Dear listeners and readers of Soundville,

Today I would like to listen to and talk about the album ‘Fu Lai’ by Yudes. His path is difficult, unique, and brave. His story, feelings, experiences are reflected in his release across 11 tracks. You might want to ask “Hey, wait, what’s actually going on?” The thing is, in his album Yudes reflected his hard journey of accepting himself as two separate personalities, which successfully coexist across two different cultures, in two languages, Mandarin and English. And you know, this is a very, very relevant topic. His release captures the rupture, the struggle, the split that Yudes experiences when he allows two versions of himself to live in symbiosis within one consciousness. Being in two cultures at the same time makes it hard not to lose yourself, hard to preserve the unique traits of each culture and at the same time remain yourself. There is a deep message to the world here, a hope to find kindred spirits, those who will understand, but on the other hand Yudes offers a helping hand to those who find themselves in a similar situation. To speak. To create. To make music. To acknowledge oneself. To give freedom to oneself, this is a call, a challenge, a broken psyche. This is the courage Yudes possesses, and it fully unfolds in the release, because he talks about what others prefer to stay silent about. Damn it. Do you know how hard it is to try to belong among strangers and to accept every stranger as your own? It takes courage, a lot of courage, and the price for that is a broken psyche.

This is exactly why ‘Fu Lai’ is performed in two languages, Mandarin and English, as a reflection of the idea and concept. The album was recorded somewhere between Atlanta and Paris, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it turns out that Yudes was working on the album even in the air between flights. It took more than five years for this release, and dear reader, you understand that ‘Fu Lai’ carries an era within it. Five years during which much changed, but Yudes’ inspiration, ambition, and goal remained constant. That’s damn cool. Creating ‘Fu Lai’ as a trap album, Yudes invited other artists to collaborate, who added sparks to the sound, intensified the atmosphere. And even if you don’t speak Mandarin or English, it doesn’t matter. Yudes’ music speaks to everyone in the world in its own unique language. The language of emotions, feelings, and faith. And I suggest you start listening right now and walk through all this psychosis and the broken arcs of life’s situations together with me.

‘Fu Lai’ has several stages, and the first and most hopeful one, almost full of aspirations and dreams, begins with the track ‘Chinese Rap 666’. The choir, soft keys, and unique harmonies create a safety cushion, picked up by smooth, vivid rap in Mandarin. This track is slow, beating straight into the mind with a heavy bass. It builds an almost enveloping sound full of support, yet hiding anxiety underneath. Oh yes. A lot of anxiety, some signs that the road ahead won’t be easy. You can feel it even more in the passionate and mysterious ‘Local Accent’. In the minimalist arrangement, there are bright city pads, flickering like the neon lights of a metropolis. So alluring, so full of promises. Only the rap adds a touch of harshness, letting you sway to the rhythm and forget about everything else.

I like how the first hints of the split can be heard in ‘Black & White’, with the symbolic ‘Fu Lai’. It’s like the eyes are slowly opening and the first seeds of worry start sprouting in the consciousness. I got chills from the track ‘Fly U Out’. The airport ambience, boarding the plane, flashes of the flight, all supported by a commercial electronic beat, while the vivid rap stands out much louder than the arrangement. This creates an effect of total immersion. It felt like my entire mind ended up right at the epicenter of a new environment, a new sound, and now this is reality. The mix of languages gives goosebumps and a full sensation of going with the flow. Fear, undoubtedly. Starting from ‘Phoenix’, an emotional center appears, where reality shifts and every beat screams that everything is collapsing. I like the energy of this track. The rap is strong, energetic, it hits right to the bone and highlights the emotional peak, conceptually emphasized by the change in sound.

The surprisingly swinging guitars in ‘Top Down Low’ blend with the commercial, sounding pads, and the autotuned vocals seem to symbolize a new stage. If I step aside from the concept, this track is definitely my favorite. Styles, energies, and new genres intensify here, with touches of RnB and pop rap pulling the whole thing into a cozy neon atmosphere. However, the next track, ‘Halo’, pulls a stone from the foundation of the pyramid, and everything collapses to hell. This track throws you back into the dominant atmosphere of the album, with a more straightforward sound, sharper, neon-cold, and attractively bright. The final track, ‘Heartache’, sounds like melancholy, like memories, like an unfinished painting. It is at the same time acceptance, farewell, sex, and tears. ‘Heartache’ brings a completely new sound to the album. There is no solution here, no way out, there is just the moment, you know? Just as it is, and in that lies the true meaning and the true goal of the search. It’s as if at this very moment acceptance and acknowledgment of oneself happens, with all the puzzles of different cultures, opinions, and emotions. I couldn’t stop thinking about it when the electric guitar appeared with light soul harmonies and a more misty rap in the chorus. Damn, it was amazing. I got goosebumps! You feel it too, right? Make sure to add your favorite tracks to your playlist and follow Yudes. I feel like there are going to be a lot more awesome releases from Yudes ahead.

Hey Yudes! Thank you for releasing such an emotional and complex album. You know, when I was listening, I think I felt every emotional peak that exists in ‘Fu Lai’. This is a real life story, the way life really is. With traumas, with the breaking of the self, with the division of a soul that loves all versions of itself. It takes enormous courage to speak about it so loudly and so beautifully! When I was listening to your album, I relied only on my own feelings. And if I got even a little closer to the goal, then I’m sure many listeners will be able to do it too. That’s why the album is an incredibly important release for everyone it can help, and at the same time, it’s just a damn good trap release that charges you up and creates an unreal vibe. And this path hasn’t been walked in vain if there is an album like ‘Fu Lai’ in the world! Woo! I’m definitely going to show your release to everyone, let them listen to this unique and awesome music too. Yeaah, I love it and I’m your fan!

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With much love,
Soundville