Leo Xia Aims to Move Beyond Living in Fear

Growing up in Beijing, Leo Xia didn't have "musician" at the top of his dream job list. That all changed in 8th grade when he took a "Rock Band" enrichment course that sparked the creative fire he was missing in the violin and piano lessons he had become accustomed to. Presently, whether making music as a singer-songwriter under his namesake, or rapping in Mandarin and English in the hip-hop group NITEMRKT, Leo has been unafraid to let his creative juices flow. It's leaning into that "bravery and courageousness" that Leo is most proud of. He discusses how his canceled tour devastated his urge to create, and how he shifted his mindset to move "beyond living in fear." Leo unpacks his fear of imperfection, and talks about his new desire to "move fast and break things" instead. Find Leo on Instagram at @leoxiamusic, and follow his hip-hop group at @_nitemrkt.