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One afternoon, Yoga Lin went to a small eatery hidden in an alley in Taipei to have a meal. “It was around 3 or 4 in the afternoon, and many shops had already closed for rest. The boss was taking a nap, and the lights in the store were turned off.” While Yoga Lin was eating his noodles, another customer suddenly came into the store. There was only one small table left, and the man with a crewcut sat down across from Yoga Lin. Because they were sitting very close to each other, Yoga Lin saw some unforgettable moments.

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Yoga Lin couldn’t be sure whether the man was a homeless person or not, but during his meal, the man took out a plastic transparent spoon from his shabby belongings. “It was a spoon with many scratches from previous use, but the man still used it carefully.” Was he afraid of being reprimanded by the owner, or did he cherish his belongings? Yoga Lin had no idea.

At that time, Yoga Lin had just released “Wordless Groans” and was promoting his new song online. But when Yoga Lin looked at the man sitting across from him, using his own spoon, he suddenly had a new idea: Could people who don’t usually use phones, like this man, have a chance to listen to his music? The radio broadcast playing in the eatery inspired Yoga Lin to make a “more direct song.”

“At that time, the radio in the store was playing popular songs, which made me suddenly realize that even a man who seemed so different from my life scene could have a chance to listen to my songs. Perhaps, when this man comes back to this store another day, he will hear ‘Garbage Baby’ while eating.” Therefore, Yoga Lin hoped to turn “Garbage Baby” into a more straightforward song that could have a positive impact on all listeners who heard it.

Many young people have already become accustomed to the convenience of the Internet era, but when we look away from the Internet, there are still many ordinary people who are busy with their daily lives offline. Yoga Lin hopes that his work can not only influence online listeners, but also provide direct comfort to those offline people who rarely have the opportunity to hear popular music. “I think that the impact of a song like ‘Garbage Baby’ may far exceed my imagination.”

“Garbage Baby” also reunited the behind-the-scenes team of “Wake Up” in 2011, 12 years later. The composer, Subyub Lee, and the lyricist, Wyman Wong, are both musicians from Hong Kong, China. Yoga Lin, who sang “Bad and Worse,” has always had a deep affection for Cantonese songs. Therefore, the Cantonese narration “Remember,” spoken by Wyman Wong himself, conveys the key message of “Remember that you are a baby, not garbage,” regardless of where you are.

“The most important message that ‘Garbage Baby’ wants to share with everyone is love. Love is sometimes like two people exchanging garbage and tolerating each other’s shortcomings. Through ‘Garbage Baby,’ I hope to let everyone know that everyone is a beloved baby, and your flaws are adorable. Therefore, in the last verse of the song, we even deliberately designed it to emphasize this point: ‘You are a baby, not garbage,’ which is not sung but spoken.”

Yoga Lin encountered a chance to share a table with a stranger while eating noodles, which led to the creation of “Garbage Baby”. Subyub Lee, a Hong Konger living in Taiwan, also gained wonderful inspiration for creation in a foreign land. In Taiwan, garbage trucks collect household garbage from every household on the street. While Subyub Lee was rushing to deliver garbage to the garbage truck, he heard the piano pieces “Für Elise” and “A Maiden’s Prayer” playing on a loop from the garbage truck, and the melody of this song immediately came to his mind.

Wyman Wong, a legendary lyricist who has created many wonderful works for Yoga Lin, such as “China Town,” “You Are What You Eat,” “Spoiled Innocence” and “Otomen,” contributed his Yoga-style whimsical idea again in “Garbage Baby,” saying that “love is exchanging black plastic bags and opening gifts while holding your nose.” Yoga Lin, who rarely sat so close to strangers, said eating noodles with a stranger was a novel experience for him. When creators get closer to a wider audience, they can create more good songs that resonate with the times.

Yoga Lin wants to convey the most direct positive message to everyone who listens to “Garbage Baby”: “I imagine that one day, no matter who you are or what your status is, you may lack confidence at this moment, you may have suffered some setbacks, or you may have just experienced a low point in your life. … I hope that after listening to ‘Garbage Baby,’ you will remember that ‘you are a baby, not garbage.’”

At the end of the “Garbage Baby” music video, a group of white-clad men and women sing “You’re My Precious” in unison like a choir above the rainbow-painted sky. Subyub Lee is also one of them. They provide a faint light for ordinary people in their bleak daily lives, tearing open a small gap for Yoga Lin, who is dressed in a bear suit and sitting helplessly in the garbage dump, as well as for quarreling couples, tense lovers, single mothers troubled by life, and men mourning their deceased loved ones.

Encountering Obstacles in the Album, Triumphing in Life’s Trials

Because he had been caught in heavy rain, Yoga Lin wanted to help others with his umbrellas when he had the chance. This is perhaps the fundamental intention behind his song “Garbage Baby” and the production of his sixth album: to encourage fans to move forward. Since the release of his fifth album Sell Like Hot Cakes in 2016, Yoga Lin, who has been absent from the Chinese music scene for seven years, has been in a state of struggling to make progress in his music career and personal life.

During the years of preparing for his sixth album, Yoga Lin seems to have become more and more understanding of one thing: “If a person relies solely on their abilities and resources, they cannot accomplish everything.” Especially in the past three or four years, Yoga Lin has spent a lot of time that should have been used for making music to accompany “important people in his life.” When others wondered if Yoga Lin, who had not released new songs for a long time, had intentionally withdrawn from the music scene, he was actually trying to support his family and get through the most difficult period of cancer treatment.

The experience and feelings of accompanying his family to various hospitals for treatment have deeply influenced Yoga Lin’s creative attitude. He witnessed many patients in the ward who “wanted to live,” but everything seemed to be left to fate. “When my family’s cancer was diagnosed, it was already stage 3 pancreatic cancer, which was almost impossible to remove surgically. I searched for information online and found that the chance of completely recovering was very low. At that time, it was like a bolt from the blue.”

Yoga Lin described it as “a very intense challenge for me.” But at this moment, he was fortunate enough to meet a senior from his high school band. The senior was originally the lead singer of the band, but he willingly stepped aside to become the second guitarist so that Yoga Lin could join the band. This was the first time that young Yoga Lin realized the principle of “doing things that are beneficial to others.” Fortunately, this senior has now become a medical expert.

“I am very lucky to have met this senior who is both a doctor and a musician in my life. Later, my dad’s tumor shrank enough to be removed, and the senior said it was truly a miracle. This made me deeply understand that sometimes you may have money and power, but you cannot exchange them for the health of a patient with stage 3 pancreatic cancer. In the past few years, it has been a very shocking life experience for me. There is a lot of love and luck in it.”

During the time he was supporting his family in their fight against cancer, Yoga Lin also became a father for the second time. He saw this long period of “paternity leave plus cancer leave” as a chance to challenge himself and improve himself. The stress of the situation led to his developing a severe gastrointestinal illness. During a checkup, he discovered that his colon was inflamed in multiple places, and he had to limit his diet. The doctor even suggested that he try writing gratitude journals to manage his stress.

Over the past three to four years, Lin has learned the importance of maintaining a grateful attitude in life. Despite facing setbacks, he believes that gratitude has led to a series of miracles, including his father’s pancreatic cancer and his own gastrointestinal illness being cured. For him, creating this new album with a fresh perspective and new ideas is the best way to move forward.

Lin is increasingly grateful for the many beautiful songs he has had in the past and the influence he has now. He hopes to use his influence to encourage his listeners to be more gentle and brave and to make the world a better place. Looking back, Lin sees his illness as a “gift” for him and his family.

In the comments section of his new song on QQ Music, a fan named “Stars Hidden in the Night” shared that listening to Lin’s music during difficult times gave her hope. In response, Lin expressed his hope that his future music could accompany her through tough times and that they could work together to overcome them.

Lin’s experience of fighting cancer with his family has given him a new perspective. When he has the inspiration to do something, he increasingly chooses to do things that benefit others rather than just himself, like when he stepped down as lead singer to make the band better. This is a significant shift in mind-set, as people tend to be selfish when making choices and may even feel a little difficult at the time. But Lin has achieved this.

