When Lyndon Lai Tan was born, with a faint heartbeat, doctors said his chances of survival were slim. They declared that he if he did live, he would probably suffer severe brain damage or mental disability, and would not be able to live a normal life. Those doctors were wrong. Today, the Naparima College graduate is a talented musician with a bright future ahead.
For the love of music
Born and raised in San Fernando, Lai Tan's foray into music began at the age of seven, when his mother sent him for piano lessons. At nine, he did voice training and four years later, he picked up the guitar. "I didn't really like music when I was small because I saw it as work," he admitted.
Lai Tan's sentiments quickly changed, as he realised music was his true calling. After entering and winning several competitions, he decided to turn things up a notch and take his craft to a higher level. "I learned to play pop songs that were playing on radio. When I was 15, I started writing and composing my own music," he said.
Lai Tan's crowning moment came when he won another competition with one of his very own compositions. "I discovered that people really appreciate your own work. It was an amazing feeling to win with something I composed," he said. Lai Tan continued writing and as he grew and matured, so did his music.
"My music helped me through difficult times in my life. It gave me an avenue to vent. I began to realise that a lot of people were going through the things I was going through. It's a great feeling to know I could touch people with my music. That's better than any monetary prize." Lai Tan's first album came in 2006. Titled Bridges, it was a diary of his life and fans were in high praise.
"It was about the struggles I went through and how I found my way out of them. Most of the time I found my way out through Jesus Christ." Currently working on his second album, the versatile artiste said fans could look forward to "emotional soundtracks" with an "international feel."
Positive vibes
The attractive artiste, who specialises in rock, alternative and contemporary music, takes everyone by surprise with his powerful vocals and engaging performances. While he refuses to put himself into a box or categorise his music into one particular genre, his music is undoubtedly influenced by his strong Christian background.
"Whenever I sing, people have to sit up and take notice. They always say, 'I didn't expect that voice from you,'" he said. "I don't categorise my music as gospel but my views are very much Christian-oriented. My music is like poetry: you have to search for the meaning."
Realise your potential
For this ambitious twenty-something-year-old, failure is not an option. While he admits that the avenues to showcase his talent are limited in T&T, he is letting nothing hold him back.
"I want to head to the US to pursue my music. I'm hoping that it happens sooner than later. A lot of people here just give artistes lip service. You have to be where your fan base is. You have to make that dream come through," he said. Some people live life without realising their full potential. Lyndon Lai Tan is definitely not one of those people.