mui zyu is the solo project of Hong Kong British artist Eva Liu, based in London. The name is pronounced “moy joo”. Her work draws on indie pop, dream pop, indietronica, art pop and bedroom pop, and combines fantasy, folklore and personal reflection.

Background and work

Liu presents mui zyu as a way of exploring changing identity and self-acceptance. Her debut full-length, Rotten Bun for an Eggless Century, uses chopped-up soundscapes, delicate industrial ambience and pop melodies to introduce a guide-like character that moves across different worlds. The record is described as a reflection on the people and experiences that shape identity, and as a space where the everyday and the fantastical overlap.

Her 2021 solo EP, a wonderful thing vomits, is notable for combining dark, often ominous instrumentation with soft vocals. The later full-length builds on the same general atmosphere while adding lo-fi percussion, more direct lyric writing and unusual arrangements. Luciano Rossi, her Dama Scout bandmate, co-produces the album.

Dama Scout and other themes

Alongside mui zyu, Liu is the front person of the UK indie-rock trio Dama Scout. In that setting, she works within a genre-bending sound. In her solo work, she also brings in influences from video games, film scores and traditional Chinese instruments.

The writing around Rotten Bun for an Eggless Century also reflects Liu’s engagement with her Hong Kong heritage. She reads the traditional Chinese folklore writings of Pu Songling and joins local East and Southeast Asian groups, which helps shape the album’s sense of cultural connection and acceptance.