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After 19 years as Michael Bublé’s Musical Director, Los-Angeles based singer-songwriter and pianist Alan Chang is going solo with his catchy debut song Love As A WeaponFor his solo debut, Alan called on legendary bassist Pino Palladino and saxophonist Dave Koz to craft a beautiful song that sits perfectly in the Australian Indie Pop Alternative market and reveals a clever jazz aesthetic.

“I had the most incredible time working with Michael and fulfilling his dream of bringing the American songbook to stadiums together,” said Alan, “we crammed a lot into those 19 years from Oprah to stadiums, to arenas and I have so much love for Michael and everything he has done for me. However, like all good things, everything must come to an end and it felt like a good time to figure out who I am musically (which probably isn’t what most people think) before it’s too late and I don’t have the energy for it.” 

Love As A Weapon was recorded at L.A.’s famed EastWest Studios and reveals a musical talent that goes beyond the genre Alan has become known for. It’s decidedly the opposite of Bublé. This first track is a superbly crafted jazz-juice pop song with touches of They Might Be Giants, Fat Night, Joey Dosik and Ben Folds Five.  Alan possesses a beautiful melodic alto that compliments the splashy jazz-infused moments of the song. The first release is a gently propulsive and arpeggio’d journey that finds its lead piano grafted onto an atypically up-front rhythm section anchored by bass legend Pino Palladino and drummer Tamir Barzilay along with ace guitarist Ryan Lerman (Scary Pockets, Bublé, Ben Folds, John Legend). The song draws its eccentric lyrical imagery from Chang’s departure from the Bublé camp and is produced by Ryan Lerman.

“I wrote that song a few days after I told Michael I was quitting.” said Alan “It was almost like a partner asking for a divorce. Suddenly, all these different feelings came up. That song is a form of therapy.”

Chang is a self-described “jazz pianist at heart” and this reveals itself in beautiful lyrical moments through the song where the piano sings as though improvising. Chang’s musical pedigree goes well beyond his work with Bublé having backed everyone from Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora to brainiac punks The Offspring to Metallica’s Kirk Hammett in session work led by super-producer Bob Rock.

Alan Chang is an internationally acclaimed pianist, songwriter and musical director. He parted ways in 2022 with Michael Bublé after working as his musical director and pianist for 19 years. During that time they toured the globe together and built an incredible fan base for old-school classics such as SwayFeeling Good and All I Want For Christmas is You whilst also creating the global hits Home and Haven’t Met You Yet co-written with Bublé.

“When Alan left me after nearly two decades, I swore off half-Asian men forever. But after hearing Alan’s seminal track off his new album, I realized that in life, you dim sum, you lose some!” said Michael. “I can’t wait for people to hear his music!”

Love As A Weapon is released globally on May 5 through Distrokid and will be available on all platforms including Spotify and Apple Music.