Local singer Joi Chua has been in the entertainment industry for almost a decade now, but she is not making as big a splash in the coveted Taiwan market as compatriots JJ Lin and Huang Jinglun.
The reason: her low profile.
Not for this 31-year-old the rounds of taking part in Taiwanese game shows and variety programmes to promote her albums, although this is the best way to get noticed.
She tells Life!: “It’s just not in me to appear on such programmes and keep on talking. I have appeared on programmes before but it didn’t quite work out.
“If I had to attend any programme to promote my album, I would choose those which are purely about music, so that I can discuss my passion for it.”
Venturing to the capital of Mandopop is important for local singers as its domestic market alone is about 10 times bigger than Singapore’s.
Singers also gain regional exposure by appearing on TV variety shows there.
Still, Chua, who is in a stable relationship, is not short of the talent needed to succeed. She has released six albums to date and enjoyed success with popular hits such as Watch The Sunset With Me and Yesterday.
She composed five of the 11 songs on her latest album, Back To Basics, which was released last week.
Writing her own songs, she says, allows her to express herself.
She adds: “I don’t write songs according to a story or a theme because I don’t want to restrict myself. I go for a more straightforward, spontaneous approach instead.”
The title of the album is also her new motto.
She says: “I did some soul-searching on why I became a singer in the first place. I realised it’s because I really love singing and being happy is more important than anything else.
“So I am going back to the basics and sticking to what I started out to do initially.”
As for not getting that much exposure in Taiwan, she feels that it is just a difference in her style, compared to other Taiwanese female singers.
She says: “I believe in using my songs to get the attention I need. I’ve been in this industry long enough to know that good songs are the ones that last.”
This article was first published in The Straits Times.
