A beautiful solo debut EP for singer/songwriter Jacq Teh, “Waves” is awash with raw emotion and vulnerability. A glimpse into the inner dealings behind a tumultuous break-up, the album takes listeners from the beginning through to the end of a collapsing relationship. Deeply moving and painfully real, listeners can expect a good cry as the journey reaches its destination of closure and acceptance.

The music is reminiscent of Bon Iver’s reverberant harmonies, with a poignant attention to detail and slight nod to Teh's jazz and R&B roots. The album seamlessly blends genres, cohesive in its use of vocal production and choral orchestrations. While “Happened” feels like a gentle lullaby bringing listeners into Teh’s world, “Did” and “Waves” are drenched with imagery and an almost palpable feeling of hearbreak. “Friends” features Toronto jazz pianist Jen Lo and gives us subtle R&B grooves and riffs, all while dishing out lyrics that strike to the core. “Getting Older” is undeniably relatable for anyone in their late 20’s to mid 30’s contemplating where they are in life and whether they have achieved the milestones expected of them at this stage. With a mild country landscape set by Toronto jazz guitarist Jay Yoo, the track is a minimalist approach to coming to terms with the dread of aging. And with a cinematic finish, the album concludes with a flowing piece, bringing us back to the image of running water and waves. Featuring a masterful orchestration of woodwinds performed by jazz composer, bandleader, and multi-instrumentalist Dennis Kwok, all one can really do at the end of this album is cry and cry and cry.

“Waves” is the simple story of a break-up, told so carefully and beautifully that it is impossible to turn away. We held in its comforting melodies and embraced by its luscious harmonies. An ambitious debut album for artist, Jacq Teh, firmly marking her place in the world of independent and contemporary music. 

Getting Older

Happened

(I'm Sorry That I) Did

Waves

Friends

Tomorrow

Day 1 • Own 

This is the first song of my 30-Day Song Challenge. Audio extracted from Instagram video.

[lyrics]
Oh oh oh oh hi
It’s been a while since I last saw you
Still picking fights with each other 
Like we run each others’ lives
Running out our minds
I’m still fine 
Oh oh oh oh hi
It’s been a while since I last told you
You were the best
The only one out of your kind
To make me feel like I could be yours and I still could be mine 

My own, my own :||

‘Cause loving you is easy 
When you let me love myself first
When you help me see my self-worth
You give me everything I deserve
Loving you is easy
When the aftermath, it don’t hurt
You keep me grounded, never left earth
No I’ve never been so sure

Oh oh oh oh hi
I think it’s time we realized that 
The only distance is resistance
And I know that we can try 
Though my hands are tied
I’m still fine 
Oh oh oh oh hi
The feeling’s only getting stronger
Building momentum, hit the pedal, get the lights 
You want to have me for yourself and tell me
‘Girl you’re all mine’

Day 1 • Own

[lyrics]

I told you I could love you Monday
I never promised Friday to Sunday
You know that I need time to be okay
By myself

‘Cause even when the night’s cold and lonely
I hold myself so tightly to show me
That I don’t need anybody, no one but me

I’m alright
It’s just another state of mind
I’ll take time
To wait for all the things I’ll find

It’s not that I don’t love you most days
It’s just that I don’t want you always 
I’m trying to make a little more space
For myself

I used to get so lost in the moment
Now I can see why silence is golden
And though I don’t know where I’m going,
I’m still growing 

I’m alright
It’s just another state of mind
I’ll take time
To wait for all the things I’ll find

Like strength (it keeps on coming up, coming up…)
And grace
Resilience
And rage

I’m alright
It’s just another state of mind
I’ll take time
To wait for all the things I’ll find

Day 2 • Alright

Day 3 • Thoughts

[lyrics]

You’ve had too much to think about
On days when I am not around 
I wonder if your mind is sound
Asleep when you don’t touch the ground

Up so high, didn’t think you would miss me
From those heights, don’t you wish you could kiss me goodnight 
Drunk on thoughts made of poison and whisky
What’s the cost of a life if you’re risky
Let’s take flight 

I’m not scared of problems 
I’m just scared of autumns
When we’ll grow further apart
I’m not scared of losing
I’m just scared of choosing 
Between you and my heart 

