We Speak Music
Clarity Liao Explores Heartbreak In New Release ‘Like I Do’
San Francisco–based singer-songwriter Clarity Liao solidifies her place among pop’s most compelling emerging artists with the arrival of her newest single, ‘Like I Do’, an intimate and stripped-back track that captures the quiet pain of unreciprocated love through honest lyrics and imagery of walking aimlessly through a desert landscape.
Driven primarily by piano, the arrangement gives listeners the space to fully absorb Clarity’s soft yet confident vocal delivery. The chorus is particularly heartbreaking, revealing a narrator who remains unable to let go of the person on their mind: “No I / Can′t seem to forget about you / They said to wait / And I′ve been waiting / For it to hit you / Sometimes / I think about your smile / And I wonder bout that girl / Would she really love you / Like I do.” It perfectly captures what is expected from a reflective, slow-burning breakup song.
Clarity began writing music at the age of seven, quickly gravitating toward both piano and guitar as her primary instruments. Her songwriting work with the band Navillera received critical recognition, earning the Yamaha National Best Popular Music Award for their debut single “Too Young,” while “I Need You” reached first place in the 2025 YMS National Composers competition. Her solo catalogue also demonstrates impressive maturity, particularly “Hurt My Heart,” which she wrote and recorded at only twelve years old. Inspired by artists including Olivia Rodrigo, Bruno Mars, Celine Dion and Frankie Valli, Clarity’s sound blends indie pop, R&B, bedroom pop and touches of modern doo-wop into a sonic identity that feels both nostalgic and contemporary.
‘Like I Do’ originally began as an assignment from her English tutor. She says, “The song really brought out my emotions from the current situation I was in at the time, also exploring a genre I’ve been liking but never really got to pursue, so I decided to take it to the studio. This song has so far been one of my favourite tracks to sing and listen to, also being one of the best expressed in my lyrics.”
Clarity Liao is continuing to demonstrate the depth of her artistic vision and musical talent. ‘Like I Do’ reinforces her growing reputation as a modern pop artist whose heartfelt storytelling has the potential to resonate with listeners of all ages.
We Speak Music
Christian Balvig releases gorgeous new album ‘Find And You Will Seek’ in collaboration with Ensemble Hermes.
Acclaimed composer and arranger Christian Balvig is known for his work with an array of artists and bands like Jade, Efterklang, Lowly, When Saints Go Machine and Mew, as well as his work with some of the most acclaimed orchestras like Royal Northern Sinfonia (BBC Proms), The Royal Danish Orchestra, Copenhagen Phil, London Contemporary Orchestra, The Danish Radio Broadcast Orchestra and The Norwegian Wind Ensemble.
The cinematic sound on his new album might echo Balvig’s work in the world of film and TV music. Scoring the 2025 Oscar shortlisted short movie ‘Eternal Father’ and the Danish hit series ‘Cry Wolf’ (Ulven Kommer), which has been shown on television in more than 30 countries around the globe, including Channel 4 in the UK. He was also nominated for a Harpa award for ‘Best score’ last year at the Berlinale for ‘The Son and the Moon (Min Arv Bor I Dig)’.
Balvig’s new album, ‘Find And You Will Seek’, backed by Danish string group Ensemble Hermes, grew organically out of this background of experiences and is music that appeals to listeners seeking original, immersive music with space for reflection and contemplation.
‘Find And You Will Seek’ is a collection of chamber works that explore the combination of piano and strings in new ways. Recent single ‘The BirdSuite II – Praesentia’ is part of a 3-part Suite running throughout the record, written and performed on a custom made “Keybird” piano, which is an una-corda (one string pr note) piano that gives a more subtle and intimate sound. On top of it is a lush and emotional string ensemble arrangement with Ensemble Hermes in multiple layers fluctuating in and out of the keybird piano.
Balvig’s second single from the record is ‘What Happened To The World’, an ultra transparent neo-classical inspired piece, with slow melodic structures, a simple chord progression and emotional performance starting with a floating viola solo. It is written from the feeling that the world sometimes goes backwards, and you feel left on the platform wanting to take the train in a different direction.
From film music inspired pieces to experimental chamber music over piano concerto inspired movements, to more neo-classical productions with almost orchestral sounding dubs of strings, ‘Find And You Will Seek’ flows with emotions and lush sound worlds, always with a tangible organic texture.
Find Christian Balvig and Ensemble Hermes on tour in Denmark:
27.5 Ansgars Kirke (Odense)
28.5 Folkegaarden Festival (Aalborg)
29.5 Gnisten (Ry)
30.5 Musikhuset (Aarhus)
1.6 Basement (Copenhagen)
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