The Light

The Light

HIRAIDAI had carved out a nice niche for himself by the time The Light arrived in 2014. The Japanese singer-songwriter grew up loving Hawaii as an island and a symbol of laidback life, so he turned to tropical sounds when he launched his career in the early 2010s, creating songs centered around ukulele strums. His lyrics similarly zoned in on beachy topics like summer love, the joys of the ocean, and chilling out. The Light EP finds the artist, whose music was often set in warmer climes, going out into the cold for the very first time with “Winter Snow Magic,” a piano ballad about devotion to a lover set against bell chimes and violin swells. It highlights his songwriting chops, while also hinting at his future as a more romantic crooner. That loving sentiment and focus on the piano are also evident in the midtempo confession “Beautiful” and the stripped-down title track. HIRAIDAI doesn’t leave his musical foundation behind, though, as evidenced by his cover of Norah Jones’ bittersweet “Don’t Know Why.” In his version, though, he keeps the emotional longing but adds a dash of sunshine. His bright perspective comes through even stronger on the relaxed “Together,” where he celebrates commitment over familiar ukulele strums and backed by chiming notes. More than just poignant love songs, The Light gives audiences a glimmer of the musical directions HIRAIDAI would take with future releases.

You Might Also Like

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada