With so much heaviness in current events, “You Are” is singer/songwriter Kardias Quing’s newest single that brings an air of lightness through melodic grooves and inspiring lyrics and invites listeners to pause and appreciate their own personal essence.

Kardias Quing is a Vancouver-based, independent Alt Pop/RnB artist, who uses her music to empower her listeners on their own journeys to their higher selves. “You Are” is testament to the power of unconditional self love and remembering your limitless potential. Quing’s uplifting message is echoed throughout the chorus, as she writes,“You could be greater / Let go of the limit your mind’s been holdin’ onto / You are a maker / You are a creator / You are the purpose / You are the gift.”

Moving away from her Catholic roots, Quing now identifies as spiritual. In the past few years, she has focused on reconnecting with her own deeper meaning, and this inner work is evident throughout her music. However, she honours her memories of the powerful moments when her youth group would sing together by curating a similar energy in her live music.

“If I took anything from that space, it was when I used to be in this Filipino-based youth group, and we would gather for worship and sing songs about Jesus—but that experience when everyone’s putting out this concentrated energy. Even if singing wasn’t their strongest suit, we would all surrender to this moment where the frequency was so undeniable sometimes it would move me to tears,” reflects Quing.

A musician for the past twelve years, Kardias pulled from her church experiences and deep family values as she developed her songwriting skills. One of her influences is her father, who wrote music for their church, anniversaries, and special family events. With music in her blood and a community of talented individuals, Quing began working with her current producer, Withinroots.

“After high school, my now-producer, Withinroots and I would jam and words began to come in a way I had never experienced before, sometimes effortlessly, from simply being present. There was a sense of joy and curiosity about this space I shared with him. Soon after, he initiated the creation of our band, Community Trees, along with more of our close friends. I started to pay more attention to the words I was mindlessly taking in through music, becoming awake and aware it was shaping my subconscious beliefs. It was through this I realized I wanted to make a difference. Being sensitive myself, and recalling how much my emotions and narratives in my mind were influenced over the years by what I was listening to—especially in middle and high school—sparked my desire to write songs with the intention to inspire and empower.”

When at a Kardias Quing concert, you can expect to see many of those close friends on stage with her, sharing an undeniable passion for creating a unique experience through their music. Often humbled by the audience, Quing gives all the love she receives from the audience right back to them: “Experiencing concerts also added to that feeling. There’s this holy space when it’s live, because you’re literally feeling the musicians’ or performers’ energy and reflecting it back, almost like tapping into this connected plane of frequency we all float in,” she observes. “It’s so important to create a space where we share these moments.” 

The single’s cover art is simple, yet intentional. When listeners are using a device or smartphone, they can look past the lyrics and see themselves in the encompassing black circle: a symbol of the vastness of the universe and the greatness within their own souls. 

With “You Are” released this month, Kardias Quing comments, “My hope is that it inspires remembrance of the infinite that resides within us. A remembrance that we belong to a collective oneness, greater than these ideas that divide us, beyond these vessels we call our bodies, beyond our age, our name —that we can make and create beyond our limiting beliefs, because we are greater than.” 

Listening to “You Are” I remembered seeing Kardias Quing play on a Vancouver rooftop during a gorgeous summer night. Being the first live show I had seen since restrictions were set in place in early 2020, there was an electricity in the air and a surge of freedom. This new single feels a lot like that night: warm, energetic, and freeing. “You Are” resonates deeply, as I continue to understand my own challenges with perfectionism and limiting beliefs. Music is often a source of guidance for me, allowing me to work through my emotions in the moment, and “You Are” does just that for me: a reminder right when I needed it, to free myself from self-doubt and embrace my intuition.

Noting her own journey Kardias says, “I hope that this song serves as a reflection of me as an artist, that I am here to be a conduit for unconditional love, even if I am still in the process of remembrance as well.”

Stream “You Are” on iTunes and Spotify, and follow along on Instagram @kardiasquing as she continues to release songs from her “You” series throughout 2021 and 2022. 

Kailey Jean is a freelance creative from Vancouver, BC focusing on empowering womxn in arts, events, and business. Follow her on Instagram @kaileyjeancreative