With a sweet, sparse, acoustic melody that immediately brings to mind Death Cab For Cutie’s modern classic “I Will Follow You Into The Dark”, “Born To Lose” – the new single from New York-based Singaporean singer/songwriter W. Y. Huang – feels comforting, warm, and familiar.
As it progresses beyond the brief instrumental intro, we meet a relaxed, easy-going vocal that seems more aligned with Jack Johnson than Ben Gibbard, with lyrics that feel both nostalgic and affectionate. Stylistically, this is firmly embedded in the folk/pop arena, and with its understated and unassuming vibe, the song is infinitely charming and effortlessly arresting.
Eventually we encounter a whistled solo which adds to the whimsical, breezy, old-school feel. We’re reminded of legends like “Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay”, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”, and other age-old tunes that also incorporate whistling. There’s no denying the feeling of joy that the sound conjures. Pair that with an Elliott Smith/Fionn Regan feel to the instrumentation, lyrics like “Surrender’s not a dirty word / if you’re the bad guy”, and a sunny Belle And Sebastian-esque slant to the overall tone of the music. It feels strangely melancholic, but at the same time, overwhelmingly positive and joyous.
For the last few seconds of the song, Huang’s pairing of gentle, finger-picked guitar and inimitable vocals are joined by another instrument which we first thought was a harmonica. But now we can’t decide if it’s a melodica, an accordion, or simply a keyboard. Whatever it is, it’s a match made in heaven, and it acts as the cherry on the top of this rather gorgeous cake. Please sir, can we have some more?
Take a listen to “Born To Lose” below.
Written by Kinda Grizzly
