08/06/2026

LYFE MONDAY | JUNE 8, 2026

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Malaysian Paper

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Endlessly looking forward

Romanticising faded love US-BASED singer-songwriter Maya has released Romanticise , a new collaborative single with Japanese singer-songwriter Rol3ert, along with a music video of the mid-tempo ballad built around the concept of romanticising the past. Co-written and co-produced entirely on the day of Maya and Rol3ert’s first session together, Romanticise is produced by beat maker and producer A.G.O. Anchored by floating synths and minimal beats, the single was produced to give space for both singers’ interlocking vocals. Written from the perspectives of two people on either side of a relationship that has already ended, Romanticise draws on intimate, everyday details such as a guitar, polaroids, a hair tie and a bunk bed to ground a deeply emotional story in something tangible and real. The song captures the quiet human tendency to polish painful memories until they become beautiful and to long for moments that once hurt. “As a songwriter, I care most about how much of myself I can weave into a piece. I intentionally incorporated everyday objects from my own life while crafting a fictional story about two people whose relationship has fallen apart, leaving space for listeners to imagine parts of their story. “Even memories filled with complicated emotions begin to look beautiful as they lose their sharpness. You may even find yourself longing for moments that once hurt,” said Maya. The vocal interplay between Maya and Rol3ert is central to the song’s emotional architecture. Maya’s fragile, transparent tone opens the story, Rol3ert’s voice carries a quiet heat that shifts the perspective. “We completed the lyrics and the track on the spot during our very first session with Maya. So we really valued those in-the-moment flashes of intuition and impulse, and carried that mindset through to the very end of the process,” said Rol3ert. In the chorus, the male voice reaches out to ask “Do you feel the same?” and receives only an ambiguous response. The back-and-forth mirrors the push and pull of memory itself: Unresolved, bittersweet and impossible to let go. The music video, directed by Taichi Nakazawa and set in an airport, extends this nostalgic, in between feeling of a location that inherently evokes departure, distance and the bittersweet weight of goodbye.

R ETURNING with new single Endlessly , Son Lux announced its ninth studio album Out Into , set for release on Sept 18. The trio, made up of Ryan Lott, Rafiq Bhatia and Ian Chang, is known for its work across experimental pop, film scoring and orchestral commissions. Its recent film work includes the score for Everything Everywhere All at Once , which earned the trio Oscar and Bafta nominations. Endlessly is the lead single from Out Into . The song was commissioned by marching ensemble The Bluecoats and centres on self acceptance and personal change. “These songs are about losing and finding ourselves. How we lose ourselves in relationships, in work, in our children, in our o New single by Son Lux leads album release scheduled for September

Son Lux brings together Lott’s (left) vocals and composition, Bhatia’s (right) guitar work and Chang’s (centre) drumming. – HANDOUT PICS

were made. There’s an intimacy to the way we’re consenting to the terms and conditions of modern life.” Chang said the record also draws on the group’s interest in hip-hop rhythms. “We’re all fans of hip-hop, the boom-bap era in particular. Stuff that has that gridded but-not-gridded kind of feel. With our love for pioneers such as J Dilla and Madlib, for liquidy beats, we’ve always been drawn to the humanity in it. “And with artificial intelligence changing the music industry so much, we’re interested in making stuff where you hear the hand.” Out Into will feature nine tracks, including Want You To Love , Out Into Us , Endlessly , Even If it Hurts , You Could Be The One , Summer’s Gone , Apparition , Clothesline and No God Like A King . Son Lux is also set to begin a global tour in July, with Asia dates to be announced.

pursuits and desires. So how do we find ourselves? How do we find each other?” Lott said the album title reflects the idea of movement from one state of being to another. “We’re continually changing as we learn who we are. That’s partly what Out Into means. We come out of something and into something else. Every moment is an exit and an entrance at the same time.” The band said the album grew from early creative sketches, with first voice memo versions treated as central to the writing process. The approach gives the record a more direct sound after the group’s recent work in film and large-scale commissions. Bhatia said the lyrics connected with the way the band made the songs. “There’s this way in which Lott is imploring people to have deep human experiences and connections, and run toward those things. And for us, creating is an example of that. His lyrics feel hand-in-glove with how these songs

Out Into captures Son Lux’s return to a more immediate, hands-on recording process.

Kos Atos releases Lagu Untukmu music video INDONESIA-BASED indie band Kos Atos has released the music video for its single Lagu Untukmu, the opening track from its seventh album that marks the end of Kos Atos’s more than 12-year run in Indonesia’s independent music scene. Musically, the song moves in an alternative pop direction with a relaxed arrangement and lyrics about getting through difficult moments. Music video director Michelle Brily said the song reflects the emotional weight often felt by young adults.

The track follows the release of Si Alan , OTW and carries a message of self-acceptance, support and perseverance. Written by Eka Catra and Fajar Sandy, Lagu Untukmu was produced and arranged by Kos Atos. “This song was originally written for Kos Atos’s sixth album. When it was first written, it only had a verse, which was then perfected by Fajar for the chorus,” said Eka.

“Looking at the lyrics and composition, this song is actually very relatable to the lives of today’s youth, especially those approaching adulthood, namely those in their 20s and 30s, who are often battling with their own thoughts and feelings in various situations. The relaxed lyrics make this song easy to digest and feel calming,” she said.

Lagu Untukmu carries a message of support for those facing difficult days. The music video was shot at Bahari Irish Pub in Malang. The location was chosen to reflect the song’s idea of a place to return to, gather and feel accepted. Directed by Michelle, the video features Lina Rochmawati in the lead role. Her performance centres on a person trying to come to terms with her circumstances and regain her sense of strength. Lagu Untukmu is available on Kos Atos’s YouTube channel, with release on digital platforms to follow.

Growing a presence first on TikTok, Maya is a promising new artiste.

Kos Atos has spent more than 12 years in Indonesia’s independent music scene.