PUCHONG (Bernama): To meet the growing demands of her career in China, popular singer Shila Amzah is planning to move to the country by the end of next year.
Shila, who made a name for herself in China after winning the reality competition ‘Asian Wave’ in Shanghai in 2012, said the move would allow her husband and children to be with her while reducing the time spent apart whenever she travels overseas for work.
"I will be signing another contract, but I cannot reveal its duration or what it is about. What I can say is that the contract is quite long, which is why we have set a target to move there.
"Travelling back and forth can be exhausting. Whenever I need to be overseas for three or four days, I have to leave my children behind. That is one of the sacrifices I have to make, but at the same time, I want my children to see what their mother does and feel proud,” she said at a press conference yesterday on her ‘KITA’ concert on Aug 15.
According to the singer, whose hit songs include ‘Patah Seribu’, her husband also supports the plan as his work is flexible and allows him to adjust according to the family’s needs.
Shila, 36, whose full name is Nurshahila Amir Amzah, previously stayed in China for about eight years after expanding her career there in 2012. She dismissed the perception that her decision to return to China was because she felt more appreciated there than in Malaysia.
"It is not about where I am more appreciated. Wherever there is an opportunity for me to earn, that is where I will go. This does not mean I am forgetting my fans here because I am still producing albums and holding concerts in Malaysia. I am trying to find a balance,” she said.
The former ‘Gegar Vaganza’ Season Nine contestant is currently working on a full Mandarin album specifically for the Chinese market, which is expected to be released next year.
Shila said the past challenges that once hindered her progress have not dampened her determination to embark on a new phase of her career.
"The opportunity to return to China did not come easily, but I remind myself that I can start something new regardless of my age,” she said.
Meanwhile, Shila’s upcoming concert, to be held at the Arena of Stars, Resorts World Genting, is set to celebrate her 25 years in the music industry. Organised by Pink Asia Entertainment, the concert will feature 40 songs in Mandarin, Malay and English.
"To perform 40 songs, I have to prepare like an athlete. I exercise almost every day, spend time in the studio daily and study every musical arrangement carefully to ensure the performance goes smoothly,” she said.
The ‘Memori Tercipta’ singer said the concert would showcase a different side of her through more energetic performances and dance elements, alongside the ballads that have become her trademark.
She will also dedicate a special segment as a tribute to three music legends who have inspired her throughout her 25-year career - the late Datuk Sudirman Haji Arshad, King of Pop Michael Jackson and Fish Leong, the Malaysian-born singer who made her mark in Taiwan.
Shila said the concert would also feature local artistes from various genres, including Mimi Fly, Hael Husaini, Kidd Santhe, DJ Fuzz and Balan Kashmir, in line with the ‘KITA’ theme, which celebrates the diversity of local talent while allowing her to explore musical genres she has rarely performed before.
Tickets priced between RM149 and RM599 are available via www.rwgenting.com and www.ticket2u.com.my -- BERNAMA
