[VIDEO] Wu Qing Feng On Being A Stefanie Sun Fanboy & How He And His Team Eat Two Pandan Cakes A Day On Average In Singapore

After eight years, Taiwanese band Sodagreen's lead vocalist Wu Qing Feng is finally back in Singapore to reunite with his fans. And, well, his favourite pandan cake. 

The 40-year-old Taiwanese singer was in town last weekend to perform at the One Love Asia Festival at the Bayfront Event Space.

When 8days.sg met up with the star at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel to chat about his new album Mallarme's Tuesday, Qing Feng was exactly what we expected him to be: witty and humorous.

He was also easygoing and unassuming. So much so that when we were busy setting up for the shoot, we didn't even notice that he had strolled meekly into the room. 

He came bearing gifts for us as well: An autographed album that he had prepared prior to the interview.

"I've written your name on it, so you can't sell it to anyone after this. Unless you're giving to someone who has the same name (laughs)," he joked.

Speaking of his album, not only is it one of the most unique Chinese releases we've heard in a while, it also includes collaborations with local artistes like singer-songwriter Jasmine Sokko and Stefanie Sun, whom Qing Feng refers to as our "national flower".  

Truth is, he's a huge Stef fanboy. Can you imagine that?

Watch our video below and you'll see. Our story continues below.

8DAYS: Mallarme's Tuesday is filled with collaborations with different artistes. What made you want to do such an album at this point of your career? 

QING FENG: Actually, it wasn’t something that was decided beforehand. After collaborating with several artistes, I felt that it was quite fun to make music with different people. That was how I came up with this idea to treat music like a salon, where you get to communicate with many different people.

Your song with Stefanie Sun, 'Drunkard Ah Q', is the first time you're working with her even though you've been friends for a long time. What took you guys so long?

When we were working on ['Drunkard Ah Q'], we thought, “Yeah, how can it be that we’re only collaborating now?” It feels like we would be such a good fit. 

We’ve indeed known each other for quite a long time but previously we weren’t that close. After all, I still feel like a fanboy of hers. Even though I know her and have her contact, I don't dare to disturb or initiate conversations with her (laughs). But all these while, whenever there were updates about me on social media, if she sees them, she’d express her concerns through our mutual friends or even send me supplements. I always feel a lot of warmth when I receive love from her.

This time when I was recording the demo, I was singing the song and Stefanie’s voice just kept appearing in my mind. I felt that she was really suitable for the song, so I mustered the courage to send the demo to her. (laughs)

What was her reaction when she heard the demo?

Honestly I was excited yet, at the same time, scared of rejection. Of course, I felt she was a good fit so I reached out to her, but I didn’t want to pressure her. Like if I asked her personally, she might feel bad to say that she doesn’t like it. 

That's why I contacted her through a friend, so that if she felt that it wasn’t suitable for her, she’d be able to say it freely. The friend said that when [Stef] heard the song, she immediately said, “I love it”. I felt so happy (beams).

Your duet with Stefanie is a song based on alcohol. Why?

When I wrote the song, I wanted to express the idea that "everyone thinks that they’re sober, but what if when you think I’m drunk, I’m actually the one who’s most awake?" It’s meant to describe the relationship between how certain I am of myself and how others misinterpret me. It's kinda like my own autobiography.

When Stefanie's voice kept appearing in my mind, I felt that she was like a little fairy guiding me. I've loved her music for a really long time, and her songs have helped me through many important points of my life. 

When I told her about my thoughts [on the song], she said she also really liked the idea of "not caring about what others are thinking as long as we're sure of what we're doing".

Then we only realised, after we were done with the song and were filming the music video, that the first time we met was actually at a drinking party. It was at a friend’s gathering. Both of us arrived late and when we reached, all our friends were already drunk. We only recalled later that the day we met we were surrounded by drunkards! (Laughs) 

Wu Qing Feng's Mallarme's Tuesday

Are you someone who enjoys going out for a drink with your friends?

I'd say I'm not someone who needs alcohol to loosen and open up. I just drink because I like to (laughs). I don't get drunk that easily either. But I do enjoy the feeling of gathering with my friends and watching them being able to relax [after a glass or two]. 

Do you prefer to get yourself drunk whenever you're feeling upset?

No. When I'm feeling sad I don't want to drink. When I'm sad, I'd do my chores. (Laughs) For example if I feel like my mind is in a mess, I'd find a spot in my house that I've been too lazy to clean up, maybe just a mirror that no one would even notice, and clean it till it's perfect. I would feel much better after that (laughs). 

He's finally back in Singapore after eight years

Do you remember when was the last time you came to Singapore?

I honestly didn't remember but when I was performing that day, I asked the audience and they reminded me that it was 2014... when I was on tour with my band.  

Did you meet up with Stefanie, who also performed at the One Love Asia Festival, in Singapore this time?

Yesterday we met for a while in the hotel because she was doing her make-up here and I went to visit her before she went on stage.

She asked me why I kept staying in the hotel instead of going out, and she really wanted to host us and ask us out for dinner. But we’ve been finishing work at 9 to 10pm every day and it was too late to go out for dinner. It was such a pity. Next time I wish to have more time just to hang out with you, Stefanie, our national flower! (chuckles)

Is there anything you must eat whenever you come to Singapore?

Pandan cake. For the past few days, my team and I have been eating pandan cakes, one after another. On average, every day we eat two pandan cakes. Of course I didn’t eat by myself but five to six of us could eat two pandan cakes a day. (Laughs) I’ve been here for four days already. So the cleaner at the hotel probably wonders every day, why is there another pandan cake box? (Laughs)

Are you intending to bring any pandan cakes back to Taiwan?

Yes, because all our friends who know that we’re coming to Singapore told us to buy things back for them, like coffee, snacks and pandan cake. But those orders from my friends I’d leave it to my team. I just need to make sure I buy one back for my mother.

Actually this time, my mother and family really wanted to come over, but after they found out I was only going to sing for 40 minutes, they said they would just come next time. (Laughs)

But I think my mother would be very angry that I didn’t tell her Stefanie Sun was performing, otherwise she’d really want to come. So Stefanie, please have a concert soon so that I can bring my mother to Singapore to play! 

Would you be a guest performer at her concert if she has one?

Oh, no matter what Stefanie wants me to do, I’d willingly do it.

Photos: Universal Music Taiwan, Wu Qing Feng/Instagram