Interview: Gina Alice Pursues Pop Dreams with Republic Records While Staying True to Her Classical Piano Roots
Photo Courtesy of Universal Music Group
“To have those, music-wise, big contrasts inside of me, and to have at least two different music hearts beating inside of me was always who I am,” said Gina Alice, virtuosic German-Korean classical pianist, and singer-songwriter. She made her pop debut with Republic Records in July 2024, transitioning from an impressive career in classical piano to a fresh start in pop music with the release of her single, “Slo-Mo.” HALSUG had the opportunity to interview Gina about her new releases and desire to pursue one’s dreams.
“For me, I’m still myself in this music. I’m sharing more of the whole person I am. You don’t have to put yourself in a box; you can be fearless and do your own thing. Stick to your dreams, and you can make them real.”
– Gina Alice
The debut pop single exudes a sexy, flirtatious vibe. It captures that thrilling moment when you connect with someone, falling in love, savoring the good times that seem to slip away too quickly — making you wish for them to be in ‘Slo-Mo.’ With a blend of nostalgic bedroom R&B production and subtle pop allure, it features a breathy vocal delivery and a sultry bass line that perfectly complements the mood.
When Alice wrote the song “Slo-Mo,” she said it started with just messing around with harmonies on the piano. She and her team shifted to a different direction sonically, leaning towards a more R&B and sultry sound for the single. “So I really wanted to separate it and to do something really new and to make some big contrast to everything, what I did before, because I think this contrast very naturally, is just what I am. I have so many different music hearts beating inside of me and just so many contrasts already. This is really what I wanted to do, something completely new to the audience. And why we chose “Slo-Mo,” [as] there are not that many piano elements in that song.”
Continuing her strong desire and “deepest dream” of creating pop music, in September, Alice released an EP titled, Dreamcatcher, featuring four songs including her previous release, “Slo-Mo.” The EP contains three new songs including “Ladies Room,” “Lonely In Paris,” and “Gameshow” — the latter two is where we hear her roots in classical piano mixed with pop. “With this EP, I finally also can share with the audience this side of my music soul because this is who I am,” Gina said. “With every song I think is pretty different in one way but also together, they build a synergy and make sense.”
“When it all started with this EP project with Republic Records — which is, by the way, my biggest dream come true to work with Republic Records because they are just one-of-a-kind, and my favorite artists they’re all with Republic Records — I need to pinch myself. When it all started, right from the beginning, I was very clear that I don’t want to be a singing classical pianist.” Alice began playing the piano and eventually started to showcase her voice. She brought “River of Memories” to life in the Chinese version of the blockbuster Frozen 2 for Disney. She collaborated with her husband and gifted pianist, Lang Lang, on his The Disney Book LP where she performed “When You Wish Upon a Star” in Chinese, English, and Korean for the project.
Growing up in Frankfurt, Germany, she started playing piano at the age of four. Playing the piano has been such a big part of her life and career. Her beautiful piano and singing talents have taken her to perform at some of the most honored venues in the world, including the Hollywood Bowl, Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall, and Royal Albert Hall. She explained that she’s not ending a chapter in her career in classical music but rather starting a new era, fueled by her long-standing interest in exploring different sounds. Now is the time for her to pursue those desires. Everyone is multifaceted, and Gina is ready to show another side of her talented soul. She demonstrates her eclectic musical taste through her appreciation for a wide range of artists, from 2Pac and Drake to Coldplay, The Beatles, The Weeknd, and Queen.
“I always loved pop, R&B, jazz. They’re all very natural to me, because of the contrasts in my personality. I’m half-European and half-Asian. My background is similar to how I’m grounded in classical music, but my heart’s burning for pop music. It’s like having different personalities inside of you at the same time. They all make sense together, and that’s just who I am.”
— Gina Alice
“To me, it’s nothing new [debuting with pop music], but of course, to the audience, it’s something new.” Gina said. “To do my own music and to do my own pop music was always a very big and deep dream that was always inside of me. And sometimes I just feel like destiny and timing, they need to arrive for that. In the beginning, sometimes you might go another path, and in my case, it was the classical music path and it still is. I love classical music, and it is the one important path of mine. But at the same time, I was holding, deep inside of me, holding onto my own pop music dream, writing and playing my own music to the audience. I was never losing focus on that. Sometimes when you go this path, there are different, other ways, and other times that you can arrive to the other path. So I think it’s important to just hold onto that dream.”
When asked about her new EP and what she enjoyed the most, Gina said: “Everything. Every part of it [creating songs on EP] brought me so much joy. When you come from the piano world, you are very used to the need to fight on your own, need to train on your own, need to be on stage on your own. So you’re like a single fighter. Solo. When you write songs, what I really love is you’re with amazing musicians in one room and one studio. Anything is possible. You can go into the studio, and you might have some ideas, but they will always change in the process. I think there is a constant inspiration between the musicians and a huge respect between the musicians. So just to have these music conversations in a very spiritual and vulnerable way, I think this is what I enjoy so much. I’m very grateful for that.”
Countless paths and possibilities are awaiting. Gina exemplifies versatility not only through her impressive musical career as an official Steinway Artist but also beyond the realm of music. She stars in her own reality show titled, Gina’s Motel, which captivates over 300 million viewers weekly across China. Additionally, she has graced the pages of prestigious magazines like Vogue, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar, while forging partnerships with luxury brands such as Dior, Guerlain, De Beers, and Roger Vivier.
The moment to change direction and pursue new dreams is always ripe for the taking, even if it’s challenging to recognize when that time has arrived. Gina encourages her fans and everyone around her to embrace those opportunities — now is the time to go for it!
“Dreams are really shaping us humans. This is like a voice inside of you that really is telling you what you want. I think what you want is what can make you happy. I think to take your dreams really serious and just to not lose focus on them is really important. And then just go for them. Don’t think too much. I think just do it, have your own vision, and don’t accept too many no’s. On this really bumpy and long way of achieving your dreams, you’ll hear a lot of no’s but just forget about them. Just keep on doing your thing. And when you have your vision, this is very important, but also just [take] step by step, take one step after the other. Work really hard for them and just do it because the time is now. And I think if you don’t do it now you’ll have regrets. And to live with your regrets of not fighting for your dreams, this is what no one would like to have, so just hold onto your dreams and do your thing.”