Doing Good Deeds, Doing Things That Benefit Others

After experiencing profound changes in his life, when asked about his long-awaited sixth album, Yoga Lin used the plain and simple words “keep your expectations” and hoped that everyone would continue to do so. This is also the most honest answer from Lin when facing an unpredictable future. After years without releasing an album, the rules of the game have changed, and since everything cannot be foreseen, it is better to learn to accept change. “Yoga Lin is back! But what will tomorrow bring? Let’s keep our expectations high!”

“Just like when I released an album before, I did more than 100 endorsements in a month, but besides my fans, not many people knew that I released an album. But one time, I sang a song on a variety show that I don’t usually go on, and then everyone knew that I had released an album. These are all things that cannot be predicted.” Lin was talking about his story of singing “Step Aside” on a variety show; even the original singer Rene Liu encouraged him through their mutual friend, HIM International Music executive Derek Shih.

As he has been fortunate enough to receive help from his seniors on his journey, Lin hopes to pass on the spirit of “doing good for others.” He would go to university campuses to listen to Elephant Gym’s performances before they became famous and even invite them to collaborate on “The Shape of Mouth.” Before Terence Lam became popular, Yoga Lin had already recognized the demo of “Worse comes to Worst.” When Hong Kong junior Jer Lau (a member of Mirror) invited Yoga Lin as a guest performer at his concert, Lin agreed immediately.

The polishing time for the sixth album was too long, spanning seven years from 2016 to 2023, far beyond the normal production cycle for an album. Although Yoga Lin is also anxious about when the sixth album will be completed, he believes that good things will come to fruition at the right time and hopes to complete the sixth album by the end of this year. “I think the sixth album is quite incredible, and there have been some new changes slowly happening now.”

Currently, the number of songs accumulated in Yoga Lin’s sixth album has become more than originally planned, possibly exceeding the 10 songs of a regular album. During the preparation period of the album, Yoga Lin visited people who love playing the piano everywhere to gain inspiration for creation, including an antique piano owned by a piano collector in Shilin, Taiwan, and a piano from Soda Green’s Gong Yuqi’s private collection. One of the new songs, “White,” which focuses on piano elements, was also sung by Yoga Lin in this round of concerts. What’s even more special is that the piano in “White” is played automatically by a machine.

“White” is about a serious theme of life: when loved ones pass away, which is a situation that everyone may encounter. “The reason why I chose a mechanical piano is that we always face the fact that people we love will leave this world and cannot continue to live, but I believe that there is a kind of love that will always exist. Therefore, I also want to convey this feeling to everyone. In order to convey this message, I used an unmanned mechanical piano. I hope that this message can bring some comfort to some people as well.”

Another new song, “Wordless Groans,” was written by Yoga Lin himself, and the lyrics were co-created by Yoga Lin and teacher Yao Qian. Being able to come up with the concept of “ordinary yet stubborn” really impressed Yoga Lin, who admired Yao Qian’s unique creativity: “The word ‘stubborn’ is rarely seen in Chinese songs. I think it is a very special choice. I admire Yao Qian for being able to think of such a description. Every detail we established through lyric creation together is unforgettable.”

Regarding the song title “The Song of Stubbornness,” Yoga Lin hopes that he can continue to be stubborn in the right place: “For example, only doing things that are good for others is also a kind of stubbornness. We often face choices where we have several inspirations at the same time, but time is limited. Which one should I do first? Now, I will only do things that are good for others. This value also helps me execute things more easily.”

“In the past, when I made every decision, I hoped that what I produced would be perfect and only cared about whether I looked handsome in the camera. If I carefully checked every angle after taking a photo, it might make the people around me very tired. For example, if we work until very late today, as long as the meaning conveyed by the work is positive, we should let the work team rest first—this is a decision that helps others.”

Yoga Lin used to be a perfectionist, so he inevitably became trapped in his self-set “emotional black hole” and faced negative emotions and obstacles in life. The “stone” he moved in the music video for “Wordless Groans” actually symbolizes these negative emotions and obstacles in life. Now, Yoga Lin has finally learned not to dwell on small flaws anymore. After using emotions in the right way, the pressure on his performing career has also been reduced significantly.

Applying the concept of “doing things that are good for others” to the actual operation of every specific thing has allowed Yoga Lin to receive unexpected positive feedback in real life: “In order to express yourself better when conveying messages to others, you need to become the person who can face the kind of person you are talking to. For example, when accompanying family members to fight cancer, in order to save their bodies, you need to use methods that suit them to tell them some things. This is ‘doing things that are good for others.’”

“I had an inspiration at that time, which was to find a doctor about the same age as my family member to help them. My family member is older and has some deep-rooted ideas. The effect of persuading them with a doctor in their 60s is better than that of persuading them with a young doctor. They listened carefully and absorbed what was said by doctors their age, and then made some changes.” Later, Yoga Lin also applied this “successful experience of persuading family members” to the production and promotion process of his sixth album.

“Although the progress of album production is slow, I will express good ideas more accurately each time. Like the most critical sentence in ‘Garbage Baby’ — ‘Everyone is a loved baby’ — we said it instead of singing it.” In this ever-changing era, we must speak more directly in our works to better convey what creators think and feel. This is also a learning process for Yoga Lin to live in the present.

Love Can Overflow and Help People Escape the Black Hole

After a long period of dormancy, Yoga Lin was once confused about why these experiences happened in his life, feeling like a thunderbolt on a sunny day, and decided to restart the “idol” concert and upgrade it to the “idol 2023” world tour. This is a concept about how to “escape from a black hole,” and the key core of this upgraded concert is that only love can overflow from a black hole.

In fact, as early as when they started the “idol” concert in 2018, Derek Shih, the senior executive at HIM International Music, who worked closely with Yoga Lin, gave the concert a Chinese name called “Love More” (it was just not publicly announced at the time). Looking back now, Yoga Lin suddenly realized that “Love More” was actually the best interpretation of the “idol” concert. When Love More overflows, we who are trapped in the black hole can have a chance to be truly saved by love.

Regarding “escaping from a black hole,” Yoga Lin understands it this way: “Sometimes we encounter great difficulties, but it is also possible that we will receive more abundant blessings in the future. However, people usually cannot see things in the future. In my past difficult experiences, I learned a very important thing: We must always maintain hope, which is very important and what I want to share with my fans. What makes you feel desperate now may be a blessing in disguise.”

Being able to invite Ryuichi Sakamoto before he passed away to authorize cooperation, combined with various wonderful stage visual effects, made “idol” described by the industry as Yoga Lin’s career masterpiece. But in Yoga Lin’s eyes, the 1.0 version of “idol” was just a process of seeking answers without reaching a conclusion. Yoga Lin tried to use his current understanding of life and his own life experience to add new colors to the 2.0 version of the “idol 2023” concert.

“After three years of precipitation, the whole earth stopped. When I hadn’t worked on the ‘idol’ concert for a long time and had the opportunity to restart it again, I went back to look at this performance three years later and discovered that the first part of the concert was so shocking, like a ‘black hole.’ I seem to feel how I was at that time: he was always pursuing a big goal and achievement, but at the same time, he may also be looking for direction.”

At that time, although Yoga Lin had done the critically acclaimed “idol” concert, he still seemed to be trapped in a “black hole” and couldn’t get out: “At that time, I didn’t know which kind of life was right. What a person thinks will be reflected in every action he takes. All behaviors are closely related to your inner-motivation. In this concert, I also saw my most true inner-world at that time, confused and still looking for who I am.”

Yoga Lin’s thoughts at the time were infinitely magnified by the “idol” concert stage: “At that time, I wanted to have greater achievements. In other words, I put ambition first. This is endless, just like an insatiable desire black hole.” Life has countless black holes, and only overflowing love can fill these voids. The past three or four years have made the overall concept of the “idol 2023” concert more complete and allowed Yoga Lin to hear his own voice from the bottom of his heart.

