PROJECT SuperStar alumna Chew Sin Huey now has an English name - Sing.She and her record label Warner Music came up with the monicker, and if it sounds corny, well, she doesn't think so.

The Malaysian crooner said yesterday: "I never had an English name before, so I need something that I can believe in. Sing represents my passion for singing."

Chew, 25, found fame in Channel U???s Project SuperStar reality singing contest last year. She faced Singaporean Kelly Poon in the finals of the female category. Poon went on to win this while Chew was runner-up. But the overall title went to former busker Kelvin Tan.

Chew released her first album, From Taipei To Beijing, last week, and met reporters here at Fluid Bar and Lounge in Far East Square yesterday. The10-track Mandarin album features mostly ballads and mid-tempo songs about romance and heartbreaks, and includes a duet with Tan.

However, reporters were more keen to talk about a music video she starred in than her album.

In the video for the title track - a Mandarin cover of the Danish dance track From Paris To Berlin made famous by Danish duo Infernal - Chew is prancing about in Taipei's Ximending shopping district when she unbuttons the top of a school uniform to reveal a black bra.

It is a shocking move for someone whose plain Jane image received flak from judges in Project SuperStar. But Chew said she did not think she was being too raunchy in the video. "I have seen others in Sentosa wearing bikinis more revealing. I don't think I've gone overboard."

She added with a laugh: "It would be good if endorsements from bra companies come knocking. But it will have to be six months or one year later, when I have toned up my body and am more confident about showing off my body."

Warner Music's marketing director James Kang said Chew???s new image was inspired by J-pop sex kittens Koda Kumi and Ayumi Hamasaki and reflects her confident nature. But, he admitted, a show of flesh is a good way to get a new artiste noticed.

"Showbiz is very realistic. We need packaging to promote talent. With such a good voice like Sing???s, we need more packaging to make sure everyone knows how good she is."

The ploy seems to have worked. A 26-second clip of the video has been playing on online video website YouTube since last week even though the video was not officially released by the record label. It has since received more than 40,000views.

Netizens are divided on the bra move though. Some left disapproving comments,while others are happy that Chew has moved on from her earlier boring image.She is sanguine about the reaction. "Everyone has his own views. I will listen to them and work harder to improve myself."

From Taipei To Beijing is out in major music stores now.

This story was first published in The Straits Times on December 5, 2006.

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