Name: Mei Lai Swan
Age: 27
Family status: Single
Job: Singer and song writer
Religion: Not religious
On my second day in Alice Springs, I get invited to the Red Dust Theater Program Lounge party, or in other words - the Hollywood-in-the-desert event of the year. How do I manage to get invited? Long story. In Alice Springs, just like everywhere in the world - If you know people, you get to go to places. I got very lucky to make acquaintance with some lovely people.
Alice Springs is surprisingly funky for a little town, far from any major city, smack in the middle of the Outback. It probably has the largest artist per head population in Australia. A short walk through the main street reveals number of aboriginal art galleries and artsy coffee shops. I'm sitting in one of those coffee shops, across the table from Mei Lai Swan. We are both sipping coffee, trying to shake off the sleep.. It is 9:30 am. Mei Lai had been singing all night last night in a music venue not very far from the coffee shop. I had been having beers and enjoying her music.
I first saw Mei Lai performing at the Red Dust Party. I was mesmerized by her music. It was like nothing I've ever heard before in my life - a funky mixture between jazz, alternative, reggae and folk, created by the sound of her cello and her deep vocal. I called it the Dove music - like that chocolate commercial - one bite of it carries you far and away in a dream land. I was so truly impressed, I went to see Mei Lai playing again the following evening and brought all my backpacker friends. I think Mei Lai might be the next Norah Jones, honestly.
Mei Lai is from Melbourne. She has a Malaysian-Chinese father and an Australian mother. She had played the violin since she was little, but only started playing in bands when she turned 21-22. She picked up the cello few years ago, and is currently promoting her first album. I am surprised to hear that, as Mei Lai looks like a real pro on the stage. I ask her if she is planning to be a career singer, and she says - Yes, if only I had more time. She has a day job, working for the Community Development Central Land Council. Working with the local aboriginal communities is a rewarding job, but takes up a lot of her time.
When Mei Lai arrived in Alice Springs, her plan was to stay for four months, but she, as many others, became enchanted by the town and stayed longer. She loves Alice Springs - it is beautiful, peaceful, and vibrant place. Everybody is very relaxed. There is no trafic. Mei Lai lives in the Old Eastern Part of town, right by the river. It is a very artsy part of town - every house has its own character. And the river, well, the river is dry most part of the year, but that doesn't prevent the locals from calling it a river. On that river, I was told, the local Lions club runs the only dry boat race on earth every year. They literally pick up their boats and run with them. If there is a will, there is a way. There might be a lack of water, but not a lack of creativity in this town.
Mei Lai draws inspiration from the red desert, the open spaces, and the amazing starry sky. What do you sing about, I ask. For example - why did you write "Calling the Skies", one of the songs that you preformed yesterday? She smiles, and says - Um, I actually started writing this one on my way to work. It is about breaking free from the routine, from all the things that people want you to do, and about the things that you want to do, but don't have the time. I know what you mean, I say. I felt that way many days on my way to the office, except I never thought of writing a song about it. She smiles.
It is not exactly easy to be a musician in Alice Springs. Here everything revolves around the visual arts. It is hard to tour around - it is after all miles and miles away from any major Australian city. Mei Lai is lucky to work with some really talented musicians, but when she recorded her first album, she did have to go back to Melbourne. Her plan is to stay for another year or two in Alice Springs, then head back to the big city. Hopefully, when that happens, she will take a piece of the red desert in her heart.
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Hugs & Kisses, Vik
