Nur Wahidah and Daniel Borces of Subsonic Eye on love that is unseen.
Is love universal? Even in a language one cannot yet grasp, inflexions, intonations, and harmonies can clue one in to its overwhelming presence — even when it is not visible to the naked eye. Sometimes, all it takes are these subtle frequencies to speak about love better than words can — orchestral scores may reveal a certain kind of tenderness, and rhythms may highlight an overlooked but integral routine. Wistfulness may materialise in silence. A breath of an “okay” as it closes the only English-spoken portion of Matahari — the Malay single written by Nur Wahidah of Subsonic Eye — jerks a romantic sweep of assurance to someone she holds dear, even as the rest of the song remains in a language the person she is writing about does not understand. That song was written for fellow bandmate Daniel Borces, who transitioned into the role of romantic partner five years later. What they have is by no means showy nor publicly affectionate. But it is in small gestures, hidden in lyrics and their dispositions, that one can decode the secret messages that they have written for each other.
“How do you love?”
Daniel: We’ve been together so long that we understand each other. It is an unspoken understanding. I think that’s love. When you wholeheartedly accept how the person is feeling.
Wahidah: A lot of the songs I write are about love. The previous album was about how my love for nature parallels how I love the people in my life. And the recent one, too. I’ll call these love albums, but they are represented in many different ways. But I have never written direct lovey-dovey songs. So when I did decide to do it, I wanted something that was not so public. So, I write my songs in Malay —mainly for this reason. I mean, you can go and translate the lyrics.
Daniel: I would Google Translate it. But at least it’s not so confrontational.
Wahidah: Would you want me to sing “I love you, Daniel Borces”?
Daniel: No, no, I don’t. Like, maybe in another language. Maybe not my straight-up name, though. [Laughs]
Wahidah: Daniel Borces!
Daniel: When we first started, I wouldn’t know what she was singing about, and I didn’t really try to ask. But then, when we got together, we had a lot more shared experiences. So I know what she’s writing about, stuff like that.
Wahidah: Maybe now you know more about my inner psyche.
Daniel: She’s extremely smart. I can just say the most radical, ridiculous ideas, concepts or whatever, and she will never shut me off. She’s very open-minded. And just fun to talk to. It’s grounding. She gives me a very realistic worldview.
Wahidah: If I ground him realistically, he helps me to be more imaginative. Seeing his aspirations for himself and his future makes me want to stand up for myself and do crazier things.
Photography Beng
Art Direction Erwin Canuela
Photography Assistant Rigg Ngo
Grooming & Hair Adelene Siow, Mandy Yeo | Palette.inc using Shiseido & KEUNE Haircosmetics
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