![](//www.4rfv.com/images/no_image.jpg)
Within the span of only a few months, 19-year-old singer, songwriter, and social media star Katherine Li became the face of American Eagle's 2022 back-to-school campaign, her song Never Had a Chance played during the climactic finale of the Hulu doc series The Come Up, and her debut EP, Crush(ed), was released. With songs that focus on lost love and relationships that never were, she has built a devoted fan base of fellow hopeless romantics.
And now, shortly after being a part of the Fresh Finds debut showcase, hosted by Spotify Stages in LA, the Toronto-based songstress is the latest EQUAL Global artist.
Spotify's EQUAL Global Music Program started in 2021 with the aim of contributing to gender equity in the music industry by amplifying and celebrating the work of women creators around the world. To mark the occasion, Katherine's face will adorn the cover of both the EQUAL Global playlist and the EQUAL Canada playlist.
Katherine's Crush(ed) EP centers on the concept of the cyclical journey that comes with the infatuation of an unrequited crush. And plugging further into her relatability, her latest single, If I Weren't Me, touches on a similar vibe while showing off Katherine's lyrical prowess that cuts deep.
For the Record caught up with Katherine to talk about her career, advice she has for young artists, and what her creative process is like.
The artists who have inspired me the most are Taylor Swift and Julia Michaels. I love their writing styles and the unique approaches to songwriting that they have. They truly are geniuses!
A piece of advice I'd give to other women artists is To take the leap of faith and dive right into it! It's scary to put yourself out there at first. It definitely was for me, but everyone's always gotta start somewhere!
A notable moment in my career so far is The release of my first EP, Crush(ed). This was my first body of work, and it was surreal reading messages from people who really resonated with my songs. It's always so comforting seeing that I'm not the only one struggling in the love department!
My creative process is Basically word-barfing into the Notes app on my phone. Whenever I have a thought, I immediately write it in my notes to use as song lyrics later. I love the whole process; it's very therapeutic. A way I'd love to see greater gender equity in the music industry is seeing more women in the room for sessions and songwriting. Women seriously bring so many great things to the table and they need more spotlight, especially in the early stages of the music-making process.
A few up-and-coming women artists I'm excited to watch are Catie Turner and Lyn Lapid. Their songwriting and voices are both amazing, and the topics they talk about in their songs are things I can always deeply relate to. I'm so excited to watch the journeys of these incredible women.
My girl-power anthem is Girl On Fire by Alicia Keys. I was absolutely obsessed with this song when I was younger, and still am now. This song literally makes me feel like I can do anything . . .
Feel all the feels by listening to Katherine and other women artists in the EQUAL Global playlist
More from Spotify
04/09/2024
From sunup to sundown, Spotify's daylist serves up an ever-changing playlist...
30/08/2024
In 2017, Imani Ellis revealed CultureCon to the world, a first-of-its-kind confe...
29/08/2024
Bells are ringing-school bells, that is-as kids across the U.S. start the new school year. In addition to fresh fits and the right supplies, kids might also nee...
28/08/2024
Every summer, as people across the Northern Hemisphere seek out the perfect song...
27/08/2024
C mo ser el futuro cuando la IA interact e con los humanos? Esta y otras comple...
27/08/2024
What does the future look like when it comes to AI personalities interacting wit...
22/08/2024
Laughter, energy, camaraderie-these are just a few of the elements that come to life when a podcast is recorded in front of an audience, rather than in a sound-...
21/08/2024
Just like its fashion and food trends, Japan's music scene is constantly evolving, all while captivating a growing global audience. From J-Pop (Japanese pop...
21/08/2024
On August 25 and 26, an estimated 2 million attendees will flock to London for N...
19/08/2024
The world of anime is rapidly expanding, finding fans all over. On Spotify, global streams of anime music have surged by 395% since 2021, and there are 6.7 mill...
15/08/2024
Recent years have seen the emergence of groundbreaking talent from cultural hot ...
15/08/2024
En los ltimos a os hemos sido testigos del surgimiento de talentos innovadores ...
13/08/2024
No es ning n secreto que la vibrante escena musical mexicana ha trascendido fron...
13/08/2024
It's no secret that Mexico's vibrant music scene has transcended borders...
13/08/2024
Con sus diversos sonidos, la m sica de Colombia ha logrado conectar con una amplia gama de audiencias de todo el mundo, y el pop colombiano no es una excepci n....
