Hong Kong artist Jer Lau (柳應廷) launched the first night of his highly anticipated two-show engagement, The Shape of Breathing Live 2025, at the AsiaWorld-Expo on November 30. The concert served as a theatrical presentation of a conceptual music script seven years in development, utilizing elaborate stage design, thematic visuals, and a deliberate song sequence to narrate a journey of internal conflict and eventual hope.
Lau, a member of the popular Canto-pop group Mirror, anchored the stage with a striking visual centerpiece: a colossal, luminous heart suspended above the audience. This apparatus, evolving with different lighting effects and illustrations, served as the visual metaphor for the evening’s narrative trajectory. The performance commenced with the evocative tracks “Moon Dweller” (月居人) and “The Sand Vessel” (砂之器), setting the atmospheric tone. Lau showcased his musical versatility early on by incorporating a dynamic drum solo into the opening segment.
Thematic Depth and Personal Vulnerability
The initial portion of the night focused on slower, introspective pieces, including “Don’t Say It” (不要說出來) and “The Rule of Farewell” (離別的規矩). A moment of deliberate staging artistry occurred during the performance of “The Story of Water Torture” (水刑物語), where Lau remained lying on the stage floor throughout the entire song, emphasizing vulnerability and emotional paralysis.
Following a series of songs, and after performing “Reverse Memory” (記憶倒行), the artist addressed the audience, offering a candid apology regarding his physical condition. “I apologize,” Lau stated, “I haven’t been feeling well today—a bit of a cold, for some reason. But I feel that encountering moments like this is part of the experience of life.” He drew a parallel between his current state and the theme of the song, which explores self-destruction and eventual rebirth.
“The moment in the music video where the dandelion seeds fly away—planting disappointment in one place, yet floating to another where they land and bloom with hope—that’s the cycle,” he reflected, before transitioning into the hopeful track, “The Life of a Flower” (花之生命).
Advocating for Emotional Resilience
A poignant highlight came with the performance of “Dear Children,” where 30 children, all dressed in white, joined him on stage. Lau explained the powerful motivation behind the song’s creation, referencing troubling news reports about young people struggling with immense pressure and choosing to take their own lives.
Lau shared a message of support, aiming to give strength to those in distress. “I hope everyone knows that even when you are at your lowest point, you at least have me, a singer, here to accompany you,” he affirmed, noting that the collective strength of the audience singing along helped carry him through despite his compromised voice. The segment concluded with the uplifting anthem “The Shining Stars Around Humanity” (人類群星閃耀時).
Rediscovering Roots and Championing Canto-pop
During the encore, Lau embraced a more simplistic, personal setup, donning a T-shirt and picking up an acoustic guitar. He delivered an impromptu solo performance of “Tomorrow’s Journey” (明日旅程) by the band Pandora. Visibly nervous, he confessed that it had been a long time since he had played the guitar, connecting the moment back to his origins busking by the seaside. “I had to find my initial self, my original heart, in this concert,” he explained.
He then welcomed his special guests, the band Pandora, whom he admitted to being a longtime admirer of. They performed a duet of “Young Novelist” (年輕小說家) and “Living Life Enthusiastically” (痛痛快快活活去). Lau spoke enthusiastically about the positive support he draws from Pandora’s music, attributing his more optimistic outlook on life to their work. Concluding with a call to action, he urged concertgoers to support local music, stating, “The music scene is filled with great bands and talented musicians; I hope everyone supports Canto-pop.” The debut night concluded with his newest single, “The Present Continuation” (今繼).