Nº 16 Immaterial – Hanging Up The Moon

“There’s no room for reason when we give in to hate. All the noise and the voices will only cease to decay.”

Hanging Up The Moon began as a solo project by Sean Lam, former frontman of Singapore’s legendary indie band Concave Scream. His self-titled debut, recorded in the early hours within his home, was a stripped-back, introspective work that resonated deeply with listeners and critics alike.

For the follow-up, The Biggest Lie In The World, Lam invited longtime friends and and key figures from Singapore’s independent music scene, Dean Aziz (Concave Scream), Leslie Low (The Observatory), and Victor Low (Affixen) to collaborate, creating a fuller, more textured sound. With the new album Immaterial, Hanging Up The Moon reached new artistic heights, adding Alexius Cai to the lineup and embracing a lush, orchestral sound that pushes far beyond its singer-songwriter roots.

The album’s compositions unfold with rich layers, balancing cinematic strings — violins and cellos that swell to epic peaks or recede into delicate whispers — with signature melodies and rhythmic subtleties. Here, each song is meticulously crafted, with layered vocals weaving through a soundscape that is at once grand and intimately grounded. Immaterial stands as their most ambitious project yet, blending folk, indie, and orchestral textures into a cohesive, immersive experience that invites listeners into a world of introspection and atmospheric beauty.

Drawing comparisons to artists like Nick Drake, Low, and even a male counterpart to Mazzy Star for its delicate, introspective quality, Immaterial also evokes the ambient expansiveness of Red House Painters and Talk Talk, all while carrying a distinctive touch of Southeast Asian restraint and subtlety.

Immaterial is, in many ways, a portrait of Singapore itself, capturing the quiet, contemplative spirit of life here as seen through the eyes of songwriter Sean Lam. Its gentle, textured soundscapes, woven with simple yet poignant lyrics lyrics, reflect a uniquely Singaporean sense of place — marked by the stillness amid urban noise. This album offers a glimpse into our roots at KITCHEN. LABEL, presenting a side of Singapore often unseen. Through Immaterial, Hanging Up The Moon reveals an authentic voice shaped by the landscapes and soul of Singapore, embodying a rare local narrative within the label’s diverse catalog.

CREDIT

Sean Lam – Vocals, Guitars
Leslie Low – Guitars, Electronics, Vocals
Alexis Cai – Guitars, Programming, Vocals
Victor Low – Bass, Programming
Dean Aziz – Drums

All songs written by Sean Lam
Produced by Victor Low
Mastered by James Plotkin, USA

Design by Sean Lam