In his latest release, coming home, lullaboy, the Singaporean artist of Indonesian-Chinese descent, offers a deeply personal exploration of identity and belonging. The album, released under RedRecords, marks his second full-length project and showcases his evolution as a singer-songwriter and producer. Known for his heartfelt acoustic soundscapes and Berklee-trained pop sensibilities, lullaboy—real name Bernard Dinata—delivers a collection that blends emotional pop and R&B influences with intimate storytelling.
Tracks like the title song 'coming home' and 'kembali', his first full Indonesian track, show off his expanded sonic palette and deeper lyrics. He's vibing with themes of introspection and cultural roots, making this album not just music, but an experience. With features from artists like yaeow, lullaboy is serving up fresh collabs and emotional depth that fans are here for. This album is more than just catchy tunes; it's a journey of soul-searching set to chill beats and heartfelt melodies.
Having racked up over 100 million streams with hits like 'shortcut to heaven' and 'van gogh,' lullaboy is breaking barriers and solidifying his spot as one of Asia's breakout stars. His latest drop is perfect for anyone navigating their own path in life. It's a vibe check on everything from love to self-realization. And, of course, we caught up with him to get the lowdown on what inspired this introspective album.
Can you share the inspiration behind the album coming home? What does "home" mean to you in this context?
As a third culture kid, I’ve always been looking for a home and acceptance and over the past couple years, I’ve followed my music to so many different countries, performing for fans all around the world. Through this, I found that home isn’t a place, it’s a state of heart… it’s where love is, but most importantly, coming back to yourself. This album is a reminder to explore love and life - but never forget the road that leads you home.
The album features your first full Indonesian song, ‘kembali’. What was the significance of including this track, and how does it fit into the overall narrative of the album?
Yes I’m so happy that 'kembali' is now out in the world and with the fans. It wouldn’t be the coming home album if I didn’t include a song in the first language I ever spoke. No matter where the world takes me, Indonesian culture will always be engrained in my soul. Another reason is that my Indonesian fans have been there since day one, and I wanted to come back and give them something special.
Working with RedRecords and collaborating with international artists like yaeow seems to have been a pivotal experience for you. How did these collaborations shape the final sound of the album?
I was a fan of yaeow’s music first and reached out to him online where we quickly hit it off. One day in L.A. we had the chance to write this song together after realizing that our lives were so similar. I never expected that the song would end up being the title track of the album, encompassing everything I felt at the time. It was the perfect way to wrap up my 2 years with RedRecords.
You described coming home as an exploration of identity, love, and self-discovery. How did you approach writing about these complex emotions in a way that resonates with listeners?
When it all boils down, every song is still a page from my diary, and that will never change. However, I rarely think of myself as a poet because I just want people to think of their own life situations from new perspectives. My goal is to always write about complex emotions in simple yet beautiful ways. Hopefully that keeps resonating with the listeners.
With 'coming home' being your first full-length project under a major label, how did the recording and production process differ from your previous independent projects?
When I was first starting out, the bedroom was the studio. If it wasn’t my room, it was my friends’ rooms. There’s a lot more collaboration now, working with great teams around the world in top grade studios. However, the heart and soul that goes into it is always the same, and if I ever want to have the cozy bedroom vibes, I can always come back home.
You've achieved significant success, including being one of Spotify’s top Singaporean artists. How do you feel this album will contribute to your career and growth as an artist?
Thank you for the kind words. It’s still feels like a dream to me (laughs). As a lover of art and exploration, I have to think of this album as another picture to add to my still very empty diary. There are still a lot of blank pages that need to be filled, and this album has prepared me well to dig even deeper. During the process of releasing this album, I’ve learned a lot and written some really special new songs so I’m excited for the next page.
