Choke

Synopsis

“Choke” is a cathartic, nostalgic ballad about air pollution, written during the COVID quarantine period while I was taking Berklee College of Music classes online at 4 am, stuck at home, unable to sing freely for assignments as my voice slowly gave out. Every year, we singers feel the toll of air pollution. The elderly, animals and people with lung conditions like my own Nani feel it even more. Going from sunny childhood winters to the grey haze that’s become our new normal, I wanted to raise awareness for this issue through my own story, turning frustration, fear, and melancholy into music. It’s a deeply personal and vulnerable reflection of what we’re breathing, remembering, and maybe losing.