Charlie Lim: Master of melancholy

SINGAPORE — If there’s any one artiste that epitomises the promise of Singapore rock and pop music to exert influence beyond its shores, it would have to be Charlie Lim. The singer-songwriter will soon launch his double EP, Time/Space, on June 6, and together with his label mates Inch Chua and The Great Spy Experiment, will play the groundbreaking House Of Riot show at the Esplanade Concert Hall on the same day.

Time/Space contains his previous singles (the magnificent Bitter and the danceable Conspiracy) as well as several pieces that will continue to endear Lim to his fanbase and new admirers alike. Notably, songs such as the touching melancholia of I Only Tell The Truth, which demonstrates Lim’s uncanny ability to match technical virtuosity with emotional resonance.

But who exactly is Charlie Lim? People know him as the guy who, with his lush vocals and soulful nuances, has made waves on the music scene since his critically-acclaimed debut in 2011. Lim has received warm reception wherever he played and made an impact overseas, most notably with gigs at Urbanscapes (Malaysia), Clockenflap Festival (Hong Kong) and Jarasum International Jazz Festival (South Korea). He will also represent the country at the upcoming SGMUSO Live Showcase in London in late June.

But before that, we sat the singer-songwriter down to ponder five popular perceptions — or misconceptions — that people have of him.

HE IS A PERFECTIONIST.

“Yeah, I think that’s pretty obvious. I’m aware of the pitfalls of being one, and it has definitely done my head in quite often. But at the same time, I wouldn’t be where I am today if I weren’t as meticulous. I’ve grown up a lot in the last three years too — learning what to specifically care more about and work smarter, rather than trying to micromanage every detail.”

HE WRITES SIX-MINUTE SONGS.

“No lah! On average, maybe five minutes? Okay, that’s still pretty long considering the 140-character attention span of the average person these days. I guess I like narrative-driven songwriting, and sufficient time and space (no pun intended) to really develop a story through a song’s production and arrangement.”

HE ONLY WRITEs MELANCHOLIC SONGS.

“Melancholia is not the same as depression. It’s a state of mind that every person needs in order to question and challenge the way things are. My job is to observe and understand what I feel when something affects me, and then try to make something beautiful out of it. Art must contain truth. Whether one interprets that as ‘sad’ is not my prerogative, but I personally feel liberated each time I finish a song and get to perform it. To answer your question though, I don’t think life is ever ‘purely happy’. I’d be selling you a glossy illusion if I wrote a song about unicorns and rainbows.”

HE IS OFTEN ACCOSTED BY YOUNG WOMEN IN PUBLIC FOR PHOTOGRAPHS

“Who do you think I am, Ben Kheng (of The Sam Willows) or (rapper) ShiGGa Shay? (laughs) Well, I won’t deny that it does happen every now and then, but that’s really not my game. The thought of being a celebrity terrifies me.”

TIME/SPACE IS HIS BEST WORK THUS FAR

“It’s the most accurate depiction of where my headspace is at, so yes. I poured everything I had in the last three years into it. Whether people like it or not is one thing, but I’m definitely proud of this snapshot of my life.” Kevin Mathews

Tickets for House Of Riot now available on http://www.sistic.com.sg/events/bill0615. You can preview Choices and Knots, both from Time/Space, on Spotify.