Singaporean singer WhyLucas has taken a break from studies to focus on his music. Photo: SAMUEL ONG/The Star
When Singaporean artiste WhyLucas paused his studies at the National University of Singapore in 2024 to compete on the reality show Chuang Asia 2, he did so with hopes of earning a spot in a new international boy group.
Although he didn’t make the final seven-member lineup, he has no regrets.
“I knew I didn’t want a corporate job... I just wanted to do music. Taking a break from school and joining this programme was a dream turned into reality.
“It’s better to go for something now than look back thinking you should’ve done it in the past,” the 23-year-old told StarLifestyle in an exclusive interview.
For 2026, WhyLucas hopes to maintain his curiosity and keep on learning new things to keep himself energised. Photo: SAMUEL ONG/The StarFilmed in Bangkok, Chuang Asia 2 began with 60 hopefuls from China, South Korea, Japan, the United States and beyond.
Contestants faced gruelling performances, weekly rankings, as well as the watchful eyes of celebrity judges and a worldwide audience.
After nearly five months of intense competition, WhyLucas – whose stage name fuses his English name Lucas with the initials of his Chinese name Wang Hong Yi – placed 18th among the 21 finalists.
Despite the outcome, the experience taught him many invaluable lessons, particularly the importance of staying true to himself.
Despite not winning a spot in the final lineup in 'Chuang Asia 2', WhyLucas has no regrets. Photo: SAMUEL ONG/The Star“A lot of times on the show, we faced precarious situations, especially near eliminations when people would argue and you’re caught in the middle.
“In those moments, it’s important to listen to your gut and stay true to your morals,” he said.
Rigorous routine
WhyLucas’s passion for music began at the age of six, when his father returned from a work trip to the Philippines with a guitar.
He showed natural talent for playing the instrument and later enrolled for classes to further refine his skills.
By 17, the singer was producing his own tracks on the online music platform GarageBand, before eventually taking his talents to the streets as a busker.
Between 2022 and 2024, WhyLucas released singles such as Lonely People, Fall, Oh, Krissy Baby! and more.
After a while, the singer felt his career had hit a plateau, and Chuang Asia 2 became the push he needed.
“My friend told me this show was huge in China and encouraged me to audition.
“After three rounds of auditions, I started my training in November 2024,” he said.
Life on the show was a relentless grind.
Days were packed with nonstop filming of the contestants’ daily lives, over seven hours of practice and endless promotional shoots.
“I wasn’t too nervous about being on camera all the time because I’ve always loved being in front of an audience.
“However, I was mindful of my body language and how I carried myself.
“You always have to show your best, no matter how you’re feeling,” he added.
The leap from busker to idol trainee was far from easy for WhyLucas, who admitted he spent up to 10 hours a day honing his dance skills – a discipline entirely new to him.
A screengrab of WhyLucas from 'Chuang Asia 2'. Photo: HandoutTo cope with the pressure, he relied on compartmentalising his challenges.
“If I struggle with singing or dancing, I remind myself that each challenge is separate.
“I know I have to do both at the same time on stage, but to perform at my best, I tackle each problem individually.
“It helps me manage stress and stay fully present in the moment,” he said.
Since the competition, WhyLucas has remained focused on music.
He released an EP titled Orange in September 2025, followed by two singles, Weekend Plans and Tulips, in December.
“The journey isn’t over yet... I want to keep making music and doing what I love,” he said.
1. Choosing music as a full-time career comes with its share of uncertainty. Were your parents hesitant when you shared that decision with them?
They weren’t very supportive at first and questioned my choice.
But I’ve always been a “just do it” person and don’t really let other people’s opinions stop me.
For me, if things work out, great. If they don’t then it’s still a lesson learned.
I think my parents’ perspective only changed after Chuang Asia 2.
They flew from Singapore to Bangkok to watch me. When they saw how I was able to present myself properly on camera and hold my ground, they became more relaxed.
It was then that they started to trust that this path might actually work out for me. They’re very supportive of me now.
2. How would you describe your music style to someone who’s unfamiliar with your discography?
That’s a question I still ask myself a lot.
One thing that’s certain is I’d never release a track if I feel it’s not catchy or sounds empty.
I like playing around with different genres – everything from folk and blues to pop.
It’s honestly very experimental. I enjoy combining different sounds from the 1980s, 2000s and even the 1960s.
I listen to a lot of Motown (a style of soul music with a mainstream pop-influenced sound), as well as artistes like Elvis Presley and Ed Sheeran.
I take inspiration from all of them and am hoping to eventually join their ranks as one of the greats if possible.
3. You’re currently in your second year of business studies at the National University of Singapore. Why did you choose this subject?
I started out in computer science but switched to business because I wanted more time to focus on music.
I knew I wanted to be a musician who has a degree, regardless of the subject.
I feel like business people are generally very driven. Being surrounded by people who are motivated pushes me, and I want to network with them.
4. How do you balance between studies and music?
To be honest, I haven’t studied much since my first year.
Back then, the whole music thing wasn’t really working out for me as I didn’t have the exposure or the right team. I was mostly just winging it and figuring things out as I went along.
Going on Chuang Asia 2 really helped me understand what I needed to do.
I was also introduced to some great people thanks to the show, and they eventually became part of my present team.
I maybe did like 10% to 20% of studying at that time. But thankfully, it’s now 0% studying because I took a gap year to focus on music (laughs).
5. What can fans expect from you this year, both in terms of music and your personal growth?
I’ve got a few shows coming up and will be sharing some tracks I’ve performed that haven’t made it to Spotify yet.
I’ll be rearranging them and rolling them out gradually.
In terms of personal growth, I want to be as natural and authentic as possible for my fans.
I don’t think I’m great yet, but I hope that with time, I can grow into that and show people that you can do great things just by being yourself.
Also, I want to maintain my curiosity and keep on learning new things to keep myself energised.
I thrive on good energy and want to keep that momentum going.
