Malaysian singer Rax Teh is kicking off this Chinese New Year with plenty of excitement.
Firstly, he has dropped his festive track All In For The New Year – a collaboration featuring fellow local talents Xair Pang, Andy Lau, Alan Seow, Ezen Chan, Zev Leong, Vincent Chin and Tyrell Low.
“The song has a catchy, feel-good melody, complete with lively choreography and a fun music video,” the 37-year-old said in an exclusive interview with StarLifestyle.
“My main goal for this project is to have it transcend generations... so listeners of all ages can sing and dance along because CNY is all about having fun with those around you.”
While Teh usually keeps his CNY celebrations spontaneous, one tradition remains.
“I always make it a point to attend family gatherings and catch up with my relatives from overseas... just enjoy the good food and spend quality time together,” he said.
But this year, the festivities come with a special twist as Teh will be travelling to Hong Kong for a fan meet with his followers, affectionately dubbed the Dolphin Family.
“I’m super excited about this event. It’s the most exciting thing for me this CNY!”
Rising through adversity
Hailing from Penang, Teh – who grew up listening to Abba, Whitney Houston, Jennifer Lopez and more – always knew he wanted to pursue music despite the industry’s unpredictability.
“I’ve always wanted to show my artistic side to people. Even though music isn’t the most stable career choice, I wanted to make something out of it because I genuinely enjoy the craft. I can’t see myself doing anything else,” he said.
Teh first entered the music scene in 2009 after winning the local singing contest Pop Star: Idol Battle.
“The pain was so overwhelming to the point I couldn’t speak, bite or open my mouth. Because of this, I had to take a break from pursuing music,” he shared.
Describing it as the darkest period of his life, Teh admitted he struggled with depression.
He credits his mum, whom he calls his “ray of sunshine in life”, for helping him push through.
“My mum always encourages me, reminding me to stay optimistic and never give up. Her words have stayed with me throughout my life, guiding me wherever I go. I’m so lucky to have someone like her,” he shared with a smile.
“I was told the process had about a 60% success rate, but that was enough for me.
“Thankfully, the doctor’s treatment worked, and I began to recover slowly. I could finally open my mouth, speak, eat and soon sing again,” he recalled.
Chasing the dream
Teh returned to the music industry in 2013 by participating in the Astro Star Quest singing contest, where he emerged as the runner-up.
In 2014, he spread his wings overseas, joining the third season of Taiwan’s reality show The Chinese Million Star and finishing in seventh place.
Over the years, Teh remained active in the industry, collaborating with local artistes on CNY releases and appearing as a guest performer at numerous events.
In 2024, he signed with TVBI – the international operating arm of Hong Kong broadcast giant TVB.
Teh’s popularity soared in 2025 when he joined the third season of the TVB reality singing competition Midlife, Sing & Shine!, finishing in eighth place.
“Even though I was really nervous, I decided to give it a shot because life is all about taking chances.
“I’ve always imagined what it would be like to perform on that stage one day, and luckily for me, I was fortunate enough to rank in the top eight,” he said.
Life on the show was a mental test for Teh, who admitted that the intense challenges sometimes pushed him to the brink of quitting.
On top of facing rejections and criticism, watching fellow Malaysian contestants get eliminated one by one was demotivating.
“Although it’s hard, I kept reminding myself that I couldn’t give up. Life is full of obstacles, and that’s something I’ve had to accept. It’s only after learning to cope with rejection that I began to feel less hesitant about taking risks,” he added.
Another lesson he learned during his 11 months on the show was the importance of never settling for less.
“You can’t stay too comfortable in one spot – there’s always room for improvement. No matter how well you perform, people will judge you if you make a mistake next time.
“In moments like that, you have to remember that the past is the past... Just keep improving because one mistake doesn’t define who you are.”
Navigating strong competition
Last October, Teh marked a personal milestone with the release of his debut solo single My Stage, which blends rock and Broadway influences.
The track – which has over a million views on YouTube at press time – serves as a declaration of his love for music, carrying an uplifting message of perseverance.
“It’s a song inspired by my journey since joining Midlife, Sing & Shine!,” he explained.
“Through the lyrics, I want to encourage everyone to believe in themselves and chase their dreams.”
When asked why it took so long to release a solo project, the singer replied: “I believe it’s all part of God’s plan. Looking back, every hurdle and competition led me here. It just felt like the right time to take another step forward and share this part of myself with audiences.”
Navigating the music industry has been difficult for Teh, who admitted the market is overwhelmingly saturated.
“When you’re in a show, the contestants are your competitors. When you put yourself out there as an artiste, the whole industry becomes your competition.
“To make it, you have to stay on top of the latest trends, keep learning new things and stay as versatile as possible,” he said.
And versatility is something Teh takes seriously.
He refuses to confine himself to a single genre, believing that experimentation is essential to grow as an artiste.
“I never want to limit myself. I love so many genres – classical, soul, R&B, funk, rock, country, jazz... Something I’m eyeing now is show tunes because I enjoy Broadway music,” he added.
Fans can expect two upcoming projects dropping “very soon” – an English version of My Stage and his rendition of Taiwanese musician Jim Lim’s song Tong Hua Shun, which he performed during his blind audition on Midlife, Sing & Shine!.
According to Teh, becoming an established and versatile superstar is his dream goal.
“Aside from singing, I also want to host and act. For example, Jennifer Lopez sings, dances and also acts.
“Whitney Houston is also one of my favourites – she performed so well in The Bodyguard which is one of my all-time favourite movies.
“I also want to expand my name overseas... Maybe one day, I could try auditioning for America’s Got Talent. We’ll see,” he said.
On what areas he hopes to improve on personally, Teh said he wants to lose weight so he can look better on camera.
“I also want to try doing comedy because bringing happiness to others is one of the most joyful things for me,” he concluded.