13/08/2024
With its diverse sounds, music from Colombia has connected with a range of audiences from all around the world-and Colombian pop is no exception. This genre has...
09/08/2024
Humans are complex creatures, capable of experiencing joy, sorrow, and everythin...
09/08/2024
El aclamado colombiano J Balvin ha conquistado al mundo con su m sica durante m s de una d cada. Fans desde Latinoam rica hasta Europa est n cautivados por la e...
09/08/2024
Colombian hitmaker J Balvin has captivated the world with his music for more than a decade. Fans from Latin America to Europe can't get enough of The Boy F...
07/08/2024
Women have been integral to hip-hop from the beginning, contributing to its grow...
07/08/2024
Last week, Spotify and FC Barcelona brought the worlds of music and football together once again to kick off the club's preseason tour in the U.S. To celebr...
07/08/2024
It's official: Spotify is declaring 2024 the Year of the Cowgirl. In culture, we are seeing celebs, influencers, and others don western boots and flat, wide...
05/08/2024
As one of the fastest-growing genres worldwide, M sica Mexicana has emerged as a...
01/08/2024
It's been eight years since BLACKPINK captivated the K-Pop scene and transcended to global superstardom. Since then, they've racked up billions of strea...
01/08/2024
Youth spaces are crucial for the well-being of children and young people, as they instill a deep sense of belonging and ignite creativity. But in the U.K., thes...
01/08/2024
July 18 marked the start of South Asian Heritage Month, which celebrates the ric...
31/07/2024
We're halfway through the year and at a perfect moment to consider which humorous, intriguing, and entertaining audiotales have captivated readers thus far ...
30/07/2024
As the most-listened-to Brazilian artist ever on Spotify, and the first to reach...
30/07/2024
Como a artista brasileira mais ouvida de todos os tempos no Spotify e a primeira...
26/07/2024
Last month, Spotify's annual Songs of Summer predictions made their return, ...
26/07/2024
Summer is peak season for some of our favorite sports and events. Whether you're rooting for the home team at the ballpark or cheering for your country as i...
25/07/2024
At Spotify, we aim to bring great audiobooks to as many listeners as possible, i...
24/07/2024
Building anticipation ahead of a new album release is one of the most important ways for artists to ensure its success. But in today's music landscape, gain...
23/07/2024
Today, we announced our second quarter 2024 earnings. Led by healthy subscriber gains, improved monetization, and record profitability, Spotify reported
Month...
23/07/2024
Idag publicerar Spotify sina finansiella resultat f r andra kvartalet 2024. Med stark kning av antalet premiumanv ndare, f rb ttrad int ktsgenerering och rekor...
19/07/2024
By Marcelina Slota - Head of Platform Integrity, Spotify
Safety is a top priority for Spotify, which is why we want to make it easier for young people and pare...
18/07/2024
Summer is officially in full swing, and that means it's time to chill out. Whether you're heading out on vacation or hoping to make the most of Summer F...
17/07/2024
When we launched our AI DJ in English last year, it gave listeners a new way to connect with and discover music on Spotify. DJ is a personalized AI guide that k...
17/07/2024
Cuando lanzamos AI DJ en ingl s el a o pasado, ofrecimos a los usuarios una nueva forma de conectar y descubrir m sica en Spotify. DJ es una gu a de IA personal...
11/07/2024
Around the world, the shift toward streaming has completely transformed the musi...
09/07/2024
For podcast creators who want to grow their audiences, building a stronger relationship with their listeners and fans goes a long way. And in order to amplify t...
03/07/2024
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Just ask Emma Roberts, star of t...
28/06/2024
As one of the most powerful forms of human expression today, video is becoming...
27/06/2024
Since 2020, RADAR has served as Spotify's program to spotlight rising talent...
27/06/2024
Summer 2024 is officially underway, and with it comes our possibilities for personalizing the soundtrack that'll have you grooving through August. For examp...
25/06/2024
June is Pride Month, a time to honor and celebrate the vibrant LGBTQIA community and its rich history, culture, and achievements. It's also a time to eleva...
24/06/2024
Peso Pluma-aka La Doble P -is one of the fastest-growing Latin artists in Spotify's history and the first to go from 2 million monthly listeners to 50 mill...
21/06/2024
On Spotify, users discover and enjoy music, podcasts, and audiobooks, with various plans that meet our listeners' needs. We offer subscriptions for every st...
21/06/2024
This week, Spotify returned to the South of France for the 2024 Cannes Lions Int...