Meet Chandra Xu | Pianist & Composer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chandra Xu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chandra, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
I’m happy whenever I feel alive and connected. Stargazing on a cool, clear night, captivated by the wonder of feeling so small yet connected to the universe. Gliding down mountains on my snowboard, slicing through the heavy, white mist that shrouds the peaks. Swimming and frolicking in the ocean, feeling weightless as the waves wash over me, lifting me up and carrying me along in the infinite pulse of the sea.

Roaming through the quiet sanctuary of a library, smelling the papery air thick with fascinating stories waiting to be discovered. Curling up on the couch, ensconced in a blanket, living different lives in a good book. Practicing piano alone for hours and hours, losing track of time and getting whisked away into different worlds and emotions.

I love getting lost in a deep conversation with someone, where time slips away, and we’re left talking and laughing until the early hours of the morning. Making music by myself or with friends, feeling everyone breathe together and the magic as the energy shifts and evolves. Connecting with people who radiate warmth and positivity.

Aimlessly wandering through the streets of New York City, getting lost in the hustle and bustle, soaking in people, sights, and sounds. Sitting by a campfire, feeling the heat of the dancing flames and listening to the crackle of wood. Stumbling across street musicians in a busy city and pausing for a while to enjoy their music. Watching the sunrise after staying up all night, feeling the world gently wake up around me.

Taking a long, solo hike in the mountains, breathing in the crisp air and letting nature’s songs fill me with a sense of calm and clarity. Wandering through a museum alone, letting the past and future unfold by tracing the steps of history. Leaping into and splashing in puddles outside on a rainy day. Writing in the early morning calm and stillness, letting my thoughts flow freely onto paper. Talking in foreign languages with others, listening to the musical phrases and celebrating victories of understanding.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My heartbeat is the rhythm of a song that’s been playing since before I was born. Music is something I live. It’s in the long hours spent at the piano, at my desk composing, in the unexpected inspiration from a book or a city street, in the way a single melody or harmony can capture emotions I can’t even name. My art and story is rooted in love and curiosity — for people, for collaboration, for stories, for the endless possibilities of sound. Every person, every project, every moment, and every thing carries its own unique energy, and I translate that into art for the ears by telling stories through sound. Stories that invite people to feel, reflect, and connect. I tell these sonic stories through melodies, orchestra, extended techniques, and different instrumental textures.

But, as with any journey, mine have been filled with countless doubts and challenges — constantly questioning my place and my worth, always feeling like I’m behind and not good enough, navigating the balance between creating from the heart but also being practical, facing harsh judgment and criticism, and the list goes on. I still experience these things. After all, music does demand discipline, resilience, and discomfort. But through it all, I choose to trust the process. I choose curiosity over fear and the unknown over the safe. I hold so much space for wonder.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
It all depends on what my friend is curious about, but here’s how I might show them a few days in New York City. We’d start with a laid-back picnic in Central Park, enjoying the break from the hustle before heading to Times Square, where we’d get swept up in bright colors, neon lights, and crowds of people lost in awe and wonder. We’d wander through The Met, head to Union Square to check out the Greenmarket and art market and experience the city through the work of its creatives. Afterward, we’d walk a few blocks to immerse ourselves in the world of books at The Strand.

For food, we might go for Buddha Bodai’s vegetarian dim sum, grab something bold at Lao Ma Spicy, or explore endless options at Chelsea Market. Along the way, we’d follow the sound of music in subway stations or on the streets, catching spontaneous performances that make the city feel alive.

In the evening, we’d attend Yuja Wang’s concert at Carnegie Hall, see a Broadway show, or head to Dizzy’s Club for some live jazz. And through it all, we’d walk the streets, feeling the city’s energy seep into us.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
A piano appeared in my life, as if conjured by a thought too soft to trace — an invitation, or perhaps a secret. It wasn’t just an instrument; it was a statement. A quiet promise. But more than that, there was a presence behind it. A fierce love and steady belief. Yeye, who never needed to declare it, loved and believed in me in ways that no language could ever hope to contain. Now, when my hands brush the keys, I feel it — his quiet faith, an angel that lingers, almost imperceptible, like the aftertaste of something sweet, guiding each note I play and every note I write.

Website: https://www.chandraxu.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chandraxu.music/