Eason Chan: Time We Spend Together

He is the definition of pop royalty. A superb singer, performer and instrumentalist, Eason Chan has been a consistent force at the Golden Melody Awards since the late 1990s. His GMA resume speaks for itself: Eason is a three-time winner of the GMA Best Male Vocalist—Mandarin award – the last of which he won in 2018. He’s also been awarded Best Mandarin Album and Album of the Year. When Apple Music invited Eason to share his favourite tracks, he was more than ready to get behind the wheel and compose a mix fit for the road. “I have this habit of playing songs while I drive that make me feel good and make the trip more relaxed,” Chan says. “But I also want to take the chance to share some great, lesser-known songs.” The majority of artists that made his playlist hail from Hong Kong—a composition Eason admits was by design. Even the title has special meaning. “It’s because I put in a fair amount of time getting to know these songs, and I hope everyone can join me in spending a little time with them.” There’s fresh talent from Hong Kong that Eason is charged up about, such as Sukie Chung’s “Nude”. While Eason admits it was the name that first caught his eye – he says it’s rare to get an electronic dance song like this one in the Cantopop scene, and that he particularly likes the guitar part. “It’s very stylish. It’s one of those songs I can keep listening to on repeat.” Other Hong Kong newcomers Eason is itching to share include Adrian Fu and Jay Fung, as well as groups Dusty Bottle, ONE PROMISE and GDJYB. Chan also took a little extra time out to introduce “Diving” by Hins Cheung: “What really hooked me is its somewhat irregular melody, pretty rare in both Chinese and Western pop music. And this was a bold attempt for Hins, his emotive performance covers a wide range. The whole song brings positive energy.” Eason also gives a thumb up to Kelly Chen’s “My Love”, on which she marks her return to music after a two-year hiatus with a touching, pure performance. Another standout for Eason is Yoga Lin’s Cantopop track “Worse Comes To Worst”: “For someone from Taiwan, he had the courage to try and sing in Cantonese. He made a point to seek out Eric Kwok to supervise, and songwriter Terence Lam, another new talent I admire very much. Pair that with Wyman’s lyrics and the on-point arrangements of Isaac Chong, and it’s clear he put in a lot into developing this project, and the overall effect is perfect.” Eason has a special appreciation for the vocal talents of Ellen Loo: “She brings something different to the audience every time, showing her individuality and unique appeal.” Eason explains what makes an outstanding singer: “a sincere love for what you do.” “It’s not a condition or goal of your performance to move your audience, but rather to interpret each song with sincerity,” Eason says, adding this genuine style is what resonates with listeners. So hit the road with Eason’s playlist and spend some quality time with his current favourites from Hong Kong’s vibrant music scene.