New Song Questioned as 'Incomprehensible'—Catherine Leong: As Long As I'm Satisfied

After a quiet 12 years, Catherine Leong (Catherine), who first garnered attention by winning the singing competition "Very Good Voice" with her clear vocals, has made a low-key return to the music scene with her brand-new single "Everything Can Spin." To her surprise, some netizens questioned that they "couldn’t understand what she was singing." Responding directly for the first time, Catherine stated that for this piece, she chose to stay true to her heart and authentic emotions: "As long as I’m satisfied with this song myself, there’s no need to care too much about outside opinions."

Catherine shared during a media interview on Tuesday that this comeback was not meant to relive her past glory days on stage. "These 12 years have given me a completely different understanding of music and life. Now, I no longer cling to the so-called successes defined by others; I don’t need to return to previous stage achievements. Instead, I hope to use music to share the sense of fulfillment and joy I’ve found through my experiences and thoughts over these years." For her, the meaning of music has shifted from proving herself to accompanying herself.
Asked why she decided to return and release a single, she said that the idea for new work had been planted in her heart as early as 6 or 7 years ago. Over the years, friends around her constantly cared about whether she would create again. It was only after a deep conversation with her close friend Zen Junqian recently, and with Zen’s steadfast encouragement, that she truly made up her mind to start from scratch in producing this single. Faced with the many unknowns and challenges in writing and producing, Catherine repeatedly asked Zen Junqian for guidance and advice, saying, "If it weren’t for Zen’s unwavering support all the way, this song wouldn’t have been born so smoothly."

With lyrics by Xu Yating, who wrote "Your Name Engraved Herein," and music composed by Catherine Leong, "Everything Can Spin," according to Catherine, is more like a confession letter to herself, documenting her vulnerability, growth, and transformation in recent years. The song does not deliberately cater to listeners but instead weaves the most direct emotions and raw feelings into the melody and lyrics, presenting a highly personal style.

She also mentioned that the key turning point in her mentality occurred during the COVID lockdown (MCO), when she had to confront life and death and separation for the first time. This experience forced her to let go of her obsession with perfection and made her realize that not everything can be controlled through effort. It is precisely this realization that allows her now to cherish the present and reconcile with herself.