Glxria is the sonic persona of 23-year old Chinese-Kiwi artist Gloria, fusing dreamy indie, grunge, and cinematic textures into a beautifully immersive sound. Her music is cinematic, chaotic and vulnerable. With a background in dance, visual art and gaming culture, Glxria is also a rising songwriter, artist and music producer. Her latest alt-pop single Run Into You featured on NZ On Air Music’s April NewTracks compilation.

What’s your given name and where are you living?

My name is Gloria Xu. I go by she/her, and I was born and raised inTāmaki Makaurau / Auckland, where I’m still based— but I’m Chinese and grew up between cultures. 

What instruments do you play?

I started learning piano when I was three, and that’s still my main instrument. I mainly sing and write, and like to play keys and guitar when I’m demoing. I also had a little drummer era back in my primary school rock band.

Any other projects that we might know you from?

This is the first year where I’m properly putting myself out there with music projects. Before this, I’ve done a bit of professional dance work that people might’ve seen — like performing at the Women’s FIFA World Cup 2023 Draw event, and doing featured extra work on Netflix shows filmed in NZ.

What’s the background to how Glxria came to be?

Glxria started as a casual outlet when I was younger — I’d write and record little songs in my room and post them online on apps like Vine and Musical.ly just for fun. It wasn’t until recently that I felt ready to fully commit to it and start building something more intentional. It’s a solo project, but I love working with different producers and collaborators depending on the song.

How and when did you come up with the artist name? 

I came up with Glxria when I was 16. I really wanted to release music, but I was still figuring out who I was and what I wanted to sound like. The name was just a simple way to make it feel like ‘me’, without overthinking it. (I also thought replacing a letter with the X made it seem edgy, haha.) At the time I wasn’t fully committed to it as an artist project — it was more just about having a name to post under — but now it feels like I’ve grown into it.

How has your music evolved from your beginnings in songwriting to now?

I still have my first songwriting notebook from when I was four — the first song I ever wrote was about fruit! I’ve always loved writing and reading, and I really think the more books I read, the better my songwriting got. Even though I was born in New Zealand, English wasn’t my first language, and I struggled with both English and Mandarin growing up. Watching movies and shows helped so much — I used to rewatch High School Musical, pause every few seconds to write down the lyrics (they were definitely not accurate), then try to play them by ear on piano.

Things really changed when I got my first iPad and discovered GarageBand. I spent hours experimenting and recording, and my first ever release, I Knew It Was Doubt, was actually made in my bedroom at 16 using an Apple earbud mic and GarageBand. That’s also when I first discovered EQ and mixing tools, which was such a game-changer.

These days, my writing is more refined, but I still rely on voice memos and random bursts of inspiration. I’ve definitely jumped out of the shower more than once to record a melody before it disappears! Before I had a phone I used Snapchat to save all my song ideas, and honestly, they’re still sitting there. I pull inspiration from shows, books, conversations with friends — even if it starts with someone else’s story, it usually connects back to something personal. I try to stay experimental and not box myself into one style.

Your Spotify shows a gap from 2020 to ’24. How come?

I released a few things when I was younger, but I took a break from putting music out publicly because I was still figuring out who I was, both personally and creatively. I was kind of torn between whether I wanted to pursue music or dance, and for a while, I was more focused on dance. After studying music for a year at SAE and deciding to really commit to it, I signed a contract with a label in London where I mostly did ghostwriting and worked behind the scenes on different projects. I genuinely loved being part of other people’s creative worlds — but I found it really hard to make music for myself, and needed time to figure out what that even sounded like again. So while it might look like I disappeared, I was still writing and working, just quietly. I didn’t feel ready to share anything until now. Run Into You feels like the start of finding my way back.

Aside from this release, what’s been the big highlight to date?

Hitting over 100k streams on my song If You’re Happy Then It’s Fine was a pretty surreal moment. I put it out super quietly without any kind of push or plan, so the fact that people found it and connected with it on their own meant a lot to me. It was one of those moments that reminded me why I love doing this.

What makes Run Into You stand out for you as a single choice?

Run Into You stands out for me because it feels complete in a way my past songs didn’t. I’ve always felt like my previous releases were missing something, like they were unfinished. But with Run Into You everything came together — from working with my band to record the instruments for the first time, to collaborating with other musicians. The whole process felt more full and intentional. It was also the first demo I made during my one-week Pan Asian residency at Big Fan Studios, and the environment there really shaped the sound of the song. Plus, receiving Pan-Asian funding from NZ On Air made it feel like a more proper project, and I was genuinely excited to finish it.

