Consider this an antidote for all your whatever-happened-to-me moments. Bright Veins, the new single from Bihzhu, encourages us to seek life with wide-hearted optimism, delivered in her trademark soulful voice that lilts from coquettish to commanding, which she combines with ease and panache.
Musings on love, life, beauty and finding one’s inner voice are par for the course in a Bihzhu song. Bright Veins is no exception. Written at a spiritual retreat in Australia, the song bubbles with positivity. It urges the listener towards joy and self-belief, guided by Bihzhu’s jazz-pop inflections, glorious harmonies, and a mélange of homely instruments – tabla, gamelan, kompang, dholakh – towards an inevitable crescendo that assures us that whatever life has in store, “everything will be ok”.
Clocking in at just over three minutes, ‘Bright Veins’ achieves the near impossible task of an epic performance within that tight span of time, in which the song, honey-wrapped in melodious refrains, builds from quiet introduction to rousing conclusion. And while Bihzhu’s message of self-worth is weighted by an air of authority, she also expresses childlike wonder and praise at how this can be achieved.
Listeners familiar with Bihzhu’s 2011 radio hit The Heart Way will be surprised by Bright Veins. Here, the former’s infectious and catchy melodies are replaced with an almost meditative delivery, backed by artful instrumentation that takes liberties with the jazz-pop genre that Bihzhu shines in. At the same time, both singles are unmistakably Bihzhu creations, distinguished by genuine songcraft, messages of hope and beauty, and a whole lot of heart.
lyrics
I've got Light, running through my veins
I've got Love, written in my name
And I know, everything will be OK
And I know, everything will be OK
I am not afraid
To claim my heritage
My destiny is to be great
I am gonna forge ahead
I've got Light, running through my veins
I've got Love, written in my name
And I know, everything will be OK
And I know, everything will be OK
I know not what lies ahead
Only that I'll learn my way
I listen to the voice it says
Life's the greatest game you played
I've got Light, running through my veins
I've got Love, written in my name
And I know, everything will be OK
And I know, everything will be OK
Everything will be OK (repeat)
credits
released March 25, 2015
Lyrics BIHZHU
Music BIHZHU
Vocals BIHZHU
Body Percussion ZALILA LEE
Percussion + SANTOSH LOGANDRAN
Body Percussion
Gamelan TEUKU UMAR ILANY
Guitar SAVY HO YIE YIN
Bass FLY HALIZOR
Back Up Vocals
BENJAMIN LIN
BRIAN CHEONG
CHANG FANG CHYI
DOMINIC LUCIEN LUK
GABRIEL NOEL POUNTNEY
HERMAN RAMANADO
JOEL WONG
JOSHUA GUI
MICHELLE HS TAN
NELL NG
NISH THAM
RYAN GOMES
Arranged by SAVY HO YIE YIN
Mixed by ALEX LS TAN/ STARMOUNT STUDIO
Mastered by WOODY PORNPITAKSUK/ WESTSIDE MASTERING
With a dynamic range that defies genres, Bihzhu is blessed with a rich, soulful voice that is hauntingly evocative one
moment, and spiritedly rousing the next.
Bihzhu’s genuine songcraft transcends pain and heartache to celebrate life, and love. Her “heart music” have left audiences finger-snapping, foot-tapping, and dancing all over Malaysia, Australia, South Korea, China, Indonesia and India....more
Taking all our favourite classics and injecting them with fresh energy, this album manages that precarious balance between nostalgia and big fat whiffs of originality. Listen and be made anew! :) Bihzhu
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