Charlie Lim teams up with Tamzene for heartfelt duet “The Hardest Thing” ahead of new album, DAYDREAM.
Singaporean singer-songwriter and producer Charlie Lim has returned with “The Hardest Thing,” a heartfelt duet with Scottish singer-songwriter Tamzene, released on June 25 as the lead single from his upcoming third full-length album, DAYDREAM.
Written during Lim’s stay in London in 2024, the song grew out of a songwriting session between two friends reflecting on love, heartbreak, and the stories people tell themselves to make sense of relationships. Rather than dwelling on blame, “The Hardest Thing” explores the quiet aftermath of a romance that has reached its breaking point while asking whether love is meant to be the hardest thing to fight for.
The track pairs Lim and Tamzene’s understated vocal chemistry with cinematic production from acclaimed Singaporean ambient artist Kin Leonn. Adding to its emotional depth is a performance by Ng Pei-Sian, principal cellist of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, whose expressive cello lines underscore the song’s themes of longing and reflection.
“I think most of us accept that all relationships require work, compromise and sacrifice,” Lim said. “At some point you wonder whether it really has to be this difficult. The song doesn’t try to answer that question but tries to sit with it.”
Tamzene described the collaboration as a therapeutic experience born from friendship.
“The risk we take in giving love is big, and the fallout can be brutal,” she said. “This song is for the heartbroken, in hopes they softly find their way again.”
“The Hardest Thing” serves as the emotional centerpiece of DAYDREAM, which explores themes of memory, longing, regret, and the space between life’s expectations and reality. The album marks Lim’s most intimate body of work to date, continuing the evolution of one of Singapore’s most respected independent artists after more than 15 years in music.
“The Hardest Thing” is now available on major music streaming platforms.
Press Release
