Premiere: ka lok - Opium Boy
Today we are very excited to deliver a special long weekend premiere!
Even more exciting is that today we are doing a full-album premiere from an up and coming Regina artist. ka lok is the solo electronic project of multi-instrumentalist and producer, Dalton Lam (Bears in Hazenmore, Wolf Willow, Megan Nash, The Steves, and Peace Flag Ensemble). The project was born from a desire to reconnect with identity and sound and serves as a sonic exploration of heritage, belonging, and self-acceptance.
Tomorrow marks the Lunar New Year and the release of ka lok’s debut album, Opium Boy. The title is a direct reclamation of the racially charged nickname he carried during his high school years in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. At the time, ka lok accepted the name as a social currency, a method of survival, a way to fit into a predominantly white environment as a Chinese person, even though it compromised his own values. At its core, this project explores the erosion of self that comes from a desperate need to belong, and the slow, deliberate work of reclaiming what was traded away.
We are extremely excited to share with you this impressive debut one day early. Press play to enjoy and then support the artist by hitting the “pre-order” button found within the player.