Yoga Lin incorporated all the life setbacks he had experienced over the years, the life answers he had been seeking, and the taste of life he perceived in the “black hole” into every detail of the concert: “The ‘idol’ concert is a very good structure, combined with the cooperation of a work team that may be one of the top Chinese concerts, allowing me to put what I now understand into the concert again through this ‘idol 2023’ concert and go deeper into explaining some things.”

When singing “The Tightrope Walker” in the “idol 2023” concert, Yoga Lin had such a talk: “I believe that like me, everyone has many wonderful things worth cherishing in their daily lives, and there will also be some terrible challenges that happen in our lives. Every person will have moments of despair. I hope my songs can give you some encouragement and let you know that when every blow comes, besides feeling despair, we still need to maintain hope.”

Yoga Lin gradually realized that no one in this world knows what will happen in the next second, nor can anyone predict how their life will go next. Faced with various sudden “black holes,” the only thing Yoga Lin can do is give each listener a gentle hug with music. He hopes to always maintain this gentle and brave state to convey the warmth and love he wants to convey to fans, flowing into the ears of every audience member on-site and even into everyone’s hearts.

In the Cantonese-speaking region, Yoga Lin will sing his Cantonese song “Bad and Worse.” “Everything is bad, but we can still be happy.” This is Yoga Lin’s blessing to fans and himself: “There will always be some sudden challenges in life that we cannot know. But we still need to be grateful for having five fingers, heartbeats, breathing… For many things, we can still maintain hope. I also hope that fans can maintain a good attitude when facing different challenges.”

Becoming a Person Who Loves Others as Much as Oneself

Through the “idol 2023” concert, Yoga Lin upgraded his value of “doing only things that benefit others” in recent years to “always choose the decision that benefits others, which is the right decision to escape the black hole.” Yoga Lin almost tirelessly repeated this sentence at every stop of the tour, hoping to remind more audiences to understand and accept this reminder and thus be able to break free from the “black holes” in their lives.

“The ‘idol 2023’ concert is about how to escape from the black hole. This value actually affects my way of doing things in life and creation. Every day we have all kinds of inspirations, but now when I have to make decisions, I will choose the inspirations that are worth my time and energy and can mobilize the whole team to execute things. Any decision and inspiration that has a positive impact on others is worth my full effort to do.”

Regarding “loving others as oneself,” Yoga Lin also gave a very vivid description of a realistic scenario. “Suppose one day I am in a bad mood and have already had a big fight with my family before going out. When driving, I encounter another hot-tempered driver next door. I may be stimulated and get angry, roll down the window, and argue with him… There are many similar explosive ‘black hole’ moments in life. When you embrace the mentality of ‘loving others as oneself’ and think it over, the result will be completely different.”

The person who can avoid being swallowed by the “black hole” is the person who can share the burden with others. Yoga Lin, who has walked out of the “black hole,” now hopes to work with fans and friends throughout his life to become a person who loves others as much as he loves himself. Then, when the audience leaves the concert venue, they can remember Yoga Lin’s words at the concert: “Love others as you love yourself.” When more and more people become like this, this imperfect world will quietly undergo new changes.

“Love is mutual. Whether you have loved others or others have loved you, whether there is love flowing between on and off stage, that state of love can be fully felt. Fans sincerely support a singer they like, and I hope to give back to them through music, including the positive messages and values that I want to convey in music. This is what I think is the best feedback.”

One Great Show Can Change The World

Can a perfect concert make the world a better place? After going through many difficulties and finally returning to the stage, Yoga Lin has a very firm answer to this: One Great Show Can Change the World! “We can’t really change the world, and many things can’t be controlled by individuals. But that doesn’t mean that, as human beings, we can’t make an effort. We still need to love others more, just like we love ourselves.”

In his early years, Yoga Lin was also lost in the constant comparison with others. Later, he slowly learned that “it is natural and healthy to see the better qualities in others.” As in “Garbage Baby,” when you realize that everyone is a unique treasure, it will give you more courage. “In the past, when I saw that others were excellent, I wanted to become even better. This idea is not a problem. The key may be whether you can know that everyone is a treasure, including yourself.”

“My heart reflects in my music, written works, and interactions with colleagues. This is an important factor that has influenced my behavior in the past. Because I want to become stronger, I expect myself not to lose balance or create invisible pressure on the work team. If the motive is not good, it may lead to bad results in the end and may also bring heavy burdens to oneself and others – these burdens will eventually become a ‘black hole.’ I hope I can stay away from such ‘black holes.’”

Another way Yoga Lin wants to change the world is by using only black support flags that are given away for free at his concerts instead of all the glowing support items. This black concert, like a “black hole scene,” with its deep black reflection, is distinct from other concerts that sparkle with various fluorescent sticks. The line on the support flag, “Only Love Can Overflow Black Holes,” is also what Yoga Lin wants to say to his fans: only love can overflow black holes.

Yoga Lin, who loves environmental protection, admits that he has even considered whether to recycle the black support flags and flagpoles separately: “I care about environmental protection very much. Not only do I want to protect the earth, but we also need to manage and maintain this earth well. Everyone shoulders responsibility.”

Every decision Yoga Lin makes receives maximum support from his fans and friends. At the “idol 2023” concert, you will hardly see any audience members bringing fluorescent sticks into the venue in order to present the best performance effect. This reminds me of Yoga Lin’s famous saying at his concerts: “To convey positive ideas, face whoever you want to be!” When idols practice what they preach by doing things that benefit others, fans also follow suit. This is what it truly means to “impact lives with your life.”

At this stage of his life, Yoga Lin hopes that he has no negative thoughts about work. He is practicing a new attitude to face his future career in the performing arts. “I deeply understand the motivation for change. My entire state of mind is completely different. After doing this, I have a new understanding of working hard. What I do is no longer for better results or higher status but only to do things that benefit others. I hope to maintain this positive motivation first before achieving any additional success.”

In the era of short videos and hit singles, Yoga Lin has to consider how not to blindly follow trends but instead make healthy judgments about whether he should do something or not. “I hope to adjust myself in this way, only choosing things that benefit and help others. I don’t know if there will be any additional bonuses in my career during this process. If there are, it’s great; if not, I will still do things with this motivation.”

Yoga Lin hopes that his music can help listeners solve their life problems when they encounter an unbearable “black hole.” When they hear the values conveyed in works like “Garbage Baby,” they may have a chance to save their lives. “So now my motivation for work has changed. As long as it’s a city where I haven’t performed before, my life can bear it, and I can still sing, I will go there. No matter where it is, I can go.”

In order for the philosophy of “Garbage Baby” to influence more people, Yoga Lin has copied and pasted the sentence “Please remember that love is exchanging garbage with each other and tolerating each other’s shortcomings; also remember that you are a beloved treasure, not garbage” on different social media platforms countless times just to deepen everyone’s memory effect. As long as it’s something that benefits others, he will try his best to do it. The eight words “Do good deeds without asking about future prospects” are very suitable to describe Yoga Lin, who is overflowing with love at this moment.

–This story was written for Billboard China by Jifan Wang

Yoga Lin

Mr.triangle/Billboard China

On Sept. 15, Billboard China and QQ Music, a subsidiary of Tencent Music Entertainment Group (TME), launched the original music collection THE ONE Endless Dream.
Over the past six months, through a joint selection and recommendation process by QQ Music and Billboard China’s editorial team, 30 musical works were selected. Together, they create a collection that presents unlimited creativity in original Chinese music.

The original music collection THE ONE Endless Dream crosses dimensions and music genres, bringing together 30 groups of highly representative singers and musicians from various fields in the Chinese music industry, including angel-like vocalist Zhou Shen, Chinese soul singer-songwriter TIA RAY, versatile cross-genre singer Fiona Sit, Chinese rap star Ma SiWei , stylistic icon MIKA, young singer Pinlin Zhao, Tencent Music artist Nono Chen and more, as they convey the voice of China to the world.

