The London-based trans artist talks to DIVA about making her debut album, The Age Of Summer
BY NIC CROSARA, IMAGE BY @emilx.w
Do you love melody-driven pop and songs rich with storytelling? You’ll love Summer C. Three years ago, Summer stepped back from a social media following of over 1 million to prioritise her mental health. And now, she’s returned with a bold, honest and emotive album, The Age Of Summer. We were eager to hear more from the artist about what it was like working on her debut.
DIVA: Tell us about some of your influences when it comes to this album
Summer: When writing this album, I drew heavily from the music I grew up with in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Growing up in Hong Kong, I loved Top 40 pop, and artists like Katy Perry. I was also inspired by artists like Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift and Alicia Keys, particularly their ability to tell deeply personal stories while creating music that feels accessible and memorable.
At its core, The Age Of Summer is about reconnecting with the parts of myself that I had to suppress while growing up in a more conservative environment. Looking back at my younger self through the perspective of adulthood, I don’t see someone who was naive or wrong; I see someone who was trying to understand the world, find joy, and figure out who they were. This album is my way of revisiting that younger version of myself with more compassion, humour and freedom.
What song from the album was the hardest to make?
The hardest song to make was My Quiet Kind of Brave because it represents a new life philosophy that I was still learning how to embody while writing it.
Growing up Christian, I went through a long period of deconstructing my beliefs and asking some really difficult questions. Like, what makes life meaningful if certainty disappears? What does it mean to live a good life if justice isn’t always guaranteed? What do I owe myself after surviving? Beyond those philosophical questions, the song became a very physical challenge too. It sits right at the top of my vocal range, and I recorded the lead vocals six times before finding the version that felt right.
What was really special was hearing my voice gradually relax and open up with each take. It felt almost like physical therapy, learning how to trust my body again and allow myself to take up space in a safe recording environment.
For live performances, I will definitely transpose the song down to make it more sustainable, similar to how artists like Chappell Roan adapt songs for touring. But every time I hear the chorus, I’m reminded of how far I’ve come, both as a vocalist and as a person.
What do you hope listeners take away from listening to The Age Of Summer?
More than anything, I hope people feel like they’ve found an artist they can grow alongside. If someone hears themselves in these songs, whether they’re navigating their own identity, beliefs, relationships, or simply trying to figure themselves out, then I hope the album can feel like a companion through that journey.
The Age Of Summer is out now, and you can listen on Spotify.
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