From The Straits Times    |

Singapore singer Tay Kewei to join Voice of China with husband

Singapore singer Tay Kewei. Image: ST file photo

Home-grown Mandopop singer Tay Kewei will be joining the upcoming fourth season of popular Chinese television singing contest, The Voice Of China – possibly going head-to-head against her husband, Project Superstar champion Alfred Sim.

She was invited by the organisers of The Voice Of China to join the new season of the contest, according to Mr Dean Augustine, managing director of her label S2S.

Mr Augustine adds that the show’s producers flew her to Shanghai five times in the past month to take part in closed-door auditions, together with others such as Taiwanese-Australian singer Kimberley Chen.

Two months ago, Sim earned the chance to represent Singapore in the Chinese television contest when he beat nine other finalists, including singer-actress Bonnie Loo and fellow Project Superstar contestant Abigail Yeo, in a closed-door competition here.

Tay, 31, is currently in Shanghai for the recording of The Voice Of China‘s television round. When contacted by The Straits Times, she says: “We are still in the blind audition round, but if Alfred and I end up on the show together, I think it’ll be fun.

“We have very different styles of singing. Alfred is more of a rocker, while I’m more jazzy. So it’s up to the judges’ preferences. This competition is a personal challenge for me and it’s really about everyone being their best, but I hope Alfred can go as far as me or even further.”

Sim, 33, who is in Singapore, says he has not discussed with his wife the possibility of them competing directly with each other.

He adds: “I just hope we can move on to the next round together. If I do end up having to go up against her later, I’ll still have to do my best. In the end, it is still based on how the judges want you to sound like.”

The fourth season of The Voice Of China will air this month. It will be streamed live from China on Toggle, MediaCorp’s online video platform. It will be aired within the same week on Channel U.

Taiwanese megastar Jay Chou will be joining the judging panel for the first time this season.

The Voice Of China went global last season – its third – and was opened up to contestants from places such as Singapore and Malaysia.

This story was first published in The Straits Times on July 1, 2015. For similar stories, go to www.sph.straitstimes.com/lifestyle.

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