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‘I’m not demure any more’: Joi Chua’s new look

SINGAPORE — When local songbird Joi Chua released her new album, I Am Me, last month, some longtime fans were surprised by the new direction she had taken.

SINGAPORE — When local songbird Joi Chua released her new album, I Am Me, last month, some longtime fans were surprised by the new direction she had taken.

For one thing, the music on I Am Me has a slightly edgier tone — a departure from those winsome ballads she used to sing — with lyrics that reflect her current state of mind, said Chua, who was known for her demure, girl-next-door look.

But the fans’ response was not unexpected, she told TODAY. “I was this demure girl for over 10 years, then suddenly, there’s this new me. (I think) most people would probably need time to adjust to any change and get to know me again. So I expected that.”

Regardless, she is quite happy with what she has produced. “(The album) is representative of who I am in this period of time. I’ve grown up. I think this is the best time to make a change,” she said.

In the past, Chua said, her “real personality” was never exposed to the public “because of the songs I sang and the demure persona I presented”. “I love those old songs, but (my persona) was one-dimensional. It was stifling, and constrained me because I couldn’t express myself more,” she added.

“I’m pretty boyish, and I’m a straight-talker. I’m not quite what people perceive me to be — I’m not that demure! There are more sides to me.”

These “sides” are evident in her sartorial choices, too. “In my wardrobe, you won’t see a certain style repeated. I feel I don’t need to stick to one style to define who I am. It’s fun to wear different things,” she said.

In the music video for I Am Me, for example, which is a hard-rocking number by her standards, Chua eschews the dainty outfits she used to wear for a black dress with long flowing strips that resembles something out of gothic comic book.

Chua has also been seen clad in striking outfits at various photoshoots and events: From minimalist pantsuits to off-shoulder numbers, to see-through, layered dresses. Is this all part of showing off her new cool look?

“Personally, I don’t think I’m that cool. I don’t mind dressing up, if it’s something I enjoy wearing. It’s just that on stage, you can’t wear any old thing — you need to be presentable,” she said.

While she said she loves fashion offerings from the likes of Celine, Loewe, Stella McCartney and Michael Kors, her current designer du jour is local boy Max Tan.

“I love Max Tan. For the music video for I Am Me, that outfit, the one that looks like drapes? That’s by Max Tan,” she said. “Even the others that I wore for the album photoshoot, the avant-garde ones, those are by Max Tan. His style and mine match quite well, I think.”

Just do not expect her to be wearing any of that on the street. “When I’m working I tend to be a little more dressy, more formal, but when I’m going out I’m more casual,” said Chua. “I like to wear T-shirts and jeans. I’ll always love my jeans. I don’t always wear them with a T-shirt, sometimes I’ll wear an interesting top, a blouse, or a longer dress over my jeans.

“I can do anything with jeans. They are super-versatile and a staple for me. I can wear straight-cut one day, the day after I can wear baggy jeans, or boyfriend jeans, or skinny jeans.”

Nevertheless, Chua said she has committed fashion faux pas in the past, such as opting to wear long, flowy dresses. “I used to wear those flowy outfits, (but) I don’t think I look good in soft fabrics. I mean, I can wear them, but I don’t ... feel much for them. Unless they’re very, very nice. Chiffon dresses are not for me.

“(But) you have to go through a lot of trial and error before you find something that’s you,” she said.

Something else that defines Chua is her hair. She is once again sporting a short cut after having kept her tresses long — and her new do is dyed a striking red.

“My hair changes my (overall) look,” she said. “I’ve not had (short hair) for a long time. My long hair was a disguise for me, I think, because nobody recognised me when I had long hair. Now, people keep coming up to me, asking: ‘Are you Joi Chua?’ Personally, I like short hair. I only had long hair because I was too busy to cut my hair.”

Her business, of course, is being an optometrist and the owner of Eyecare People, an eyewear store in Holland Village she has run for six years.

“I choose most of (the eyewear designs). Some might not be what I would wear, but it cannot be something that’s only suitable for me ... So I base the selection on other people’s preferences,” she said, adding that opening the shop was “more of a dream come true for me than being a singer”.

Regardless, being a singer has given her opportunities she says she probably would not have had, such as starring in Royston Tan’s 2015 movie, 3688; appearing with Jackie Chan at a celebratory concert in Hong Kong; or even popping up as the cover girl of Elle magazine this month.

Chua now spends about half her time in China performing and promoting her music, “although it’s always changing in China”. “Things that were confirmed a month in advance can be cancelled at the last minute,” she said.

Chua also said she hopes to be able to do more performances here, although she added that getting Singapore gigs “are a little bit tougher”. “Singapore needs more platforms for performers. We have so much talent — indie musicians and singers — who don’t have a platform,” she said.

Despite this, she seems more than prepared for what comes her way: “You learn to manage your own stress, people, circumstances, problems ... I’ve learnt to live with that,” she said.

 

I Am Me is out on digital release now

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