“I usually spend a lot of time with my family over the holidays, eating my mother’s cooking around the stove,” Vanness Wu tells Apple Music. “But this year, I may not be able to go home because of work.” With his long-awaited new album in the wings, it’s no surprise the LA-based Taiwanese American singer and actor is so busy. In 2021, Wu, a former member of boy band F4, took part in the second season of the competition show Shine! Super Brothers. “I got used to working with a group again. It really was a happy and fun experience,” he says. “Because I was a group leader, I had to do different things than I’d previously done. I have grown a lot in many ways. I’m very grateful.” For Vanness, gratitude and faith are key to everything he does—especially when facing uncertainty about the future. “Every day is a gift worthy of gratitude and cherishing,” he says. “Take hold of your life, be kind to yourself, accept all aspects of yourself, both good and bad.” That sentiment can be felt here, in his New Year playlist, a blend of indie, R&B and Christian hits selected by the star to calm the nerves and lift the soul. “After listening to more chill and R&B songs, you will feel better, relaxed and happier,” he says. “Christian hymns and gospel songs are actually the types of music I listen to most every day, even more than ordinary pop music, because the lyrics, elements and style fill me with positivity and optimism.”