On an album whose title is rooted in self-doubt, Eve Ai explores questions of confidence and uncertainty with aplomb. Working with long-time producer George Chen, the singer-songwriter expands her sound by drawing on her touring experience, incorporating rhythmic elements that capture the intensity and passion of live gigs. Album opener “Never Good Enough” acts as a statement of purpose, lashing out at a loss of composure through a theatrical funk stomp, while three upbeat tracks on the LP’s second half are the result of a writing session in Bangkok with bassist Joy Liu and guitarist Theo Chou. These include “Quitter”, a frustration-fuelled house cut, and “Catching Butterflies”, whose skittery dance beat and sitar accents emerged during a jam session.
By no means has the singer abandoned her trademark ballads: “By Your Side”, a lush duet with Rhydian Vaughan, the album’s sole guest singer, finds poignant beauty in a breakdown in communication, while the touching closer, “For You”, offers encouraging words co-written by quotable talk-show host Kevin Tsai. Fast or slow, the tracks on the album are unified by the common theme of loss—loss of patience, loss of love, loss of faith in the world. Even the confidence of “Who Dares”, a slice of ’80s synth rock that mutates into an aggressive, brass-accented march, is imbued with fears of losing control.
Below, Eve Ai shares with Apple Music her thoughts on selected tracks.
<b>“Never Good Enough”</b>
“This lively song makes you want to dance. When I’m home alone, I’ll hum along and start dancing. Hopefully you’ll be like me and feel like dancing yourself. ‘Never Good Enough’ describes how I often don’t measure up, no matter how I act. We need to cast aside what ties us down and delight in ourselves.”
<b>“This is Heartbreak”</b>
“An interesting thing about the album’s first single is that I was walking my dog when the melody came to me. The writing came naturally, but I also wanted it to have emotional heft, so after I got back home I went straight to work, using direct language and direct emotions to stir up feelings. I didn’t spend too much time revising and polishing the lyrics. I just hope that, when you hear the song, your thoughts will naturally be drawn to your own story. I highly recommend this song.”
<b>“By Your Side” (feat. Rhydian Vaughan)</b>
“This is the one song on the album that features another singer, Rhydian Vaughan. Our vocal lines complement each other well—the addition of his voice really enriches the song. It was finished pretty early, but at the time I didn’t think of it as a duet. So Vaughan’s participation was a wonderful surprise and I appreciate the additional levels he brings to it.”
<b>“For You”</b>
“This song was among the earliest album tracks to be completed. My only aim was to give encouragement to myself and lots of my friends. As you get older, with each additional year, you may feel wistful about your youth. But to me, so long as you have a handle on it—and never stop thinking back and examining yourself—your youth will never slip out of your grasp. These words of encouragement are what keep me moving forward.”
