Proceeds from Lay Phyu’s new single will go towards rebuilding structures in Bagan destroyed by earthquake

Earlier this year, a 6.8 magnitude stuck central Myanmar. One of the areas that was hit the hardest was the city of Bagan, where hundreds of its ancient pagodas and stupas were destroyed.

In an effort to help raise funds to rebuild these structures, Myanmar musician Lay Phyu is releasing a song titled ‘Pa Hta Ma Naing Gnan Taw’ or ‘First Myanmar Empire.’

On Facebook, Myo Swe Than, the songwriter behind ‘Pa Hta Ma Naing Gnan Taw’ explained how he got involved with the track.

“I was getting ready to head to Bagan when my friend Ko Pyae, who was in Bangkok at the time, called me. He was with U Lay Phyu. Ko Pyae told me that just before the earthquake occurred, U Lay Phyu saw a crow land on his windowsill and then fly straight down. He commented that it was strange and that the crow must have been warning him that something happened in Myanmar.

Shortly afterwards, we saw the pictures of the pagodas crumbling. U Lay Phyu told me to send over some lyrics immediately. I had my friends who were heading to Bagan to go ahead without me, and I start writing how I felt.”

Like the rest of the country, Myo Swe Than was devastated about what had happened.

“The whole country cried when we saw these pagodas go down. This song came out of those tears.”

All the proceeds from the song will be donated to different organizations dedicated to preserving Bagan’s history, including the Bagan Heritage Trust, and the Bagan Heritage Management Committee. The organizations will also have the rights to use the song.

The track will be released as a single in early December and will be available for online purchase via the Myanmar Music Store site.

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