Tanya Chua remains coy about the new man in her life

Photos: Melinda Woo
Video: Tay Yixuan

Tanya Chua is finally back home for her first concert in four years, Lemuria World Tour 2016. Wearing her favourite red lipstick and looking as radiant as ever, Tanya lit up the room almost immediately as she greeted everyone resoundingly, seemingly laidback, with a cuppa in one hand.

The 41-year-old admitted at an interview with Toggle early this year that the lack of love in her life was the reason why she has not been composing her trademark heartbreak ballads, so could there be any possibility of new tracks and album from her since she has now announced that she is in a relationship with her French boyfriend, Johan Martin ?

“To be honest, I haven’t started composing anything yet! I’ve been too busy!” the singer-songwriter said. “But I’m also looking forward to the kind of music that I will be making next”, now that she is in a different stage of life and in her words – “a different me”.

Tanya’s previous album, Aphasia, was released late last year and she dabbled in a completely different genre – electronic music, which proved to be a challenge for her, as she had a number of emotional breakdowns during the production of the album. Shortly after, she jetted off for a three-month baking course in Paris in February this year, where she gained more than just baking skills – she found love and started dating Johan who is a French pastry chef.

Wedding bells will not be ringing for the local songbird just yet too, said Tanya, in response to the overwhelming support she received from fans who hope to see her settle down soon. “As long as everyone gives me their blessings, that’s enough,” she replied.

Getting into a new relationship is not the only good thing that happened to Tanya during her short stint in Paris and the Taiwan-based singer also fell deeply in love with baking, the same way she did with music. “When I started baking, it felt like when I just found music. I lost sleep over it, because I thought about it constantly, about how I could do better.”

“I’m happy being myself, and I’m happy that other than making music, I have baking, which makes me as happy,” she said.

last Sunday’s President’s Star Charity show and to promote her concert, Tanya revealed she has been hankering for local noodle dishes such as Hor Fun, and Ban Mian, but is unable to satisfy her cravings due to the strict diet she has to maintain in order to wear the tight fitting costumes at her upcoming concert.

Tanya shared that Lemuria will be split into three categories – retro music, electronic music, and her hot favourite love ballads and teased that fans will be in for a treat as she will be performing a dance number, which she claimed she “never rehearsed”.

“Four years is a very long time, there have been so many changes, [I] have so much new music to share with you.”

Catch Tanya Chua Lemuria 2016 World Tour on December 10, Saturday, 8 pm, at The Stars Performing Arts Centre. Tickets are priced at $98, $118, $138, $158, $178 (excluding booking fee) at Apactix.

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