Thursday March 25th, 2021
Born in Malaysia and now Melbourne based, music artist Echolily, aka Michelle Chong, is not only an emerging Australian indie musician creating idiosyncratic, adventurous ambient pop but has been one of the essential frontline workers throughout the pandemic, serving as a doctor and consultant anaesthetist.
Echolily has just released her debut single Under The Clocks (Stay),a track that blends electronica, experimental, alternative pop to create a fresh, distinctive sound. Replete with subtle hooks, a melancholic allure, and intoxicating textures, Echolily’s debut has understandably already generated 50k plus Spotify streams, confirming the broad appeal of this new artist’s music.
The track’s slice of life introduction segues into otherworldly musical motifs, with Echolily’s enchanting vocal performance guiding us into a full landscape of sonic delights, trip-hop inspired percussive beats and ethereal colours anchoring an understated romantic vein. The opening verse vividly depicts an evocative vista for the listener with both text and sound: I wish you love until the end / But now that you’re gone / Can you hear the music? / That played the night we danced until the dawn.
Reminiscent of Björk and Portishead, Under The Clocks (Stay) is accessible yet maintains a subversive edge, cleverly conjured by Echolily’s adventurous sound choices and captivating melodic inventions. As Echolily says about the inspiration behind the track,‘I was busking near Flinders Station when I met this man. He was older and played the trumpet. He told me that he used to meet his lover at Flinders Street railway station under the giant clocks. He would say, ‘Just meet me under the clocks.
’ Well, that and many other love stories combined, including my own, became the premise of Under The Clocks (Stay).’ Under The Clocks (Stay) is sure to gain media momentum over the coming months, ensuring Echolily’s status as a verified, ineluctable musical force.
