The unexpurgated interview with Stefanie Sun

SINGAPORE — We may not get to see Stefanie Sun very often, but the Mandopop star certainly has been keeping busy.

The 35-year-old, whose last album was 2011’s It’s Time, says she has been “focused” on her duties as a mother, since she gave birth to her baby boy in October last year.

But the singer is now finally ready to get back into the thick of things, with a brand new contract with Universal Music, plus a new studio album and world concert tour in the mix.

Speaking to a group of local reporters at Capella Singapore, Sun tells us why she’s decided to join Universal Music, what it’s been like juggling her career and motherhood, and why she told off an innocent (and confused) passenger on a flight.

Q: This is your first major event in a long time. How did you feel last night?

A: I was a littttle bit nervous last night. But then I told myself not to think about it, and went to bed early.

Q: Did you suffer from insomnia?

A: No. I’m the kind of person who would wake up in the middle of the night, and then tell myself to hurry back to sleep.

Q: Has your husband said anything about your comeback?

A: He’s very encouraging. And positive.

Q: Can you tell us more about your upcoming album? What style of music can we expect?

A: Actually, I’ve never set limits for my albums, in terms of music style. I think I grow interested in and excited about different things at every stage. For this particular album, I’ve collected more than half the songs, but I’ll keep thinking of ways to make it better. I won’t let go of that opportunity. I hope the new album can be released at the end of this year.

Q: Your albums have always sold very well, but CDs don’t sell very well anymore. Do you feel the pressure?

A: I think I’m very fortunate. I don’t face pressure from that, because I’ve been in the industry for more than ten years. It’s harder for new singers. I think it’s a pity, because record companies will invest less and give fewer opportunities to newcomers.

Q: What is your biggest source of pressure as a singer then, if not album sales?

A: I think, as a singer, there is pressure from being a public figure. And it’s the same now. I think many things have changed, but there are also things that haven’t. Like fans’ expectations, and the media always expects new things, like, Wow! Surprise us! (laughs) It’s always like that. So we, as artists, have to keep improving and moving forward.

Q: And how do you deal with that pressure?

A: Well, I think of it positively. Because when there’s pressure, you will think about what else you can do. If you think “Don’t pressure me, I just want to stay that way”, then you won’t have the motivation to move forward.

Q: You’ve said before that you preferred to stick to a three-day work week for the sake of your child. Will you stick to this schedule?

A: I think, now that we are scheduling, I am not so inflexible. When we’re busy, we have to be busy. When there are big projects, and we need to be busy, I will take the time to do them. It’s about how I use my time when I’m not working. I have to learn how to juggle. That’s motherhood. (laughs)

Q: Can you tell us more about your schedule?

A: We’re aiming for the end of the year, for the album. We hope to start our world tour in the first half of next year.

Q: What about commercial performances? Do you try to stick to a three-day work schedule as well?

A: Yes, as much as possible. I don’t say it openly, but I’ll suggest ways to re-arrange the schedule. And sometimes, I close one eye.

Q: Your world tour in China might take many days. Are you mentally prepared for that?

A: We’ve made arrangements so the tour schedule won’t be so tight. Because it takes a lot of energy… every time you come on stage you have to show your best. If you cram every show together, you’re out of breath by the time you reach the third or fourth show. So that has to be arranged properly.

Q: Will you remind your husband to work harder while you’re away?

A: I don’t have to remind him! (laughs)

Q: Does your son have a Chinese name?

A: I won’t announce it to the public. Sorry!

Q: But the Chinese papers call him Little Nadim. Are you okay with that?

A: Okay! (laughs)

Q: Will you write a song for your child in your new album?

A: I wouldn’t do so deliberately. Maybe. I don’t have restrictions on that.

Q: Do you think you’ll bring your child with you on your world tour?

A: I don’t really want to do that. Maybe, we’ll see. I won’t bring him if I won’t.

Q: But won’t you miss him?

A: But there’ll be paparazzi!

Q: You mentioned that you’ve been working out. Is this to build stamina or for your figure?

A: For both. In terms of stamina, it’s because I think it’s time to start training for the concert. As for the figure — it’s because I have to meet all of you today! (laughs)

Q: But you were so (effortlessly) thin before. Is it difficult to maintain your figure now?

A: It’s true I’m not as thin as before. Or maybe yes. Or no.

Q: Have you been actively trying to lose weight?

A: Well it’s not easy! It’s not the same after I became a mother. Yes, I did put on weight. But I haven’t been dieting deliberately. But because there’s going to be a concert and this press conference, I’ve been going to the gym and swimming.

Q: How much have you lost since you gave birth?

A: About 5kg.

Q: Some people took photos of you looking quite casual in Bangkok. Are you unhappy about what some members of the media said about you?

