Weibird on International Collaborations: “Like the Major Leagues—Refine Yourself and Let Your Work Speak”

Author: Yuki Liu 劉韋琪 / YSOLIFE

What does it take to become the first Taiwanese artist to appear on the famous Japanese YouTube channel The First Take?

Golden Melody Award-winning singer-songwriter Weibird (韋禮安) humbly gave all the credits to his team: “I was fortunate. It just so happened that I had the song ‘Red Scarf (如果可以)’, and the Japanese side recognized its success.” As of September 2025, the song has surpassed 100 million streams on Spotify and 100 million views on YouTube. Additionally, he has released Japanese and Korean versions of it.

Not content to rest on his laurels, Weibird has continued to challenge himself. Recently, he explored the Newtro style in his latest EP “LOVE WEI BACK Vol. 1”, expanding what he calls his growing “Wei-verse.” When asked how he hopes to connect his universe with others, he revealed his guiding principle for international　collaborations: “The ultimate goal is always to make it happen.”

*Photo Source: Neko Production / YSOLIFE

In Cross-Border Collaborations, Only Your Best Will Do

In early 2025, Weibird released "Best Friend (最好的朋友)", a Mandarin-language single featuring DONGHAE of the famous K-pop group SUPER JUNIOR. Fans had long remarked on their strikingly similar looks, and when the two finally came together, the collaboration generated massive buzz instantly. But making it happen wasn’t easy. Beyond years of preparation and hard work, Weibird says it required the right "time, place, and people."

The two teams had known each other for some time, but it took nearly a year for everything to align with DONGHAE’s plan to release a Mandarin song, which ultimately led to the creation of "Best Friend." "There were so many ways we could have done it: should we co-write together? Should I write and invite him to sing? Not to mention all the copyright and release details," Weibird explained. "The biggest challenge in international collaborations is communication. Misunderstandings can easily occur in translation, so it requires extensive back-and-forth communication. I'm grateful to have had such a strong team pushing things forward. Because this was such a rare opportunity, we had to seize it. I couldn’t thank my team enough."

*Photo Source: Neko Production / YSOLIFE

When it came to the lyrics, Weibird initially wanted each verse to be unique, adding more nuance and layers. But since Mandarin would be challenging for DONGHAE, he decided to simplify the lines instead. “I was worried he might break down!” Weibird laughed. “But DONGHAE wanted to sing every line perfectly, and he even asked me to correct his pronunciation as much as possible. So I thought, ‘Since you asked for it, I won’t hold back!’”

The team expected the recording session to last two to three hours, but it ended up taking twice as long. “DONGHAE sets very high standards for himself. Before every session, he does 40 minutes of cardio and works out daily. His self-discipline is incredible—I really admire that and want to learn from him.”

Beyond writing the lyrics and composing, Weibird also produced and vocal-directed “Best Friend”. Their first meeting was actually in Korea at the recording session. “I couldn’t sleep the night before. I was so nervous. With these kinds of international collaborations, I always remind myself: ‘You can’t mess this up.’ So I need to be fully prepared and present my best self.”

Watch: WeiBird & DONGHAE - '最好的朋友 Best Friend' Official Music Video

 

Debuting on The First Take: Weibird Stayed on Edge Till the End

Appearing on The First Take is a career milestone many artists dream of, but for Weibird, it was also a lesson in the weight of international collaborations. “The Japanese are very precise and detail-oriented. And since I was the first Taiwanese to be on it, I had to hold myself to the highest standards and show them my respect and seriousness.”

He vividly recalls the day of the shoot. On the ride to the studio, he felt both nervous and excited, likening it to Harry Potter’s first journey to Hogwarts. Once inside, the iconic white backdrop struck him hard, along with the meticulous setup and the staff in full concentration. “Even now, I still get goosebumps thinking about it! The scariest part was the silence of the studio. With headphones on, you could hear everything: your breathing, heartbeat, even the rustles of your clothes.”

