San Francisco’s Clarity Liao continues to carve out a name for herself as one of pop’s most precocious voices with her latest single, ‘Like I Do’, and we premiere it here at LOCK.
Following the tender alt-pop debut ‘Hurt My Heart’, the track sees the 13-year-old singer-songwriter stepping confidently into solo territory, blending intimacy with emotional sophistication far beyond her years.
Originally penned as an English assignment, ‘Like I Do’ transforms adolescent reflection into a fully fledged piano-led ballad. The song’s imagery, wandering endlessly through a desert, perfectly encapsulates the ache of unrequited love, and Liao’s delicate yet commanding vocals ensure every lyric lands with clarity and weight. Stripped back, the production places her emotive performance front and centre, making the song feel like a private confession shared with the listener.
“‘Like I Do’ was a song written just as homework given from my English tutor at first. The song really brought out my emotions from the current situation I was in at the time, also exploring a genre I’ve been liking but never really got to pursue, so I decided to take it to the studio. This song has so far been one of my favourite tracks to sing and listen to, also being one of the best expressed in my lyrics.”
Liao’s musical journey began at age seven, mastering piano and guitar before emerging as the principal songwriter for award-winning band Navillera. Hits like ‘Too Young’ and ‘I Need You’ already showcased her knack for storytelling and melody, but her solo work reveals an artist unafraid to channel vulnerability into technical precision.
Drawing from contemporary pop-R&B voices like Olivia Rodrigo and Bruno Mars, as well as classic influences like Celine Dion and Frankie Valli, she navigates a sound that’s both timeless and freshly inventive, indie-pop with subtle doo-wop inflections and bedroom-pop intimacy.
‘Like I Do’ previews her forthcoming EP, ‘Dear…’, an introspective collection that explores love, jealousy, and loss with understated sophistication. Here, Clarity Liao proves that her talent is enduring. She’s an artist capable of bridging generational gaps, and with every new release, she confirms her place as one of contemporary pop’s most promising young voices.