“This is an inclusive album,” Yichun Shan tells Apple Music. “It’s like a diary of the last two years that incorporates explorations and new experiences.” In the three years since the release of her debut album 勇敢额度 [Courage] in 2022, the artist’s career has taken her through two appearances at the Spring Festival Gala, a solo concert, a stint on Singer 2025 and numerous OST contributions. At the same time, Shan’s continued dives into fresh sonic possibilities resulted in the eccentricity of “纯妹妹” [“Lil sis”], the spontaneity of “还有什么更好的” [“Anything better”] and the stream-of-consciousness experimentation of “珠玉” [“Jade of Time”], with each new release providing a unique listening experience. These artistic concepts and musical forays join four previously unreleased tracks to make up her second album, 纯妹妹 [Lil sis]. “I quite like each of these songs,” Shan says. Where her previous album depicts romantic fragility and courage through a traditional ballad and R&B vocabulary, the follow-up incorporates more innovative modes of expression. But Shan describes this as less of a deliberate stylistic change and more of a natural evolution. “My own life is made up of all sorts of experiences,” she says. “And since I’m still young, I’m gradually assembling a worldview underpinned by an overall aesthetic. All change is in the service of my musical expression. This is how I’ve been for two years—but I can’t say for sure whether I might be something altogether different two years from now. I just don’t want to limit my growth.” Hence, this album follows in the footsteps of Shan’s life and records her actual conditions and insights with no deliberate conceptual packaging. “我表示理解” [“I understand”], one of the four new cuts on the album, expresses a stance of determination and resilience in the face of heartbreak, she explains. “No matter what happens, I’ll allow it. I’ll allow a breakdown, I’ll allow letting go. I won’t cling to obsessions. That would be better and more comfortable for everyone.” That strong core of facing emotions head-on also carries through the ballad “假如我们还爱着” [“If we still love”]. “I’ve got a strong attitude and have no preconceptions about outcomes,” Shan notes. “As the song says, ‘We’re together for a lifetime, so we’ve still got time.’” A third new track, “向日葵朝着夜” [“Sunflowers facing the night”], captured her interest from the title alone. “There’s a unique, somewhat broken yet self-healing quality about it,” she says. Meanwhile, she describes “还你茉莉” [“Return jasmine”] as poised and confident: “The tone and flavour of this song are exceptionally refreshing.” Shan’s exploratory enthusiasm also extends to her singing, where she delights in change. While she’s always had a distinctive voice, this album further demonstrates a vocal evolution that balances technique with emotion. “A producer once told me that when I record, my sound is especially stable. It was meant as a compliment, but in a way it demonstrates a lack of additional possibilities, of the surprises the unknown can bring,” she argues. “This breakthrough in my singing is not just because of technical progress. I’ve also started to undo some of my habits. I’ve been able to discover the many possibilities open to me—and this process has brought me lots of enjoyment.” To Shan, album producer Shilei Chang—who is a close friend in addition to being a musical collaborator—is an octopus (“He can do it all”) whose arrangements and production of songs “dress them up in fine clothes”, as she puts it. “We love sharing things in our everyday lives,” she says of their creative process. “The things we pass back and forth flow naturally through our minds. They may suddenly surface at certain times or during creative moments.” It’s a partnership she describes as both well matched and meant to be. “I can do whatever and he’ll always be there for me,” she says. “It’s about cutting loose and having fun—and he’s always able to help keep it contained.” When asked how she balances artistry with popular appeal to create a pop album that is rich, bold and unconstrained, Shan answers frankly: “Whether or not a song reaches a larger audience depends on favourable timing, location and social conditions. It’s not a simple thing—but I don’t think it’s something a creator ought to worry about.” Despite her rising fame, Shan continues to be guided by her internal rhythms rather than succumbing to outside noise. “I need to be genuine with myself and express my feelings honestly,” she says. “And then, through music, convey that to the world.”