Next Wave

Aliza Li Opens Up In New Single “Healing”

Atlanta’s rising star in R&B and neo-soul, Aliza Li, has lifted her veil—fearlessly bearing her complete heart, mind, and

By TCR Staff

April 11, 2025

Aliza Li Opens Up In New Single “Healing”

Atlanta’s rising star in R&B and neo-soul, Aliza Li, has lifted her veil—fearlessly bearing her complete heart, mind, and soul to the world. As a dedicated “superfan” of music who cherishes the timeless power of resonant songcraft—she has always found solace in music. During tough times, she turned to songwriting as a therapeutic outlet—a way to stay afloat and push back against encroaching darkness. But it wasn’t until she moved to Atlanta seven years ago, that she felt inspired to make music for a greater purpose.

With lush, dreamy vocals and precise, soulful instrumentation, Aliza channels her natural introspectiveness into cathartic melodies—whisking away listeners into intimate stories and feelings identifiable to us all. Yet, she’s all about growth, something easily recognizable in her ever-evolving artistry—each new release is more honest, more confident, and more poignant than the last. Her songs rest like a comforting hand on the shoulder, resonating deep within because she’s truly been there—through the depths of pain and heights of triumph. As a bold new voice exploring the roller-coaster journeys of self-discovery with no holds barred, Aliza Li is courageously speaking her truth—planting seeds of hope and comfort in those who need it most.
Healing is something everyone longs for—yet, as humans, we often struggle to move forward when obstacles loom before us. Aliza knows this struggle well—but now, she’s no longer afraid to dive into her vulnerabilities. “Healing” is a melodic masterpiece that speaks to resilience, renewal, and the universal desire for growth—rooted in her own personal battles with anxiety. Levitating over fuzzy basslines and cavernous harmonies, her voice is as soothing as ever, yet laced with the palpable panic and heartbreak of someone slipping into darkness, desperately trying to find a way out. With impressive nuance, she illuminates the beauty and complexity of emotional recovery—understanding it’s typically easier said than done. In her own words, “Healing is ugly…but you gotta come back at a certain point.” In a world overwhelmed by uncertainty and strife, she’s a breath of fresh air—an artist in listeners’ corner, cheering them on as they navigate one stumbling block at a time.

Aliza’s enthusiasm for horror movies truly shines in the candlelit, eerie setting of the “Healing” music video. Wandering from room to room, her pain is etched across her face, as she desperately flees the monsters lurking behind her, unsure where to turn next. Except—these monsters are more elusive than the usual ghosts or vampires. Dancers in white follow her closely—embodying the suffocating, untamable nature of anxiety. Yet, as the visual unfolds, an undertone of hope sparks and strengthens. It all culminates in the final scene when she stops running to put it all on the table—sitting down to face her anxiety rather than fight against it. Together, they talk, breathe, smile, and most importantly, celebrate—reminding viewers that anxiety and other such struggles are still a part of who they are. Pulling from her real journey, she encourages those suffering to embrace their truth, because when one opens the door to self-acceptance—success and struggles included—there’s no limit to what one can achieve.

As a “superfan” of music, who are some of your favorite artists, and who are some artists who inspire you?

I love all music but neo soul has always been my first love, some of my favorite artists include Jill Scott and Erykah Badu. The way the melody and the instrumentals inspire me to create and open my mind to alternate possibilities is really life changing.

Talk to us about your songwriting process. Have you always written music as a therapeutic outlet?

Yes, most of the time my songwriting is therapeutic, but the therapeutic experience is not always negative. For me, songwriting is dependent on my emotional state, if I have a surge of emotions, positive or negative, I have to write.

Your music blends many genres and influences to create a unique, soulful style. How would you describe your signature sound?

I would describe my signature sound as unique to me. To hear my music, is to hear parts of me. My songs are so personal to me that when people hear it… it’s like wow ok you doing something different.

“Healing” is an anthem of resilience, growth, and self-discovery. What were the challenges and rewards of writing about your struggles with anxiety?

I struggled writing “healing” because it’s one thing to be vulnerable with yourself but it’s another thing to be vulnerable in front of the world. I strive to push myself to be more transparent in my songs because songwriting is a form of therapy for me and I want to make sure I am always being as honest as possible with myself. I wasn’t sure how the song would be received but the rewarding part was finding out, no matter how alone I think I am in this world, there is always someone, somewhere going through exactly what you are going through. Finding out this thing we call life is not such a unique experience is both humbling and comforting.

Tell us a little bit about how you channeled your enthusiasm for horror movies into the visual for this music video. What elements stand out to you?

I think how I was able to incorporate the horror movie aspect into the music video goes back to how organic my artistry is to my personality. I love horror movies, so it was easy to match the horror movie theme to the video since the concept of the song is based on my anxiety in the video being a figurative monster.

Looking back, is there anything you learned about yourself while crafting this song and music video?

I definitely learned a lot about myself. I learned that creativity is contagious and when things are meant to be, they are meant to be! The song and video blended seamlessly and each artist I worked with from making the song to the video instantly saw the vision.

Do you have any advice for fans or other artists who resonate with your experiences with anxiety?

Just breathe, healing is a continuous process and while we are all constantly evolving to become better versions of ourselves, give yourself grace. There are no rules to this thing we call life, and you are doing great!

Are there any elements of “Healing” you hope to explore or expand upon in future projects? What can fans look forward to next?

For me each project is a chapter, who knows what the future may hold but I look forward to pushing myself as an artist to see what else I can do. I’m always looking for new opportunities. However, “healing” is definitely a constant, I’m sure I will circle back around to it.