout to the people who’ve supported me from the very beginning. My family has been especially important — during the pandemic, they were the ones who encouraged me and gave me the chance to come to the U.S. to study and pursue my career. I’m also grateful to the friends who believed in me in Taiwan, and to the new creative community I’m building here in the U.S.
To every producer, collaborator, and mentor who has inspired me along the way — thank you. And of course, to everyone who listens to my music, your support truly means the world.
Betty’s journey is defined by momentum and reinvention, from 13 years of percussion to finding her voice as a songwriter, releasing projects independently in Taiwan, and finally earning her artist visa to build in the States. She opens up about the realities of doing everything solo, the importance of long-term creative partnership, and the way she treats every release as part of a bigger narrative. That vision comes to life in her newest chapter: a first Christmas single inspired by Laufey’s intimate storytelling and soft jazz-pop warmth, and the launch of “Merry,” an original character who will anchor her upcoming “Mr. Pet Peeve” storybook universe and next album cycle. With 2026 set on a bilingual album, deeper world-building, and stronger U.S. fanbase growth, Betty Ke is clearly not just releasing songs. She’s creating a cross-cultural universe listeners can step into and stay with. Tune in on Spotify.