With this in mind, American songwriter Denise Dimin found herself intrigued by the relationship that her friend, Malaysian singer Lyia Meta, had with her musician husband Zack Meta.
The two often toured and performed on stage together, with Lyia singing and Zack playing guitar. And all through the shine and struggle of show business, and all the complications it could bring, the two remained devoted to each other.
Inspired by this, Dimin penned the song, “Always You”, which became the title track of Lyia’s fourth album.
“When Denise first told me she had written a song about me and Zack, I didn’t know how to react. I’ve never had anyone write me a song like this! So it was a surprise, and an honour,” Lyia told FMT Lifestyle in a phone interview.
“And when I heard it, it was like she had zeroed in on my life, my time on stage, what we often went through! It’s a nice, sweet song, which really feels personal.”
Known for her smooth, sultry vocals and electric onstage personality, Lyia is a highly talented homegrown performer who has picked up accolades at the Global Music Awards, Voice International Music Awards, Texas Sounds International Country Music Awards, and the Josie Music Awards, among others.
The Melaka-born singer first emerged on the scene with her 2016 EP, “This is Lyia”, and has grown from strength to strength since then.
“Always You” is a showcase of Lyia’s powerhouse vocals, which shine on all eight Dimin-penned tracks.
Dimin, who is based in Los Angeles, first met Lyia via Facebook around 2015, and has collaborated with the singer on her 2021 album “15013”.
Lyia’s new album encapsulates the Jazz Pop genre popular in the 1950s and 1960s, with bold, brassy tunes that hark back to the roots of musical icons such as Billie Holiday, Nina Simone and Peggy Lee. Also look out for nods to contemporary performers such as Norah Jones and Diana Krall.
“I wanted to create a sound from a particular era. The big band, the orchestra, the strings and horns. I imagined the music to be lush, and sweeping you away,” Lyia laughed.
Making the album was quite a challenge, the singer said, as her team had been in three different locations, namely Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia; Nashville in Tennessee; and Rio De Janeiro in Brazil.
Allocating for everyone’s time zones was sometimes a headache, but thankfully, Lyia and her team powered through.
The result of their efforts was an honest and heartfelt collection of songs, which highlight love, loss and the subtleties of desire.
The song “For You”, for example, depicts a romance gone sour, while “As We Throw Caution To The Wind” explores the conflict from entering a dangerous relationship.
On a more winsome note, the melodic “My Dream Lover” made Lyia envision star-crossed lovers from classic romance films such as “Forever Young” and “Pearl Harbour”.
“I like to think of ‘Always You’ as love letters. What I try to do is put all my experiences into the songs, and add layers of depth and ambiguity through my delivery. Then my listeners can interpret the songs based on everything they have gone through,” she said.
The singer prides herself on her music’s distinctive edge, saying she did not want to box herself into any particular style.
“Some people tell you to pick a lane, if you’re pop, stick to pop, but I don’t agree. So far, I’ve done pop, EDM, rock, R&B, blues, country, soul, jazz, and a lot more.
“As an artist, I don’t believe in limiting myself or my creativity. Music is universal, and so is genre. If you don’t understand my music, it says more about you than me,” the singer said.
What’s next for Lyia? The singer has a lot on her plate: recently, she was invited to be a Voting Member by the Recording Academy, which determines the winners of the international Grammy Awards. She also plans to head back to India for more music performances this year.
While waiting for further material, however, Lyia hopes music fans will enjoy “Always You”. Hopefully, she said, its distinctive sound could transport audiences back to simpler, more carefree days.
“I hope people who listen to it start thinking about the times that were, and remember the good memories. I hope they consider the little things in life, and smile. And I hope they appreciate the person next to them, and everything that they have,” Lyia concluded.
Visit Lyia Meta’s website or follow her on Facebook and Instagram.