Lawson – Chapman Square

Text: Lee Wei Lin

Lawson may not be paving the way musically, but they have proven that they’ve got what it takes to be a serious contender in the music scene. They certainly take their music seriously – they pen most of their own songs and jam to the groove of their own instruments.

Kick-starting their career touring with The Wanted, a definite influence can be felt in their music, but the four-piece band is by no means a carbon copy. A recurring theme in the album seems to be the boys pining after the ones who got away, but instead of moping, their upbeat tracks seem to be perfect anthems for those who are set on getting over their post-breakup phases.

Tracks such as ‘Waterfall’ and ‘You’ll Never Know’ are reminiscent of times past – you can almost imagine hearing them on the airwaves together with gems from the Backstreet Boys and Westlife.

‘Gone’ is arguably the best song off the album, with everything ranging from the chanting to guitar riffs sounding perfectly in place. This anthem would likely sound even better live, with the crowd’s energy thrumming through the air complementing the high-energy song.

With its band members in their early twenties, Lawson is likely to be sticking around for a while, and if their debut album is any indication of their musical direction, they are definitely one to watch.

Recommended tracks: ‘Gone’, ‘Waterfall’