Rising singer-songwriter Clarity Liao releases the antipated debut solo EP, ‘Dear…’, a seven-track collection exploring young love, unspoken feelings, jealousy and heartbreak through a series of intimate musical love letters.
Blending indie pop, R&B, bedroom pop and modern doo-wop influences, the EP captures the emotional complexities of wanting someone who may never feel the same way. Each track represents a letter Clarity never found the courage to send, transforming personal experiences, unanswered questions and painful memories into honest reflections on love, vulnerability and acceptance.
Written entirely by Clarity and developed alongside producers Kendrick Fielder and Erin Tadena at Laughing Tiger, ‘Dear…’ showcases her growing confidence as a songwriter and artist. Moving between delicate ballads, infectious pop melodies and soulful R&B textures, the collection gives each song its own musical identity while maintaining a consistent thread of emotional honesty.
‘Lose’ stands out with its energetic combination of upbeat drums, electric guitar and confessional songwriting. Originally imagined as a stripped-back, Adele-inspired piano ballad, the track evolved into something more dynamic, contrasting its lively production with lyrics about jealousy, insecurity and romantic disappointment.
“This song is one of my favorites. It shows my jealousy and madness in a fun upbeat way,” Clarity explains. “At first I was doubting the upbeat drums and electric guitar aiming for a soft mellow vibe, but the more I stuck with the process, the more I understood what this letter was really trying to explain to the receiver.”
Elsewhere, ‘Have You’ explores the vulnerability of developing feelings for a friend without finding the courage to confess them, while ‘Love You More’ combines warm R&B influences, smooth basslines and experimental rap elements to capture the heartache of admiring someone from afar. ‘Like I Do’, originally written as homework for an English tutor, uses the imagery of an endless desert to explore the desperation of unrequited love.
The EP also moves beyond romantic experiences. Written during a rainstorm beside her bedroom window, ‘Pouring Rain’ reflects on loneliness, insecurity and the uncertainty of growing up. Meanwhile, ‘Hurt My Heart’ draws inspiration from former K-pop idol Seunghan’s experiences with public scrutiny, expressing empathy for the pressures that can overshadow someone’s ambitions and dedication.
Bringing the collection to an emotional close, ‘Oh My Darling’ explores the difficult process of accepting that someone you love has chosen a different path. Imagining herself attending their wedding as a guest rather than the bride, Clarity transforms heartbreak into a message of understanding and letting go.
“This song is the hardest goodbye on the record, but also the most freeing,” she explains. “Writing it felt like finally closing a chapter I kept trying to reread. It hurts to step back and watch someone you wanted for yourself walk down a different path, but there’s a strange kind of peace in keeping a promise and wishing them well from the second line.”
Having written songs since the age of seven, Clarity has already established herself as a promising young songwriter. As the principal songwriter for Navillera, she contributed to seven singles, including the band’s 2024 debut ‘Too Young’, which won the 2024 Yamaha National Best Popular Music Award. Her composition ‘I Need You’ also secured first place in the YMS 2025 National Composers competition.
Inspired by artists including Bruno Mars, Adele, Olivia Rodrigo and Regina Song, Clarity combines contemporary pop influences with emotionally direct storytelling. With ‘Dear…’, she confidently introduces her solo identity, delivering a relatable collection that explores the excitement, insecurity and heartache of loving someone, while ultimately finding the strength to move forward.
Tender, nostalgic and refreshingly honest, ‘Dear…’ is a collection of everything Clarity never managed to say out loud, proving that sometimes the most meaningful love letters are the ones we never send.
