By Mao Renjie
Two years after his public announcement to "step away indefinitely" from the Hong Kong entertainment industry due to a sex photo scandal, Edison Chen has broken his silence, speaking exclusively with the Global Times about his plans to return to the showbiz world in full force. Chen also made his first public appearance in Beijing since the scandal, attending the launch last Tuesday of Adidas Originals' new line A039.
"With now as the best timing and me in my best state, I am ready for my come back," Chen said.
According to Chen, he will start recording a new album by the end of the month, with hopes that the first single will be released in time for summer. Taiwanese musicians including rapper MC Hot Dog and possibly Jay Chou, will contribute to the album, according to Chen, differing from his previous hip-hop-styled releases.
"The album is to reflect my thoughts and feelings over the past two years," Chen said. Despite confessing that music is not his true passion, he explained that he would continue to release albums because music is one of the few ways in which he can truly express himself.
"There were times that things I said in interviews were misquoted or misinterpreted by reporters or the public," Chen commented cautiously, adding that he can only deliver what he really wants to say to his fans and the world correctly and faithfully with the lyrics he writes.
He added that he will write most of the lyrics on the new album, but only in English and then his assistants will translate them into Chinese.
Chen also revealed that his new film would start shooting before the end of this year, which he will both star in and produce. The production will be his first attempt at producing and therefore "a huge challenge." He said that he has been talking with many directors and has decided to make a low-budget film.
"Of course I want to make big-budget blockbusters, but I am too young and inexperienced for that," Chen added thoughtfully, "I think I'd better start with small-scale ones and move on to bigger productions later."
Though declining to answer questions directly related to the sex photo scandal, Chen admitted that he is different from two years ago, before the infamous incident took place and almost ruined his otherwise successful career.
"I feel older and more mature," said the 29-year-old Chen, who used to be known for his bad-boy charm. He compared his change to the new line of Adidas A039 sportswear that was being launched, which has added more design elements to its previous pure sportswear collections.
"Two or three years ago, I was like the old line which focuses on one direction and is more obvious. I wish for the new me to be more sophisticated and mature."
Edison Chen is a Hong Kong-based Chinese-Canadian actor, singer and fashion icon. He is also the founder of fashion brand CLOT. In early 2008, intimate and private photographs of Chen with various women including actresses Cecilia Cheung and Gillian Chung were illegally distributed over the Internet. The scandal created massive public and media attention and resulted in Chen's absence from showbiz altogether until recently.
