Multi-Talented Vicki Lovelee Blends Pop and Drama Tackles Mental Health and Empowerment with “Hunter“
Chinese Canadian singer Vicki Lovelee is a multi-hyphenate singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist whose music combines pop with dark, dramatic sounds fused with orchestral instrumentations. Her eccentric persona was influenced by Lady Gaga and her lush lyrics remind listeners of Lana Del Rey.
Lovelee’s music dives into topics like mental health, heartbreak, self-growth, and healing. She calls herself a “huge advocate for mental health awareness.” With “Hunter,” she hopes to change the narrative of who’s the prey and who’s the hunter.
“I refused to feel scared and weak,” she says. “And it’s time to take back control over what happens to us and choose to not run away anymore. My goal is to have my music be a safe space for people of all cultures and identities,”
“Hunter” is inspired by lions who are hunters by nature and possess power and fearlessness.
Lovelee shared a favourite lyric in the new single: “This is what happens when you back me in a corner. This is what happens when the prey becomes the hunter.”
She explains:
“When push comes to shove, we can become the hunter and prey upon anyone who once took advantage of us.”
Care to introduce yourself?
Hey! My name is Vicki Lovelee and I’m a Chinese-Canadian alt-pop artist and songwriter based in Markham, Ontario. Creating music and performing has helped me find confidence in myself and it also helped me find my place of belonging. And my goal is to help listeners feel the same; to create a space where they feel like they can belong and be proud of their identity.
Tell us about the process of writing and recording “Hunter?”
So I was listening to Paparazzi by Lady Gaga (an iconic bop btw) and there’s a lyric “I’ll follow you until you love me”. It’s such a fun and chaotic lyric when you think about it – following someone until they love you is such a power move. I was inspired to write a song based on this feeling. I was thinking about a tiger and how it’s a hunter by nature and is never the prey based on the food chain. I had so much fun co-writing this song with my producer, Jonathan Karkar. When we were producing the track, the first chorus is super minimal – just vocals and a heartbeat. To imitate the quiet and steadiness of a tiger when it crouches down to stalk its prey. As the song progresses, the tempo actually gets faster and faster to the end. I want the listener to feel the urgency and chaotic-ness of a hunter chasing its prey. Hunter is honestly one of my favourite songs I’ve made so far!
What’s it like being a musician in Markham?
This summer in June 2023, I performed at Taste of Asia for the first time! They’re a huge night market festival in Markham and there’s always a ton of people there. I had such a fun time performing my songs on a huge stage!
In 2021, I got to participate in the York Region Arts Council Artrepreneur Program – which is a creative & artist development program. I just started putting out music back then and they were really helpful with career advice, and networking opportunities. I’ve also connected with Markham Arts Council who always shines a spotlight on local artists!
Who was the first and most recent Canadian artist to blow you away?
ALLIE X. ALLIE X. ALLIE X. She’s one of my favourite artists ever and an added bonus is that she’s also Canadian. I first heard of her in 2017 when I watched her “Catch” music video. It’s such an artistic video – super weird and creepy which I absolutely love! And I’ve been a fan ever since. Her pop synth songs always sound super fresh and her vocals are really unique and distinct. But the cherry on top is her visuals. I’m also an artist who spends a lot of time syncing visuals with my music. And I love the vision that she has for her albums. When she plays her next show in Toronto I will definitely be there!
You’ve been making music for a short bit of time now, what’s one piece of advice you can offer to those starting out?
Connect with as many artists and music creatives as you can and support one another!!! I’m such a huge believer in collaboration and uplifting each other. It’s such a competitive business already – we don’t need artists turning our backs on each other. Hyping each other up and collaborating will go a long way.