London-based Singaporean singer-songwriter/producer Charlie Lim, Melbourne producer and electronic artist Katz, and L.A. based Singaporean singer-songwriter Linying come together to create a hauntingly beautiful masterpiece.
In the realm of music, sometimes the most captivating pieces are born from spontaneous moments of inspiration and collaboration. Such is the case with the mesmerizing single ‘Definitely,’ a hauntingly beautiful opus that emerges from the combined talents of Charlie Lim, Katz, and Linying.
The inception of ‘Definitely’ occurred during a serendipitous encounter when Charlie Lim, a Singaporean singer-songwriter and producer based in London, visited his family in Australia and reunited with his old friend and frequent collaborator, Melbourne-based producer and electronic artist Katz. The two musicians found themselves jamming together, with Charlie on the guitar and Katz on the piano. Little did they know that this impromptu session would lay the foundation for something truly special.
“We were just improvising with me on guitar and Adam (Katz) on piano, and we left the camera running – and I’m so glad we did,” recalls Charlie. This spur-of-the-moment recording captured a magical moment in their musical journey, setting the stage for what would become ‘Definitely.’
The collaborative spirit extended beyond just Charlie and Katz. Enter Linying, another Singaporean singer-songwriter, who is based in Los Angeles. She joined the creative trio, adding her own unique flair to the project. Linying was drawn into the fold when she saw a video on Charlie’s Instagram featuring him and Katz jamming out a mesmerizing instrumental piece.
“I impulsively ripped the audio with a free online converter and wrote a verse and a chorus within an hour,” Linying reminisces. Her immediate connection to the music was palpable, and her lyrics added a layer of depth and emotion to the evolving composition. “To me, it’s about that sour, envious feeling watching someone suddenly be so sure about everything they were unsure of when it came to you,” she explains.
Katz, known for his prowess in crafting intricate and emotionally charged musical arrangements, took charge of bringing the song to life. He shares, “I like writing chord progressions that feel like they’re folding in on themselves. The main chords in ‘Definitely’ never really resolve, which I think adds an air of tension in keeping with the subject matter of the lyrics.”
The composition of ‘Definitely’ is a testament to the synergy between the three artists. Katz continues, “This was also my first time getting to work with Lin; I was stunned when she sent through such a thoughtful and fully-formed topline so quickly after we posted the clip online.” Trust and spontaneity were at the heart of their collaboration, driven by a longstanding friendship between Charlie and Katz that spans over a decade. This trust allowed them to be brutally honest and exceptionally productive as collaborators.
Charlie, who oversaw the production of the track, reveals, “There’s really nothing like working with people you trust and respect, and with friends you can openly disagree with but still come to a happy medium that ticks all everyone’s boxes.” The result is a deceptively intricate piece of music. What may sound like a simple composition is, in fact, a tapestry of dozens of vocal layers and unorthodox harmonies meticulously layered into the mix. This complexity creates a blurred, depth-of-field effect that perfectly complements the song’s emotional depth.
In the end, ‘Definitely’ encapsulates something deeply personal yet universally resonant. It’s a musical journey that showcases the power of spontaneous collaboration, the magic of trust among friends, and the ability of music to capture complex emotions in a beautifully haunting way. Charlie Lim, Katz, and Linying have crafted a masterpiece that will undoubtedly linger in the hearts and minds of listeners for a long time to come.
