SINGAPORE, Aug 23 — Today, Shane Pow graduates from being a karaoke singer to someone who has an official song playing on the airwaves.

Not content with acting in television and films, he is now a double threat with the release of his first song, a Mandarin duet with Malaysian singer Peace Teo, under Universal Music’s banner.

The collaboration is thanks to a deal signed between Pow’s management agency Beam Artistes and Universal Music Singapore.

The song, titled Shi Ni Jiu Shi Ni (You, It’s You), makes its debut on YES933FM today and is available on digital platforms.

You will want to know: Can this actor sing?

“I don’t think I sound bad,” he demurred, but “I don’t have a super unique voice, like JJ Lin. I don’t know how it sounds to other people because I’ve been hearing this voice every single day!

“Singing live is something that I think will be a big challenge, but karaoke — when the music is loud and people are drunk, you don’t really hear how good you are.”

The song, recorded over two days in Kuala Lumpur, is something of an experiment.

“I love music but I never imagined myself really recording and releasing a song,” he said.

“I won’t say I want to be a full-time singer, because it’s quite difficult. But it’s a good challenge. Maybe next time, I can sing Chinese drama theme songs, just for fun. It’s also an accomplishment I can tick off my checklist: ‘I released an EP — check.’”

Another thing he wouldn’t mind ticking off his list is landing a role in a musical production.

Having a song out, he said, is one way to let people know he is up for such a challenge.

In the meantime, he has his acting hands full: He is embarking on a Channel 5 drama, can currently be seen in the Channel 8 drama Peace & Prosperity and stars in the upcoming movie 4 Love.

In the upshot, “I think I’d rather act”, he chuckled, adding that he finds acting much easier than singing.

Whether his singing career will develop will depend on “comments from real friends”.

“If it’s bad, and people tell me that it’s bad, then, okay, I won’t do it again. I won’t torture people,” he laughed.

“I’ll just stick to acting, lah.” — TODAY