This post was updated Nov. 11 at 8:35 p.m.

To reach others through music, Ariel Tan stays true to herself.

The fourth-year Asian American studies student said she has been writing songs for most of her life. Over the past year, Tan has performed some of those original songs live at venues across Los Angeles as the next step in her singer-songwriter career. As she works on her first EP, which she plans to call “MUSE,” Tan said she hopes to continue creating and performing music that audiences can relate to by weaving in her unique perspective.

“One of the biggest challenges for me is being very vulnerable and honest with my music,” Tan said. “I feel like my songs that I’ve written that come from a more personal experience are more powerful.”

Tan said she has been passionate about music ever since she was a young child. She added that she would sing karaoke songs with her dad when she was younger as an early gateway into vocal performance. She said she has loved songwriting for just as long and would keep a songwriting journal throughout her childhood. Her interest in music became more serious in middle school when she learned to play piano, guitar and ukulele, she said.

[Related: Alumnus Juliana Simone explores genres and grief in new single ‘Never Home’]

Since coming to UCLA, Tan said she has taken three songwriting classes and wants to pursue a music industry minor. Tan’s friend Manisha Wanniappa, an alumnus and fellow singer-songwriter, said she met Tan while they were both taking Music Industry 112A: “Introduction to Songwriting.” Wanniappa said Tan can solve tough problems that arise frequently in the songwriting process, such as writing catchy music under a time crunch. Wanniappa was not the only person to praise Tan’s songwriting knack, as Tan’s manager, Adam Levine, said he immediately identified her lyricism as one of her greatest strengths as an artist.

“She has a strong desire to really connect with people and to dig deep and be personal in a way that’s accessible,” Levine said. “She connects with people who are feeling the same things.”

Tan said her songs are influenced by R&B and pop music, citing Bruno Mars and Kehlani as some of her sonic inspirations. She added that her mixed-race Hawaiian heritage can be felt in her music. For example, she said she included island imagery in “Dear Ohana,” a song she wrote for her family, and covered songs such as Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” on the ukulele.

Some of Tan’s music deals with her personal experiences, such as “Growing Pains,” which she said details her experience growing up as an Asian American girl in LA. She said other songs have been inspired by relationships that her friends have been in. Sometimes, she finds inspiration from other media – her song “On My Side” is about one of the relationships between the characters Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington in the Netflix series “Bridgerton,” she added.

“She wrote about two characters and their love story, and the lyrics are just incredible,” Wanniappa said. “I’ve had it stuck in my head ever since.”

Though Tan enjoys writing about romance, she said she believes her music can also be an instrument for social change. Her original song “Velvet,” which she wrote when she was 14 years old, focuses on female empowerment, she said. The song describes women as smooth like velvet, but also strong and refined, she added.

Over the past year, Tan said she has performed her original songs across LA at venues such as Durango Cantina and the Viper Room, as well as various open mics. She said she is looking for more opportunities to perform live and would one day like to perform at the iconic club the Troubadour.

[Related: ‘American Idol’ alumnus Ava August reclaims confidence through self-written songs]

Tan said performing songs live – especially songs with personal lyrics – can be nerve-wracking, but she has gained confidence. Levine said Tan has grown into a capable onstage performer as she has taken on more gigs. Wanniappa, who has performed alongside her, said she finds Tan to be mesmerizing onstage.

“She’s a very captivating performer to watch,” Wanniappa said. “She commands the stage so well, and as soon as she gets up there, she has everyone’s attention because she presents herself in such a confident way.”

One of Tan’s songs, “Beauty at its Finest,” is currently available on SoundCloud. She is working on getting other songs released for her first EP, which she said will finalize after she graduates. Her next show is scheduled for January at the UnUrban Coffee House in Santa Monica. Until then, Tan said she will continue to write and perform songs no matter what.

“You have to have confidence in yourself and be like, ‘Yes, I’m proud of work, regardless of the outcome,’” Tan said. “Just putting yourself out there and being raw and open and vulnerable in front of people.”