Ben How Returns with New Album After Seven Years, Angeline Wong to Hold Solo Concert on September 5

Kuala Lumpur, July 28 — Malaysian recording label Haosheng Records has unveiled new solo albums by its artistes Hou Junhui and Huang Xiaofeng, titled Life Is Like a Stage Play and Waiting in Sorrow respectively. Adding to the celebration, Huang also announced her upcoming solo concert, Classic Love 2.0, scheduled for September 5.

Known as the "Hokkien Little Prince," Hou Junhui has been active in the music industry since 1995. After a seven-year hiatus, he returns with his 10th studio album. Joking about his youthful appearance, Hou said he "made his debut at the age of five," adding that people should not assume he is as old as they think. He also laughed that the title "Hokkien Little Prince" should perhaps be passed on to the company's newly signed Indonesian Hokkien singer, Lin Genzhen.

Hou explained that the new album features a refreshed image and modern arrangements of several classic songs, including DJ dance versions that give familiar melodies a new energy. The title track, Life Is Like a Stage Play, was specially written based on his decades-long music career and his years managing a traditional opera troupe.

The album also reunites Hou with longtime collaborator Huang Xiaofeng for a duet of Just Like Your Tenderness. Hou joked that while he was delighted to work with her again under the same record label, he was also "a little unwilling" because he had gone from being her senior to becoming her junior.

Meanwhile, Huang Xiaofeng's latest album Waiting in Sorrow also marks the announcement of her long-awaited solo concert. She revealed that recording the title song was especially challenging, as voice problems forced her to enter the recording studio three separate times before completing the track.

Huang thanked the music video's director for creating a romantic storyline spanning two centuries and casting Sky Dancers leader and entertainer Chua Kai Chung as her co-star.

One of the album's featured tracks, Be Sure to Speak Kindly to Your Mother, holds special meaning for Huang. She shared that her 80-year-old mother suffered a stroke last year and is still recovering. Unable to take her mother out as before, Huang hopes the song reminds listeners to cherish and care for their parents while they still can.

The album also includes two duet songs—one with fashion designer and singer Tang Guan Wei, and another with Hou Junhui. Huang laughed that promotional wedding-themed photos taken for the music video of Wedding Cha Cha led many fans to mistakenly believe the longtime singing partners had finally tied the knot.

Huang Xiaofeng's Classic Love 2.0 concert will take place on September 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Dominus Arts Venue, Fairview International School, Kuala Lumpur, featuring special guest performances by Qiao Hua, Cheng Huiwen and Hokkien diva Gao Wenwen.