San Francisco–based singer-songwriter Clarity Liao solidifies her place among pop’s most compelling emerging artists with the arrival of her newest single, ‘Like I Do’, an intimate and stripped-back track that captures the quiet pain of unreciprocated love through honest lyrics and imagery of walking aimlessly through a desert landscape.

Driven primarily by piano, the arrangement gives listeners the space to fully absorb Clarity’s soft yet confident vocal delivery. The chorus is particularly heartbreaking, revealing a narrator who remains unable to let go of the person on their mind: “No I / Can′t seem to forget about you / They said to wait / And I′ve been waiting / For it to hit you / Sometimes / I think about your smile / And I wonder bout that girl / Would she really love you / Like I do.” It perfectly captures what is expected from a reflective, slow-burning breakup song.

Clarity began writing music at the age of seven, quickly gravitating toward both piano and guitar as her primary instruments. Her songwriting work with the band Navillera received critical recognition, earning the Yamaha National Best Popular Music Award for their debut single “Too Young,” while “I Need You” reached first place in the 2025 YMS National Composers competition. Her solo catalogue also demonstrates impressive maturity, particularly “Hurt My Heart,” which she wrote and recorded at only twelve years old. Inspired by artists including Olivia Rodrigo, Bruno Mars, Celine Dion and Frankie Valli, Clarity’s sound blends indie pop, R&B, bedroom pop and touches of modern doo-wop into a sonic identity that feels both nostalgic and contemporary.

‘Like I Do’ originally began as an assignment from her English tutor. She says, “The song really brought out my emotions from the current situation I was in at the time, also exploring a genre I’ve been liking but never really got to pursue, so I decided to take it to the studio. This song has so far been one of my favourite tracks to sing and listen to, also being one of the best expressed in my lyrics.”

Clarity Liao is continuing to demonstrate the depth of her artistic vision and musical talent. ‘Like I Do’ reinforces her growing reputation as a modern pop artist whose heartfelt storytelling has the potential to resonate with listeners of all ages.