In the collection, 30 high-quality original musical works are presented in three chapters: Dream Big, Dream Crazy, and Dream Wild. From big names to emerging original musicians, these music creators, with their boundless and wildly imaginative musical aspirations, not only bring fans great music, but also inspire them to set free their imaginations, dare to dream big, and courageously pursue their dreams. In this collection, Laure Shang’s “Follow Your Heart” is an inspiring declaration of bravery, Lala Hsu’s “Behind the Earth” conveys unwavering determination to venture into the unknown, Bonan Yao encapsulates love and creates a dream that never wakes with his “Dumbbell,” Chen Zhuoxuan’s “Skylight” signs “there are more dreams to pursue,” and Jiaqi Chen’s “Set Off” takes listeners on a fantasy journey of freedom with the rhythm of the music.

THE ONE Endless Dream is not only a collection for discovering amazing music, but also a platform for talented music creators to shine on a bigger stage, bringing “Chinese Treasures” paying attention to for music fans worldwide.

In March, Billboard China teamed up with QQ Music to launch the global original music competition THE ONE, collaboratively working with TME’s Qimingxing Music Assistant, Tencent Musician Platform’s NEW FORCES PLAN and premium labels to set up three major competition units: Musical Work, Fresh Face and Label, aimed at discovering music “dream makers” with unlimited creativity and helping talented music creators in reaching a broader audience.

This original music collection also includes several high-quality original musical works uncovered through the three units of THE ONE. Among them, PinkWave from the Qimingxing Musical Work Unit, Jiayuan Dou from the Label Unit, and Slow-mo, Fuzi Zuo, and Duanpaoxiaoshuo from the Fresh Face Unit have all showed their outstanding creative prowess, and with their unique and fresh original compositions, they have demonstrated the thriving vitality of the Chinese original music.

To propel these talented music creators and their exceptional musical works into the international spotlight, Billboard China and TME will collaborate to integrate their internal resources. QQ Music and Tencent Musician Platform, subsidiaries of TME, will provide extensive promotional resources for the collection, while Billboard China will also continuously cover its official overseas websites and Chinese official social media channels. Furthermore, the collection will have a special collaboration with Billboard China Live to start a series of performances, providing selected musicians with more performance opportunities, and boosting them to step onto bigger stages, thus extending their dream of music boundlessly.

Tencent Music Entertainment Group has been consistently perfecting its service system and industry collaboration capabilities, integrating resources from various sectors in the industry, and continuously constructing a service system and support ecology for high-quality original content. Going forward, Tencent Music Entertainment Group aspires to continue leveraging its capabilities, discovering more exceptional original musicians and Chinese original musical works, continuously propelling high-quality development and worldwide propagation of Chinese music, and championing Chinese originality.

“Follow Your Heart,” the first single from Laure Shang’s new project, has been climbing the charts in China and is also a major move for the artist after not releasing an album for five years. Her last original electronic album, The Puzzle Pieces, was released in 2018 and was described by Shang as “an album that completely disregards market factors.”
So how has her thinking changed after five years?

In the past half-decade, Shang has been an ever-present force in Chinese music. She has consistently released a variety of singles, pushing her creative boundaries and exploring her potential. These songs range from film and television soundtracks to public welfare songs, and even to works related to TV shows that Shang has participated in, such as her 2020 original innovative electronic EP Ode.

Shang has been devoted to music for 17 years since she won season 3 of Super Girl in 2006, and “Follow Your Heart ” proves her unwavering passion. After years of careful consideration, Shang has crafted a song that is both an expression of her love for music and a declaration of her aspirations. With this single, listeners can gain a deeper understanding of Shang’s journey and her commitment to music.

“I was first known to the audience as a love-song singer,” Shang tells Billboard China for their latest cover story. “However, after debuting in the talent show, I entered a rebellious period, which eventually helped me find my true passion in electronic music.”

The year 2009 was the period of her greatest struggle and self-doubt, which she calls the “exploration period.” Shang remembers the most difficult year of her life like it was yesterday. With a burning desire to transition into electronic music, she was met with a dramatic moment of clarity – a voice inside her head that said, “You must persist in your creation, even if you don’t know anything and even if you have to overcome all difficulties.” This voice was so strong and it was a very real instinct, telling her that she had to finish this.

Shang’s music has inspired countless fans to recognize her as an “original electronic singer/songwriter.” From her cutting-edge electronic albums in and Ode to the Doom to her other heartfelt projects, she has captivated fans with her unique style. At the peak of her creativity, Shang was fueled by her emotions, writing songs with a passion and intensity that was unmatched. She recalls her 20s fondly, saying, “My head was full of emotions, and I would write songs regardless of many emotions. When I was young, the anger was like atomic-level fuel, strong creativity and productivity. This is a very rare state.”

Although her albums were well-received by niche audiences, the mainstream public’s reaction was mixed. She realized that she had entered a somewhat contradictory stage in her thinking about her own creative style. “On one hand, I hope that more people would have the opportunity to hear my work. On the other hand, the market’s perception of ‘Laure Shang’ conflicted with the direction of the music I wanted to pursue in the future.”

Shang is on a mission to find the perfect “connection point” with her audience. Although her bitter love songs have been her most popular, with the highest play rates on major platforms, these “big songs” may not be her personal favorites. Shang is determined to stay true to what she’s “particularly good at,” and “Follow Your Heart” is a testament to this commitment.

Shang has been keeping a close eye on Billboard and other European and American music charts, and she’s had a new idea. “I have noticed that many overseas musicians who stick to their favorite styles can still connect with larger audiences. With this in mind, I made a new attempt with my latest work, ‘Follow Your Heart,’ which I hope will be more popular. I am also challenging myself to create electronic works that are slightly more mainstream.”

With the attitude of “otherwise I’ll give it a try,” Shang has successfully attracted new listeners with “Follow Your Heart.” Even those who aren’t part of “Sesame” (Shang’s fanbase) have fallen in love with this song. Although it hasn’t been out for long, “Follow Your Heart” has already been featured in many mixed-cut short videos, and its playback data on major platforms is impressive. It’s an EDM song with great potential for popularity, and some have even called it Shang’s most “approachable” electronic music to date.

“’Follow Your Heart’ is a reflection of my observations of the world around me and my personal experiences over the past few years,” Shang says. “And it is also a summary of my own music journey. The success of the song since its release has been a great encouragement for me to write more. After writing songs for so many years, I am eager to find a new creative direction and discover my true musical value in this new and different environment.”

Laure Shang

Tianyao Wang/Billboard China

Learning to Be a Relaxed “Newcomer”

To promote her long-awaited new song “Follow Your Heart,” Shang visited the Tencent Music Entertainment Group building to hand out cookies. She suddenly realized that she had become a passionate “newcomer” in the music industry again, just like she was 17 years ago.

During her collaboration with TME for the intensive online and offline promotion of “Follow Your Heart,” Shang – who had grown accustomed to a Buddhist state-of-mind – felt like she had wound up the clockwork and was ready to go. “For me, it’s been more than 10 years since I’ve had such a deep collaboration with a platform,” Shang says. “It’s been five years since I’ve released a new album. Everything feels like I’m starting from scratch again.”

Shang says that promoting her music in this way, working with the media and fans to introduce her hard work, and experiencing this old-school style of promotion is something she hasn’t tried in many years. “At my age, suddenly going all out to promote my new song feels great,” she says. “It’s like starting over and getting back to business!”

Back in the day, when the Internet wasn’t as developed, Shang remembers doing all kinds of old-school promotional tactics, including running to radio stations, TV programs, newspaper interviews and touring the country to perform at music festivals. “As a newcomer back then, I felt that these promotional tasks were very complex,” she says. “But now that I’m trying to do this again and tell everyone the stories behind our music creation, it’s quite an interesting experience.”

