Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Betty Ke
This project is about holding onto dreams, emotions, and the different chapters of life. Through my music, I want to create a soft and healing space where listeners can feel safe, understood, and less alone. My current project carries the message of “Just Keep Holding On” — believing that even when the journey feels uncertain or heavy, we can still keep going and eventually reach the dreams we once imagined.
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
Reply My earliest memory connected to music is from when I was very young. My mom used to buy me children’s dance and singing videos, and I would watch them by myself, singing and dancing along with them.
Looking back, I think that was probably the first time I naturally connected with performance and music. It felt joyful and instinctive, even before I fully understood what music meant to me.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
Reply My passion for creating music began when I was 18 years old and first discovered songwriting. Before that, I had no idea that making music could be a real path for me.
At the time, Taiwan’s pop music education system was not as developed, and most parents encouraged their children to pursue classical music instead. I’m very grateful that a friend introduced me to a Production program, because it completely changed my life. That was the moment I realized I could tell my stories through music.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
Reply I’ve been on this path for more than seven years, and if I include the years I spent studying music intensively, it has been almost ten years of nonstop dedication.
I started in Taiwan and eventually came to Los Angeles. What began as a small dream slowly became a much bigger dream, and with that came a lot of pressure. But music has also given me so many experiences, opportunities, and a completely different life than I ever imagined.
Even though the journey can be difficult, I feel grateful and happy to be living it. That is the heart of this project and the message behind “Just Keep Holding On.” I believe that one day, my dreams can come true.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
Reply I would describe my sound as very soft, healing, and relaxing. It feels intimate, almost like storytelling.
I put a lot of my own energy and emotions into the music, and I hope that when people listen, they feel comforted and healed in some way.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
Reply One thing I’ve learned is to trust that every part of the process has its own purpose.
Creating music is very different from many other things because there isn’t one formula or one correct answer. It is about communication, collaboration, and creating sparks from different ideas. The process can feel very vulnerable because it requires you to open your heart and express yourself honestly.
In the past, I wasn’t very good at sharing my thoughts. Because of cultural influences, I often felt afraid to speak up. But through making music, I slowly learned how to express myself more openly. So I would say the biggest lesson has been expression — not only in music, but also in life.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
Reply The essential tools in my creative process are myself, my phone, and a keyboard.
I love humming melodies randomly and writing down lyrics whenever ideas come to me. When I want to record something, I usually use the piano and capture the idea directly on my phone or in Logic.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
Reply Right now, I’m loving my friend Izora’s song “Feel Better.”
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
Reply All of my music ideas come from my life experiences and emotions.
I think that is one of the most beautiful gifts of being a creator. We can put our feelings into a song without needing to explain everything in detail, and somehow listeners can still connect with it. That kind of emotional resonance is very beautiful to me.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
Reply A lot of music today encourages people to stay positive, let go, be strong, or move on. Those messages are meaningful, but through my music, I also want to create a safe world where people are allowed to feel everything.
You can cry. You can be angry. You can be vulnerable. You don’t always have to be strong for other people, or even for yourself.
I hope listeners feel that I am there with them through every process and every emotion. I want them to know they don’t have to carry everything alone.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
Reply Music has taught me to stay open.
I love learning about different styles of music and not limiting myself to one specific genre. I hope to keep creating more fusion music that blends different sounds, cultures, and emotions together.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
Reply My dream is to become the first Taiwanese female Chinese artist to perform at Coachella.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Reply I would love to collaborate with Laufey.
I really admire the way she tells stories through her music, as well as her vocal tone and style. I would love the chance to exchange ideas with her, create together, and collaborate on a single.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
Reply https://www.hitmkr.com/bettykemusic
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
Reply For the next chapter of my musical journey, I dream of releasing an album in the United States.
I also hope to create an adult children’s book connected to the album, along with a music video series. I want to build a world around the music where storytelling, visuals, and emotions can all come together between childrens to adults.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
Reply I hope listeners discover that my music is honest, emotional, and made with the intention of connection.
I also hope to reach more international listeners. Starting this year, I plan to record songs in different languages so more people can connect with my music and feel the emotions behind it.
