SINGAPORE— What does it take to make the perfect theme song for a TV drama?

According to singer-songwriter, Chriz Tong, it’s a combination of several factors and achieving such a task is not easy. “Writing for television is different from writing for yourself because you have to fit the criteria of what the producers want for the show,” she said. “It is not about you as an artiste. That is really the challenge.”

The 29-year-old Tong is familiar with the world of TV music. After all, she was dubbed the “queen of theme songs” for a reason. Her songs have been nominated for the Star Awards (in the Best Theme Song category): The title track for Kampong Ties in 2012; and Truth, Virtue And Beauty (from Don’t Stop Believin’) last year. She also composed various other tracks for dramas such as 96°C Cafe (Coffee Love Song) and Love At Risk, for which she wrote the title track and the sub-theme song, An Unfinished Love Song — which is also the title of her album released last year.

Tong said she has been singing for “as long as she could remember”, adding that instead of playing with dolls as a child, she would be playing with her Walkman. “My favourite toy was my Walkman. I would record my own voice and judge myself.” she said.

Her love for singing was given a boost when she was part of her secondary school production of Grease, where she played Sandy. “I got hooked. I didn’t know I could also do stage performance.”

Speaking of musicals, Tong will be starring in the upcoming Mandarin musical, Innamorati, this July. She plays Mei Yi, a girl who has always had a passion for music but was compelled to give up for practical reasons. Directed by Goh Boon Teck, the musical is loosely based on the lives of its cast, all of whom are young singers and songwriters, including Tay Kewei and Bonnie Loo, although the music featured is that of veteran singer-songwriter Eric Moo.

“It is a bit daunting to know that people are going to hear and see my true story on stage, things that might be very personal.” But Tong laughed, “I cannot cycle, I cannot swim. I cannot even whistle. I have no other talents, so singing is the only thing I can hold on to.”

Tong’s influences and inspirations include Moo, as well as singers Kit Chan and Stefanie Sun. “They are artistes who broke free from the norm,” she said. “If we say it’s hard to be an artiste now, it was even harder back then. People were even more close-minded.”

But someone she really looks up to is the late British actress and humanitarian, Audrey Hepburn. “Now that I am a full-time singer, I hope that I can follow in Audrey’s footsteps, not to be led astray by temptations, not to let anything get me down and to always be true to myself,” said Tong. “That is the privilege of being a celebrity. Being famous gives you some power and we should use it for good.”

Apart from prepping for the musical, Tong is keeping herself busy for the rest of the year, filming videos for her songs that were released previously, with “seven or eight songs” set to be ready this year. “It has been pretty hectic. There are so many songs we want to do,” said Tong.

With her gung-ho spirit, we’re pretty sure she can achieve them all. Paul Lim

Innamorati The Musical runs from July 24 to August 3 at Drama Centre Theatre. Tickets from S$49 from SISTIC.