LOVE, or more specifically “first love”, has been the subject of countless songs since the time of travelling minstrels. In modern pop history, the list of big hits about being smitten for the very first time is a long and famous one. Think The Beatles’ I Saw Her Standing There or Kylie Minogue’s Love At First Sight. Or how about Be My Baby by the Ronettes. Berlin’s Take My Breath Away, anybody?
With tunes of such pedigree, it is no wonder local songstress Claudia Tan decided to make “first love” the theme of her debut album. Titled Love, Again, the record explores the complex and multi-faceted emotions that accompany the rush of falling head over heels in love for the very first time.
The 10-track album includes singles released in 2022 and 2023 such as Birthday, The Worst Part and Toast as well as the hugely popular Your Gentleman. The last track got plenty of playback due to it being acknowledged as a modern pop nugget by K-pop sensation Jungkook from the hugely popular group BTS. Jungkook singled out the track in a livestream last year as an example of great Malaysian pop.
Songs of love and betrayal
In a statement, Tan emphasised that the album serves as a declaration, not only in her role as a musician but also “as a romance author whose works have spanned across a decade of storytelling.”
The singer-songwriter further notes that Love, Again follows a character who falls in love for the first time, only to be betrayed by her partner.
“Tackling the idea of love, and the potential for disillusionment, Love, Again aims to deconstruct what it means to find a truly meaningful love, and the growing pains of a whirlwind first romance,” she expounds.
Introspective tunes of desire
The album clocks in at a short and sweet 27 minutes, ensuring that it does not overstay its welcome and has enough catchy hooks and choruses to leave the listener wanting more.
The opener is title track which was co-written with her producer and romantic partner Irwin Lim. The jazz and indie-pop inflected piece sets the tone for much of the album with its gentle, swaying tempo. Smooth like a well-made cocktail and like the drink itself, the tune is best enjoyed in the wee hours as it lulls listeners into a dream-like state.
Despite its jazz-indie-pop foundation, the track also carries echoes of Ariana Grande’s music, indicating the popular influences on the album. Produced by Simon J. Li, Nisa Addina and Lim, the track effectively sets the musical direction and tone of the long-player.
After the introspective Love, Again, the album transitions to Make Believe, a track that embraces a more contemporary pop sound. This is the type of song that begs to be blasted through car stereos, with its pulsating bass and infectious melody. Co-written by Tan, Lim, and Khai Zhen, Make Believe spins a tale of romantic fantasy, where feelings border on the surreal. Its catchy hooks and captivating beats make it a tune that lingers in the mind long after the music stops.
High profile endorsement
Next up is Your Gentleman, a single first released in September 2022. This track gained significant attention after K-pop sensation BTS’s Jungkook grooved to it during his livestream last year. The song’s popularity soared following this endorsement, and rightfully so. With its melodic opening guitar riff, upbeat pop vibes, and engaging lyrics, Your Gentleman is one of the album’s standout tracks. It is the kind of tune that instantly lifts the spirits and leaves listeners tapping their feet along to the rhythm.
Toast is a fun modern pop track boasting a catchy melody that has garnered popularity on platforms like TikTok and local radio stations. With its infectious beats and memorable lyrics, Toast is the kind of song that easily gets lodged in listeners’ heads, refusing to leave and burrowing itself deep into the collective psyche.
Also featured on the album is the single The Worst Part, a collaboration between Tan and Indonesian artist HNTA. Like the previous tracks, this one falls into the modern pop genre, characterized by its catchy melody and brighter tone. Released in September last year, the track has been making the rounds on social media with plenty of fans sharing the tune.
Fans of quality pop should give Love, Again a go. It is polished, well-executed and brimming with tunes that beg to be played over and over again. It is a winner and music fans should give rising local talent Tan all the support they can muster.
