http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/life/story/0,4386,200961,00.html? Tanya gets her revenge By Hong Xinyi WHO says Tanya Chua is a has-been? STARTING AGAIN: After a two-year break, Tanya Chua is back with a robust- selling new album and a new romance. Robust sales of her current album Stranger have effectively squashed the contention in earlier media reports that her previous record company Universal Music had dropped her in 2001 because of lukewarm album sales. Stranger, her first Mandarin release since 2001, has sold 100,000 copies in Taiwan and 7,500 in Singapore since its release in May. 'It was a mutual agreement. They did offer to renew my contract, but I felt I would've died spiritually and emotionally if I had stayed. 'Promoting my music just felt ridiculous at that time. I didn't want to humour people, I didn't want to tell strangers about my love life. I just felt so empty and lost,' says Chua, who is now signed on to Warner Music. The break-up of her four-year relationship with Austrian musician- producer Lupo Groinig then did not help. 'My relationship wasn't going anywhere, I was just living each day very numbly,' she recalls in an interview at Four Seasons Hotel last Friday. At the suggestion of her management company, Music & Movement, she took some time off after her contract with Universal expired. 'I wanted to know what existed outside the walls of being a singer,' says the prolific songwriter who has composed for Faye Wong, Chang Huei-mei and Stefanie Sun. Her biggest adventure during the siesta was a solo backpacking trip to London and Paris last year. 'I felt so alive, not having to depend on anybody. Even though I was on my own, Paris still felt very romantic,' she notes with a smile. Maybe next time she could go with her new beau, 27-year-old Singaporean composer-producer Eric Ng, whom she thanks in Stranger's sleeve notes for 'your love, dedication and humour'. Ironically, the album that 'owes a lot' to her boyfriend also sees Chua taking a break from love songs. Stranger has two rock-styled tracks that deal with war and piracy. 'What's really unhealthy about the Taiwan music scene is that the songs are always about love and heartbreak. Maybe we're over-emphasising this whole love thing, and not seeing the rest of the world.' With a new album to promote, Chua also has to deal with journalists again. 'I've come to terms with the fact that I have to do silly promotional stuff, because that's how you get people to listen to your stuff. Otherwise, I might as well just sing in the shower,' she says. 'It doesn't mean I'm liking it better,' she adds with a grin. 'But I love the part when people hear my songs and feel a sense of connection.' Stranger is out in stores now. -- 台 台 西 小 中 古 台 公 万 景 大 七 新 新 顶 永 景 南 北 大 南 正 电 坪 店 安 势 车 医 门 门 纪 亭 大 馆 隆 美 林 张 市 店 溪 市 安 角 站 院 念 楼 公 场 100 99 99 99 98 97 96 95 94 93 91 91 90 89 95 93 92 92 0 369 986 167 404 472 596 695 129 66 918 69 170 58 322 967 902 211 --

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