Saay Releases New Single ‘Domino’

Korean R&B singer Saay has unveiled her new digital single, “Domino,” the first she has made in seven months following her previous single, “RollerCoaster.”

Saay’s sultry vocals and the gorgeousness of R&B music mix with an all-English “Domino” for an immersive and heartfelt listening experience. Using lyrics such as “How I lose my cool/I’m a mess, feelin’ careless now/Wanna feel alive and breathin’ out/I forgot how to feel/How to treat these demons/Let them go,” the artist, who also wrote and co-composed the song, digs deeper into her raveled emotions and how they speak to her pursuit of success in life. She conjures an acute sense of anticipation and anxiety about one’s career and whatever challenges come with it, inviting one to indulge in similar emotions through “Domino.”

Its pathos and profound message are pronounced through a rich soundscape—lush music and vocal arrangements. Saay’s beautiful vocal texture adorned with natural vibrato works best in echoing the nuanced feelings that say things about striving through each step towards the best, building excitement, but the fact that an oversight or one wrong can have a chain reaction crumbling things akin to the domino effect builds apprehension alongside. In Saay’s words, “I wanted to express our feelings of insecurity and imperfectness. I had to do it for me and for us.” 

Saay teamed up with the popular male dance group We Dem Boyz and dancer Iban for the song’s music video. She performs with technique and grace against backdrops that alternate between quiet hues, her intent gaze, and expressions generating strong emotions rooted in the music. While the video is uncomplicated, the spotless contemporary dance routines, crisp lines, variations, and fine movements of all—in perfect sync through fluid transitions between tones, frames, and shots—all add to the overarching “Domino” vibe. Intermittent all-glittery close-ups of Saay serve as vibrant visual interludes.

“Domino” is Saay’s story, and in my mind, it also implies a healing power achieved over her protracted career through different situations. She debuted in 2012 as the leader of the quintet EvoL and after its disbandment in 2015, Saay signed with Universal Music Korea, heralding an important shift to a more creatively unrestricted solo career. Her music, as in “Domino,” has sincere melodies, elaborate vocal arrangements, and intimate lyrics, fused with hip-hop, soul, and R&B ingredients. Since her solo debut in 2017, Saay has released multiple singles and albums and has also collaborated with various artists, notably Snoop Dog, Crush, and more.