Track of the Day: dān dān – pressure cooker (2024)
If you’re like me, the chances are that you have not heard about singer-songwriter dān dān before. Known for her performance as one half of the sibling duo Ersha Island, Danielle Hao-Aickin (also known as dān dān) is no stranger to the music industry; however, her passion for music was discovered far earlier than the formation of Ersha Island. Even before she turned 10 years old, Hao-Aicken was taught classical piano – sometimes rather intense training demanding dedication and commitment. She might not have leaned toward the classical realm of Lang Lang, but she flourished musically, and her journey led us to dān dān. Come with us as we delve into the debut single, ‘pressure cooker’.
Stepping away from the pop-influenced sound of Ersha Island, dān dān drops the tempo in ‘pressure cooker’ blending elements of RnB and pop in a kaleidoscopic sonic tapestry. For me, the track embraces an old-school 90s RnB sound; however, just as there is a retro vibe, the single has a contemporary edginess with slight folk-pop intonations. Think Lana Del Rey with Lizzie McAlpine and Miley Cyrus, but still offering unique eclecticism that is dān dān and no one else.
Produced by Dan Martin, ‘pressure cooker’ is not merely a melody to be heard; it is to be experienced. Despite the soothing sincerity of dān dān’s hushed vocals atop a tender classical piano, a rush of vulnerability leaps from the tune. Joined by her sister, Tee Hao-Aickin, on the violin, an eerie haunting whispers along enhancing the duality of human fragility and hopeful optimism. When speaking about ‘pressure cooker’, dān dān explains:
“I wrote this song about growing up with the pressure to be perfect as the older sister in a Chinese family and living up to your parents’ expectations. It’s also got some silly, goody elements to it, including food puns and an ode to my love for Hainan chicken rice… honestly, it’s an allusion to just how much food is part of culture and family.”
Sincere, sentimental and filled with raw human emotion, dān dān delicately explores the complexity of life in ‘pressure cooker’. If this is her debut single, I cannot wait for more from this talented musician.
Find out more about dān dānon on her Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Spotify.
Listen to more RnB music on The Other Side Reviews RnB playlist:
