Some albums are made to entertain. Others become companions through life's most difficult seasons.
For Singapore-based singer-songwriter lullaboy, music has always been more than catchy melodies or streaming milestones. It's a way of processing emotions, finding healing, and creating a safe space where listeners can feel understood. That heartfelt approach has earned him more than 200 million streams, a devoted fanbase across Southeast Asia, and a reputation for writing songs that resonate long after the music ends.
Now, the independent artist is bringing that message to Filipino fans as his Hotels & Heartbreaks Tour makes a stop in Manila on July 17 at Teatrino Promenade.
From Heartbreak to Healing Through Music
Behind the name lullaboy is a deeply personal story.
Born in the United States, raised in Singapore, and of Indonesian-Chinese heritage, the Berklee College of Music graduate chose the name by combining the words "lullaby" and "boy."
For him, songwriting became a form of comfort.
"‘Lullaboy’ comes from the words ‘lullaby’ and ‘boy,’ because writing songs was always a way for me to comfort my inner child," he shares. "Even today, I write songs about love, life, and everything in between, and I hope they can bring comfort to everybody's inner child."
That journey began after experiencing his first heartbreak, when writing songs became his way of making sense of emotions he struggled to express.
As more listeners discovered his music, the messages they sent transformed his perspective.
"As I released more songs, people started sending me messages saying they helped them through difficult seasons," he says. "That's when I realized sharing my own stories could make a positive impact on other people's lives. I don't just make music for fun anymore. I do it because I feel like it's my purpose."
Inside Hotels & Heartbreaks
The artist's latest project, Hotels & Heartbreaks, serves as both his third studio album and the creative inspiration behind his current nine-city Asia tour.
Rather than simply performing a collection of songs, lullaboy designed the experience to feel like an emotional journey where audiences are invited to "check in hurt and check out healed."
Its 12 interconnected tracks tell a continuous story of heartbreak, self-reflection, growth, and hope, accompanied by visual elements that bring the narrative to life.
The concept emerged during his travels while touring across Asia.
Despite staying in luxury hotels and achieving career milestones, he found himself questioning whether success alone could bring fulfillment.
"I was staying in all these beautiful hotels while touring," he recalls. "At the end of the day, I'd lie on my bed and ask myself, 'What's it all for?' You can achieve your biggest dreams, but if you don't have love or someone to share them with, it does not necessarily bring happiness."
That realization became the emotional foundation of the album.
For lullaboy, everyone eventually finds themselves in their own version of a "heartbreak hotel." The goal isn't to stay there forever but to emerge stronger on the other side.
As he puts it:
"This album is actually an album of hope."
Why Manila Holds a Special Place in His Heart
Although this marks one of his biggest tours to date, the Philippines has long held a special meaning for the artist.
Before performing here professionally, lullaboy first visited the country through missionary work as a young worship leader. Those experiences introduced him to Filipino hospitality long before he stepped onto a concert stage.
He remembers promising himself that he would someday return as an artist.
That dream became reality last year when he performed his first concert in Manila.
"I was blown away by how much warmth there was from the people," he says. "They sing really loud, they have beautiful voices. I've been waiting for this moment. I think the Lullafam knows how much I love the Philippines."
A Tour Across Asia
The Hotels & Heartbreaks Tour spans nine cities across Asia, with stops in:
- Manila
- Malaysia
- Indonesia
- Hong Kong
- Taiwan
- Japan
- South Korea
- Singapore
Each performance combines live music, storytelling, and immersive visuals that encourage audiences to reflect on their own experiences with love, loss, and healing.
For those discovering his music for the first time, lullaboy recommends listening in this order:
- Someone Like You
- Shortcut to Heaven
- Heaven
Together, the three songs capture the emotional progression that defines the album.
More Than Just Another Concert
In an era where many live performances focus on spectacle, Hotels & Heartbreaks offers something more intimate.
It's a reminder that vulnerability can create connection, and that sharing personal stories often helps others feel less alone.
As lullaboy prepares to return to Manila, audiences can expect more than an evening of heartfelt music. They'll be invited into a space where heartbreak isn't treated as the end of the story but as the beginning of healing.
For anyone navigating change, loss, or new beginnings, Hotels & Heartbreaks offers a comforting message: even life's most difficult chapters can lead to hope.