Determined to meet his own high standards, Weibird didn’t allow himself a moment of slack. Even in Japan, right inside the studio, he used every spare moment to connect online with his vocal coach for warm-ups—so much so that the staff eventually came to check on him. “One of my exercises was making a loud ‘Gee Gee Gee’ sound. At one point, the staff came by to confirm the schedule and asked, ‘すみません (excuse me), Mr. Weibird, how much longer do you need for your Gee Gee Gee Time?’”Everyone at the interview burst into laughter at the story, but beyond the humor, it also showed the Japanese team just how dedicated he was.

 

“Ability Is the Only Thing You Can Control”: How Weibird Refines Himself for the Major Leagues

Looking back, Weibird says his first international collaboration was with Filipino Indie Folk Pop band Ben&Ben on “Cheap Love”, from his 2021 debut all-English album “I'm More Sober When I'm Drunk”. In the years since, he has collaborated with Dutch DJ Oliver Heldens on "Out of Love" and with Vietnamese actor Liên Bỉnh Phát (連炳發) on "For a Better Day," the theme song for the TV drama "The Outlaw Doctor (化外之醫)." The biggest challenge came with that track, which required him to sing in Vietnamese: "So I just forced myself to learn! In the studio, I recorded the lines one by one. The hardest part was the shooting of the music video because I had to lip-sync, so I had to memorize everything. Turns out I can learn languages like a parrot, so please keep them coming!" he laughed, again crediting his label for their constant support.

Watch: WeiBird - "For a Better Day" feat. Liên Bỉnh Phát Official MV

Despite this experience, Weibird remains humble when offering advice on international collaboration: "Honestly, I'm still figuring it out. There's no fixed formula." But he does believe in one thing: "Let your work speak. With different artists, there will always be variables. The only thing you can control is your own ability. Therefore, you must continually improve and refine your work. Even if you're not a big name yet, a great song can still move international musicians."

He compares international collaboration to playing in the Major Leagues: “They don’t care where you come from, what matters is whether you have the ability.” Citing Sunset Rollercoaster’s (落日飛車) collaboration with Korean band HYUKOH as an example, he added: "Sunset Rollercoaster's skills are undeniable. You have to be at that level at least. If you're not there yet, continue training in the bullpen until you're ready. Your demos, your songs, everything has to be prepared. I'm still working on improving myself, and every collaboration shows me where I still fall short."

He also stresses persistence: “If you really want to work with international artists, you just have to keep trying and never give up. The simplest way is to DM them on Instagram: ‘I really love your music. Would you like to collaborate?’ Maybe you’ll get ignored a hundred times. But if you send a thousand, maybe you’ll get THAT ONE CHANCE." Weibird concluded, "At the end of the day, it's about always going back to yourself and keeping up the practice."

*Photo Source: Neko Production / YSOLIFE

Polishing his work to perfection and staying ready at all times—that’s Weibird’s baseline for himself. He also reminds us that not every collaboration will come true: “You have to be prepared that some might not happen. But you should still keep making wishes. If you don’t, no one will help you make them come true.”

His latest EP, “LOVE WEI BACK Vol. 1”, is one such wish fulfilled. “My basic concept was: what if I create an album where everyone can sing every song at Karaoke? That was my starting point, pretty willful, actually. But to my surprise, everyone involved was super committed.” The EP has since evolved into a project featuring fictional characters, backstories, retro-styled promotional videos, and even a playful “Wei-pedia.”

As for future collaborations, Weibird admits: “I do have wishes, but I can’t guarantee anything. Even if it doesn’t happen with this EP, I believe there will be other opportunities. I’ll keep looking for ways to build more connections.”

*Photo Source: Neko Production / YSOLIFE

In the end, his message is both simple and profound: “If you fail to convince someone this time, don’t be discouraged. Keep writing, keep trying. And never give up.”

Venue：The Round Taipei