Promoting her new song during the TME “building sweep,” Shang also observed those around her. “The TME colleagues responsible for technology are a bit shy and hesitant to say hello, while the marketing department is more outgoing and enthusiastic. Seeing these people working behind the scenes and quietly supporting my music, our relationship is very special. It’s because we have music as a bond that we’re connected.”

After promoting “Follow Your Heart” like a newcomer would, Shang also tried to treat every performance from a rookie perspective too. Shang, who rarely practiced her singing before going onstage, released a video on the studio’s Weibo account showing her seriously rehearsing backstage at TMEA in Macau. She received a lot of applause from fans. “This is the first time I’ve publicly sung this song, so I’m a little nervous about the first performance.”

Live performances are unpredictable, even if you’ve rehearsed everything to perfection. However, as a “newcomer,” this is the most exciting part because you can learn how to sing freely onstage. During the debut of “Follow Your Heart” at TMEA, Shang encountered a sudden situation that required her to improvise: The elevator platform under the stage suddenly stopped, and only half of Shang’s head appeared onstage.

Remaining calm under pressure, Shang used the emergency method of turning danger into opportunity and adapted to the situation to deliver an exceptional performance of the new song. Uninformed audiences even thought it was a special stage design. Reflecting on this performance, Shang admitted that her mind was “a little muddled” at the time: “But I’ve experienced it before when the timing of the elevator was too fast or too slow, and sometimes the elevator didn’t even lift up during the whole song. As long as there are no accidents, it’s fine.”

Also as a “newcomer,” the best thing is that because you don’t have too many burdens, you can have the courage to make fun of yourself. Shang chose to post a picture of herself with only half of her head onstage on Weibo, naming it “entrance into the pit,” and even calling on everyone to come and “whack-a-mole” with a hammer. Now, Shang can laugh at herself and is no longer as “stiff” as before.

As the lyrics of the new song are straightforward and honest, Shang realized that she has finally reached a creative stage where she “wants to be more straightforward” too. “My mind-set has changed now,” she says. “It makes me really uncomfortable to write things that are as stiff as before. We’ve finally made it through difficult times, so let’s love openly and do whatever we want without too many twists and turns. Don’t be too stiff and let yourself think too much.”

Similar positive energy was rare in Shang’s past works. Looking back at her earlier music’s “stiffness,” Shang admitted that it was a kind of emotional expression that released inner-depression. “At that time, the collapse, uneasiness and anxiety in my heart prompted me to find different ways to make music,” she says. “It’s different now.”

Shang says that like “Single Boy” in 2018, “Follow Your Heart” also has the same core spirit of “boldly abandoning worries, loving whoever you want and doing whatever you want.” She adds: “Creativity should still follow the emotional needs of different periods. When I wrote this song, it was one of the most challenging phases in recent years. We’re all tired now, so we might as well follow the more real emotional needs of the present moment in music.”

Shang is currently implementing this “relaxed” spirit in her upcoming music. “Compared to my other songs, ‘Follow Your Heart’ is relatively simple, with a strong live feel and not much technicality,” she says. “You don’t need to think about anything complicated; whether you’re singing or listening, just move freely and bounce along, sing along and release emotions together with everyone.”

Accepting the Limitless Possibilities Within Yourself

“Follow Your Heart” delivers a powerful message: Love yourself. By embracing who you are, you can find true happiness and the courage to love this imperfect world. Shang has her own unique take on this topic: “Loving yourself means letting go, being brave and boldly following your heart. This way, you’ll have fewer regrets in life.”

While creating “Follow Your Heart,” Shang learned to focus on the present rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. She hopes that this song will inspire listeners to have confidence in themselves, embrace life’s ups and downs and accept the limitless possibilities within themselves.

During her five-year hiatus from music, Shang discovered a passion for AI technology. She’s collaborated with Fudan University’s AI research institute and is excited about the potential of AI in music creation and entertainment. Her obsession with AI technology is unparalleled in the Chinese music industry. “AI is on the verge of a major breakthrough, and in the future, it will be a powerful tool for music creation and have a greater impact on the entertainment industry,” she says.

Compared to relying on flashes of inspiration in the past, Shang now longs for a more stable creative source. “I hope my thinking about music can become more mature, while also entering into deeper levels of thought,” she says. Shang emphasizes that some of her experimental electronic music may be even more “abnormal” than her previous work in, but the quality will be even higher.

Shang’s upcoming project will showcase her entire creative worldview, including her unique take on love songs. While some listeners may prefer her classic “Shang-style love songs,” she’s exploring new ways of expressing love through music.

At home, Shang writes songs facing a white wall, where she can focus on her creative process. With her strong academic-research spirit, she’s become a real scholar studying “Shang-style music.” She hopes to organize her own unique creative ideas during her research process, find connections between different songs and create new works with a more rigorous theoretical system. Looking around the Chinese music industry, there probably isn’t another scholarly singer like her.

Just like everyone talks about Shang’s “foreign-language learning method,” she also has her own secret formula for memorizing lyrics. “Every time a singer looks up at the prompter, I can tell at a glance. It’s really obvious,” she says. “So I try to avoid looking at the prompter. I memorize the lyrics in advance and let my mouth form muscle memory, while my ears also need time to practice. When I sing, I especially like to watch the audience’s reactions. It’s a shame if I don’t look at them.”

Whether on stage or off, Shang loves to look directly into the eyes of her fans. The eyes are the most honest, and this kind of “eye contact” that cannot be replaced is probably the most equal and direct communication between two souls. In the “after-work video” filmed by fans backstage at TMEA, we were deeply moved by the interaction between Shang and “Sesame” (the nickname of her fanbase).

In Shang’s home, there is a painting gifted by a fan who is deaf and mute from years ago. “Although this fan needs a hearing aid to speak, he has learned to draw on his own and can still create very realistic paintings on his computer,” Shang says. “These things often inspire me to be more confident in what I am doing. Look, he has so much perseverance! This is the positive energy given to me by my fans, and it is also a confirmation of my current different attempts. The life status of my fans also inspires me a lot.

“There are some older fans who have been with me for over 10 years,” she adds. “They were originally high school students, and now they are already mothers holding their babies coming to see me. I have witnessed them growing up, falling in love, getting married and having children. We think of each other in our hearts, and our relationship has lasted for so many years. It is truly a rare and great fate.” In Shang’s heart, these original “Sesame” are more like old friends she has known for 17 years than just fans. Even if they haven’t seen each other for a long time, they never grow apart.

Shang once wrote this touching sentence on Weibo: “I’m lucky that I can still write, and I’m lucky that there are still people who can understand!” Over the years, the relationship between her and her “Sesame” has only grown. No matter how unconventional her “weird electronic music” is, her fans are still waiting by her side, never leaving or abandoning her. Since the release of “Follow Your Heart,” fans have been sharing messages of understanding.

Some fans wrote Shang into their graduation thesis, some successfully confessed their love because of “Follow Your Heart,” and some were inspired by Shang’s story of being accepted to Fudan University and getting into their dream company. Shang said that compared to the general sense of being a fan, this is the real “mutual inspiration”: “Their success makes me feel that I am useful to some people, and what I am doing is valuable.

“Music is originally an intangible subject that cannot be seen or touched,” she continues. “How can we as musicians determine that what we are doing is valuable? Once I know that someone will become more determined to improve themselves and achieve something because of my music or what I do, this is mutual inspiration for me. Fans’ achievements on their life paths actually give me great courage and motivation.”

Talking about mutual inspiration between people reminds Shang of her encounter with Coco Lee on the show Praise the Program. At that time, Coco Lee encouraged Laure, who was sitting in a wheelchair due to an injury. “Coco Lee’s care for others comes from the heart. A great musician like her must have a lot of love. When exhausted, what can support a musician to keep going is the love that comes from the bottom of their hearts.”

Shang, who lives a new life in music, is also practicing the philosophy of life she expressed in “Follow Your Heart,” pouring all her self-love, love for others, love for the world, and her most passionate love for music into her work.

