David Lai, an inspiring artist with roots in Myanmar, released his second album, ‘Love Life and Blues,’ earlier this year, and although it hasn’t even been out for two months, I wish that I had found it sooner! This 11-track album is quite the acrobat in the sense that it seamlessly leaps from theme to theme, emotion to emotion, genre to genre, and even language to language.
Yes, that’s right. You don’t just get to see David Lai’s blend of pop, country, and rock; you also get to immerse yourself in his beautiful celebration of English and Burmese/Myanmar. Why did David Lai craft his album in such a way? To communicate a story of all-embracing emotion that would encourage solidarity, a solidarity that transcends the boundaries of culture and language.
During Myanmar’s military coup in 2021, David Lai had to overcome many challenges, including leaving his home country and adapting to new surroundings with limited resources. Of these challenges, ‘Love Life and Blues’ was born, an album that not only captains his hope for solidarity but also for a brighter future.
Love Life and Blues
The first song from the album that I really want to get into is ‘Ma Taung Pan Nae.’ Off the bat, this track hits you with some edge with the emergence of a whip-hand pulse of the drums and the good-mood-blues rhythm of the guitar. From this point, the harmony that guides the instrumentation blends feelings of relaxed nostalgia, as rich and rosy as the evening sun, and debonair flair.
When David’s vocals skate into the track’s texture, his timbre really reinforces the feel of the instrumentals; he offers a suave softness that is both charming and uplifting in equal measure. For me, this is the type of track you’d play when you’re slow dancing with your partner, and you only want the world to be as big as your home’s kitchen. I’ve also got to mention that David does a spectacular job at showing listeners how beautiful his native language is. It was a privilege to hear!
I’ve got to say that my favourite part of this track was the gorgeous instrumental break and the vocal performance that followed. David’s casting of the spotlight on the gritty yet warm string work, perfectly accentuated by the lounge-smooth drumbeat, made it all too easy to fall in love with this song. Then, for his vocals to re-jolt the melody without taking away from its almost tranquil atmosphere—complete genius!
The next track that really made me smile was ‘Kyaye Let See Sa.’ Introducing this bright, buoyant track, you’ll hear an airy, gentle guitar riff peppered with pillowy bass notes. Don’t be fooled, however. The first few seconds of the intro will have you believe that this song is one of dreamily slow tempos and bashful dynamics; this isn’t the case. Fleet-footed, a cheery drumbeat and a twinkling spritz of piano join the sunlit instrumentation, sending sparking surges of warmth and energy through the track’s melody.
In unison with the summery instrumental harmonies, David’s vocals celebrate an addictive pep that will have you tapping your feet and bopping your head. In ‘Kyaye Let See Sa,’ you can really appreciate the control that David has over his voice. While in ‘Ma Taung Pan Nae,’ David’s voice sports a suave silkiness, it flaunts a romantic optimism in this track that could brighten even the darkest of days. What’s more, the song’s close plays out like the old rom-com movies we used to love—with a high-spirited finale that promises a better, happier future just over the horizon. This track sounds like every hope that you’ve ever held dear to your heart, and, ultimately, that’s why I love it so much.
So, we know that David Lai can be both sophisticated and cheerful, but how does music adapt to a more poignant narrative? In ‘Your Melody,’ you’ll find out. This track has everything a great song needs to break your heart: an intro full of sorrowful, vulnerable humming, a balletically measured tempo, and an atmosphere that is as heavy as it is heart-rending. Every note of this track feels as if weighted by individual chapters of a love story that is on the brink of ending or beginning again, which is what makes it so raw and impactful.
And, of course, David’s voice is exceptional as per, especially with that honeyed, country-esque timbre that shines brilliantly across the chorus. I’ve got to say, this is my favourite track on the album. The narrative blends love and heartache like it was a seamless quilt, hemmed with the quiet strength of David’s voice and the spell-woven beauty of the instrumentation. As you approach the end of this sonic fairytale, you are carried off into the silence by the lulling hums and riffs that beguiled you at the start of the song. By constructing his music in such a way, David says so much about love: how it can invite both strength and weakness and how, sometimes, the beginning can mirror the end in its gentleness.
Today, we’ve only discussed a fraction of David Lai’s incredible album, but trust me, there is so much more to love than what I’ve talked about in this review. I can’t recommend listening to the entire album enough, and all I can say is that David has definitely, without any doubt, made a new fan out of me.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/@davidlai
ALT: Myanmar-born singer-songwriter David Lai looks into the camera whilst standing against a dark backdrop.
David Lai
David Lai has been a joy-inspiring artist ever since the release of his 2017 single, ‘Youth Soldier,’ which, I might add, is an excellent representation of his fluid genre-fusing abilities. In actuality, however, his journey as a versatile artist received its first major catalyst the year prior to this release.
In 2016, David Lai won Eain Met Sone Ya, which is a nationwide singing competition that has served as the launching pad for many of Myanmar’s amazingly talented musicians.
From this monumental win, David Lai went on to release his 2018 debut album, ‘Chit Nay Thaw Lel,’ as well as an abundance of delightful singles, including ‘Bal Mal Nal Bawa’ and ‘Fight for Freedom.’ During this period of David’s career, he also used his YouTube channel as a stage upon which he shared his beautiful renditions of songs from artists that we all know and love: Adele, Lionel Ritchie, and Ed Sheeran, to name a few.
His tireless work ethic and undeniable talent paid off—David has accrued an impressively sizeable fanbase on social media, touching the hearts of over 1.1 million followers/subscribers across Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. With his latest album, I don’t think it’s outrageous to predict that his fanbase is only going to get larger.
‘Love Life and Blues’ is available to listen to across all major streaming platforms!
Till next time.