Golden Melody: Tanya Chua wins Best Mandarin Female Singer

Kaohsiung, July 2 (CNA) Singaporean pop diva and songwriter Tanya Chua (蔡健雅) triumphed over five other nominees to take home a record-breaking fourth Best Mandarin Female Singer award at the 33rd Golden Melody Awards (GMA) ceremony in Kaohsiung Saturday for her album "DEPART."

An industry veteran of 25 years, Chua joked that fans might be tired of listening to her voice as she accepted her award from Taiwanese singer Elva Hsiao (蕭亞軒).

"I've always strived to stay passionate about music and curious about the world, and I hope my music can continue to resonate with people and act as a source of refuge," Chua told the crowd at the Kaohsiung Arena.

The other nominees for the Best Mandarin Female Singer award were Chinese-American music artist Karencici for "99% Angel," Taiwanese singer Faye (詹雯婷) for "Faye, Wen Ting Zhan Zai Yun Cai Shang Tiao Wu Ji Ji Zha Zha," Taiwanese singer-songwriter of Amis descent Ilid Kaolo (以莉高露) for "Longing," Taiwanese singer-songwriter Waa Wei (魏如萱) for "HAVE A NICE DAY," and Chinese singer-songwriter TIA RAY (袁婭維) for "ONCE UPON A MOON."

"DEPART," released in August 2021, is Chua's latest studio album and was nominated for eight awards at this year's GMAs.

"DEPART" was also nominated for Album of the Year, Best Mandarin Album, Best Vocal Album Recording, Best Album Producer, with additional nominations in the Best Lyricist category for the track "Into The Wild," and Song of the Year and Best Composer for the song "Bluebirds."

The Singaporean singer, who took home Best Mandarin Female Singer at the Golden Melody Awards in 2006, 2008, and 2012, beat out 2020 winner and five-time nominee Waa Wei (魏如萱) with her latest triumph.

With the latest win, Chua, 47, is now the most awarded artist in the Golden Melody Best Mandarin Female Singer category, with her fourth triumph taking her one past Taiwan musical legend A-mei (張惠妹) on three.

Earlier in the evening, Chua's "DEPART" also won Best Vocal Album Recording.

The 33rd Golden Melody Awards were held in Kaohsiung this year, the first time in 17 years the southern port city has hosted the event.

Founded in 1990, the Golden Melody Awards honors musical artists in the Chinese-speaking world, recognizing outstanding achievements from those working in the Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka, and Indigenous music industries.

Golden Melody Awards

★ Tanya Chua's 'DEPART' emerges as night's biggest winner

★ EggPlantEgg wins Song of the Year

★ Collage wins Best New Artist

★ Special Contribution Award goes to two songwriters, one posthumously

★ Cui Jian wins Best Mandarin Male Singer