A Chat with Cybèle (18.08.25)
Cybèle is a rising artist whose story is as global as her sound. Having grown up between Paris, Beijing, and Los Angeles, she carries a world of influences into her music, seamlessly blending cinematic pop, soul, and R&B into something uniquely her own. We chat with Cybèle to talk about her global upbringing, creative process, and the unshakable drive that fuels her artistry.
OSR: Growing up between Paris, Beijing, and Los Angeles, how has your global upbringing influenced your artistry?
Cybèle: Growing up in Beijing, my mother filled our home with everything from Tchaikovsky, ABBA, and Michael Jackson to Chumbawamba, Madonna, and The Beatles. My father brought in the great French chansonniers such as Charles Aznavour, Michel Sardou, and Edith Piaf. That range of sound erased the idea of “genre” for me. I began to see music not as something segmented by style or tempo, but as a universal language that connects hearts and cultures across the world.
OSR: You have been called the real-life Hannah Montana. How do you balance being a student at Harvard and Berklee with your music career?
Cybèle: Balance is a funny word because it has never felt balanced. It is constant back and forth, sleepless nights, moments of self-doubt, and still pushing through because there is no other option. My Google Calendar is my lifeline. If it is not scheduled, it does not exist, whether it is essays or recording sessions. I remind myself how lucky I am to be tired in pursuit of a dream I chose. Millions of girls around the world do not have the chance to choose their path, let alone pursue higher education and a music career. That perspective really helps in keeping me grounded and it pushes me on the days where I feel I have no energy left.
OSR: Your music blends cinematic pop, soul, and R&B. How do you approach combining these genres in your songwriting?
Cybèle: It is never calculated. I do not sit down and decide to blend genres. The song’s emotional truth always dictates the melody and tone. I also believe in creative osmosis: if you surround yourself with great music and great people, your ear naturally absorbs those influences and they surface in your own work. Quincy Jones said there were only two types of music: good music and bad music. Ha! In a similar vein, I truly think it’s either music that moves you or music that does nothing for you. I always want to release music that I feel moves me.
OSR: Congratulations on your new single, ‘In Another Life.’ How much of your music is drawn from personal experience versus imagination?
Cybèle: All of it comes from personal experience. Every song is an unfiltered expression of something I have longed for, feared, or needed to release. Some details might be dramatized for the sake of the song, but the emotional core is always real. If you want to know my deepest desires and fears, they are all right there in my lyrics. I wish I could censor myself more sometimes (for fear of being too honest or vulnerable), but the heart wants what it wants.
OSR: You have worked with Grammy-winning collaborators. How have these experiences shaped your creative process?
Cybèle: Working with multi-Platinum writers and Grammy winners taught me that excellence is a habit, not a moment. At that level of success, these creatives are constantly honing their craft and never settling. Even at the peak of their careers, they have a relentless hunger to keep growing. I bring that same standard into everything, from lyrics and production to branding, because when you put your focus on the things that actually matter, that’s when you win.
OSR: If you could perform a duet with any artist, living or past, who would it be and why?
Cybèle: Michael Jackson or Stevie Wonder. They are the pinnacle of pop for me. Both lived their music. Every note felt personal, as if they were singing only to you, even in a stadium of thousands. That is a rare magic I want to capture in my own work. I want someone to hear my song and feel that I am singing to them alone.
OSR: What can fans expect from the rest of Paradise, and how does ‘In Another Life’ fit in?
Cybèle: Paradise is a soundtrack for your inner life. It is for moments of feeling stuck, euphoric, sensual, conflicted, liberated, or in need of a spiritual recharge. The message is that “Paradise” is not external. It is a state of being you build within yourself. ‘In Another Life’ is about the rare, soul-deep connection that magnifies your own inner light. My best friend Hannah Alexis once shared a James Baldwin quote that captures it perfectly: “The longer I live, the more deeply I learn that love, whether we call it friendship or family or romance, is the work of mirroring and magnifying each other’s light.” That is exactly what this song feels like.
OSR: Can you tell us about a transformative moment during the creation of Paradise?
Cybèle: Writing ‘The Mask’ was a turning point. It is about loving someone who activates so much love in you, but who is not ready to love you the way you deserve. Putting that into words was cathartic. It crystallised my understanding that love is not just about what you feel, but about how it is returned. It also made me realise that love is not enough to sustain connection. Action, intention, self-esteem, confidence, being ready for it – those things can outweigh the impact of love.
OSR: What motivated you to pursue music professionally while maintaining such a rigorous academic path?
Cybèle: I did not feel like I had a choice. The longer you wait to start your dream, the harder it becomes to move toward it. Music comes so naturally to me that it felt inevitable. I have also learned that feeling ready and being ready are two different things. Life often presents you with opportunities before you think you are prepared, and it is your job to rise to them.
OSR: Are there challenges you face as a young artist navigating both academia and the music industry?
Cybèle: In academia, people sometimes give me a look when I say I am pursuing music because it isn’t perceived as practical. In the industry, their first impression of me is just some skinny Asian girl trying to make music and they get really surprised when they hear my voice. They’ll say things like, “Oh, you can really sing,” and I think to myself, “Why would I not be able to really sing?” The most satisfying thing is subverting those expectations by doing what I do best, which is creating art that moves me and, hopefully, moves others.
Many thanks to Cybèle for speaking with us. Find out more about Cybèle on her Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Spotify.