What is the story behind Run Into You?

Run Into You was born on the first day of my residency at Big Fan. I had a session with my friends Mitchell Goodfellow and Kevin Yee, and we were brainstorming ideas for a new song. I shared a story that had happened the day before, when I ran into a childhood best friend. Even though she was standing right in front of me, she acted like I wasn’t there. In that brief moment, I felt a mix of emotions — being forgotten, how people can easily move on, and how we forget about them too until you unexpectedly cross paths again. The whole experience made me reflect on all the good and bad memories with that person. Honestly, I don’t even know if I want to run into her again, but that moment felt like it was worth turning into a song.

What’s your favourite moment, musical or lyrical, of the single?

My favourite part of Run Into You is definitely the chorus — it’s catchy, and honestly everyone I’ve played it for ends up with it stuck in their head for days. I’d catch my band and friends humming it without even realising! Thinking back to the first writing session, the lyrics really reflect how I felt in that moment when I ran into someone I didn’t want to see. It’s that feeling of sadness when you’re confronted by someone who’s completely wiped you from their memory, and that emotion really comes through in the short and catchy chorus.

Who did you write/record/produce the single with?

The song was created at Big Fan during my week-long residency. I wrote the lyrics and main melody myself. The first demo guitars were arranged by Mitchell Goodfellow, and later my bandmate Niklas Meads recorded the final guitar and bass parts, adding new textures and making a few changes to the original. My other bandmate, Sami Naseem, recorded the final drums in the studio. At first, I wasn’t sure if I’d finish or release the song at all — but I remember playing the demo for my manager at the time, and we both ended up dancing around the studio being goofy. That moment made me feel like, okay, maybe I should finish this.

What would you like listeners to take away from this song?

I hope it makes people think about those people who used to mean a lot to them — and how strange it is when those connections just kind of… disappear. It’s that weird mix of nostalgia and sadness, but also a bit of acceptance too. Sometimes people drift apart without any real closure, and you’re just left holding onto these moments that don’t mean anything to them anymore. I feel like a lot of people have been through that in some way, and I just hope the song makes them feel a little less alone in it.

Who else is in your team?

I’m doing almost everything independently at the moment. I like working with different producers and engineers depending on the project, but overall I think it’s important for me to be as hands-on as I can with my own art. I manage myself and my band, and I’m lucky to have a small creative team made up of close friends who I always go to for help on projects. I’m currently looking for new management, so the team might be growing sometime soon!

Are there any other musical endeavours you’re working on that we should keep an eye out for?

I’ll be playing on 95bFM for Fancy New Band later in May, which I’m super excited about! Then on June 28th, I’m playing my first ever proper show with my full band at the Pan-Asian Music Showcase at The Tuning Fork — it feels really special to be part of that lineup. Also! The official music video for Run Into You is coming out really soon, so I hope people will like it when it drops.

Can you please name three other local tunes that would fit well on a playlist alongside yours.

Bella Rafflyn: Corduroy Boy
Keeley Shade: Hardly There
Club Ruby: Heartbreak Overtime

Have you previously received NZOA funding or NewTracks inclusion? 

This is the first time I’ve applied for and received NZ On Air funding – I got the Pan-Asian grant for Run Into You. This is also my first time being featured on NewTracks!

Have you got any advice around seeking funding for others starting out? 

My manager at the time (Shayden Rahiri) helped me through the application process and made sure I ticked off as many criteria boxes as I could. I just took it step by step and didn’t overthink it too much. My advice would be to go for it even if you’re unsure – be honest about where you’re at, what you want to do, and don’t be afraid to ask others for help along the way.

Are there any musical blogs, Youtube channels or podcasts you’re super into?

I’m always watching different videos or listening to podcasts. On Twitch, I follow a few music streamers, and I’m always up to date with NPR Music/Tiny Desk and The Zane Lowe Show. Tiny Desk performances always inspire me, and with The Zane Lowe Show, I love the insight they give into the music world and learning about different artists and their creative process.

How can we find you on social media?

●      Apple Music
●      YouTube
●      Spotify
●      Instagram
●      TikTok

Who did you make the video with? 

Me and my film-maker friend Piu Morapaya got all the shots in one day. It was a very easy shoot and I really wanted it to be more of an aesthetic visualiser alongside the lyrics. It’s a different perspective compared to the official music video. And Piu is amazing. I’ve worked with her a few times now and her style has always matched mine and she films, edits, colour grades, does everything herself!

Any last words?

Thanks so much for the support! I’m excited to share more music with you all soon. Stay tuned!