Feel Addicted is a vibrant, sun-soaked pop-house track born from a beach walk at IMS Ibiza. The track, crafted by Tokyo-based DJ and producer You Liang, blends Latin warmth and smooth sax with a carefree summer energy. We had the chance to catch up with You Liang to talk inspiration, global evolution, and bringing feel-good house to a dancefloor near you!
KIMU: Hey You Liang! Firstly, congratulations on the release of Feel Addicted! Can you tell us what inspired the song?
You Liang: Thank you! The seed for this song was actually planted about seven years ago. I had some free time and wanted to discover myself through a trip, so I picked somewhere I had never been, which was Africa. I traveled solo from Johannesburg to Zimbabwe, then Botswana and Zambia. I eventually made my way to South Africa where I stayed in a lodge without internet and went on day and night safari runs in an open-air jeep. Finally, I reached Cape Town where I met up with a friend from my old international dorm in Japan. He showed me around his hometown, and I recorded a voice memo of an idea back then inspired by that whole journey. That memo eventually became the instrumental foundation for Feel Addicted.
KIMU: The song has a super dimensional, global sound with a tropical, Afrobeats meets house influence, where did that come from?
You Liang: It’s a mix of nostalgia and a specific turning point at ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event). Even though I grew apart from that friend in Cape Town, we still text each other “Happy New Year” every year. With New Year’s approaching, I was reminded of him and the energy of that trip. But the specific “Saxophone House” direction actually clicked at ADE. I met a label owner there who listened to my discography; he told me that because my piano melodies were strong, I could absolutely nail Saxophone House. So, I took that advice and fused it with the South African voice memo.
KIMU: Love the vocal production, who is the voice behind this?
You Liang: I worked with an incredibly talented vocalist for this project, but she specifically requested to remain uncredited. I always prefer to credit my collaborators whenever I can, but in some cases, like this one, I have to respect the vocalist’s request for anonymity. Many of my tracks end up uncredited for this reason, though I’d much rather give credit if possible. Honestly, I hope to become big enough someday where people feel proud and excited to have their names credited alongside mine on a track.
KIMU: What is the intention that you create with? Why do you want listeners to feel?
You Liang: It comes from a place of emotion that is overflowing at all times. I think many musicians struggle with being in a permanent state of angst or depression, and I am definitely like that. Music is how I process those feelings. I think that is what sets me apart from other DJs. While I sometimes make club weapons intended for the main floor, most of my discography comes from those bottled-up emotions. I just really enjoy the act of composing emotional pieces; it is my way of taking that internal weight and turning it into something others can hopefully connect with.
KIMU: How does it feel to receive such epic support from Don Diablo on Hexagon Radio?
You Liang: It was surreal. When Don supported my track Maybe Tonight on Hexagon Radio (Episode 531) as the DemoDay Track of the Week, it was a huge validation for me. He’s always been an inspiration, so hearing him introduce my name and background on stream and support my sound gave me a massive confidence boost to keep pushing my boundaries. He actually played my track again this year, and his label Hexagon followed me back on Instagram, which was a huge moment for me.
KIMU: What about your current run in the Tokyo club scene with dates at ZEROTOKYO and WOMB?
You Liang: It’s been intense in the best way possible. I have a solid run of dates coming up: I’ll be at ZEROTOKYO on January 22nd and February 19th, and at WOMB on February 15th and April 10th. Playing these top-tier venues regularly really forces you to level up your technical game and crowd reading. This run has been incredible so far. Just this past December, we actually broke attendance records for a new event at WOMB called “ASK TASK,” where I served as the Sound Producer. It was a huge highlight, and the owner has actually provisionally secured the dates for the rest of the year because of it.
KIMU: What can you tell us about your international label support from the likes of Black Hole and Revealed?
You Liang: It’s been a dream come true to sign with legendary labels like Black Hole and Revealed. It proves that music really has no borders. I have been making Piano House a lot recently, and probably because of my charting and editorial success, Black Hole has even sent me remix requests for legendary DJs on their roster, specifically requesting that I make Piano House. That was a huge validation of my hard work. Revealed has also been incredible over the years, acting almost like a mentor by giving me feedback on my work when I had no one else to turn to. It’s hard to find that kind of guidance locally because the Tokyo scene is filled with “DJ-only” DJs. The true DJ/Producer is actually very rare here. Being based in Tokyo, sometimes you feel far away from the European dance music hub, but having that support shows that if the music is good, it will find its home.
KIMU: Feel Addicted feels built for the dancefloor but also very emotional. How do you balance making music that moves bodies while still telling a story?
You Liang: I think that comes from my love for House. The classic house record usually involves some vocal or chops, and tends to be both melodic and groovy at the same time. Personally, I always start with the emotion, usually a chord progression or a melody that makes me feel something. Once that emotional core is there, I build the kick and bass around it to ensure it still holds up on a club system. I like music that evokes a certain emotion from the listener.
KIMU: How does your cultural background and life in Tokyo influence your sound and the way you approach production?
You Liang: My dad is Singaporean, so I grew up with a very multicultural mindset. That background makes me very open to blending different sounds and genres. I moved to Tokyo when I was young, so this city is home. Living here has definitely instilled a sense of discipline and precision in my work ethic. As for the sound, it is actually the city’s atmosphere that influences me most. In Tokyo, there is background music everywhere you go. Whether you enter a cafe, a shop, or even just walk through a specific area, there is this BGM playing, almost as if you are in a video game. Each area is designed to evoke a feeling, so I start associating sound with those specific emotions and environments.
KIMU: When you are in the studio, what usually comes first for you, the groove, the melody, or the feeling you want to create?
You Liang: Definitely the melody or the “feeling.” I usually draft the main hook or chord progression on the piano first. Even sometimes when I am feeling down, I make it a point to play on the piano every few days. It lifts my mood up and sometimes gives birth to new ideas. I have a stack of unused melodies that I composed in an archive on my computer. If it sounds good on just a piano, I know it’ll work as a full production. The groove comes later to give it that drive.
KIMU: What is next for You Liang?
You Liang: I’ve got a busy 2026 ahead! I’ve left my local gig calendar empty for March because I’ll be heading to the US to play at Miami Music Week, which I’m incredibly excited about. I still have some dates free, so if any promoters are reading this piece, reach out to me! Lots of new music and international travel on the horizon!
Thank you, You Liang. We cannot wait to hear more from the rising star, and in the meantime, we have added Feel Addicted to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of You Liang, including Raindrops, Don’t Stop, and Drifting Away!