There is dream-pop, and then there is dream pop. Let me explain. If the former refers to a genre, a place of shimmering soundscapes and half-hearted voices, ambient drift and floating sonics, then by the latter, I mean pop music that feels dreamy, lullaby-like, slightly otherworldly yet still very accessible.
“Pouring Rain,” the new single from Clarity Liao, falls into the latter category, a folk-pop delicacy that is intimate and inward-looking. One day, as the literal rain was pouring down outside, she found herself musing on the metaphorical rain within, the torrents of dark, gathering weather fronts of responsibility and expectation that go with growing up, working out who you are and finding your place in the world, the storm-tossed feelings of loneliness and identity, and looking beyond to better, sunnier days to come.
It is a deft weave of understated musical lines, spacious and atmospheric, and even as the beats join in to power the song along and the sonic layers cocoon around the music like those figurative storm clouds, there is enough room for the light to filter through and for everything to breathe.
Taken alone, it is simply a great piece of dream-infused pop; taken as a sample of what her debut EP, Dear…, has in store for us, it is the calling card for a fantastic new talent, definitely one that you need to continue to check out. Now!
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
TikTok
Website