A: No. Because I think... Well, there are many talent-spotting programmes on television now, so ordinary people can be stars, and stars can be ordinary people, too. (laughs) I’ve always been like that. When I’m at work I’ll dress up a little. But outside I don’t have to dress up.

Q: Have passers-by tried to take photos of your child?

A: Yes. I tell them, sorry. I remember, on the plane, there was a girl who was like (mimics someone on her phone). And I told her, “Excuse me! Please don’t take photos of me and the baby”. And then she said, “Er, sorry.” And I realised she’s actually from Thailand and had no idea who I was. (laughs)

Q: Do you try to hide your son with hats and other disguises?

A: Actually no. I don’t want to change the way we live, just because I’m in showbiz. I still take him to places he should go to, like parks and playgrounds.

Q: How are you going to tell him, when he’s older, that you’re actually a Mandopop star?

A: I don’t know! How do you say such things? I don’t know! He probably won’t think much of it.

Q: Any plans for a second child?

A: No plans. I have too many things to do.

Q: Has your music company put a ban on children?

A: No! (laughs)

Q: Have talent-spotting programmes in China invited you to be a judge on their shows?

A: Yes. But I really don’t have time.

Q: Was there a particular moment where you thought, okay, I’m ready to get back to work?

A: I am a bit weird. When I was pregnant, I thought, okay, I’ll finish recording my songs, and then after I give birth, I’ll release my album and so on. But when your role actually changes, you can’t plan so much. And you’ll be very focused on your task, like you’ll keep looking at the baby. So I think motherhood is a never-ending. You’ll always finish your task at hand then go back to mothering. Then finish something else then go back again. It’s the same with work. I’ll do my best, as far as I can go.

Q: Do you have goals that you haven’t fulfilled?

A: I used to think, oh, I want to get married, I want children, and I want a partner who can grow old with me. I think these are concrete goals that you can articulate. But life is always changing, like curveballs. Because of one thing, you can’t do something. And because of something, you can’t do something else. So I think I’m very lucky, that I can feel and experience so many things. I look forward to what comes next, but I don’t know what’s coming. I just welcome it.

Q: How has your life changed since you’ve become a mother?

A: I think you realise how self-centered you are before motherhood. I want to do this, I want to do that. Life has now become very full.

Q: What’s your favourite child-related activity?

A: At the moment, I care most about what he eats. What I should cook today, what he ate yesterday, and so on. I care about the level of nutrition in each meal.

Q: You’ve said you sing to your child every day. Has he begun to show some talent for music yet?

A: He reacts when there’s music around. Maybe it’s because he had access to music too, when I was expecting him. Because I was recording songs then.

Q: What will you do if he says he wants to embark on a music career?

A: I’ll leave it up to him.

Q: Are you itching to get back to singing and performing?

A: I think singing is a calling. I don’t think I’ll stop.

Q: We’ve heard (singer and friend) Jolin Tsai’s music contract has also ended. Would you encourage her to join your new company?

A: Have we been in the same company before? Warner Music? I think it’s okay. We have our own routes. Welcome! Has her contract really ended?

Q: K-pop is really popular now. Will you be doing anything different to stand out from the Korean wave, or are you comfortable with where you are right now?

A: Hmm, it doesn’t seem right for me to say anything either way.

Q: Can you tell us just a little about your new album and the direction it will be taking?

A: It’s usually just right to follow your intuition. Like you mentioned the Korean wave, you can be inspired by K-pop. I don’t want to draw boundaries, to say I’m different from them or I’m the same. So just be the best that you can be now.

Q: You’ve changed record labels quite a few times. Is there anything you’ve learned from the past and now signing with a new label? Anything you’ve learned over the years?

A: I think I’m the kind who really values teamwork. Like a competent team can make a lot of difference. But I also think a very sincere and focused team can also… it’s not make or break, but it makes that bit of a difference when you’re doing something. When you’re choosing a company as well, you have to trust your intuition, meet the people, talk to them. Sometimes, there are just little signals that you can pick up, and just trust your own instincts. I think I work with very, very awesome, great, clever people. I mean, we have yet to really deliver a product. But I’m really looking forward to it. I mean, they are the world’s biggest record label. Actually, the top two people have been there for many, many years. And they must be there for a reason.

Q: How has your attitude towards making music changed in the past few years? Do you still think it’s your life’s passion, or has it become secondary to your other role as a mother?

A: I cannot deny that in the beginning, when I first started, it was filled with a lot of fantasies and I had a lot of preconceptions about how I should be a singer, I should be this cool, I should be this fashionable. I mean the perception has changed, but I don’t think the passion has changed. You still want to explore what else makes you excited. I think it’s very easy to be like, oh, I’ve done this before already. But there’s always something else. You just have to look for it. But if you lose the motivation to even try to look for that, I think that’s a pity. I don’t really want to be there, just because I’m a mother. I really believe you can be everything at the same time. I mean not everything la! You know. But as a woman, ya we can multi-task what!