–This article was written by Jifan Wang for Billboard China

Laure Shang

Tianyao Wang/Billboard China

After two decades as a band, Taiwanese indie group Sodagreen has grown and evolved, emerging triumphant and standing on the stage together once more.
For young people, turning 20 can be a defining moment, marking the end of their rebellious teenage years and the start of adulthood. But for a band, reaching the milestone of 20 years is an incredible achievement. What keeps a band together is the relationships between its members.

Everyone has a rebellious period in their life, but it doesn’t always come at the same time. Shin-Yi’s came during his teenage years, while Jia-Kai’s happened in his 40s. For Sodagreen as a group, the rebellious period was during their hiatus. They each explored different paths, living a second life, until 2023 when they reunited under the name Sodagreen and started anew. This is what the band members call “Sodagreen Round 2.”

Regarding Sodagreen’s 20th anniversary, Jia-Kai explains it this way: “When I look back on my life journey, I really don’t have many friends who have been with me for over 20 years. I can count them on my 10 fingers. Friends who have been together for over 20 years won’t fall out and will definitely stay until the end. We are really rare. There is nothing like Sodagreen that has been going on for 20 years in a row.” Faced with Jia-Kai’s emotional perspective, Tsing-Fong jokingly responds in a very Sodagreen-like manner: “I hope you will be a good person in the future, Jia-Kai!”

It’s been 26 years since Tsing-Fong and Shin-Yi first met. Reflecting on their friendship, Shin-Yi couldn’t help but express her amazement: “It’s so scary!” But when they find something they both enjoy, time seems to fly by.

Yu-Chi says Madonna has been their idol for over 20 years. For the past two decades, Madonna has been a beacon of fashion, continuously adapting to the changing times and setting new trends. But it’s not just the iconic singer who has been inspiring fans for so long; Sodagreen has also been a source of innovation and transformation for that amount of time, encouraging fans to explore different paths in life.

On May 30, Sodagreen returned to the same place they said goodbye six years ago: the outdoor stage of the Taipei City Art Square. It was a special day for the band, as it marked the day they released their first single. Shin-Yi said it was a great opportunity to reconnect with their fans in the most direct way possible. It was also a promise that Sodagreen made to their fans — to come back and celebrate together.

Individual Growth & Exploration

Sodagreen’s hiatus was a time of individual growth and exploration for each of the band members. During their break, Jyun-Wei became an investment expert, Jing-Yang a cross-disciplinary curator, Yu-Chi combined classical and pop music, Shin-Yi a concert director, Jia-Kai a film score composer, and Tsing-Fong a Golden Melody king. This time away from the band gave them the opportunity to explore different possibilities and pursue their own personal goals. Sodagreen’s hiatus was a period of growth and development that has allowed them to come back stronger than ever.

Jyun-Wei shared that the most essential part of their growth during the hiatus was not just in music, but in their personal lives. They were able to take the time to get married, become parents, start businesses, and explore new interests that they hadn’t had the opportunity to do before. With the newfound freedom, they were able to do all the things they wanted to do and come back without any regrets. Now, they have the strength and motivation to make music again.

Jyun-Wei found that being decisive was a key lesson he learned during his years away from music. “Investment requires finding the right people to work with, as well as ensuring the product is of a high quality. Rather than just making money, investing provided me with the opportunity to learn about different industries and ecosystems, making it a much more meaningful experience.”

Jing-Yang is a passionate advocate for environmental sustainability and has worked hard to transform Giant Park into a paradise for both adults and children. He has also taken on the role of mentor and curator to young musicians, offering them the opportunity to learn and grow.

In his own words, Jing-Yang said, “I’m just trying to reach out to different audiences in a different way. Everything I do is rooted in the foundation of the band. Sodagreen is embarking on a new journey, and I’m hoping for the best.”

Yu-Chi has taken his musical journey to the next level by blending classical and pop music. His solo album KUNG’s vol.1 earned him a nomination for best album in the instrumental music category at Taiwan’s Golden Melody Awards. He has also performed on stages around the world, showcasing his unique sound. During his time away from the band, Yu-Chi went through a period of self-discovery that has resulted in a new musical energy for Sodagreen.

Yu-Chi was deeply impacted by the death of his beloved pet and found himself reflecting on the meaning of separation and death, channeling these honest feelings into his creative work. “I believed that music was a way to learn and grow, and that each member of the band could bring new ideas and sparks to our performances by sharing our life experiences. Together, we could create something truly special.”

Shin-Yi became a successful concert director during the hiatus and welcomed a second child into her life. Shin-Yi’s journey from the stage to the director’s chair was nothing short of remarkable. “It’s all about serendipity. I took on the role of concert director with a relaxed attitude and mainly wanted to make new friends and explore the world of concert directing. I was lucky enough to found myself in the company of world-class producers, learning new ways of working and creating.”

Jia-Kai’s latest project, the film Marry My Dead Body, set a box office record this year. As the sole composer of the soundtrack, Jia-Kai faced a unique challenge. “I was involved in the early stages of production and was able to apply the skills I learned at Berkeley to the composition and writing of the scores. When I finished, I felt a real sense of accomplishment.”

Jia-Kai also had the opportunity to work with the iconic Jolin Tsai on the theme song “Untitled.” He learned a lot from her, including the way she structured the melody and the clever way she depicted the relationship between two cultures in the lyrics. The most impressive moment for Jia-Kai was when he visited the set and saw actor Greg Hsu’s amazing performance of “Dancing Diva.”

Tsing-Fong, nominated for best male Mandarin singer with “Mallarme’s Tuesdays,” isn’t expecting to win, but is more interested in having fun with his bandmates. When asked if there’s pressure for his bandmates to perform alongside him, he had a humorous response: “It’s already stressful for them to perform with me! Jia-Kai and Jing-Yang have always been under a lot of pressure when performing with me, but I’m looking forward to the day when they can perform without any stress,” he laughs.

New Journey

If we were to compare Sodagreen to a big fashion brand, then Oaeen – the unique side product line – would be the perfect analogy. The debut album of Oaeen, The Pond, received a variety of reactions from the public. While some praised the music, others thought it was “too weird.” In response to the different opinions, the six members who are part of both Sodagreen and Oaeen said, “We like it, and that’s what matters most.”

Jyun-Wei said, “When The Pond was first released, it was met with some surprise. Despite this, we were confident in our own standards and felt that the album was ready for release. We don’t think Oaeen’s songs are particularly mysterious; we are simply being true to ourselves and not making the music too out of the ordinary. The album was created through a collaborative process, with everyone adding their own musical influences from different genres, resulting in a unique and complete piece.”

Oaeen’s re-recording of Sodagreen’s old album series is an exciting journey of rediscovery. From Different Albums to Little Universe, from Incomparable Beauty to Sing With Me, each album brings a new emotion to the songs we know and love because of their new arrangements, orchestrations and presentations.

Jyun-Wei describes the remaking process as starting from Ground Zero: “With some songs, it was difficult to reproduce the original feeling due to the special instruments and sounds used. To overcome this, we decided to re-record all the instruments in a new and exciting way. This process allowed us to experience the joy of remaking and reproducing the songs all over again.”

For Yu-Chi, Oaeen’s re-recording of their new album has surpassed the original version of Sodagreen’s records and become a unique version of its own. It’s a reflection of the life experiences of everyone involved, and you can hear the different mind-sets in the music. As Shin-Yi grows older, she believes that the process of re-recording the new version is a way to reconnect with her life journey. “When we were young, we thought this way, and it was so simple!”

Even though the interpretations of Sodagreen’s songs may vary, the emotions behind them remain the same. A devoted fan recently shared their thoughts on the new version with Jyun-Wei: “My love and support for Sodagreen isn’t just about the music; it’s about the attitude. I admire Sodagreen’s attitude, so no matter what version they release, those who love Sodagreen will accept it all.”

The sincere response from fans moved Sodagreen deeply, inspiring them to be more cautious and careful in creating new works. Yu-Chi says: “We are using our current abilities to create something new, unlocking new possibilities.” Tsing-Fong adds: “We strive to perfect the small details, while the grandeur is up to the listeners to interpret.”