I’ve had too much to think about
These questions I can’t figure out
The answers always get me down
Why can’t we just be here and now

Day 3 • Thoughts

Day 4 • Tonight

[lyrics]
You know that I want you here tonight
Step on up so you can get it right 
I could love you, love you any day and any time 
You can get it, get down, get on me, let’s ride 

Don’t take it slow
I been waiting for you to come give me the glow
And make it known 
That we only need each other two of us alone 
Together, loving so dangerously
It’s better, pulling you closer to me 

You know that it’s hard to keep it light
I go out and all I do is fight 
But when I come home to you suddenly everything’s fine
You can hit it, reach that summit, how we climb 

Don’t take it slow
I been waiting for you to come give me the glow
And make it known 
That we only need each other two of us alone 
Together, loving so dangerously
It’s better, pulling you closer to me 
Together, loving so dangerously 
It’s better, bringing you closer to me

Day 4 • Tonight

Lyrics

I want a love that makes me feel like I am weightless
You know what I mean
Just a love that comes with much anticipation
You know it's what I need

I want a love that answers every single question
You know what I mean
Just a love that comes with all your good intention
You know it's what I need

So baby can you light me up when the sun goes down
When there's nowhere else for me to turn
And baby can you take me on, let our sparks fly off
You're the only lesson left for me to learn

So hit me with your love, let's go
Until you hear the walls echo
And I believe that what we got is more
Than everything we ever bargained for
So hit me with your love, let's go

I want a love that comes from you and no one else
You know what I mean
All your loving, all your wanting, lay down on me
You know it's what I need

Day 16 • Anticipation

[Lyrics]

Usually I know exactly what I want to say
Words come so easy, make sentences and turns of phrase
But you keep me up till 3 in the morning
Got my head spinning round with no warning
I could not make sense of time

How many Mondays does it take to
Tell someone what they mean to you
I lost track of the numbers in my head
Counting down the dates awake in bed

Usually I know exactly what I want to do
Make my advances, spend all my time hanging with you
But you keep me up, hold me hostage in your room
Acting like we're kids messing round in school
I cannot make sense of time

Day 15 • Usually

I tried to make amends with myself
I cried long nights, lost sight of my health
How can I feel invincible while still wanting to end it all
All of the signs untraceable, lines drawn careful I'm breakable

But somehow I didn't fall through the cracks
Made time to find I'm still on my track
It might take a bit but I will get there
We're on the come-up
And all that I lost before, was just to make room for more

I gave up sleep on nights with no end
I made new dreams, found fights to defend
And though it still no tangible, I imagine I'll make it work
And all of the pain was critical, gave up trying to take the hurt

Day 14 • Come-Up

[Lyrics]

I'm sorry that I stopped loving you when I did
I didn't think I'd find somebody new so soon
And when you couldn't try, I told you I don't mind it
But all these things are left, we didn't do
You know it's not on you

I wanted to love every moment and I did
I promised you a million sunny days
Your tears I'd wipe away
But now the sun has set and I can't seem to find it
I thought I saw forever in your eyes
And darling that's the truth, I never lied

But night has fallen, I am falling out of love
I light the darkness but one light is not enough
To take away the sorrow in your heart
I didn't mean for us to fall apart
But we did

I'm sorry that I stopped loving you when I did
I thought that I could hold you in my arms
Enough to keep you safe and keep your warm
But even if I stayed, tell me how we'd fight it
I'll try my best to always love you
Like I did

Day 13 • Did

[Lyrics]

Tell me, tell me why you think it's funny
That you should leave me so lonely
Nobody's heart to call home

Tell me, is that the reason you left me
Broken in pieces you had me
All to yourself all alone

But love is not defined by what you give me
Love is what is mine when you're not with me

Tell me, if you're unhappy just leave me
I don't need you here to treat me
Anything less than I am

Tell me, tell me why you say you love me
When all that you wanted was to f*ck me
I don't need anymore of that

'Cause love is not defined by what you give me
Love is what is mine when you're not with me

Tell me... don't tell me
'Cause I don't wanna hear another word from you

Day 12 • Unhappy

[Lyrics]

