Having redefined the term “goddess” in her powerful single “女神” (“Goddess”), what does the word “muse” mean to Joyce Cheng? “In ancient Greece, a muse embodied charm and enchantment. Now, I think a muse inspires other people by being who they are.” Joyce reveals that she has never thought of becoming someone else’s muse. Instead, she often draws inspiration from other people. She continues, “In fact, every person who has appeared in my life has inspired me one way or another.” When asked to name her muse, someone who is deeply loved by the public, she chose Anita Mui. She explains, “She can sing, dance and act, and she is dedicated to her career. Her spirit of continuous innovation and change is worth learning from.” Joyce describes what a muse means to her, “She is never a follower. She is a trendsetter that brings about real change.”

We all know Joyce as someone optimistic, confident, brave and strong. However, when asked to describe herself in three words, she chose ‘vulnerable, tenacious and fun’. “The words vulnerability and tenacity may sound contradictory, but they make the Joyce Cheng you see today.” She reveals that she used to dislike showing this side of herself to the public, but after experiencing growing pains, she’s learnt to embrace her vulnerability. She believes that one must experience self-doubt to have a resilient heart. “If you’ve never experienced weakness and adversity, how can you become a stronger version of yourself?”

From encouraging people to embrace themselves in  “女神” (“Goddess”) to raising awareness over body dysmorphia in “豐乳肥臀” (“Big Bust and Big Buttocks”), Joyce has always honestly expressed her innermost thoughts through her music. The message she wants to convey through her works is simple. “Through my music, I hope to tell listeners that no matter how unhappy or difficult things get, my songs will always be there for them. I hope people can find relief in my music.”

Inspiration and creation are closely interlinked. Just as other people find relief and escape in Joyce’s music, the singer finds healing in the works of other artists. When she was preparing for her first solo concert six years ago, she was brought to tears by Ivana Wong’s “末日” (“Doomsday”) and Charmaine Fong’s “你是你本身的傳奇” (“You Are Your Own Legend”). She recalls, “I was fortunate that “女神” (“Goddess”) received so much love from the public back then, but with this love came an overwhelming work schedule and a lot of attention, and I put a lot of pressure on myself. I didn’t know how to deal with it, but luckily I was inspired by these two songs and could let go of a lot of thoughts I was holding on to.” Joyce continues, “These two songs helped me look at things from a different point of view. “末日” (“Doomsday”) helped me remember what was truly important, and “你是你本身的傳奇” (“You Are Your Own Legend”) reminded me that I did not need achievements to prove that Joyce Cheng was a person worthy of love.”

It’s no exaggeration to say that many people in Hong Kong grew up with Joyce, witnessing the ups and downs of her journey into entertainment and the hard work she’s put into her career. Joyce has loved performing since she was a child, and there is only one reason: “As long as everybody applauds and feels happy, I am content.” Her infectious energy has naturally inspired her audience and her fans. Many people cover her songs or have even started creating because of her work, but what makes Joyce happiest is seeing children singing her songs. She smiles, “This was me when I was a child! I loved climbing onto the dining table to sing and dance, thinking I was performing on stage in the Hong Kong Coliseum.” And she did. She shares, “The most enjoyable parts about being a singer are the moments on stage because you share a special connection with the audience. You give to your audience, and your audience returns the love. I am grateful to have received so much love along the way.”