Hitting a different note

Singaporean Stefanie Sun emerges from her self-imposed four-year hibernation with an album that speaks of a refreshing maturity. Chen Nan reports.

With her girlish looks, clear voice and ready smile, Singaporean Stefanie Sun was a breath of fresh air in the music scene of Hong Kong, Taiwan and the mainland 10 years ago. Her debut album sold more than 3 million copies and the song, Cloudy Day, an adaptation of a traditional Hokkien folk song - one of Sun's most popular hits - impressed fans with its light-hearted melody and the lyrics in both Mandarin and Hokkien.

Her new album, It's Time, heralds a new look, a new company and, most importantly, a new attitude to music.

In Beijing, she recently grabbed the spotlight with a bright red backless gown.

"I am quite nervous about the dress," she said with a shy smile. "(But) it's time to make some changes."

Songs from the new album, Sun's 11th so far, show she has moved away from the sugary-sweet love songs of the past.

"Singing has always been a big part of my life and most of my youth was spent with music," the 33-year-old says. "This new album talks about how music has accompanied me over the past 10 years. It's (now) time to reflect and move on to another musical chapter."

Four years ago, Sun quit music to spend time at home in Singapore, studying textile design and cooking. She also met her Dutch boyfriend.

But whenever she watched movies and listened to music, she felt a familiar excitement.

"I enjoyed a lot of free time and the idea of singing kept coming back to me. (I felt) like my link to music had not yet ended," she says.

Her new album will allow fans, starved of news of her for the past four years, a glimpse into Sun's personal life. Most of the new songs such as Time Stealer and Tomorrow's Memory tell stories of Sun's growing-up - from a young adult into a mature woman.

The song, This is Life, seems to take a page from Sun's own diary, and talks of the past decade of her life and her wish for the future.

"When I was 20, I was adventurous and willing to pursue my dream as a singer. When I was 30, I slowed down and reconsidered my goals in life. When I am 40, I would like to be a housewife and have at least four children," she says.

One of the most successful singers from Singapore, Sun started her musical career in Taiwan in 1999. Unlike the pop singers of that time, who sang about love and loss, Sun sang about childhood memories. Her neat short hair, sunny smile and sporty look created her wide appeal.

However, the frequent tour concerts and album releases left her exhausted.

After releasing the album, Against The Light, in 2007, which sold more than 60,000 copies in the first three days, she decided to take a break.

"My first three years in the music industry were full of work, which made singing seem like a burden. I felt a lack of the openness and imagination that a singer needs while writing and singing songs," she says.

Criticism was rare, but when it came, it was usually centered on her skinny figure, which depressed Sun then.

"People were so picky. I felt like a transparent person when I was in the spotlight. My dress, my hair and my face were all being noticed and commented upon. To be honest, I even hated cosmetics then," she says.

The four-year break allowed her to be with friends and to figure out how to soak in her success without becoming confused or even losing herself.

"I guess the power driving me is that I still feel connected to singing and I am glad that there are many people waiting for my singing," she says.

(China Daily 03/12/2011 page11)