I never felt like this
I get so lost in each kiss
Where does the time go that I spend with you
It just vanishes into the blue
And when you go my heart breaks in two
What can I do, what can I do

I never give it my all
Save just a little for last call
But now that I've found you there's nowhere to hide
All that I'd give you to stay by your side
What can I do, what can I do
I've fallen for you

Day 10 • Blue

I don't believe in destiny
There is no peace in harmony
Somebody always messes up the balance
Somebody always can't rise to the challenge

So if you're gonna let me down, just do it
Don't wait until we're off the ground to say you blew it
I already know that you can't love me the way that I love me
But you take it slow to learn to love me the way that I love me

I don't care much for fantasy
I only trust what I can see
Nobody ever shows up out of nowhere
But here you are and I can't say I don't care

Day 9 • Belief

[Lyrics]

I'm feeling this closeness but just don't cross the line
'Cause you understand me every single time
Why do we keep questioning when things just keep going right
You say you'll jump that fence, I say well I just might

Baby it's white out, but I still think about that spring
You're closing your eyes now, 'cause you still love to hear me sing
Why are we still questioning when when things just keep going right
I say it's bout to go down, you say well just tell me how

I'm feeling this closeness, but we can cross the line
'Cause you understand me, but she's the one that's on your mind
She's still on your mind...

Why do we keep questioning when things just keep going right
You say you'll jump that fence, I say well go on and try

Day 8 • Jump

[Lyrics]

What the hell are you supposed to do when it comes for you
I didn't anticipate it, my plans fell through
But I don't mind, I don't mind, I don't mind

'Cause you're my type
And issa vibe
How can I explain it when I cannot contain myself
I change my direction in search of love and affection
'Cause it's right here inside of my I found my peace...

What the hell am I supposed to say
When all the words keep running away 
To you it's just as wonderful as the first day
No time, no time to waste

Don't have to go back in time
'Cause it's right here by my side
Don't have to go press rewind
'Cause it's only you that I find

Day 7 • Peace

[lyrics]

Picture perfect, don't you wish I was too
With eyes like saucers, only eyes for you
You could hold me all you want whether I wanted it or not
Because you loved me and that was enough

Make me strong and tough but never against you
Words that treat me rough but only from my view
You could say I was the one 
But you were the one holding the gun
Because you loved me and that was enough

To let you follow through with everything you did
I would forgive
And let you get around and underneath my skin
It's hard to admit that I let you win
So go take everything I am
You can't break what you never had
If I have to lose everything
I'd gladly do it if I get to lose you

Picture perfect, now that I am without you
With eyes on something brighter, changing my whole view
You could say I broke your heart
But mine was the life you tore apart
Because you loved me

Day 6 • Perfect

[Lyrics]

You, what do you do that makes me feel
Like all the stories they tell are true
Someday you find somebody who
Gives you that feeling you always knew
Would come your way if you could wait
I had my doubts but I put them away
Soon as your hands went round my face
I couldn't stand any longer, I fell...

Here we are without a plan
I know we will do what we can
I fall like I'm a child again, I fall...
I just keep falling for

You, and all the funny things you do
Can't seem to get enough when we're through
I lay awake at night till 2
And when morning comes, hope I'll spend it with you

I'll just keep falling for you

Day 5 • Fall

[lyrics]

Used to lose myself in everyone
Gave away the pieces just for fun
Thought that they would love me better if I wasn't me

Each time I try to look back all I see is the emptiness
Compromise is just a sacrifice of love for loneliness
And I deserve more

Used to hate the person I had been
Never felt at ease inside my skin
Thought that they would love me better if I wasn't me

Each time I try to look back all I see is the emptiness
Compromise is just a sacrifice of love for loneliness
And I deserve more

So I will wait for you like the shore waits for the sea
And I will break for you like the sun breaks through the trees

You make it feel like a dream, make it all so damn easy
Don't even know what I'm saying but we talk so freely
So freely

Day 11 • Freely

[Lyrics]

Something nostalgic 'bout you baby
Something so magic 'bout you baby
And I can't put my finger on it
But you feel familiar, somehow you stay the same

Something about you drives me crazy
Can't go without you on the daily
I been thinking 'bout you lately
Do you think about me
Still hope you feel the same

