Draft:A World Away (album)

Harriet Chung's debut album titled, A World Away is Harriet Chung's was released on January 13, 2023. The album, consisting of eight songs, was both written and produced by George Chiang. One notable inclusion is a reimagined version of "A World Away" from Chiang's musical Golden Lotus titled '"A World Away (Remix)." The album earned Chung the "Best Artist of the Future" award at the 2023 World Class Film Awards in Mexico City. A Deluxe Edition of the album titled A World Away (Deluxe Edition) was released on December 1, 2023, and contains two additional tracks, "A World Away (Radio Edit)" and "A World Away (Acoustic)."

Origins
"A World Away (Remix)" is a reimagined rendition of the prominent pop ballad featured in George Chiang's musical Golden Lotus. Recorded with a full orchestra in Toronto, the song was released as a single on August 25, 2020. It serves as part of the promotional efforts for Chiang's Golden Lotus The song, which explores themes of longing and separation from a loved one, has garnered critical acclaim for Harriet Chung's vocal and instrumental performance. The song won the Gold Award for Original Song at the Hollywood Gold Awards.

Its music video captured several Best Music Video Awards including the Amsterdam International Film Festival, Canadian Cinematography Awards, Sweden Film Awards, World Distribution Award and the Rome Movie Awards. The success of the single and music video prompted Chung and Chiang to collaborate to record an album.

Singles
George Chiang wrote and produced the songs for the album and collaborated with Chung to write "The Place for Dreams". Other tracks released as singles before the release of the album include "Today and Tomorrow", "Old Montreal", "The Place for Dreams", "Through My Tears", and "Vancouver."

On April 26, 2022, "Vancouver" served as the second single release, with an arrangement by Warren Robert, who also contributed guitar and bass. Christopher Siu provided piano accompaniment, Grammy Award-winning Randy Cooke handled drums, and Rique Franks contributed background vocals. The song narrates a cross-country road trip across Canada culminating in a love affair with the city of Vancouver. Additionally, a lyric video for the song was published alongside its release.

"Through My Tears" was released on June 17, 2022. The song was critically praised for Chung's "angelic singing, " accompanied by Christopher Siu's arrangement and piano and Mailynn Jenkins's flute. The song is about the aching bitter-sweetness of missing your loved one told within the context of a Chinese folktale about the Cowherd and Weaving Girl. A lyric video was published alongside its release.

"The Place For Dreams" was released on August 19, 2022. Chung co-wrote the song with George Chiang. The song is a passionate confession about an ill-fated romance.

The song's music video, directed by Theresa Kowall-Shipp and produced by George Chiang portrays Chung dancing with a male partner in a dark warehouse. The music video won several Best Music Video Awards including the Europe Film Festival, Dubai Festival, and the Golden Lion International Film Festival.

"Old Montreal" was released on November 4, 2022. The song is a stark contrast to her earlier singles. The song is a wistful pop ballad that carries a subtle jazz influence. The song is an introspective song questioning a star-crossed relationship, without bitterness or anger. "Old Montreal" won Best Song at the New York Cinematography Awards.

Its music video, directed and produced by George Chiang, features Chung pondering her lost romance while strolling along the cobblestoned streets of Old Montreal. The music video has received several Best Music Video Awards, including the Canadian Cinematography Awards, Swedish International Film Festival, Virgin Spring Cinefest, Cult Critic Movie Awards and the Golden Lion International Film Festival.

"Today and Tomorrow" was released with the A World Away album and is featured as its second track. The song is a dreamy journey about the everlasting love between a mother and a child. The song won the Gold Award for Original Song at the New York Movie Awards.

The music video for "Today and Tomorrow" was directed by Theresa Kowall-Shipp and David Woodside and produced by George Chiang. The music video, which features Chung playing the piano while images from her life flash on fabrics surrounding her, won Best Music Video at the Los Angeles Film Awards, Seattle Filmmaker Awards, and the Dreamz Catcher International Film Festival.