Linying

Singaporean singer/songwriter Linying has just released her beautiful alt-pop tune called ‘Alpine’.

Like with her own music, Linying has put together a very moving playlist for you to listen to your heart’s content.

Arcade Fire – Rebellion (Lies)

One of my earliest musical influences was Arcade Fire, whose album Funeral I’ve heard countless times, cover to cover, on my old, beat-up iPod. Rebellion (Lies) is, for me, the ultimate anthem for that pre-dawn delirium, of feeling like you’re invincible.

Dawn Golden – Discoloration

Dawn Golden was and still is one of the best discoveries my ears made in 2014; Dexter Tortoriello’s writing and production were very significant in shaping my own sonic sensibilities in dressing up my own songs. I love how intense and emotionally evocative all the songs on his album, Still Life, are, and Discoloration stands amongst the rawest and most heartbreaking of songs in my books.

Charlie Lim – I Only Tell The Truth

Charlie Lim, a musician I’m lucky enough to call my friend and compatriot, takes me places with I Only Tell The Truth. It’s delicate and wistful and it serves up a spectacle, from the stifling insides of an airplane to crashing waters and blinding light.

Bon Iver – Blood Bank

Probably the most definitive in my songwriting, Blood Bank was the very first song I’d ever listened to and felt for without fully understanding. “You were rubbing both my hands / Chewing on a candy bar” taught me to say everything I ever wanted to say in all its specificity without worry for its esotericism. It doesn’t matter that it’s only your picture as long as you paint it right.

The 1975 – Paris

Say what you will about the boyband, but Paris is a painful, purple dream in its tender vocals and balmy bopping beat and, for me, up there amongst the best, the most beautiful, most visually arresting of melancholic pop songs.

How Sad – Young Couple

In a melodramatic wave of despair, I once tweeted Harris Shper, How Sad’s frontman: “We were a young couple driving through beautiful France. I was warned, wasn’t I?” He replied, “Life is everything up and down. Hope the memory is beautiful and the future will be too.” He was right, though. I still think of France’s mountain roads when I listen to this song, and they’re still beautiful.

Midst – Captivate

There’s something subdued but spiritual about midst’s atmospheric, dreamy sound in Captivate. It’s like a red cresting wave in song-form.

Lykke Li – Time Flies

Lykke Li, like Karen O, was one of my favourite female songwriters of sad, strained songs. Listening to Time Flies is like having a heart clenched in smallness and tiredness, having it eventually unfurl into glorious abandon and despair.

Sunset Rubdown – Us Ones In Between

There’s a homemade video somewhere on Youtube of a group of friends playing inside a big deflated balloon the colours of the rainbow to this song. It puts into words, music, and pictures how it feels to be timid, forlorn, and to know it.

Gentle Bones – Geniuses & Thieves

Another Singaporean musician-friend who delivers dark, moody trap vibes best in this track, which samples a hook off Made In Heights’ Wildflowers (Exhale Efreet) and takes it to a whole other level.

Sounds like: Frances, Bon Iver, Rae Morris

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