Do you remember Sodagreen’s comeback single “Tomorrow Will be Fine” in 2020? The music video featured a nostalgic concept of a group chat on a mobile phone, with conversations during the band’s hiatus, making die-hard fans tear up. Four members of the band have become “Sodagreen second generation” parents, and after performances, their schedule is no longer about celebrating with drinks but rushing home to take care of their kids and playing them lullabies. Despite the twists and turns, Sodagreen has stayed strong and united throughout these past 20 years.

–Written by Jifan Wang for Billboard China

Sodagreen

Minshi Jiang

At the end of last year, singer/actress Fiona Sit was in the midst of filming the TV show Memories Beyond Horizon when tragedy struck. Her father became ill and was admitted to the ICU. Despite the difficulties, Fiona was determined to express her longing for her family and hometown through music.
On the day of the Winter Solstice (Dec. 21), she released a new song called “Hong Kong’s Night.” This heartfelt work was a simple, honest story of her own. “We all have beautiful and gentle nights in our hometowns, and if you’re missing home, this song can become ‘Beijing’s Night’ or ‘Chengdu’s Night,’ with the same melody and expression,” Fiona tells Billboard China for a new cover story. “Music is a blessing to us all.”

For two decades, music has been a constant companion to Fiona, providing her with a platform to express emotions, from love to healing. After all these years, her heartfelt love for music still shines.

‘I’m also surprised that I’ve been singing for 20 years’

Fiona was starting from scratch when she first stepped into the recording studio. She had no experience or knowledge of the music industry and was intimidated by the producer and backup singers. With no idea how to express her ideas, she was left feeling overwhelmed and helpless. She often asked questions like, “What color should this sentence be? How shy should the boy in the song be? Are there other people in the room when we’re together? How many?”

Fiona’s journey to becoming a musician was an extraordinary one. She began as an installation artist, where she could express her feelings through her brush and materials. But when it came to music, she realized she needed to collaborate with lyricists, composers and other behind-the-scenes creatives to make something special. She chose to communicate through art, honing her skills in a professional way, until she could use her own voice to express her emotions. Fiona’s voice is like a unique blend of lemon, honey and mint — a perfect harmony to accurately portray the vibrant emotions of a girl’s heart.

Fiona’s art is a vivid expression of her emotions. From the golden trophies she has earned since her debut, to the self-doubt and confusion she experiences in difficult times, to the pink romantic mood of love and the thoughts of her hometown at night, Fiona’s art captures it all. When she’s stuck for inspiration, Fiona turns to painting. As she puts it, “Drawing a song is like listening to it over and over again and painting a picture. The picture is the song.”

Becoming a star without much thought

Fiona had big dreams of becoming an artist when she was in school. She studied Creative Media and Installation Art in college, but people around her often asked her if she wanted to be a model because of her natural beauty. Despite being only 5-foot-6, she decided to give it a go and soon found out that modeling isn’t just about strutting down a catwalk — it also involves photo shoots and videos. And that’s how Fiona’s modeling career began. She’s since starred in TV commercials for big brands like HSBC and Coca-Cola.

“At age 20, I shot commercials for 6-8 hours and earned HKD 3,000-4,000 [around $350-$500 USD] per session. I’d keep 800 [$100 USD] for myself and gave the rest to my parents, and I haven’t asked them for money since. Little did I know back then that modeling would become my future career. I just felt I was a precocious child who was already supporting my family.”

Fiona had always been passionate about singing, but it wasn’t until people started asking her if she wanted to pursue it professionally that she began to seriously consider it. She knew her uncle worked at a record company and had been responsible for the work of many singers, so she decided to seek his advice. When Fiona told her uncle about her singing aspirations, he was surprised. “You like singing? Do you have perfect pitch?” he asked. Her uncle then arranged for her to meet with a Warner Music agent and have an informal audition at a KTV (a karaoke business). Fiona remembers the whole process as being quite magical. She can’t remember much about that day, but she was sure that she sang a lot of Leslie Cheung’s songs. Fiona loves to cover songs by male singers, as it gives her the opportunity to tell a story from a different perspective.

Fiona’s star-studded career began in the same year she released her debut album and starred in her first movie. Director Derek Yee was looking for the perfect female lead for his upcoming movie 2 Young, and Fiona was the one he chose for the 2005 project. Years later, when they became close friends, Derek joked about Fiona’s audition, “Out of all the girls who auditioned, you put in the least effort. You showed up wearing flip-flops and a baggy T-shirt!” Despite her laid-back approach, Fiona’s ease and authenticity won over the producers and directors.

Roaring through the music world for a decade

Fiona’s 2004 debut album F Debut was a huge success. The song “A Letter From Keanu Reeves” topped the music charts in Hong Kong and won the “Top 10 Gold Songs” award at the Radio Television Hong Kong’s Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Award, along with Jay Chou’s “Common Jasmine Orange,” Leo Ku’s “Love and Fidelity” and Miriam Yeung’s “Storm in a Teacup.”

When Fiona went onstage to accept the award, she smiled happily and simply said “thank you.” After she stepped off the stage, the staff was amazed by her composure. They asked her how she could remain so calm in the face of such an accomplishment. “My calmness is also happiness, pure joy. I just didn’t think too much at that time,” she replied.

Fiona’s life was a whirlwind of activities after achieving fame. She was constantly on the move, juggling interviews and photo shoots, and pushing herself to the brink of exhaustion. But amid her hectic lifestyle, Fiona still found time to reflect on her journey and the future ahead. In her 2013 song “Dear Me in Ten Years,” she expresses the fears of a young girl growing up in a world full of uncertainty: Have I done things that make me proud without regret? Have my beliefs stayed strong? Will I keep my sense of style as I mature? Should I be smart instead of impulsive? Am I happy?

Every time Fiona mentioned “Dear Me in Ten Years” when promoting her songs, she would cry because she was really facing the “question marks” in the song, confronted with the unknown, feeling scared and uncertain about the future. However, after enough crying and thinking, she began to discuss with her company that, in addition to singing and acting, she wanted to step out of her comfort zone and explore new possibilities.

To commemorate her decadelong journey in the music industry since her debut, Fiona released the conceptual album Tenacious in 2013. She took on many roles for the first time, from producer to costume designer, cover designer and art director for the music video sets and lighting. Fiona chose the album title for a reason: It reflects her relentless pursuit of music and unwavering commitment to her craft.

For this album, Fiona took a brave step forward by writing her own lyrics and composing her own music for the first time. The song “Recovery” is a touching reminder of the bond between Fiona and her cat. Fiona’s story is one of pain and regret. After her cat was diagnosed with a painful heart condition, Fiona had to make the difficult decision to let it go. The next day, she found solace in her music, and the song “Recovery” was born.

Fiona hopes to comfort those who have experienced sadness from parting with this song and learn to face the impermanence of life, becoming wise in adversity. “We should not forget all the hardships we have experienced. If you forget them, you will not be able to learn and gain from them. Don’t forget, don’t resent, don’t get angry. Slowly it will turn from a bad thing into a good thing.”

Ten years ago, Fiona was a confused girl, unsure of what the future held. But 10 years later, she had a different outlook. She had learned that growing up doesn’t have to be something to be feared, but something to be embraced. Fiona expressed this newfound understanding in her song “Me After Ten Years.” Through her music, she was able to convey the message that the price of growing up is not something to be dreaded, but a journey that can bring joy and appreciation for life.

Redefining herself & showcasing her true self on multiple stages

Fiona was filled with uncertainty before joining season 3 of the TV series Sisters Who Make Waves last year. Would people be let down after seeing her on the show? She recalled her dance teacher’s initial impression of her as being cold, only to discover her humorous side after getting to know her. After much contemplation, Fiona accepted that while she may have a cold side, she is much more than that. The songs she performs on the show will be her true self, and through them, everyone can get to know the real Fiona.

