TRACE is a queer Vietnamese American songwriter and filmmaker, and Ariel Loh is a trans queer Asian American producer. The pair have just released a cover of "Sài Gòn," a Vietnamese song made famous by Carol Kim (TRACE's mother) fifty years ago. The song is included in NEW WAVE, a documentary about the 1980's New Wave scene in Vietnam. The cover version is a delicate sounding version of dream pop. You can tell it was recorded with love and appreciation of the original. The song is as minimal as you can be while still having a lush and full sound. TRACE and Ariel Loh have made an intensely intimate cover of a song very close to them, and it can be heard in their recording.
TRACE says of her new single:
"The first time I heard 'Sai Gon,' I was captivated—it was my mom singing nearly fifty years ago. I heard it on a vinyl called Saigon Supersounds that Y Vân’s granddaughter actually told me about. I bought it right away. When I asked my mom if she remembered, she laughed, saying, 'That was so long ago, I guess that is me.' Though an anthem of sorts about the heart of Vietnam during a war-stricken time, her recording has this upbeat French pop and New Wave influence that makes it easily my favorite version of the song. Yet, learning she recorded it just before the Fall of Saigon added emotional weight to the music for me.
"When I heard about a documentary called New Wave, I was eager to get involved, as my mom had been a part of that musical movement. And so in perfect time, and along with my friend and collaborator, we recorded and covered 'Sai Gon' for the film. It was nerve-wracking, but one of the greatest honors of my life. My mother’s legacy is powerful, and I’m grateful to share my heart through this song."
You can listen to TRACE and Ariel Loh's version of "Sài Gòn" below. For more on TRACE, check out the artist on Instagram. More about the film NEW WAVE can be found here.
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