Loh Huei Xian Finds Hope in Unexpected Places on New Single “Sunshine Within the Mountains”

Malaysian singer-songwriter, composer, and producer Loh Huei Xian is encouraging listeners to reconnect with their dreams on her latest single, “Sunshine Within the Mountains.” Inspired by a trip to Iceland earlier this year, the release transforms a breathtaking natural landscape into a thoughtful reflection on perseverance, self-belief, and finding hope when the road ahead feels uncertain.

Having released original music since 2021, Loh Huei Xian has developed a songwriting approach rooted in pop, orchestral arrangements, and emotionally driven ballads. Her latest composition continues that direction, using vivid imagery and an uplifting narrative to explore something many people experience but rarely acknowledge: losing sight of their ambitions while navigating the responsibilities of everyday life.

“Sunshine Within the Mountains” begins with images of icy rivers, towering mountains, and unfamiliar surroundings before gradually revealing its deeper meaning. The contrast between sunlight and coldness becomes a metaphor for finding encouragement during difficult periods, while the recurring chorus reinforces the idea that hope can exist even when circumstances suggest otherwise.

The song's message has an appealing simplicity. Rather than presenting success as something guaranteed, Loh Huei Xian acknowledges the uncertainty of pursuing personal ambitions while encouraging listeners to keep moving forward.

Written after witnessing Iceland's dramatic scenery, the track also reflects the artist's belief that music can bring people together through shared experiences and emotions.

With “Sunshine Within the Mountains,” Loh Huei Xian delivers an encouraging reminder that dreams don't necessarily disappear when life becomes difficult. Sometimes, they simply need to be rediscovered.

“Sunshine Within the Mountains” was inspired by the scenery you experienced in Iceland. What was it about that particular moment that stayed with you, and how did you turn a visual experience into something with a much deeper emotional meaning?

This trip is actually a special one to me because it was my first time traveling so far away from home, and it was also the first two-week-long trip I had ever taken.

The moment that started this idea was the view on our way to Akureyri, in northern Iceland. My family and I saw mountains illuminated by a ray of sunlight across the lake. It was winter, so everything was covered in white snow. It looked like something out of this world, peaceful and hopeful at the same time.

We slowed down and pulled over to take pictures of that view, which eventually became the song's cover art and inspired the lyrics for the first verse and chorus. One thing I loved about the trip was the quietness and calmness I felt throughout the experience. It helped me quiet my mind and focus on one thing at a time. The whole experience made me want to write a song filled with hope, and that's how “Sunshine Within the Mountains” came to life.

The song explores how easily people can lose sight of their dreams while managing the pressures of everyday life. Have you experienced moments when your own ambitions felt out of reach, and what helped you reconnect with them?

All the time. Although I wrote a song about achieving our dreams, I'm still trying to achieve mine right now. Actually, my previous song was about this too, which is a little ironic to me.

I'm currently working a full-time job, but I've always known that I want to make music my full-time career. Looking at all the uncertainty and different variables nowadays, sometimes I wonder if it's really achievable.

When those thoughts start piling up, I usually stop what I'm working on, if I can, leave that space, and do something completely unrelated to music to clear my mind. Usually, it's exercising or cleaning my room. Something simple that allows me to focus on one thing at a time.

After a while, I remind myself why I wanted to make music in the first place and the joy it brings me when I'm creating. I think those little reminders help me reconnect with my goals.

Nature plays an important role throughout the song, particularly the contrast between sunlight, icy landscapes, and the unknown. How intentional was that symbolism during the songwriting process, and what does finding your own “sunshine” mean to you personally?

During that trip, I spent most of my time looking at the natural landscapes, so I was really just trying to describe what I saw and felt.

I think nature itself is already full of the unknown. Being surrounded by the unknown can feel scary because you never know what comes next. But if you don't take that first step, you'll never know what kind of view you might get to see.

The idea of the unknown came naturally when I was looking for imagery to connect with the lyrics. To me, finding my own sunshine means truly feeling like my authentic self. It's finding a place where I can fully express myself in my own words.

Your musical background spans pop, orchestral compositions, and ballads. How do you approach translating personal experiences into musical arrangements, and how has your background as a composer and producer influenced your identity as a songwriter?

I listen to those genres most of the time. At first, it was mainly pop, but as time went on, I discovered that ballads were one of my favorite styles of music to listen to.

My interest in orchestral music developed while I was studying for my degree. I discovered Cody Fry's music, and his songs “Photograph” and “Symphony Session” really inspired me to try writing orchestral music.

I play piano, so most of the time, that's where my songwriting begins. I don't really have a special approach when it comes to making music. Ideas just come into my mind, and I always keep notes on my phone or write things down on paper or in my notebook. Then I try my best to turn those ideas into something real.

I started songwriting, composing, and producing around the same time, so they've naturally influenced one another along the way. Combined with the music I regularly listen to, everything has developed quite organically.

I would love to try making more upbeat music too, although right now, I don't think I can quite do that by myself yet.

You've spoken about wanting to create music that connects people while also discovering more about yourself through the process. Since releasing your first original music in 2021, what have you learned about yourself creatively, and what kind of impact do you hope your music will have on listeners moving forward?

I'm still trying to find myself right now. What I've learned about myself so far might not necessarily sound like good things! I'm a slow learner, I'm not always great at expressing myself through speaking, and I tend to overthink my thoughts and ideas a lot. You can probably see that in the way I've answered these questions, hahaha.

Most of the time, I need to spend more time learning new things compared to other people, and things can get messy when I try to explain myself verbally. But after I started learning songwriting, I began writing my thoughts down instead. I write about the feelings and thoughts I have in the moment, especially the things I don't know how to say out loud. Sometimes they're real experiences, and sometimes they're things I've imagined.

Then, when another idea comes along that connects with those words, I start polishing them into something more complete. So, in a simple way, I still haven't truly discovered who I am. That might take a little longer than I expected.

As for the impact I hope my music has, I just want listeners to feel whatever they genuinely feel when they hear it. I don't want it to be just another song they listen to and forget. I'd love for someone to finish listening and think, “Oh, I feel hopeful after hearing this,” or perhaps feel something bittersweet or sad.

Everyone has their own perspective when it comes to music, so I can't tell listeners exactly what I want them to feel. Ultimately, I just hope my music can bring peace and love to people. I think that's something beautiful about music, and I want to be part of that process.