The Legendary Leslie Low Releases “Sand”, A Melancholic Vessel Of Nostalgic Alt-Rock

Leslie Low continues looking forward in his storied musical journey (Credit: Elizabeth Low)

There are names in the annals of the Singaporean music industry that instantly echo with an aura of reverence. Leslie Low is one of them.

One of the truest, most stalwart champions of homegrown music, Leslie holds a modest legacy that planted the seeds of the scene’s growth. He captivated a generation with his pivotal role in Humpback Oak, a seminal alt-/folk-rock band of the early ’90s that paved the way for other non-mainstream acts that tried to find their footing – “Circling Square” remains a national treasure in my books. With his unwavering penchant for experimental composition and spine-tingling baritone, Leslie would continue making history as the frontman of The Observatory through the noughties, and joined the ranks of other projects like Hanging Up The Moon and Piblokto.

From the archives: Leslie performing with Humpback Oak at The Substation (Credit: Humpback Oak Facebook page)

Over three decades later, the weathered avant-gardist continues to churn out solo material that carries gravitas, despite his lack of big, news-breaking proclamations. As delicate as his musical demeanour, Leslie has gently released Sand, a new seven-track EP that follows 2020’s Be Still, The Mountain. And as you’d expect, it bears a raw, gripping presence characteristic of the singer-songwriter’s transfixing legacy.

“Is this what you really want? / Beats me if I know,” Leslie croons with a forlorn, resigned temperament on opener, “Don’t Get Played”. Through vulnerable acoustic strums and distorted strikes on the guitar, he uses the fluctuations to draw a parallel with the uncertain flow of one’s life. It’s a heavy topic to begin with, yet when it comes from his morose delivery, it pulls you further into the abyss.

With all that said, Sand isn’t a disheartening experience. There are plenty of highs within the mire of pieces. The buoyant “Sand Carrier” drifts carefreely with crunchy alt-rock guitars, digging up the nostalgic sound of the glorious ’90s while touching on themes of curiosity and escape. “Force of Nature” extends this soul-searching behaviour while relying on mesmeric, psych-coated riffs and a stirring rhythm section, busting through the weariness as the EP’s most lively track. And then you have the poignant “The Energy” which delves on the demons of ego and vengeance, exhibiting such aggression with crusty, gravelly fuzz.

The EP ends the same tender way as it starts – an acoustic lullaby that finds its shell within “Gratitude”, touching on a pillar of support whom Leslie holds close. Yet even with this sincere anecdote, he manages to insert an unnerving formula punctuated with clashing minor notes and an empty, percussion-less canvas. It’s an approach that’s not out of character one bit.

Sand is a vessel of seething melancholia and fleeting positivity, authored by one of the industry’s most persuasive storytellers who manages to capture the alt-conscious sound of a bygone era. Leslie Low continues to be a songwriter in possession of visceral, imaginative talent, and this offering is further proof of that unyielding legacy.

Sand by Leslie Low is out now on Bandcamp. Follow Leslie’s Instagram page to stay updated with his activities.