Learning to live and let live is what Penny Tai lives by, writes Loong Wai Ting
THROUGHOUT her 16-year career as a singer, songwriter, composer, producer, music video director, photographer, band leader and occasionally actress, Penny Tai has seen many ups and downs in the local Chinese music industry.
Known for popular tunes like Ni Yao De Ai, Crazy Love, On The Way Home and Forgive Me For Being The Girl I Am, Tai, 38, from Segamat, Johor, is also one of the most successful Malaysian artistes that the country has ever produced.
“Whenever I win something, people think it is due to my own effort. But if I can thank all the people who have helped me to become who I am today, the list will be endless. It saddens me sometimes when people don’t see the collective teamwork that goes into the making an album or a song,” says Tai at a showcase for her latest album, Thief, in Kuala Lumpur.
DOUBTS AND TENACITY
The petite Tai says she feels incredibly lucky to have been recognised for her hard work all these years. “Looking back, I never thought I’d come this far on this amazing journey. There were times when I questioned myself: ‘what if no one is going to listen to my songs anymore?’, ‘should I quit and move on to something else?’,” she says.
But an inner voice kept urging her to not give up, so Tai, who snagged Producer Of The Year award at the 2014 Taiwan Golden Melody Awards (the Chinese Grammy equivalent), kept writing music for herself and other artistes.
Not surprisingly, all these thoughts of hers are included in her latest album.
“When I wrote Piano Keys (taken off Thief), I wanted it to be a constant reminder that life is all about making things happen. For the most part, the album is like a diary. It chronicles how I felt all these years — feeling lonely despite being surrounded by people who love me and those that I have come to love,” she says.
A ROCKING BAND
The soft-spoken Tai started writing songs when she was 17. She once took part in the Halo Songwriting Contest in KL and was spotted by her then-manager Eric Chen, who offered her a music contract under EMI Records.
Her decision to accept the offer saw her moving to Taiwan, where she immediately worked on her first studio album, Penny (2000). To date, Tai has released 12 studio albums, including one live album.
In 2011, she formed her own self-styled indie rock/pop band Buddha Jump as a side project. Not before long, fans began to notice the lead vocalist, who was none other than Tai herself.
The five-year-old band comprises Tai (otherwise affectionately known as Ah Nee in the band), Alibula (drummer), Yar (keyboardist), guitarists Howe and SMH, and OD (bassist).
Last year, the band made headlines both at home and abroad after winning Best Band and Best Music Arrangement at the 2015 Golden Melody Awards. The band has since played in numerous cities, including Hong Kong and Singapore.
PROLIFIC SONGWRITER
Tai has written over 500 songs, not only for herself but also for various big names, including Hong Kong singers Miriam Yeung and Gigi Leung, Taiwan’s Rachel Liang and China’s Koala Liu. She has even written for other Malaysian artistes, including Victor Wong and Lee Sinje.
She has also directed music videos for established artistes like Jam Hsiao and Khalil Fong. For film, Tai has made appearances in Aniu’s 2010 rom-com, Ice Kacang Puppy Love, and Mo Kissu, directed by her brother, Tai Ming Fei.
A trained ballerina, Tai also plays the piano and guitar. “The reason I picked up the guitar was to prove that people with small hands can master string instruments as well,” she told me in a previous interview.
Tai loves challenges. “The harder things are, the more determined I am to prove that I can do it,” she says.
It’s this never-back-down attitude that has won her a legion of fans from all walks of life.
MATURED AND NURTURING
Tai, who is married to Taiwanese Sydney Lu, says that in the past, she loved to daydream of that perfect little life.
Now slightly older and more matured, she prefers to spend her time and energy on writing and nurturing new talents instead.
“Things were so much easier in the past. Life is so much different when you are single. You can reflect on past relationships any time you like. These days, my focus is different. Life needs balance,” she says.
However, the thought of having children is still very far off in her mind. “We’ll just let nature take its course. I promise I will work hard,” she says, rubbing her belly.
Besides managing her own solo career and a band, Tai is also producing an album for up-and-coming local artiste, Quek Shio Yee, under her own label, Ni Le Fo (Never Fall), which she set up three years ago.
A singer herself, Quek is also local filmmaker Quek Shio Chuan’s younger sister. Tai was impressed with Shio Yee’s talent after watching her at a singing competition in 2014 and offered her a singing contract.
When asked how she sees herself then and now, the energetic singer said she has learnt to relax. “I was a multitasker. I could do multiple things at any one time but I was usually drained by the end of the day. Now, I have learnt to concentrate on one thing at a time. I take it easy and don’t force myself too hard. I hope that the fans will like the new me,” she says.
As for the future, Tai is happy at the how things are taking shape. However, when asked about the dates to her anticipated concert, she says: “The dates have not been set. I know I owe my fans a concert. It looks like we’ll have to wait a little longer.”
A close source revealed that there was no suitable venue so far for the concert.
Thief, which was recorded at La Fabrique Studio in Saint-Remy de Provence, in the south of France, features 11 tracks. All the songs have a heavy element of rock and indie pop. Melody-wise, the songs sound more jazzy than Tai’s previous albums. The lyrics, as usual, are very honest and straightforward.
Thief is now available at music stores, and on iTunes and Spotify.