Faith Yang, Mandopop rock singer, releases a new album titled Zero after a three-year break
When it comes to Mandopop, sweet and sunny is often the way to go for female singers. So Taipei-born, Sydney- raised Faith Yang, 40, stands out from the crowd for venturing into rock and also for her cool, even cold, persona.
You do not want to mess with someone who brusquely puts down a suitor in a song: "I have never gotten your sense of humour/That's why I'm cold, not that I've not said it before, but you just don't hear."
The track Humourless is from Zero, her latest disc of original material since album No. 4 Continuation (2007). It peaked at No. 12 on Taiwan's authoritative G-Music album charts.
Over the telephone from Taipei, she speaks at a rapid-fire pace. But she is far from humourless, breaking into little bursts of chuckles from time to time.
She studied biology and genetics at the University of Sydney and, after graduating in 1996, returned to Taiwan to launch a music career.
The raw, rock sound of her debut album One (1997) found an audience and the record yielded the memorable hit single, Stars Fill The Sky.
Her second disc Silence (1999) featured the ballad The Love I Give and won her the prestigious Golden Melody Award for Best Mandarin Female Vocalist.
She is currently dating someone referred to in the Chinese-language press only as a "sunshine good-looking guy" (yangguang xingnan).
Asked recently on a television programme who he was, she shot back with a laugh: "Ni guan wo! (What business is it of yours?)"
1 Does the title Zero imply a back-to-basics approach?
It's a little unclear but that makes it meaningful. For one, I haven't released an album for some time, so it signifies starting afresh.
Also, zero is a circle and it symbolises having an end and a beginning. Or it could also symbolise boundlessness.
On the whole, the album is pretty close to life. Some songs have a little bit of humour, others are about the people, events and things around us.
You can say the album is about observing life. I think human beings are fascinating animals.
2 How does it feel to be releasing an album again?
At first, some of the excitement came from feeling as though I was a newcomer once more. But I quickly got back into the swing of things.
Even though I haven't been releasing records, I've been performing and making appearances.
3 What was the reason for the long break?
Things are not always so straightforward. I don't dare say that my career has been that smooth-sailing these few years and there have been some delays. My father also died early last year, just when recording was about to be completed.
Hopefully, people won't forget that I also released an album of English covers, Self-Selected, in 2009.
4 Do you feel that female artists are held up to standards of beauty that male artists are not measured against?
Well, my looks are what they are, it's only a question of more make-up or less. I would want to present what I feel is my good-looking side to the world.
But ultimately, to me, the music scene is not a beauty pageant, so that's not something I would compare with others.
Where we do lose out to the guys seems to be that whenever we are filming something in winter, we wear less compared to them.
5 You project this cool and cold image on your records but what are you like in private?
I think all the labels are correct. I hope that I'm a free-spirited person, whether on stage or off. I wish to face everyone with the most genuine side of me.
Maybe I don't laugh as frequently as other people but, on the other hand, I'm also passionate.
It could have something to do with my body temperature because I get hot and cold suddenly. One minute, I'd need a jacket when everyone else is feeling fine. But five minutes later, I'd start getting warm.
6 How do you feel about turning 40?
I look forward to being in my 40s. Maybe because I'm quite childish by nature, I don't really have a strong grasp of how old I am unless I'm facing someone, say, who is a lot more senior and older.
I don't really feel like I'm in my 40s yet, I don't know what that's supposed to feel like.
7 Can you tell us more about your special someone?
Well, how should I say this? He's someone who works hard and we complement each other. I'm not against marriage or particularly want it, so we'll just let nature take its course. I would want to find someone with whom I can grow old. But as to whether we need a piece of paper certificate to prove that, that's not too important to me.
8 How would you like to be remembered?
People take away different things depending on what they need.
So whichever version of me they see, be it someone they like or hate, that doesn't need to be changed.
This article was first run in The Straits Times newspaper on March 31, 2014. For similar stories, go to sph.straitstimes.com/premium/singapore. You will not be able to access the Premium section of The Straits Times website unless you are already a subscriber.