Fiona used to be content with singing the same familiar pieces. But when she joined Sisters Who Make Waves 3, she had to embrace a new approach. She was now in a “you choose, I learn” state of mind. Through this experience, Fiona discovered that her voice can express a much wider range of emotions. She is now open to learning and collaborating with different styles and genres, as long as it sounds good.

Fiona is taking a break from releasing new music to focus on discovering her true artistic identity. She wants to use her singing to tell stories that are honest and meaningful, instead of pretending to be someone she isn’t. “I want to tell stories that are real and true to who I am,” Fiona says. “I’m determined to find my own voice and express it through my music and its accompanying arrangements. By the end of the year, I’m hoping to have achieved this goal and be able to share my stories with the world.”

If one day Fiona’s career in the arts comes to an end, she plans to become a director. Years ago, two dreams had come to her in the night, connected in a way she couldn’t explain. From these dreams, she had crafted an outline for a script, a story she wanted to bring to life on the big screen. Someday, she hoped, her dreams would become a great movie.

Fiona has had a lifelong curiosity and a passion for the unknown. For the past 20 years, she has been on a journey of exploration, driven by her youthful spirit and accompanied by music and art. Despite the passing of time, her love and dedication remain unwavering. Even after two decades in entertainment, Fiona remains true to herself.

Fiona Sit on the cover of Billboard China.

Courtesy of Billboard China

Since their debut two years ago, multi-national Chinese boy band INTO1 have released four albums and made impressive progress in music, thanks to their unique charms.
Meeting in early spring 2021 and disbanding in late spring 2023, the group’s 11 members from all over the world have made an indelible impression on their fans with their devotion to music.

INTO1 released their final album, Grown Up, in March. Whether it’s a gentle croon or an impassioned, rocking melody, every song captures INTO1’s growth from young men to adults.

Here are five questions and answers from their recent Billboard China cover story, translated to English, about their two-year group career and new album Grown Up.

From the first album to the latest one, you have tried many music styles, such as Chinese operas, hip-hop, electronic dance and so on, and you are becoming more and more mature in your musical performance. How did you grow musically while recording Grown Up?

Liu Yu: My biggest growth in music is learning how to listen to the story behind the voice and hear how the singer handles fine details, timbre control and creativity through the voice.

SANTA: When recording the album, I felt like I was watching a movie about the two years of INTO1, so my biggest gain was to be reminded of these precious memories.

RIKIMARU: When I first listened to the demo, I was worried about whether I could sing the high notes well. But when practicing before recording, I found that I could give it a try.

Mika: For me, my biggest growth was that all the songs on the album contain our shared emotions, and it is a perfect graduation gift of INTO1.

Nine: We can show our growth in two years through these songs.

Lin Mo: We try new styles on every album. I can also find a different self.

Bo Yuan: I learned how to release my emotions and began to understand that volume and pitch are not the only things that determine emotional performance.

Zhang Jiayuan: I think I made great progress in aesthetics and new style, like a cappella and indie rock. And I experienced different emotions through music.

Patrick: In our new song, “Grown Up,” there are many harmonic elements. I learned a lot about harmony during the recording and understood the layers of music better.

Daniel Zhou: I’ve learned a lot of different things from recording each album over the past two years, because album recording involves different aspects of music. For example, we can convey the emotions of the music through our dance, our voice, our performance and so on. I think I can find different possibilities in different styles of songs every time I record.

AK: My biggest gain is that I wrote a whole song for INTO1 and our team for the first time: the harmony, lyrics, music and some ideas on the arrangement. In this process, I think I made some progress in comprehensive aesthetics and music production.

You started out in a closed environment on the talent show, and after you became a group, you started living together. After getting to know each other for a while now, who is the most different from your first impression of him? How is he different from who you though he was?

Liu Yu: I think it’s AK. The first impression he gave me was that he looked like someone not to be messed with. After getting to know him, I think he is a simple boy with a playful side and can write some very delicate songs.

SANTA: I think it is Liu Yu. My first impression of him was that he was professional and serious-minded. In fact, this has not changed even now. But after getting to know him for a long time, I found that he also likes to joke around, and it is relaxing to be around him.

RIKIMARU: I think it is Bo Yuan. I never thought we could be such good friends now. We are very comfortable chatting with each other, and we think alike in many ways.

Nine: I think Daniel and Mika. My first impression of them was that they were cold and distant, but they are actually very cute and lively.

Bo Yuan: I think Mika and Daniel. They both transformed from the reserved cool guys to jokesters.

Zhang Jiayuan: I think it is Liu Yu. I used to feel that he was cold and distant, but now I think he is rather funny.

Daniel Zhou: I think it is Mika. When I first met him, he was very cold and quiet, so I thought he may not be so easy to get along with. However, after two years of getting along with each other, I found that he is the most easygoing. I think he is a combination of very cold and very cute.

AK I think it is me! [Laughs] In the past two years, I have tried many new styles in terms of music and styling and grown up a lot.

In two years, you have created four albums together, collaborated on many stage performances and participated in many variety shows. You have brought many surprises to your fans, and you have become the pride of your fans. What has been your most fulfilling moment as a member of INTO1?

Lin Mo: When we were rigged on wires [for a performance] for the first time. It was so cool.

Daniel Zhou: We went to the Super Novae Games, and each of us participated in a different event. Even though we represented ourselves as an individual, the rewards we won belong to the team. During the process, we felt a strong sense of collective honor and we were proud to be part of the team.

AK: The most fulfilling moment may be when I wrote the song “Grown Up.” I wrote about regrets and sadness, and also wrote about positive wishes for the future. I hope that all 11 of us will have a bright future. That is what the song is about.

INTO1 was born in the stage performance competition, and in two years, you have also created many stage performances. What has been the group’s most impressive stage performance so far?

Daniel Zhou: What impressed me the most was when we performed “Shanhe Tu” at a big party in 2021. During the performance, we were rigged on wires and hung in the air about 20 meters [66 feet] off the ground. Eleven of us hung in different corners in midair and then convened on a stage covered with water. I have never been on such a well-equipped stage before, and I was filled with uncertainty and excitement, so I think it was the most impressive performance for me.

AK: It was when we sang “We Are the Youth” onstage for the first time. At that time, our group had just been formed and did not have enough time to try to bond with each other and rehearse, so the final stage performance was not so good. I always remembered this stage performance, reminding myself that I must do my best to prepare for every stage in the future.

You have been working as an idol group for two years. Which field of work would you like to continue to pursue in the future?

Liu Yu: I will continue on the road of music. Of course, I would like to try out other fields.

SANTA: I would like to continue to work in dance, music, variety shows and new opportunities in China and explore more possibilities in myself.

RIKIMARU: Find my own unique music style.

Mika: I hope I can improve my stage performance, dance and singing to be a better performer.

Nine: I will not give up the stage, and I will try harder in acting.

Lin Mo: I will try everything if there’s an opportunity. I won’t set any limits for myself.

Bo Yuan: I would like to continue singing. Besides singing, I also like live broadcast. Both performing live onstage and chatting on a live broadcast in real time is challenging.

Zhang Jiayuan: I will work harder on music, variety, film and TV, art and so on.

Patrick: I played a role in a movie before, and I like the feeling of learning about a character and then embodying it, so I hope I can make more film and TV works in the future. At the same time, I also hope to make my own album and sing on programs or in concerts for everyone.

Daniel Zhou: There are many things that I have not tried yet, so I hope to have more opportunities to try different things.

AK: I will definitely stick to music. As a next step, I am particularly interested in enriching my life experience, improving my emotional perception and expression, and recording what I see. Currently, I am also planning my concert tour, music festival and EP.

Billboard China

After two years of training, the team members of INTO1 have all grown up. For them, farewell is also a new beginning, and each of them will also embark on a new stage of their career. Mika, Lin Mo and Daniel Zhou have all released new projects; Bo Yuan and AK will also start their own tours. There is reason to believe that whether they are members of INTO1 or developing independently, they will all shine brightly.