Australian newcomer JËVA channels boyband brilliance on the all-out-pop of “Typhoon”

JËVA is the moniker of Sydney-based singer/songwriter and burgeoning pop star Jeffrey Liu and he’s documenting his life with his music. Having released what he calls 'chapter one' last year with his Saturday EP, 'chapter two' begins with “Typhoon” and a mini-album of the same name. Having already covered an origin story of sorts with the former, his forthcoming body of work sets its sights on his coming out, channeled through a larger-than-life pop sound with all the heartbreak and drama included for good measure.

“I lost a friend over this” Liu explains in an email, explaining that “Typhoon” is “about being swept away by someone who isn't even trying to woo you.” Using the agenda-less natural disaster as a metaphor for his unrequited love, Liu says “they just go where they go and destroy whatever’s in [their] path. That’s how I felt about suddenly falling for my friend of fives years. One random day something just changed…”

“Typhoon” is simply huge. Taking cues from tracks like Lovato’s “Sorry Not Sorry”, Liu delivers powerhouse vocals, confidently, while flipping between his inner dialogue of best friend versus potential lover. Despite the situation going pear-shaped, Liu clearly hasn’t let the subject matter get to him as his tongue-in-cheek backing vocals, questioning himself over and over, round out the song perfectly.



Expressing his love for Rina Sawayama and Hayley Kiyoko, Liu is keen to continue pushing forward queer Asian representation in music as his own presence grows. Watch this space as JËVA develops his sound and shares more bold, brash pop from Typhoon.