Tanya Chua: 5 Things to Know About the Singaporean Singer-Songwriter

With her 12th album set to drop this month, we take a look at everything you need to know about Tatler Singapore’s August 2021 cover star, Tanya Chua

Singapore may be a tiny island but it is home to several talented musicians and singers who have done the country proud. Among them is Tanya Chua, who shot to fame in the 1990s.

After being spotted by local musician Max Surin, Chua began performing with his band, Made In Singapore, and subsequently with other bands as well.

Her hard work and dedication to her craft paid off when the singer went on to tour with fellow homegrown singer-songwriter and playwright Dick Lee. She continued to grow in her career and eventually began performing at sold-out concert halls in both Singapore and Taiwan.

Chua, who is also the cover star of Tatler Singapore’s August 2021 issue, will release her 12th album, Depart, this month.

Keep reading to find out everything you didn’t know about the Mandopop star.

1. She was once dropped by Universal Music

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Chua’s career skyrocketed in Taiwan when her first few albums were met with success in the country. Unfortunately, her following albums did not perform as well.

In fact, when her albums Ji Nian and Xiang Xin did not manage to meet sales targets in 2002, Universal Music decided to drop Chua.

Though Universal Music later reached out to renew her contract, both parties decided that it would be better if they parted ways.

Chua later decided to sign with Warner Music. Though her 2003 album Mo Sheng Ren did fairly well, she decided to part ways with the label as she “felt uncomfortable that most of her hit singles were written by others,” according to Singapore Infopedia.

2. She started Tangy Music Group

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After getting dropped by Universal Music and leaving Warner Music, Chua began to wonder if she should quit music altogether.

However, Chua decided to try again and she did so by starting Tangy Music Group in 2007 so that she could move into music production, publishing and talent management.

She would also be able to control her career more—which was her goal—and this completely changed her career as she fell in love with music once again.

3. She loves performing for charity

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Over the years, Chua also participated in charitable ventures and has held several concerts to benefit various organisations. In 2014, Chua notably collaborated with Mandopop singers Sandy Lam, A-mei and Na Ying to hold a charity concert in aid of young girls who had suffered abuse. She did this under Project WAO (Women as One), which she said she wanted to continue to support through future charity concerts across Asia, according to Singapore Infopedia.

Chua has also performed at charity events for local organisations such as the Community Chest and the National Kidney Foundation.

4. She has performed sold-out concerts at large venues

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As Chua’s career continued to grow, so did the venues in which she performed. Chua started her career performing in smaller venues such as the National University of Singapore’s University Cultural Centre and Ngee Ann Polytechnic but managed to achieve her first major solo concert in Singapore at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in 2011. She also performed a sold-out concert at the Taipei Arena in Taiwan.

5. She composed and performed the iconic NDP song, ‘Where I Belong’

Above NDP 2001 Theme Song: Where I Belong by Tanya Chua

There are some songs that last forever and in Singapore, these are usually our well-loved National Day songs that we used to sing in schools and would listen to during the National Day period at shopping malls and more.

Where I Belong is one such iconic song. Despite being released in 2001, it continues to be one of the country’s most popular National Day songs.

And it was written and composed by none other than Chua—a prolific songwriter who has written songs for fellow accomplished Asian powerhouses such as Faye Wong, A-mei, Fish Leong and Stefanie Sun.

Watch the video below for a behind-the-scenes look at our August 2021 cover shoot with Tanya Chua.

Topics

tanya chua mandopop taiwan mandarin singer singers songwriters Depart ndp where i belong

Tatler Asia

Tanya Chua: 5 Things to Know About the Singaporean Singer-Songwriter

1. She was once dropped by Universal Music

2. She started Tangy Music Group

3. She loves performing for charity

4. She has performed sold-out concerts at large venues

5. She composed and performed the iconic NDP song, ‘Where I Belong’