Alice Longyu Gao's brashly witty hyperpop reflects Harajuku's neon style, the fantastical worlds of Sailor Moon and Alice in Wonderland, and her wish to instill confidence in her audience. The Chinese-born, U.S.-based producer, DJ, and performance artist made a name for herself in New York City's art and fashion scenes before breaking out with 2019's "Rich Bitch Juice," which was produced by 100 gecs' Dylan Brady and displayed the tweaked vocals, metallic percussion, and animated sonics that became her trademarks. She demonstrated her range within this style on later releases like 2021's hard-charging EP High Dragon Universe and 2022's airy "To My White Boy Princess."

Gao grew up in Bengbu, China the daughter of entrepreneurial parents who owned a latex glove factory. Though she began taking piano lessons at age four and later studied singing, her parents expected her to take over the family business -- something that didn't interest her in the least. When she was not accepted to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, she concentrated on making music her own way. In 2012, she moved to the U.S. to continue her studies and begin her music career. The 17-year-old Gao took music classes while she studied philosophy at Boston University, then learned Japanese while attending Harvard University's Summer Program in Kyoto. By the time she was 21, she was becoming a fixture in New York City's fashion and music scenes: she interned for Paper magazine and Comme des Garçons and worked as an assistant for the British DJ Chelsea Leyland. Naming herself Alice as an homage to the fantastical world of Alice in Wonderland, Gao became a DJ herself, and spun for clients ranging from Asia Society and the Parrish Art Museum to Milk Makeup and Juicy Couture. During this time, she was also featured in the official N.Y.C. Pride campaigns of 2017 and 2018 as part of her advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights.

In 2018, Gao began releasing her own music. That February saw the premiere of her candy-colored art installation Pericura, while that May's fizzy debut single "Princess of Manifestation" reflected the influence of J-pop on her style. Later in the year, she issued "Magnificroissant" and "I Want My Hoe Time Back," both of which found Gao creating a brash persona as an antidote to the anxiety she had suffered since childhood. After releasing November 2018's "Chew!," she connected with 100 gecs' Dylan Brady, sparking a partnership that spawned the 2019 singles "Dumb Bitch Juice" and "Rich Bitch Juice," the latter of which made a fan of Lady Gaga and spun off a remix EP featuring contributions from Brady, Gupi, Blu DeTiger, and others. Several other singles, including "I <3 Harajuku" and the COVID-19 themed "Quarantine Rly Sux," followed in 2020. Along with standalone singles such as "Legend" and "She Abunai," in 2021 Gao issued tracks like the Whethan collaboration "Kanpai" and the Brady-produced "100 Boyfriends" that appeared on her debut EP, High Dragon Universe. Taking its title from the meaning of Gao's name in Chinese, the EP appeared in October 2021 and ranged from trap-inspired tracks to DayGlo pop. The following January, she returned with the flirtatious single "To My White Boy Princess." ~ Heather Phares, Rovi