Ay Wing’s Succinct and Open Pop R&B Song “Ego” Is a Discussion on Letting Go of a Self-Corrosive Mindset

Ay Wing, photo by Chloe Desnoyers

Ay Wing says so much in such a short period of time in her song “Ego.” The chill R&B beat around her warm, contemplative yet active vocals serves a song well in which Wing comments on the various ways in which our ego tries to control every situation and impose a way things “should” be and hold oneself to standards that have no relation to our lived existence like an internalized task master that reflects a culture and mindset that asks us to be on task in circumscribed ways that try to fit us into molds and modes that don’t suit our organic selves and a healthy emotional life. That conditioning Wing speaks of casting off by bringing the anxiety that comes with it under control because it not only interrupts sleep it also warps natural human emotional responses like sadness and anger because we’re so often encouraged to believe those to be negative emotions rather than a part of life that are normal if we don’t get stuck there and nothing to be ashamed of or to question oneself over. In the line “Why can’t I surrender to a place where I can be,” Wing touches on the path to get there because her instincts already know it exists, an important breakthrough when you feel stuck. Watch the video for “Ego” on YouTube which features the dancers Nora Hertwig and Francesca Farenga and connect with Wing at the links provided.

Ay Wing on Instagram