As when we were kids 
Your smile has never changed
And though life has rearranged
Somehow we found a way

And you're such a trip
Each time I see your face
Reminds me of the days
When all we'd do is play

Now I'm your throwback
I hope you can catch that

Day 17 • Throwback

[Lyrics]

I don't write about us too much
It's something I keep on saving up
But when I think about love
And how I've learned to give so much of it
That came from you

I make mistakes from time to time
But you still teach how to fight
Against the odds, you still believe
In all I was meant to be
'Cause I came from you

And you made me stronger
So I could hold on longer
To my dreams, no matter how wild they seem
And you taught me kindness
Helped me shine my brightest
So as I glow, I hope you know
That came from you

Remember when I was starting out
I didn't know where, I didn't know how
But I think about love
And how it's there in everything I do
That came from you

Day 19 • From

[Lyrics]

I'm all out of words for you
I've told you everything you need to know
And all of the melodies
I'm writing all about you go to show
That this is something different on a whole new level
Guess we knew that it was inevitable
That we would end up here
But you knew from the start
That it was always you who had my heart

I'm travelling back in time
To moments that I wish I had been there for you
And now that I'm by your side
I promise there is nothing I won't do
To make up for the things we didn't do together
Knew you felt my absence but I'll love you better
And I won't disappear
'Cause you knew from the start 
That it was always you who had my heart

It was you all along
And I'll keep on holding on
You knew it from the start
You always had my heart

Day 18 • Always

[lyrics]

Maybe the picture wasn’t clear
‘Cause you see yourself so differently
From all the things you are to me

Never too sure but show no fear 
Though your heart of gold is breaking still
You’ll find your road, I know you will

And all they do I tear you down
But you can do it better
So we’ll just shout whatever 
And if they start to wear you out
Just know that you can do it
I know that you’ll get through it

You’re gonna get em one day (I swear)
Gonna hit the road running (I swear)
So don’t believe a thing they say to you
‘Cause not a thing they say is true
No lie, you’re doing fine

Wish you could see how much you’ve grown
I know you thought you needed me
But you’ve got this independently

Day 21 • Swear

[lyrics]

Love is a colour prescribed by a lover who doesn't see
That it takes more than trust to discover what's under this masterpiece

Don't blame me for your fever
You never really were that hot anyway
Come at me talking like you crave me
As if I caused your affliction, treat me like your strange addiction
And I'm so tired, you tell your friends that I'm the one
'Cause girls like me are so much fun to play with, are we playing
I'm just a game until you lose

Love is a colour you told one another you'd paint with ease
But I'm not a shade you can add to your palette whenever you please
Run your mouth 'bout that fever...

I'm not the problem that you claim to have had
Point your finger, say you're triggered
Was I really just so bad that you couldn't wrap your head around
Couldn't bring your ego down
Couldn't believe that I could leave you hanging 
There oh there oh there, did you really think I'd care 'bout how you feel

Day 20 • Fever

[lyrics]

Why can't you just give me one more shot to show you
I'm so wonderful, that you don't even stand a chance
Why can't you just give me one more shot to tell you
That we could be incredible, and you don't even know me yet

I saw you yesterday or maybe just one day before that
I lose track 'cause you're so ooh, I think you know
I see you glowing up on the gram, oh baby stop that
'Cause I'm a fan, and you should know

I see you in the movies, you're so fine
Strolling up on Hollywood, get that shine
Sorry if I'm losing it, I just need a sign
'Cause you're getting so much action and screen time
Even when you're eating pasta, you're a dime
I rate you ten out of ten, but tell me

//chorus

You could have any way you like, let's be clear on that
'Cause that's the truth, and nothing less
'Cause everything you say or do has me like oops, I'm misbehaving
Act like a fool, watching you move

I see you on my news feed, on TV
Charming in an interview, you're so sweet
Sorry can I ask you if the story's complete
More than two dimensional, I can see
Wanna meet you up and personal, in 3D
These cameras just don't do you justice

//chorus

Day 28 • Show

[lyrics]

Where's all the support coming from 
Is it only in my head that I see these dreams
But I got an idea, gonna find a way to be a

Jacq Teh

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