Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Li-anne Kong. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Li-Anne, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
As a music composer and producer, I believe that writer’s block is inevitable, especially when my job calls for constant creativity, projects after projects. It’s so easy to go down the rabbit hole of spending hours in the studio, trying over and over again to squeeze out ideas during a creative burnout. But creativity can be found everywhere; we can find them in paintings, movies, nature, daily conversations and so many more places. It’s really important to me that I take a step back and view life in a bigger picture. I’d sometimes go for walks, maybe watch a movie, or simply just spending time with the people I love. These things wouldn’t instantly give me a great melody line for my project, but they are definitely a few of my go-to sources that recharge my creativity, because ideas will eventually flow after and it’s a nice feeling to have. Collaboration is also a very big part of my life, two heads are better than one. I love working with people who view music differently, and I believe that is what makes us good as partners. Coming up with a great idea is one thing, but refining it together and seeing everything fall into place in ways I couldn’t have imagined on my own, is a whole other level of satisfaction.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m a music producer and composer, graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2021. I produce music for artists and compose for films and advertisements. Despite coming from a classically trained musical background, I love listening to different musical genres growing up. That said, I love writing for different styles of music, ranging from orchestral to R&B and electronic. It helps me grow both personally and artistically, let aside how much fun it is. I’m grateful to have worked with amazing artists such as Aida Cuevas, Laufey, Tsunenori Lee Abe, Distorted Material and many others on my musical journey. I can’t wait for what’s next!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, one of the biggest qualities I’ve developed is self-discipline and having a clear sense of direction, and I owe that all to my mom. My parents signed me up for classical piano lessons when I was 5 and violin lessons when I was 7. I joined a few orchestras and entered competitions, which meant lots of practice time. I’d get home from school at 5, practice an instrument for two hours, take a short dinner break, then practice the other instrument for another three hours – homework came after that.
I’ve always loved music and was curious to see how far I could take it, but as a teenager there’s no way I’d have had the discipline to keep that up on my own. My mom was always there to push me and motivate me. She was definitely strict as I only got an hour of screen time a day, but that routine taught me the value of hard work. She’s the one who showed me that hard work always exceeds talent, and looking back I realized how much that discipline shaped who I am today. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my mom.
Throughout my years of working with artists, directors and brands, I’ve learned to always be prepared – musically, technically and mentally. Being prepared to ask concise and purposeful questions helps me understand not just what the client wants, but also who they are as a person. This improves the workflow, and also helps build genuine connection along the way, making working sessions fun! Music is subjective, and more often than not, we find ourselves going for a complete change of musical direction. This is where being musically and technically prepared becomes so important. As I continue to improve on my musical and production skills, it’s become easier to adapt, stay versatile and simply let creativity take control.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
Looking back, I believe my biggest improvement has been maintaining consistency in what I do. Turning my hobby into a career is the best thing I could ask for, but it’s not always fun. In any field you want to be successful in, it won’t always be enjoyable, but you keep going because you love it. I’ve learned that losses teach me more than victories, and it’s the journey of staying consistent that has helped me improve my craft everyday.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://liannekong.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lianne0312/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/li-annekong
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