Daniel Lew was on his way to getting his master’s degree in physiotherapy when he unexpectedly lost 90 per cent of hearing in his left ear. This life-changing event made him reflect on his true priorities, realizing that music was at the heart of what mattered most to him. Determined to play every day, he searched for a platform to share his music, ultimately finding it in TransLink’s Busker Program.

The Busker Program allows local musicians to share their talents by performing at transit stations, connecting with audiences while earning tips. Daniel notes performing for busy transit riders who don’t come with the intention to listen, make established connections even more profound.

Daniel recalls a core memory, while busking at Vancouver City Centre Station, a woman approached him asked if she could sit down and listen. His intuition told him to play his original song, Let The Angels Shine, a ballad about ‘having compassion for others and showing up with kindness’.

When he finished, she asked to hug him, then broke down in tears. “Your song is exactly what I needed to hear.” She explained that she was en route to Calgary, Alberta to visit her father, who was on his deathbed. His music had offered her a brief yet powerful moment of emotional release.

For Daniel, encounters like this are testaments to the importance of music and human connection. And to him, it’s fulfilling a purpose.

“Playing music is an exchange of energy,” says Daniel. Remarkably, that energy exchange was felt by a world-renowned artist — Ed Sheeran.

During Ed Sheeran’s Subtract tour in Vancouver in 2023, Daniel had a chance encounter with the star. Knowing Ed was in town, Daniel set up to busk before the intimate concert at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. As he played, a security guard approached him just moments before the concert. Expecting to be asked to leave, he was told to pack up for a different reason – he had been personally invited to watch the concert and meet Ed Sheeran.

The guard explained that Ed saw him playing while heading to the venue and asked to ‘bring [Daniel] to the show.’

 

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A guard escorted Daniel backstage, where he met Ed. Ed commended him for his persistence in busking as Ed recalled how difficult it was to perform for audiences where ‘no one cares.’

“Ed and I share some things in common. Other than the love for music, this busking concept has been a big part of our careers,” says Daniel. When Daniel shared his hearing loss journey, Ed held his fist and gave Daniel a fist bump. He had related with Daniel as Ed also lost some hearing in one ear.

Through the connections made while busking, Daniel has booked several paid gigs, and happened upon some exceptional encounters that he wouldn’t have experienced otherwise.

If Daniel’s story inspired you to start busking, sign up for the TransLink Busker Program.