Qu Wanting's songs explore different music genres

Listening to Qu Wanting's music is like reading her diaries, which are emotional, honest and heartfelt.

In her new album, titled LLL, standing for love, loss, and latitude, which was released on Oct 27, the singer-songwriter turned her stories, good or bad, into 11 original songs, including 10 in English and one in Chinese.

"When I finished the recording and looked back on the album, I felt that these three words speak for the album. As an artist, I often fall into a state of being too emotional and sensitive. These songs were written at different moments during the past four years - when I was in love, I was heartbroken and when I enjoyed the freedom of being single," says Qu in a phone interview from her studio in Vancouver.

The album, recorded in Los Angeles a year ago, is the first collaboration of Qu and US-based producer Justin Gray, who has worked with artists, including John Legend, Mariah Carey and Joss Stone.

One of the songs, Set You Free, was born after Qu's quarrel with her then boyfriend.

She talked with the producer about writing a song of letting go the relationship and setting herself free.

"He (Gray) said 'Why not write a song about setting him free'? I thought it was a good idea to change the view. So, I wrote the song," says Qu.

The 34-year-old singer-songwriter, also pictures sweet moments of being in love, such as the song, Afterglow, in which she says: "This love is timeless and we're written in stone."

The album was inspired by Qu's relationship with Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson. They first went public with their relationship in January 2015 and the year before the album, LLL, was completed, they decided to split.

"Ending a relationship means knowing myself better. I learned from it and I became a better version of myself," says Qu.

By working with Gray, Qu broke with her music styles, in which slow love ballads dominated.