HagenTroy, the Singaporean singer-songwriter, formerly known as Hagen Tan, has composed hit singles for some of Asia’s biggest popstars, including Jolin Tsai, Harlem Yu and Wilber Pan. For five years running, he’s been one of Sony
With such a glittering track record, matinee idol looks and a killer physique, one would expect a certain amount of swagger and ego-centricity. Yet the artiste’s anxiety remains decidedly palpable throughout Men’s Folio’s five-hour photo-shoot. It boils down to his sense of perfectionism. He likes doing a job and doing it well.
“After Jolin Tsai’s A Wonder in Madrid became number one across Asia, and made her the best-selling Taiwanese artist of 2006, I wondered if I could outdo myself. But I work better with stress,” he says, adding that this rationale extends to his daily gym routine. “I never feel that the weights are enough for me! It’s only when I feel pain that I know I’ve done something.”
His insecurities stem primarily from the influence of his mother, an international beauty judge, with whom he lives. “I was born in a family where presentation and image are paramount. My mum always reminded me that no matter how good you are, there’ll always be someone better than you. My parents never once congratulated me even though I did well in school.” His ego would suffer further bruising along the way – by school bullies and love interests. “In school, I was often the teacher’s pet, and the other students hated it. In my first few relationships, I was always the one who got dumped.”
These days, it’s he who has the last laugh. His debut full-length album, simply titled HagenTroy, is slated for a year-end release. It features a collaboration with renowned American producer Brandon ‘B.’ Williams, who has worked with artistes like Beyonce and Janet Jackson. “It was (Williams) who tracked me down in Taiwan, got my number and started talking to me about songwriting. So I invited him to work with me on this album,” he says in an unwitting humblebrag. There are those whose insecurities precipitate an endless spiral of despair and self-destruction. Then there are those like HagenTroy, whose self-doubt have paradoxically spurred him on to greater heights.
Tell us about how you went from being Hagen Tan to being HagenTroy. I understand that your mentor in Taiwan advised a name change?
Troy is my middle name. Tan is my family name. Earlier this year, my mentor advised that I should combine my first name with my middle name so that it’s more special. It’s like Lady Gaga. You don’t hear a name like that all the time.
How is life different under your new moniker?
It hasn’t been that different because Hagen and Troy have always been my names. But my Chinese name has changed completely – it’s gone from 陳孟奇 to 陳俊達. Having said that, I’m still me, just a more ‘let loose’ version. Before this, I was trying to find myself.
You were trying to find yourself?
You know how when you’re younger, you have idols whom you want to emulate? I was like that. But now, I’m comfortable just being myself. The company (Sony
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“The music business makes me feel like i can create something from nothing that excites me.”
Would you say that the process has been a redefinition of your identity?
After my ‘rebranding’, I feel like I’m not living for anyone else. It’s a new look, a new style, without any dictation by others. This means I have a lot more input in who I work with, the music, style, theme, ideas and concepts.
What attracted you to the music/entertainment business and what keeps you interested?
I like the fact that it’s always changing. I get bored easily. The music business makes me feel like I can create something from nothing. That excites me.
How has the local entertainment scene changed since you first started?
It’s very different. People are now more receptive to Singaporeans. That’s a good thing. Stephanie (Sun), Tanya (Chua), JJ (Lin) – they’re all doing their own thing. They’re not trying to look or sound like someone else. There have their own identities, and it’s getting more pronounced.
Do you think you would have been as successful if you only composed English songs?
Dick Lee made it! When I was in the UK, I wrote songs in English. But then I met my first manager in Singapore, and he told me to write more songs in Mandarin. I sold my first Mandarin song, Baby Bye, to (Taiwanese-American Mandopop singer) Wilber Pan. It made me more international. There are a lot of good songwriters from Singapore and Malaysia, and they’re all told to go to Taiwan, because the Taiwanese are very good at marketing and packaging.
Let’s talk about your new album, HagenTroy. What are the themes that you’ll explore?
I’m a big Michael Jackson fan. His song, Man in the Mirror, is about self-reflection and self-realisation. Those are topics that’ll feature heavily in this album. Thinking about how to do things better: my career, my life, how to give my parents a better life, etc.
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“I’m a big michael jackson fan. his song, man in the mirror, is about self-reflection and self-realisation. those are topics that’ll feature heavily on my new album.”
What goes through your mind when you’re composing for another artiste, as opposed to writing songs for your own album?
When you listen to songs composed by Jay Chou, any artist apart from A-Mei will tend to sound like him. I’m not saying that’s bad, but I want to stand in another person’s shoes and create songs specially for this person. I don’t have a hidden agenda, like wanting to make myself an iconic figure. Some singers can hit the high notes; others can sing in all keys. That’s how I see it. I always listen to their previous albums, and then think of ways to push the creative envelope, so that there’s a new sound for them.
Among all the artistes you’ve worked with, whom did you have the closest affinity to?
I won’t give you a politically correct answer. It was fun to work with (mainland Chinese pop singer) Zhang Liangying (Jane Zhang) who came in third place in the 2005 edition of China’s Super Girl singing competition. I wrote Close to You (靠近你) for her in 2009, and she made it sound like her own. The other one I really like is (Taiwanese singer) Liang Wen Yin (Rachael Liang). The way she sang Love Has Always Existed (愛一直存在), the first number in her second album, touched me. The last one that I really like is (Taiwanese Pop Queen) Jolin Tsai. After the song A Wonder in Madrid (馬德里不思議) became number one across Asia, and made her the bestselling Taiwanese artist of 2006, it made my life simultaneously easier and more stressful. She used that song to go into schools to teach the kids to dance. After the success of that song, I wondered if I could outdo myself. But I work better with stress. If I’m not stressed, I feel like I haven’t done enough.
What do you hope to achieve through your music? Is there a message you tend to communicate through your lyrics?
It’s always been about love and being yourself.
Head over to our gallery to see more hot shots from our shoot with HagenTroy.
Photography: Kean Wong
Photography Assistants: Mun & Alfred Phang
Styling: Wei Lun
Styling Assistant: Samantha Barnes
Hair: Ash Loi
Makeup: Angel Gwee
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