cehryl’s music glides on the breeze of creative possibility, bearing fragrances never before inhaled by eager ears. The melody drifts through the air, light and floral almost like the scent of jasmine, and cehryl’s voice looms softly above the music, pure yet richly texture—reminiscent of the deep bouquet of roses in full bloom. Her music invites exploration as scents do, hinting at complexity beneath surface beauty. With each listen, you detect new aromatic accords.
Her musical journey began in her hometown of Hong Kong, where she showed a talent for singing from a young age. As a teen, her family moved to the UK, exposing her to new genres like punk, indie, and R&B. She dove headfirst into learning instruments such as guitar and piano, crafting melodies that blended her classical training with the raw emotion of the artists she discovered.
After high school, cehryl headed to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston before eventually moving to Los Angeles to pursue her craft. She worked as a studio engineer during the day and stayed up late into the night, perfecting her songs, leading to the release of two heavenly albums; Slow Motion and Delusions. Now back in Hong Kong, cehryl continues to push musical boundaries with her latest album willow tree by blending genres like alternative, R&B, electronic, indie pop, and soul. Supported by a tight-knit community of collaborators, she redefines pop with her eclectic blend of jazz, folk, electronic, and beyond. Although her journey has just begun, her lush compositions and soulful spirit are already unmatched.
willow tree’s songs are truly one of a kind in music, emotions, and aura, opening with calming synth, soft vocals, and bouncy guitar licks on “need/give me.” When additional layers of ambient shimmer in, upping the ethereal energy, I couldn’t help but start swaying along. The lyrics strike a chord too—when she asks longingly, “Will you still love me till I die, or will you leave me?” it gets right to the heart of longing and uncertainty we’ve all felt. Her vulnerability draws you further into the track’s floating world. It just keeps unfolding its elegance as cehryl’s voice rises in the repetition of “need” over a wash of sound. Closing my eyes, I picture the Northern Lights—their dancing colors and sense of peaceful wonder. This is the perfect relax-into-your-feels kind of listen.
Then “burn blister” creeps in slowly like a smoldering flame. The song starts quietly with layered synth sounds that feel introspective yet inviting. Gentle tones emerge rather than a single, sparse melody, lending the synths an inner depth and richness, eventually joined by cehryl’s passionate vocal work, singing, “I get lost on Saturdays / Though the rough sand stirs me back into place.” Just when you are still settling in, retro-tinged synths and beats whoosh in like a gust of oxygen, but don’t let the catchy indie-pop sounds distract from her raw lyrics—lines like “My burn blister’s not going away” expose deep wounds with brutal honesty. Even as the music envelops you in its groove, cehryl’s hurt still cuts through. The gorgeous riff at the end feels like the first rays of hope sneaking through storm clouds. cehryl exquisitely marries light and shadow, crafting an intimate listening experience. Her gift is making private pain feel universal.
Just when you’re soaked in the calming atmosphere, “kill the thought” takes an introspective turn. The consistent riffs oozes pain throughout. Cehryl’s vocal work is so smooth, and she makes the pitch ebb and flow seem so easy as she sings about regret about missed opportunities and contemplation that comes along with lyrics such as “Should I have taken your good advice? / To move away and to do it twice?“ truly hitting home.
And then “rules” come in with an amazing peppy energy, taking you to a brighter place. From the bounce of the funky beats to the lush layers of synths and vocals, it’s impossible not to smile while listening. The way the vocals overlap as a distant echo repeating “I don’t make rules” adds such a cool, transcendent layer. What I love most is how the R&B-tinged beats drive it all forward in a way that just lifts your mood and makes you want to dance. It’s the perfect song to put a spring in your step and bid annoying worries goodbye for a while. Instant serotonin from start to finish.
willow tree almost comes to a close with “last summer i found the reason (again.)” True to the title, the subtle summery feel in the song is accentuated through riffs along RNB-inspired beats and retro tinges. In her hushed, almost ambient vocals, she sings, “Ooh I am a puddle blue / Stuck in your avenue / Ooh, stepping inside your tune / I’d do anything for you” with synth work that enhances the dreamy mood of the song, you will be grooving along.
cehryl has crafted an emotionally resonant collection that adds an eclectic twist to mainstream pop. The 11-song album tells a vivid yet comforting story of longing, regret, uncertainty, intimacy, and pain with eventual hope and healing. Through soulful and vulnerability lyrically and melodically, cehryl universalizes personal emotional experiences. If her voice alone isn’t enough to lull you into a zenlike state, her craftsmanship in layering melodies, beats, and strings will do the trick. Folks who appreciate artists with profound emotional resonance will find much to savor across this cohesive body of work.
