Dena Shares Her Midnight Thoughts in New Single “What If I”
Sometimes we only need one person to believe in us. Taiwanese singer-songwriter Dena is here to do just that with her new single “What If I.” Released on October 29, the minimalist track was penned and co-produced by the artist herself. Through the three-minute song, Dena continues to be a relatable and grounded voice in the music industry.
In “What If I,” she encourages listeners to follow their dreams; yet, Dena focuses on adjusting your mindset versus just dishing out abstract lines like “chase your dreams.” Instead of only thinking about the “what ifs” in a negative way, go out and do. And most importantly, believe in yourself and what you want.
What If…?
The minimal production found in “What If I” characterizes Dena’s newest addition to her discography. This style continues the path she has carved through “on read” and “dumb af” (with fellow Taiwanese singer-songwriter JOYCE 就以斯), her February and April singles, respectively. With a simple yet weighty electric guitar strumming in the background, Dena’s clear tone captures the full spotlight in “What If I.” However, despite its chill café vibe, the singer-songwriter shares piercing truths in the English and Mandarin Chinese lyrics.
This reflects the candidness found in her YouTube channel, “Hey It’s Dena,” which boasts 250,000 subscribers. Although Dena started her YouTube in 2015, she has always used her platform to open up about her music journey and pursuing her dreams — despite bouts of self-doubt. The singer-songwriter shared with the press ahead of her new single: “I started writing [‘What If I’] two years ago, when I was an indie artist grinding in the background, helping others shine, while longing for the time to work on my own projects. That’s where ‘What If I’ was born — weighed down by the desire to be ‘that somebody.’”
“Omg it’s 4 am again / no i don’t wanna go to bed” begins the track — relatable midnight thoughts that feel like they have been plucked straight out of our brains. Instead of letting herself spiral deeper into the “things unsaid” and the burden of “So many things I want to do / So many things I wish were not true,” Dena uses the chorus to shift her perspective.
“What if I found the part that I’m missing,” she sings. “What if I started believing / I’m already living in my dreams and nothing / will ever let me down,” she continues, asserting that pride in what has already been accomplished (even the small things) is a win within itself. Sometimes, “what if” can keep your eyes trained on goals in front of you, rather than letting all the questions you can’t answer drag you down.
“Fast forward to now,” Dena added in her thoughts to the press. “I’m signed to a major label — still grinding, still growing — but the familiar anxieties remain: Am I growing fast enough? Am I good enough?” She emphasized, “‘What If I’ isn’t just about the rise, it’s about redefining what it means to ‘make it.’ What if this moment, right here, is already enough? The song asks you to pause and recognize that the dream you’ve been chasing might already be your reality — and sometimes, the hardest part is recognizing that you’re exactly where you need to be.”
I’m Already Living In My Dreams
This is only the beginning of the next chapter in Dena’s story. Before she signed with Warner Music Taiwan in February, she attended Berklee College of Music in the United States and pursued a career as an indie artist. In this past year, Dena released three singles through her new label: “on read,” a cuttingly vulnerable song about heartbreak; “dumb af,” a collaboration with JOYCE 就以斯 that mixes fun with the emotional rollercoaster of being ghosted; and “EMO Again,” where Dena dips into the pop-rock genre with a cautionary tale about protecting your heart. These last few months, too, she has performed in Hong Kong and promoted “EMO Again” on a Taiwanese TV show called Showbiz.
“What If I” is a new story in Dena’s collection of open and relatable songs — and it’s one that hopefully gives listeners the confidence to take ownership over their own stories, too.
Keep up with Dena on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook. Listen to “What if I” on the streaming platform of your choice, with links found here.
Want to learn more about Dena? Check out EnVi’s interview with the singer-songwriter here!
