Kit Chan's 'second' wave

Last week, local singer Kit Chan became the first artist to be signed by newly-formed record company Taihe Music Group in China.

Under the two-year contract, she is slated to release a new album of original material in June - 12 years after her last album of original songs, 2004's East Towards Saturn - with a concert tour to follow.

Speaking to media here yesterday, a radiant Chan said: "This is like my second wave in my career."

The 43-year-old also described her vocal condition as being better than before.

"I used to be at 75 per cent. Now, even though I am older, I am at about 85 to 90 per cent," she said.

"Being able to have control of my time and my health, as well as my artistic direction, allows me to work better."

She added: "Taihe gives me the artistic autonomy when it comes to my music, and I am able to work at my own pace."

The year has been an exceptional one for Chan.

Her short-lived but high-profile appearance on the third season of popular Chinese reality TV singing competition I Am A Singer earlier this year captured the attention of netizens as well as regional and international music labels.

ELIMINATED

Although Chan was the first artist to be eliminated from the show after she scored the fewest votes from the 500-strong audience in January, she won the hearts of viewers after performing a touching rendition of Shino Lin's Tempting Heart.

She went on to perform shows in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Ms Janis Chang, Chief Product Officer of Taihe Music Group, said: "Kit has the ability to touch people with her voice and music. I flew to Shanghai and Guangzhou to hear her sing live (at her shows), and I was moved to tears.

"With her many years of experience and multiple talents, I am sure Kit has the potential to do even better. She's Taihe's treasure."

Chan said she will record her new album mainly in Taiwan and Singapore, as the air in China is dry and will affect her singing.

The album will consist of songs that are diverse and multicultural, and fans can expect to hear her first single on March 21.

Her most recent album of covers, Re-intepreting Kit Chan, was released in 2011 under her own label Banshee Empire.

Chan said: "I already have four songs now, and it will take a bit of time for my other songs to come in."

She added: "This album is not going to be deliberate, it will be organic and has to come naturally. It will reflect my attitude instead of being manufactured by the record label."

Earlier this month, Taihe - formed by the merger of Taihe Rye Music, Ocean Butterflies Music and Touch Music Publishing - announced that it will merge with Chinese search engine giant Baidu's music platform Baidu Music.

Taihe owns the copyright to a massive library of 700,000 songs.

For Chan, that is another of Taihe's selling point.

She said: "Taihe is very all-rounded. They have access to the Internet's huge search engine, and they are active in social media and digital marketing, which is what I am weakest in. It's something that I appreciate."

This festive season, Chan will be spending Christmas with her family in Singapore.

"I feel so blessed that I can celebrate it with them even though I am so busy," she said.

"I will be hosting the family dinner for the first time, and I am excited to make it happen."

Kit has the ability to touch people with her voice and music. I flew to Shanghai and Guangzhou to hear her sing live, and I was moved to tears. With her many years of experience and multiple talents, I am sure Kit has the potential to do even better.

- Ms Janis Chang, Chief Product Officer of Taihe Music Group

jocelee@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on December 24, 2015.
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