SINGAPORE, July 19 — Twelve years is a long time for an artiste to be away, and it seems homegrown songbird Kit Chan has a lot to say in her new album of original tunes.

Early this month, the well-known chanteuse released Edge Of Paradise, her first album of original songs since 2004, when East Towards Saturn was rolled out.

It is no wonder then, that the 43-year-old likes every single track on the album, pointing out that the inspiration behind it is her desire for simplicity and pureness.

"It reflects my current attitude to life, to love (and) to aesthetics. I just want my life to be free of clutter, whether it’s emotionally, physically or mentally. That’s why I’m always clearing up stuff in my house,” Chan said.

Comprising 10 original compositions spanning genres such as pop, jazz and folk, the album’s focus on presenting only the essential elements is evident in how the music arrangement avoids the excessive use of musical instruments.

Chan added that Edge Of Paradise is very different from her past three albums (which she dubs her "electronica trilogy”), as the former reflects a different state of mind.

The trilogy, she said, was more of a rebellious expression.

"I was just so sick of what I was doing before that I wanted to be as far away from that as possible,” she recalled.

In contrast to the "act of desperation” behind the trilogy, Edge Of Paradise is, to her, a sincere work that exudes a quiet confidence about how her approach to music has matured, she said.

An indication of how measured the pop star has become? She is not afraid to experiment with new genres.

Her album, for instance, has a jazz song Don’t Ask Me Why I Love You, which has created a buzz in Taiwan in particular.

"Everyone was going like, ‘You should do more jazz. It’s really suitable for you.’ And I find myself buying more jazz albums ... I do not know what that means but certainly I enjoy listening to that genre of music. Maybe it’s something that I can sing more of?” 


Chan, who held a press conference last Wednesday to announce her September concert, said the gig will be bigger and better, and marks the finale of her Spellbound tour that started in Singapore last year and travelled to Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

For one, it will be held at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, the first time she has performed a full show there in 15 years.

The concert will also be set up by a team of creative talents from Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and China — including musical director Feng Wen Fu.

The audience can expect a more elaborate stage design and effects, a 12-piece band and outfits specially tailored for her by Bruce Yu, the award-winning costume designer who has also dressed top Asian artistes such as Stefanie Sun, Sammi Cheng and the late Leslie Cheung.

In addition to an extensive repertoire of well-loved numbers — including Spellbound and Loving You, both specially re-arranged for the concert — the songstress will also perform songs from her new album.

On her choice of songs for her gig, Chan revealed that she still likes Quarelled, and almost always sings East Towards Saturn at her concerts. The latter was like her anthem for a period in her life, she candidly confessed.

"It’s like a reminder to myself and my fans that no matter how much you love something, you can drive yourself to the point where you don’t want to do it.”

In fact, a pun on the Chinese pronunciation of the title of the jazzy tune actually describes her heartfelt attitude at that time, Chan revealed.

Though the venue for her concert is larger this year, she said she will stay true to the idea of creating a personal touch and making each person in the audience feel like she is singing directly to them.

Asked whether she would go offstage to interact with the audience, Chan replied that she has moved on from thinking that physical proximity is necessary to connect with an audience.

Now, as her performance style matures, she believes she can create intimacy between her and the audience with what she calls an "intimate switch” that she can turn on, she said.

"It’s not something you can arrive at with a formula. There’s no guarantee ... Sometimes the magic just happens and when it does, it’s unmistakable. The connection is palpable.”

As for her post-gig plans, Chan says she is leaving them open — another sign that she has learnt to take it easy.

"I don’t know (what I’m going to do). Definitely take a holiday. That’s one. But for work plans, I have nothing concrete and that’s a luxury.” — TODAY

Kit Chan’s Spellbound Homecoming Concert will be held on Sept 10, 8pm.

Tickets from S$78 to S$188 (RM229 to RM553) from Sports Hub Tix (www.sportshubtix.sg).