Joyce Tan – distance dreaming

Layar ponsel yang menyala di kamar gelap sering kali jadi tempat paling berbahaya bagi kepala yang gemar melamun. Joyce Tan sepertinya paham betul jebakan itu saat menelurkan “distance dreaming”.

Meninggalkan sejenak lantai dansa dan dentuman elektronik yang biasa ia racik, produser berbasis New York ini memilih duduk bersila bersama petikan gitar akustik yang pelan dan telanjang dengan dentuman yang ramah. Menyeruak tanpa banyak basa-basi produksi, single ini terdengar seperti gumaman tengah malam yang malas mencari jalan keluar.

Ketimbang memaksakan romantisme jarak jauh yang muluk, ia justru jujur menertawakan isi kepalanya sendiri lewat baris lirik:

“Distance leaves room for dreaming

And dreaming’s safer for me”

Ada rasa keki yang akrab saat menyadari bahwa mencintai sosok yang jauh terasa jauh lebih nyaman daripada menghadapi kenyataan di depan mata.

Langkah Joyce Tan menanggalkan bebunyian sintetis demi sebuah materi folk pop yang sunyi adalah kejutan manis di linimasa hari ini. Kita ditinggalkan bersama ruang hampa, secangkir kopi yang keburu dingin, dan sebuah lagu pengantar tidur yang terasa jujur.

Lirik Lagu Joyce Tan – distance dreaming

I don't wanna feel 'cause I'll start changing parts of me again
I don't wanna fall 'cause you'll see all my faults and then it'll end

Oh, I should know better by now
How this story all plays out
I tell myself please don't start
Don't hand someone broken parts
You live too far to reach
Maybe that's what I need
Distance leaves room for dreaming
And dreaming's safer for me

'Cause I love the idea
More than anything real
And I love how you almost make me feel
Like maybe I could heal
'Cause I love the idea
Of someone choosing me out loud
Of building something out
Instead of burning it down

I don't wanna dream of your city and us on the subway home
I don't wanna read into moments and make them more than I should suppose
I don't wanna picture your body beside me when I'm alone
I don't wanna fall for a future that only exists in my hopes

Oh, I should know better by now
Why do I build you up to let me down
Thinking maybe this time around
Love won't ruin me leave me to drown
You live too far to reach
One text every few weeks
And I want to fly to your city
But I'm no longer seventeen

'Cause I love the idea
More than anything real
And I love how you almost make me feel
Like maybe I could heal
Still I wonder what we could be
If you were next to me
Maybe I just love the idea
Of being almost yours to keep

Oh, I should know better by now
How this story all plays out
I tell myself please don't start
Don't hand someone broken parts
You live too far to reach
Maybe that's what I need
Distance leaves room for dreaming
And dreaming's safer for me

Joyce Tan Profile

• Spotify
• Instagram